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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/34892-8.txt b/34892-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6db7cfd --- /dev/null +++ b/34892-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12497 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Castle Hohenwald, by Adolph Streckfuss + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Castle Hohenwald + A Romance + +Author: Adolph Streckfuss + +Translator: A. L. Wister + +Release Date: January 9, 2011 [EBook #34892] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CASTLE HOHENWALD *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + 1. Page scan source: + http://www.archive.org/details/3429917 + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + CASTLE HOHENWALD + + + A ROMANCE + + + AFTER THE GERMAN + OF + ADOLPH STRECKFUSS + AUTHOR OF "TOO RICH," ETC. + + + + + BY MRS. A. L. WISTER + TRANSLATOR OF "THE OLD MAM'SELLE'S SECRET," "THE SECOND WIFE," + "TOO RICH," "MARGARETHE," "ONLY A GIRL," ETC. + + + + + PHILADELPHIA + J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY + 1906 + + + + + + + * * * * * + Copyright, 1879, by J. B. Lippincott & Co. + * * * * * + Copyright, 1906, by A. L. Wister. + + + + + + + CASTLE HOHENWALD. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +The music ceased. The gentlemen led their partners to their various +chaperones, and then crowded out upon the balcony to enjoy the cool +spring breeze, giving no attention to the remonstrances of their host, +the President, who, when he found how little heed was paid to his +warning against imprudence, turned away, declaring to his friend the +colonel that there really was nothing to be done with the heedless +young people of the present day. "They trifle with their health as if +their nerves were of iron and illness impossible," he added, a little +out of humour, perhaps, at the neglect of his advice. + +"Why then, old friend, do you give a ball in April?" the colonel asked, +laughing. + +"Could I help being born on the 20th of April? My son and daughter +insist upon my keeping up the old custom and celebrating the occasion +by a ball. This year it is perfect folly, but then no one could +foretell this early warm spring." + +"Come, never trouble yourself about those young people; my officers +have often braved more sudden changes of temperature in the field +without being any the worse." + +"But the Assessor? His constitution is none of the strongest." + +"And suppose he does take cold; 'twill do him no harm. Come, come, let +the young people alone. We were once not a whit more prudent +ourselves." + +And as he spoke the colonel took his old friend's arm and led him back +into the ball-room, while the young officers upon the balcony, who had +overheard all that had been said, laughingly grouped themselves about +the Assessor, rallying him upon the anxiety with regard to his health +manifested by the President. + +"The President is right," said a black-bearded cuirassier, inclining +his tall figure towards the slightly-built Assessor. "You ought to take +care of yourself, my dear Assessor; the sensitive nature of which you +so often tell us can never endure what our coarser constitutions brave +with impunity. Put an end to the anxiety of your future father-in-law +and leave the balcony, I beseech you." + +"Herr von Saldern, I beg----" + +"Do not make the fair Adèle a widow before she is a wife," chimed in +another officer. + +"Herr von Arnim, such remarks are very much out of place. It is true +that I am peacefully disposed. I make no boast of it, for the gifts of +nature----" + +"Are variously distributed," Herr von Arnim interrupted the Assessor by +completing his sentence. "Do we not frequently hear from your own lips +how lavishly mother nature has endowed you, denying you the gift of a +robust constitution alone? Spare your precious health,--preserve +yourself for the fair Adèle, and for us, your tenderly attached +friends; follow the kind President's advice." + +The Assessor gazed helplessly at the laughing faces about him; he was +the only civilian among these reckless young fellows, and he knew that +any serious remonstrance would but provoke anew Arnim's love of chaff. +The more prudent part was to laugh too and yield the field. This he +did, leaving the balcony and re-entering the ball-room. + +To his astonishment he here recognized an acquaintance whom he had not +met for a long time, and he hastened across the room to greet him, +doubly pleased, since, if Arnim should chance to rally him upon his +flight, he could now declare that he had left the balcony to welcome +the arrival of Count Styrum. + +The Count, a man of about the age of thirty years, was standing in the +background of the ball-room, in the doorway of one of the antechambers, +thoughtfully contemplating the brilliant scene. The élite of the large +provincial town was assembled in the President's rooms to-night, men +high in office, with their wives and daughters, the officers of the +garrison, and the most aristocratic of the county gentry. + +The President enjoyed giving splendid entertainments, and his wealth +and position entirely justified him in gratifying his taste in this +direction. The hospitalities of his house were quite famous,--his balls +had been mentioned with favour by royalty itself,--had not the Prince, +upon a visit to the town, accepted an invitation to one of these +birthday fêtes, and declared afterwards that he had never attended a +more brilliant entertainment or seen a more charming collection of +lovely women? + +Count Styrum, too, thought that he had rarely seen so many lovely faces +assembled in one room, and he gazed with delight at the charming groups +laughing and jesting on all sides, wondering while he gazed whom he +should pronounce fairest among so many that were fair. His doubt on +this head vanished, however, as his eye fell upon a young girl seated +upon a low divan near him. + +He was quite lost for a moment in admiration of her beauty; the +features might, it is true, have been more regular, but the face was +indescribably lovely and attractive. The slightly pouting lips could +surely smile charmingly, although now there were pensive lines about +the mouth which accorded well with the melancholy expression of the +large and eloquent brown eyes. + +The Count felt an immediate and lively interest in this lovely girl; he +had never seen her before, and yet he longed to know why she, the +fairest among this gay throng, should look so sad and take apparently +so little interest in what was going on around her. + +She could hardly number twenty years; could she be preyed upon by any +secret grief? What was she thinking of at this moment? Scarcely of the +whispered words of the man on the low seat beside her, for she never +looked at him, and even turned away from him with a gesture betokening +that his conversation was anything but agreeable to her. + +"I see I am right! It is really yourself, my dear Count. I thought you +were in Rome or Naples, and am most heartily delighted to welcome you +here!" + +It was thus that the Assessor addressed the Count, who, in +contemplation of the beautiful girl on the divan, had not noticed his +approach. Now, however, he held out his hand, saying, not unkindly, and +with a smile, "You here in the provinces, my dear Hahn? I had not +expected to meet the lion of the metropolis here; how does it happen?" + +The Assessor, greatly flattered by the question, conceitedly twirled +his light moustache and tried to look as much as possible like a +flaxen-haired lion of the metropolis; not very successfully, however. +His face would look boyish in spite of the moustache, and his head +barely reached to his distinguished friend's shoulder, as he replied, +"I have been here two years. Just after your departure, when I had +passed my third examination, I was appointed to the post of assessor +here. It is true that we forego much in the provinces, where however +the heart finds truer contentment than amid the whirl of the capital, +and therefore I am abundantly satisfied with my present life, which, +unfortunately, I must shortly resign, for I am ordered to Altstadt. It +is difficult to tear one's self away from loved surroundings and +companionship. I am endowed with more than my share of sensibility, I +know; not that I would make a boast of it, for it is mine from the hand +of nature, and her gifts are variously bestowed." + +A smile hovered upon the Count's lips as he replied, "I am glad to find +you unchanged, my dear Hahn. Of course you are entirely at home in this +society, where I am a total stranger. Not a soul in the room do I know +except my uncle Guntram and my cousins Adèle and Heinrich. You will +tell me who all these delightful people are." + +"With pleasure. I know all your uncle's guests. You know the poetry of +my nature. I make no boast; nature's gifts are various, but as a poet +nothing interests me more than the study of human feeling and +aspiration. You have applied to the right quarter for information with +regard to the character and circumstances of all these people." + +"I am sure of it. I have always admired your obliging amiability no +less than your profound study of character." + +"You do me honour. I am obliging by nature, but I make no boast of it. +Question me; I am quite at your service." + +"To put you instantly to the test, tell me who is the charming girl +dressed simply but elegantly in white, there, on the divan to my left, +with brown hair and the wreath of snow-drops; the beautiful creature +who evidently cares not one whit for all that the fellow with the black +beard, leaning over her, is pouring so eagerly into her ear." + +The Assessor listened with a smile to this enthusiastic description. +"Evidently hit, my dear Count," he said. + +"Not at all; but the melancholy on that charming face interests me +excessively." + +"Poor Frau von Sorr! She may well be melancholy." + +"Frau? Impossible! You do not know whom I mean." + +"Ah! yes I do. No one could fail to know from your description, and it +is not to be wondered at that you take Frau von Sorr for a young +girl: it is the same with every one who first sees her. She is just +twenty-two and looks much younger." + +"And the man talking to her is, I suppose, her husband." + +"Not at all. That is Count Repuin, an enormously wealthy Russian, a +bosom-friend of Herr von Sorr, and a gambler and spendthrift, who +throws away his money by thousands. They say Herr von Sorr knows how to +pick it up, and that is the secret of the friendship between them, and +also why Sorr allows Repuin to pay such court to his wife." + +"And does she encourage it?" Count Styrum asked. "How deceived one may +be by a face! I thought hers so innocent and refined in expression." + +"And the expression does not belie her," the Assessor rejoined. "Herr +von Sorr is a despicable fellow enough, and bears the worst possible +reputation; but scandal itself could not touch his charming wife. It is +only on her account that he is endured in society in spite of his +notorious past and his more than doubtful present. Your uncle would +never have invited him here to-night except for the sake of his wife, +who is the dearest friend of Fräulein Adèle." + +"But the Russian----" + +"Is desperately in love with her. He throws away incredible sums upon +her worthless husband, while she sternly refuses to accept any of his +attentions. My observation is naturally very keen. I make no boast of +it, but it is; and I am convinced that at this moment that poor woman +is suffering agonies because, without exciting observation, and for the +sake of her good-for-nothing husband, she cannot repulse that fellow +indignantly." + +The Assessor's words increased the interest with which the beautiful +Frau von Sorr had inspired the Count, and it was still further +heightened by a little scene that passed unobserved by any eyes in the +ball-room except his own and the Assessor's. + +Frau von Sorr, who had hitherto endured, rather than heard, in perfect +silence what her neighbour was saying to her, never even varying by a +look the cold indifference of her bearing, suddenly turned upon him +eyes flashing with indignation. The delicate colour in her cheek +deepened to crimson, the beautiful lips unclosed as if to speak, when +suddenly second thoughts seemed to assert their sway, and rising, with +a look of inexpressible contempt at Repuin, she turned from him and +walked slowly across the ball-room to join a group of young girls +gathered about the daughter of the house, Adèle von Guntram. + +"What does that mean, do you think?" Count Styrum asked the Assessor. + +"It means that the fellow went too far, and she turned her back upon +him." + +"Poor young creature! she interests me, and I must hear more of her; +pray tell me, my dear Hahn, what you know of her husband." + +"Certainly. What I know everybody knows, and there can be no +indiscretion in relating it; for the world I would not be indiscreet. +In fact, I am discretion itself. I make no boast of it, but I am. Of +course I may tell you what all the world knows. Well, then, Herr von +Sorr is utterly worthless. In the last few years he has squandered his +own considerable property and his wife's fortune upon all sorts of +follies, and worse, in the capital. What he now lives upon no one +knows. All sorts of strange stories are told about that. They may not +all be true, of course, but there must be some foundation for them, +since Lieutenant von Arnim lately declared that he would not play when +Herr von Sorr kept the bank, and that he did not like to have him for +next neighbour when he kept it himself, for it was so disagreeable to +have to keep a sharp eye upon the pile of money before him." + +"Rather strong, I should say." + +"It was indeed; but no one expressed any surprise at Arnim's +declaration; indeed, I heard it whispered that one night when he sat +next Sorr at play a hundred-thaler note had unaccountably disappeared; +as I said, the man's character, or want of it, is such that were it not +for his lovely wife every respectable house in the town would be closed +against him." + +"But how did the fellow come to have so lovely a wife?" + +"Six years ago, when he married Fräulein Lucie Ahlborn, his reputation +was good; he was held to be a wealthy man of rank, and such he was, +although even then he had squandered a large part of his property. Herr +Ahlborn, his wife's father, was a rich manufacturer; he never thought +of saying 'no' when Sorr applied for his daughter's hand,--he was +probably flattered by the proposal,--and if he thought the young man +rather wild, supposed that marriage would cure all that. Fräulein +Ahlborn brought her husband a fine estate, which she had inherited from +her mother." + +"Was she forced into the marriage by her father?" + +"Not at all. I do not know that she was very devoted to her bridegroom, +but possibly she was, for he was a handsome enough young fellow,--his +wild life has told upon him now,--but then he might easily have +captivated the fancy of a girl of sixteen. This I grant, although I was +a student then, visiting very frequently at Herr Ahlborn's, and a +little in love with the fair Lucie myself, which did not prepossess me +in favour of my fortunate rival. Neither I nor any one else dreamed +that Sorr would ever sink so low as he has done. Everybody thought the +match an excellent one, and regretted that the charming couple withdrew +to the retirement of Frau von Sorr's estate to enjoy their conjugal +felicity. Their seclusion, however, did not last longer than a few +months. They then returned to town, where Sorr played like a madman, +kept a costly racing stud, and spent huge sums upon a notorious +ballet-girl, scandalously neglecting his poor wife, who, however, bore +her sad fate with divine patience. Fortune dealt her its heaviest +blows, for she lost her father, with whom she might have sought a +refuge from her husband. Herr Ahlborn was ruined by the bankruptcy of a +large business firm, and failed. There might have been some composition +with his creditors, but being a man of an even exaggerated sense of +honour, he gave up everything. Not one of his creditors lost a penny, +but he forfeited his entire fortune. His business friends offered him +money and credit wherewith to re-open his manufactory, but he could not +endure the thought of beginning life again in a place where he had +occupied so high a position. He became gloomy and misanthropic, even +refusing to accept assistance from his daughter, who would gladly have +given it to him. Taking with him but a small sum of money, the remnant +of his large fortune, he left the scene of his former activity, +ostensibly to sail for America. They say he never took leave of one of +his old friends, but went, without even bidding good-bye to his +daughter. This was more than four years ago, and nothing has since been +heard of him; he has never written to his daughter, and she does not +even know the name of the vessel in which he sailed from Germany. +Shortly before his departure he declared that he would either return as +a wealthy man or not at all. If he really went to America, which is +doubtful, he may not have been successful; perhaps he is dead,--no one +knows anything about him. His daughter mourned him deeply; but she soon +needed to mourn still more deeply for herself for her miserable +husband, after spending all his own fortune, did the same by hers, +mortgaging her estate until it had to be sold. Since that took place, +how he lives is a mystery. I have told you some of the current +explanations of it, and I am sure you must now find it very natural +that there should be an expression of melancholy upon Frau von Sorr's +lovely face." + +The doors of the adjoining supper-room were here opened, and the +Assessor broke off his long narrative, saying, "Excuse me, my dear +Count, for leaving you, but duty calls. Your charming cousin, Fräulein +Adèle, has promised to allow me to take her to supper." + +And bowing, he hurried towards the group of ladies, of which Adèle was +the centre. He need not have been in any haste, however, for she +herself, accompanied by Frau von Sorr, advanced to meet him, saying, +with an enchanting smile that transported the little man to the seventh +heaven, "I have a request to make of you, Herr von Hahn, and I am sure +you will grant it." + +"Ask what you will, Fräulein Adèle. You cannot ask what I shall not be +proud to grant." + +"I will not put your amiability to any severe test," she rejoined; "the +fulfilment of my request brings with it its own reward. Pray take my +dear Lucie, instead of myself, in to supper." + +The Assessor was not altogether charmed, since he had engaged his fair +partner for supper a week previously; but he was too courteous to allow +a shade of disappointment to appear in his countenance, and his +momentary annoyance vanished when Adèle continued, "We must be +neighbours at supper, however; keep two places for me at your table, +and I will follow you with my cousin, Count Styrum, who, not knowing +the customs of our house, has, I fear, engaged no one to go with him to +supper." + +The Assessor was made supremely happy by her words and manner. Never +had this charming creature, to whom for the time he was devoted heart +and soul, treated him with such a degree of amiable confidence. He knew +better than any one else how far he was from the attainment of his +hopes, and therefore the badinage of his military friends had for him a +peculiar sting; but now on a sudden his fair one's manner was such as +seemed to him to justify his aspirations. + +It was the custom at the President's to have the supper-room arranged +with many small tables, accommodating each from four to eight persons, +at which the guests seated themselves in groups selected among +themselves beforehand. This obviated the necessity for caution lest the +rules of precedence should be infringed,--a very important +consideration in a provincial town,--and greatly promoted the ease and +comfort of the guests. + +With his head proudly erect, the Assessor conducted Frau von Sorr into +the adjoining room, into which other couples were thronging. He soon +found an unoccupied table, and was looking round for Count Styrum and +Adèle, when Count Repuin approached, and, without according him any +salute or attention, addressed Frau von Sorr. "Surely, madame, you +cannot have forgotten that you promised me the honour of your society +at supper?" + +The Count uttered these words in a tone almost of menace, scarcely +consistent with the rules of polite society. He was, as was evident +from his flashing eyes and his dark frown, controlling himself with +difficulty, and the Assessor was very much embarrassed. He was +perfectly conscious of the obligation laid upon him to assert his right +to escort to supper Frau von Sorr, whose hand still rested upon his +arm, but such assertion was by no means easy,--the Russian's gleaming +black eyes were so wrathful, and just at the moment the Assessor could +not but remember the man's reputation as an unerring pistol-shot, and +his great readiness to send a challenge. + +Poor Herr von Hahn! He had a most uncomfortable sensation about the +throat, somewhat as if his cravat had been suddenly tightened. He +cleared it, but could scarcely utter a word; nevertheless something +must be ventured, else what would Fräulein Adèle, what would all his +acquaintances say? "Count Repuin, excuse me, but I have the honour of +being this lady's escort----" + +Count Repuin looked down upon him with undisguised contempt as he +rather stammered than uttered these words, and then haughtily replied, +with a coldness that was almost insulting, "I did not address you, sir. +It was not of your mistake that I spoke, but of Frau von Sorr's. Of +course you will yield me the right I desire as soon as madame accords +it to me." + +"Which I shall not do," Frau von Sorr interposed. + +She had relinquished the support of the Assessor's arm, and stood tall +and stately before the Count, meeting his eye with calm resolve, +evidently ready to brave his anger. + +Repuin's face flushed crimson,--he bit his lip, and said, with forced +calmness, "Have you forgotten, madame, that by your husband's +permission I this morning requested to be allowed to conduct you to +supper to-night, and that you consented to my request?" + +"I have forgotten nothing. Count Repuin, not even the words you +addressed to me a few moments ago; let me beg you to leave me." + +"I refuse to yield my right," the Count angrily retorted. "If you deny +me thus, I must appeal to Herr von Sorr to support my claim." + +"I think not, Count Repuin. My friend Frau von Sorr is, I trust, secure +from all insult beneath my father's roof." + +The words were Adèle von Guntram's. She had arrived, leaning upon Count +Styrum's arm, just in time to hear Repuin's angry threat, and now, +stepping to her friend's side, she turned to Count Repuin with a degree +of dignity and resolution that added much to the Assessor's already +great astonishment at such a manifestation on the part of so gentle and +amiable a girl, and said, "You have permitted yourself to be carried +away by your annoyance, Count, to the extent of addressing a lady in +terms inconsistent with our German ideas of courtesy. I must beg you to +apologise to my friend." + +Count Repuin angrily compressed his lips, but he perfectly understood +that he had gone too far, and that upon this antagonist he had not +reckoned. If he would not entirely lose the game he was playing he must +control himself, and, difficult although it might be, comply with +Adèle's demand. He therefore smothered his rage, and, taking Adèle's +hand and kissing it with respectful humility, he said, "You shame me, +Fräulein von Guntram, yet I cannot but be grateful to you for recalling +me to a sense of the duty which, according not only to German ideas, +but also to those entertained in Russia and throughout the world, every +gentleman owes to a lady whom he has been so unfortunate as to offend. +I beg Frau von Sorr's pardon from my soul, and venture to hope for her +forgiveness, the more confidently as my irritation was the consequence +of my great disappointment at losing a pleasure which she will admit I +had some right to anticipate." + +Frau von Sorr heeded his apology no more than his threat, but turned to +Adèle, who replied to his words and farewell bow by a cool and +dignified curtsey. + +As soon as he was out of hearing the young girl gave a sigh of relief +"Thank Heaven, he is gone! He actually terrifies me, and I had to +muster up all my courage to become my poor Lucie's defender. The man is +indescribably odious,--Russian from head to foot,--rough, coarse, and +brutally passionate one moment, courteous, smooth, and smiling the +next, but always false and untrustworthy. However, he has gone, and we +will not spoil our pleasure by thinking of him an instant longer. +Cousin Karl, let me present you to my dearest friend, Frau von Sorr. My +cousin, Count Karl Styrum, Lucie dear; and now let us enjoy our supper +together." + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +Count Karl Styrum had never been very fond of large entertainment, and +had accepted his uncle the President's invitation on this evening only +because he did not wish to be rude to a relative whom he had not seen +for years. The ball had hitherto been rather a bore; he did not dance, +and, stranger as he was in this society, he took little interest in +watching others dance. The only figure that his eyes followed with any +pleasure in the waltz was his cousin Adèle's, and he had intended to +slip from the room unobserved, when her gracious and cousinly +invitation to him to conduct her to supper frustrated his unsocial +plan. + +He could not refuse so amiable a proposal, but he promised himself but +little entertainment in her society, since, although cousins, they were +now almost entire strangers to each other. He had last visited his +uncle, his mother's brother, ten years before, when Adèle was a pretty +little girl with fair curls, whom he had made a pet of and called his +little sweetheart. In the busy years that ensued he had almost +forgotten her; indeed, he had hardly remembered her name. Now he had +come to M---- to arrange a personal adjustment with his uncle of a +lawsuit between them concerning an inherited estate. It had been the +cause of a not quite friendly correspondence, and the Count had not +looked forward to a renewal of intercourse with his relatives without +some misgivings. He was all the more pleased, therefore, by the +cordiality with which his uncle received him, and begged him to forget +the odious lawsuit entirely, except when it absolutely demanded +attention as a matter of business. + +"I think, my dear Karl," the President said, when the Count first +presented himself at his house a few days before the birthday ball, "we +can manage to leave all quarrelling over mine and thine to our lawyers; +let us do all we can to aid in the settlement of the question, but if +this settlement be delayed, do not, for Heaven's sake, let it disturb +the friendliness of our relations with each other any more than should +our difference in politics, which latter, most unfortunately, +embittered your father towards me during the last years of his life; to +the day of his death he could not forgive me because we Prussians were +victorious in 1866. I trust that you, Saxon soldier though you be, are +more placable, and will reflect, as I do, that your dear mother was my +favourite sister, and that we loved each other faithfully as long +as she lived. It was not our fault, as we both thought, that our +grand-uncle involved us in a lawsuit by an ambiguous will." + +Count Styrum could not possibly fail to reciprocate so kind an +expression of good will on his uncle's part. He did not, it is true, +accept the pressing invitation extended to him to leave the hotel and +make the President's house his home while in M----, but he promised to +spend every spare hour beneath his roof. He did this the more readily +since his cousins welcomed him as cordially as their father had done. +On Adèle's part this amiability was certainly sincere, while Heinrich, +who was an assessor in his father's office, probably acted in mere +compliance with his father's wish in the matter. Adèle was thoroughly +pleased with her cousin,--she knew nothing of the lawsuit, and cared +nothing for politics,--Karl was to her simply the son of an aunt whom +she had dearly loved, and with whom she could remember passing happy +weeks, in Dresden, in her childhood, when "Cousin Karl" had always been +so kind to her. During all the long years of absence she had never +forgotten him, and she treated him now with a degree of sisterly +familiarity which greatly pleased him. He would gladly have availed +himself of his uncle's kindness to pay frequent visits to his +relatives, but his stay in M---- was very short, and most of his time +was occupied in interviews with his lawyers, who would not listen to a +friendly adjustment of the matter in hand, so that until this evening +he had scarcely done more than exchange a few cursory remarks with +Adèle. He had been favourably impressed by her frank and easy gayety of +manner, but she had not aroused in him any deeper interest, and he had +accepted with some reluctance her invitation to be her escort to +supper, since this would of necessity detain him longer than he had +proposed to stay at the ball. Suddenly, however, his feeling with +regard to her changed entirely, upon witnessing her spirited opposition +to Count Repuin. How beautiful she was as she confronted the Count with +indignation flashing from her eyes! and how lovely was the change in +her expression when she turned to her friend with such tender +affection! Involuntarily he compared the two young creatures before +him. + +A few minutes previously he would have pronounced Frau von Sorr the +more beautiful of the two,--the most beautiful woman, indeed, whom he +had ever seen; but now there was no doubt that the golden-haired Adèle, +with her earnest eyes sparkling with anger and then melting with +tenderness, was, if not the more beautiful, by far the more attractive. +It was strange that never until this instant had he been impressed by +this exquisite development of the pretty child into the lovely woman. + +And now, when, after Count Repuin's departure, she gayly entreated her +friends to forget the unpleasant scene they had witnessed, and when, +seated at the supper-table, she did all that she could to dissipate +Frau von Sort's melancholy and win a smile from her, she seemed to her +cousin more enchanting than ever. She so managed the conversation that +neither Frau von Sorr, who could not soon forget what had just +occurred, nor the Assessor, who was rather ashamed of the part he had +played, was obliged to talk much, while Count Styrum was drawn on to +speak of his travels, and this all the more willingly as he felt he was +seconding Adèle's efforts in so doing. + +The Count had resigned from the army at the close of the war, and, that +he might be prepared for the management of the large estates to which +he was heir, had spent a year in attending the lectures at Tharandt. +Then, in company with a former comrade in the army, who had been his +fellow-student also, Baron Arno von Hohenwald, he had travelled for a +year in Belgium, Holland, England, and Italy, being finally called home +by the death of his father. + +The Count was an admirable narrator as well as observer: no one could +throw more interest than he into the details of his travels, and on +this occasion he surpassed himself. Not only did Adèle listen with +sparkling eyes, now and then asking an eager question, but Frau von +Sorr was gradually aroused to attention and interest. The Assessor +alone was very silent and not at all comfortable. In addition to the +mortifying consciousness that he had failed entirely to undertake the +defence of Frau von Sorr against Count Repuin, he could not help +experiencing a decided envy of Count Styrum, who was thus monopolizing +the conversation, and evidently making a favourable impression upon +Adèle. + +Although he enjoyed the proud consciousness that among the gifts with +which kind nature had endowed him, and of which he would not boast, a +talent for conversation which had frequently stood him in stead was +most conspicuous, here he was undeniably thrown into the background, +and this, too, in the presence of his adored Adèle. He several times +attempted to divert the talk from these overrated adventures of travel, +but without success, until at last, upon the frequent mention by the +Count of the name of his companion, Arno von Hohenwald, he broke into +the conversation with, "Do I understand you, Count? Are you really +speaking of Baron Arno von Hohenwald? I can scarcely credit that you +travelled for a year with that gloomy misanthrope, that inveterate +woman-hater. And yet it must be so, for to my knowledge there is but +one family of Hohenwalds in Saxony, and I ought to know, for I am +distantly connected with them myself. I never judge others with +severity,--it is not my nature,--but I cannot help pronouncing the +Hohenwalds, that is, the old Baron and his son Arno, haughty, +disagreeable, inaccessible people, who have very little intercourse +with any one, not even their nearest relatives. The best of them all is +Arno's brother Werner, the Finanzrath;[1] it is possible to get along +with him; but my cousin Arno?---- Really, I cannot understand how you +managed to travel with him for a whole year." + +"Your judgment of my friend is very harsh and unjust," Count Styrum +replied, gravely. "And yet I cannot blame you for it, for there are few +who know how to value Arno von Hohenwald, or who, indeed, have any +knowledge at all of him." + +"Of course; he is absolutely inaccessible. Can you deny that he is a +perfect misanthrope, refusing to mingle in any society, and repulsing +discourteously every advance made to him?" + +"Arno is no misanthrope, but the warmest-hearted fellow and the truest +and most loyal of friends. I grant that it is not easy to win his +confidence, and that to the superficial observer he may seem to shun +intercourse with others; he has no small change of conversation for +that society where you, my dear Assessor, are in your element. In the +army he had but few intimates, And took no part in our card-parties and +the like entertainments. Nevertheless he was a good comrade whom every +one liked, for all knew that when there was need of a friend's +assistance it was sure to be found at the hands of Arno von Hohenwald, +and we forgave his burying himself among his books while we pursued our +pleasures. I alone of all his comrades could boast of any real intimacy +with him, and I am proud to think that he considered me worthy of his +friendship--his confidence." + +"Oh, then he has certainly told you the story of his notorious +love-affair with the rope-maker's pretty daughter, which ended in his +being the furious woman-hater that he is! You must ask the Count to +tell you that story, madame. I assure you it made quite a noise at the +time at the Court of Saxony, where the Hohenwalds stood very high." + +"I am not curious," Frau von Sorr observed. + +"But I am!" Adèle interposed. "I confess, Karl, that I take great +interest in your friend. I have heard much of him. Madame von Kleist is +a cousin of the late Frau von Hohenwald, and the other day, at an +afternoon party, she had such wonderful things to tell of the +eccentricities of the old Baron and his son Arno, that the entire +conversation finally turned upon the Hohenwalds, their lives and their +peculiarities. Several of the ladies present were distantly connected +with them, and they not only confirmed all that Madame von Kleist said, +but contributed various anecdotes to show that the old Baron was no +better than an ogre, and that the son Arno was following worthily in +his father's footsteps. The old Baron, they said, lives in perfect +solitude in Castle Hohenwald, never seeing a visitor, nor indeed any +one beside his two sons and his daughter, except, perhaps, the village +priest, who is the young girl's tutor. All sorts of tales are told of +the way in which the old man has repelled his relatives' advances, as +well as of his quarrel with his son Arno, whom he threatened to +disinherit because he had betrothed himself to a pretty girl of the +bourgeoisie. When the engagement was broken off Arno was reconciled to +his father, having become a more terrible misanthrope and woman-hater +than the old man himself. So you may readily imagine, Cousin Karl, how +I should like, after all these stories, to hear as much of your friend +as you can tell us without indiscretion." + +Count Styrum looked annoyed. The gossiping Assessor had given a turn to +the conversation that necessitated explanations which he would gladly +have avoided. Since this turn had been given, however, he felt it due +to his friend to disprove the false reports current with regard to the +Hohenwalds. "There can be no indiscretion," he said, "in relating facts +known to many, although I certainly would rather avoid doing so since I +know my friend Arno's dislike of any discussion of his private affairs. +However, the truth had better be told about them, that it may +counteract these silly rumours with regard to the family, rumours which +some of their connections, indeed, are not ashamed to circulate." + +The Assessor turned red, feeling that the Count's words might well +apply to himself, but he judged it wisest to take no notice of the +reproof conveyed in them. + +"The Hohenwalds," Karl began, "have furnished food for gossip to the +Saxon aristocracy for many years. They are a singular race; their +peculiarities have been inherited for generations, but the haughty +Barons troubled themselves little as to what the world might say of +them, and lived out their convictions with unshaken fidelity. It was a +Hohenwald who, in Augustus the Strong's time, stood forth at the Saxon +Court as the champion of good old German morality in social life, +scourging with bitter words the wanton frivolity of the lovely court +dames, and denouncing the extravagant luxury that ruined poor Saxony. +All that saved him from persecution and perhaps imprisonment in +Königstein was Augustus the Strong's own declaration that the +Hohenwalds had always been fools--it was best to let them wag their +tongues and pay them no heed. So Werner von Hohenwald was not sent to +Königstein, but to his own castle, which he never left for many years, +leading much the same hermit-life there as is led by his great-grandson +to-day. Another Hohenwald, the father of the present Baron, +distinguished himself in the early part of this century as a warm +friend of Prussia and a bitter opponent of the Franco-Saxon alliance +and of the first Napoleon, who would have had him shot but for the +interposition of the king, who declared, as Augustus the Strong had +done, that the Hohenwalds were fools, not to be too severely dealt +with. He, too, was sent to live in undisturbed retirement in his own +castle. The present lord, Baron Werner, resembles his forbears; like +them he is unyielding, keen in word and in action, a steadfast, severe +man, living according to his own convictions, and holding himself aloof +from a world that does not share them. I do not know him personally, +but I have heard so much of him from my friend Arno and from my own +father, who was intimate with him many years ago, that I have a very +vivid idea of him, I can see him in my mind's eye,--a tall, stout old +man, his stern face framed in beard and hair of silver, from which the +black eyes can flash terribly when he is angry, although they beam +mildly enough when their gaze rests upon his darling, his daughter. It +is said that in his youth, departing from the traditions of his family, +he was a gay and genial man of fashion. As a wealthy landed proprietor, +he passed his summers at Hohenwald, his winters in Dresden. At that +time my father knew him well, and their friendship lasted for a number +of years after the Baron married a Countess Harrangow. He seemed to +live very happily with his beautiful wife, keeping open house, as well +in Dresden in the winter as in summer upon his estate of Hohenwald, +which is not far from the Prussian boundary. His wife's relatives +visited him frequently, and often spent weeks beneath his roof, where +they were upon the best of terms with the lord of the castle, although +they were Prussians, and he a bitter enemy of Prussia and a great +friend of Austria, never hesitating to declare his anti-Prussian +sentiments in the presence of his Prussian guests. + +"A few months after the birth of his youngest child--a daughter--there +was a sudden and complete transformation in the Baron's manner of life, +the cause of which was entirely unknown. He separated from his wife, +who returned to her paternal home, where she received from the Baron a +large yearly income, but whither she was not permitted to take her +children, two sons and the baby daughter, who remained in Hohenwald. No +one knows the reason for this separation; the Baron has never by so +much as a word alluded to it, and all the reports concerning it +circulated in Dresden society, where the affair of course made a great +deal of noise, are utterly without foundation. Even the Baroness, who +died within a year after the separation, without seeing either husband +or children again, never assigned to her parents any reason for her +expulsion--for that is the only term to be applied to it--from +Hohenwald. The relatives of the Baroness, who had hitherto always found +a welcome at the castle, did all they could to effect a reconciliation +between husband and wife, but they were repulsed by the Baron with such +harshness and severity that they never renewed their efforts. My +father, too, fared no better. Relying upon the claims of long +friendship, he complied with the wishes of the king, who regretted that +the Baron should have so treated his wife's relatives, and expressed a +wish that my father would use his influence with his friend, so that if +no thorough reconciliation could be brought about, at least the public +scandal of a separation without a divorce might be avoided. With some +reluctance my father undertook the task thus assigned him. He could +hardly refuse to do so, although he had but small hope of any good +result. He went to Castle Hohenwald, where the manner of his reception +showed him the hopelessness of his mission. + +"The Baron met him with a dark frown. 'What is your business with me, +Count?' he asked, without offering his hand. My father, embarrassed by +a reception in such marked contrast to the terms of friendship upon +which he had felt himself with the Baron, could not, of course, +immediately explain the real cause of his appearance at Hohenwald, and +spoke courteously of his desire to see a friend from whom he had been +separated for some time; but the Baron interrupted him with, 'Pray take +no unnecessary pains, Count. I am not fond of idle phrases, and declare +to you once for all that I will suffer no one to meddle in my affairs. +If you have been sent hither, repeat this to whoever sent you; if you +are here of your own free will, take my words to heart. If in +consideration of our former friendship you are inclined to do me a +kindness, pray shield me from any further attempt to influence me. Say +in Dresden that the gates of Castle Hohenwald are in future closed to +all visitors; that I have irrevocably and forever broken with all my +former acquaintances and friends!' + +"It may easily be imagined that my father after this made no attempt to +speak with the Baron, but left Castle Hohenwald immediately, never to +return to it. From that day the gates of the castle have been closed to +every one. One or two attempts were made by near relatives to see the +Baron, but they were entirely unsuccessful,--the servants denied him to +every one. So completely did he isolate himself from his former world +that he answered no letters addressed to him except those relating +solely to business. From that time he has led the life of a hermit in +his castle, never leaving his estate, seeing no one except the pastor +and the doctor. In spite of all this, his servants and the labourers +employed upon the estate, as well as the poor of the neighbouring +villages, will stoutly deny that he is a misanthrope; they represent +him as the kindest of masters, the best of landlords. Therefore I would +advise you, Herr von Hahn, to lay stress upon this fact in your future +narratives with regard to the life of the Baron von Hohenwald." + +"I shall most assuredly do so, my dear Count," said the Assessor; +adding, "Justice demands it, and I could not do otherwise, for a love +of justice is one of my characteristics. I make no boast of it, for the +gifts of nature are various; but so it is, and I am indebted to you for +your information with regard to the old Baron von Hohenwald, while I +await with eagerness what you have to tell of the son, Baron Arno." + +"You will have occasion to modify your judgment of him also, for, in +spite of some eccentricities, Arno is one of the best and noblest of +men. You have already laid perhaps more than sufficient stress upon the +faults which prevent mere acquaintances from rightly estimating his +excellence. There is nothing, therefore, for me to do but to explain +how he came to share his father's eccentricity and to withdraw himself +from society." + +"He is a woman-hater, then?" Adèle asked, curiously. + +"I cannot exactly contradict you. He shuns the sex for the fault of an +individual, but I am sure you will judge him gently when you hear his +story. I told you just now that he was a silent and reserved officer. +One of our regiment who had been with him at school described him to me +as the merriest of lads, always ready for any school-boy prank. But the +separation of his parents seems to have made a profound impression upon +him, destroying in him all the joyousness and geniality of youth. After +his mother's return to her father, Baron von Hohenwald recalled Arno to +Hohenwald from school in Dresden, and engaged as tutor for him the +pastor of the village, a very earnest and learned man. Thus the boy +grew up sharing his father's solitude; perhaps his father confided to +him the cause of his lonely life; certain it is that never during our +years of intimacy has Arno mentioned to me his mother's name. His +relations with his father were most intimate and affectionate. Whatever +cause the old Baron had for repudiating his wife, his anger was never +visited upon her children. To them he has always been the most kind and +indulgent of parents,--even to Arno's elder brother, who was much more +of a stranger to him than the others, since he, Werner, was already a +student in the university when Arno was recalled from school. The +visits to Castle Hohenwald of the elder son, who embraced a diplomatic +career, have been of necessity infrequent, so that naturally his +father's heart does not cling to him as to the constant inmates of his +household. + +"His solitary life at Hohenwald fostered in Arno a love of retirement, +which was manifest during his military life in Dresden, whither he went +to join the army, by his father's desire, at the conclusion of his +studies. He would have preferred to embrace one of the learned +professions, but his father's wish was his law in this respect; and he +made a capital officer, gaining both the respect and the esteem of +his comrades and his superiors. He took lodgings in the house of a +rope-maker, and, as he spent all his evenings at home, only leaving it +to fulfil his military duties, he saw more of his hostess and her +pretty daughter than would otherwise have been the case. The daughter, +Rosalie, a young girl of sixteen, had been educated for a teacher, and +her associates at school had taught her the air and bearing of a higher +social rank than her own. How could a young man, who knew nothing of +society and the world, fail to be attracted by a girl of extraordinary +beauty and a fair degree of culture, and with manners far above those +of her class? How could he suspect the utter want of moral training +beneath so fair an exterior, or dream of the arts that were practised +to attract him? You spoke, Herr von Hahn, of a 'love-affair with the +pretty daughter of a rope-maker;' a very grave 'love-affair' it was for +Arno, for he asked the girl in marriage of her parents, and of course +received from them a glad consent to his wishes. Not only this, but, to +the extreme surprise of Rosalie's parents, the old Baron von Hohenwald +did not refuse to sanction the marriage. When Arno went to Hohenwald to +tell his father of his betrothal, the old man was naturally enough +dismayed at the prospect of such a misalliance. He represented to his +son all the consequences of so fatal a step, the disapproval it would +meet with in all quarters, the annihilation of all prospect of +advancement in his profession, the scandal it would cause in +aristocratic circles. But when Arno declared that his word was pledged, +and that nothing would induce him to recall it, his father withdrew all +opposition. He consented to the union, though he refused point-blank to +repair to Dresden to see his son's betrothed, declaring that he should +have time enough to make her acquaintance after the marriage. + +"In Dresden the betrothal made a most disagreeable talk; Arno's +comrades were beside themselves; they adjured him to resign all +thoughts of the girl, hinting that she was quite unworthy of the +sacrifice he was making for her. All that they said was to no purpose, +however; and in several cases Arno was with difficulty prevented from +calling to a bloody account those who dared to remonstrate with him. +The colonel of our regiment, by advice from very high quarters, called +upon Lieutenant von Hohenwald, but his representations availed nothing +against my friend's obstinacy. Arno professed himself ready to request +his dismissal from the army, but not to break his plighted faith. This +offer on his part would doubtless have been accepted but that war with +Prussia was imminent, and the services of so brave an officer as Arno +von Hohenwald could not be spared. It was therefore intimated that the +royal consent to his marriage would be accorded him provided he would +accede to the king's wish that it should be postponed for a year. To +this condition he consented, although the pretty Rosalie pouted and +sighed, and her father and mother were quite indignant at the delay. + +"During the short campaign that now took him from Dresden, Arno wrote +frequently to his betrothed, without, however, receiving a word in +reply, a circumstance for which his trusting nature found abundant +explanation in the irregularity of the Bohemian postal arrangements. At +Königgratz he was severely wounded; indeed, the newspapers reported him +killed, and as such they mourned him for weeks at Castle Hohenwald. +Meanwhile, he was lying unconscious in the hospital. I was in the same +ward with him, only slightly wounded, however; I was soon sufficiently +recovered to go to Dresden, on leave, to regain my strength there. When +I left Arno his condition was still very critical; in one of his +intervals of consciousness he sent a message by me to his betrothed, +which I of course made it my duty to deliver as soon as possible. I +found only the mother at home when I paid my visit to the rope-maker's, +and she shocked and disgusted me by the want of feeling she displayed +upon hearing that Arno was not dead, as had been supposed, but only +dangerously wounded. She even appeared glad to learn that, in the event +of his recovery, it must be months at least before he could come to +Dresden. On the same day, however, all that was strange in her +behaviour was fully explained to me by the physician whom I consulted +with regard to my wound, and who had been a fellow-lodger of Arno's and +his warm friend. As such he felt it his duty to acquaint me, the poor +fellow's most intimate friend, with the wretched story that so closely +concerned him, and that filled me with consternation and disgust. Arno +had been infamously deceived both by his betrothed and by her parents, +whose sole thought had been how to enrich themselves at whatever +expense of honour and honesty. Some time before her betrothal to Arno, +Rosalie had been secretly under the protection of a wealthy +manufacturer in Dresden, her connection with whom, when the report of +Arno's death seemed to her to free her from the necessity for +concealment, became a day's theme for public gossip. She flaunted her +disgrace abroad, meeting with no opposition from her parents in her +downward career. There is no need to dwell upon the details of this +miserable business; the investigations I felt it my duty to my friend +to prosecute fully confirmed the physician's story. This being the +case, what was I to do? Of course, I ought to acquaint Arno with the +facts I had learned, and yet the knowledge of them might kill him in +his present precarious state. I needed advice in the matter, and I +turned for it to my friend's father. I wrote to him telling him all, +begging him to come to Dresden to receive personal confirmation of the +truth of what I wrote, and offering, if he desired it, to go +immediately to Arno and inform him of his betrothed's worthlessness. I +supposed that the Baron would reply to my letter in person, but he did +not come to Dresden; by return of post I received a letter from him, +expressing heart-felt gratitude to me. 'I need,' he wrote, 'no further +confirmation: it is for my son to investigate this matter. Of course he +will not condemn his betrothed without hearing her in her own defence. +I suffer greatly from the gout, and cannot come to Dresden; besides, I +do not think myself justified in forestalling my son in this matter.' +He then begged me to fulfil my promise to go to Arno as soon as +possible and tell him all. 'Do not be afraid,' he said, in conclusion, +'that you will retard my son's recovery in thus performing your duty as +his friend. We Hohenwalds come of a tough stock, and know how to bear +pain; it may perhaps bend, but it will not break us. Believe me when I +tell you this.' + +"He was right, as I found when a few days later, sitting at Arno's +bedside, and finding him quite himself again, I tried to prepare him +gently for what I had to say. He perceived instantly that I was the +messenger of evil tidings, and briefly and firmly bade me speak out and +tell him all that was to be told. I did so, and he listened in gloomy +silence, with downcast eyes, asking no question, giving no sign, except +the convulsive clinching of the hand that lay on the coverlet, of the +storm of emotion raging within him. When I had finished, he looked up +with eyes that seemed to read my very soul. 'I do not thank you,' he +said. 'I cannot tell, before I have seen and learned for myself, +whether you have rendered me the greatest service that one friend can +render to another, or whether I must call you to account as my mortal +foe. Until then we must part. Leave me now. I shall soon seek you out +in Dresden, either to thank or----' + +"I tried to soothe him, but he repulsed me sternly, and I returned to +Dresden without seeing him again. His surgeon informed me that he +considered his condition very alarming, that he feared the worst, and +that at all events it must be months before he could leave the +hospital. So I left him, filled with remorse for having followed the +old Baron's advice; but scarcely four weeks had passed when one day +Arno entered my room in Dresden. He looked terribly,--his dark eyes +gleamed with unnatural brilliancy in his wasted countenance, his right +arm was in a sling, while, although he supported himself upon a stout +cane, he could scarcely stand. When I hurried towards him he sank, half +fainting, into my arms, and I carried rather than led him to a lounge. +He pressed my hand, and, as soon as he could speak, said, 'I thank you; +you told me nothing but the truth, and yet not all the truth. You have +saved me from a horrible fate, and I never will forget it. Add still +further to my obligations to you by granting me one request: I entreat +you never, never again to make the faintest allusion to that wretched +girl.' I promised, and since that day not one word with regard to her +has passed Arno's lips. How he parted from her I never knew. He had +spent two days in ascertaining the truth of the story I had told him, +and then came to my room, which it was long before he left again. His +strength of will had sustained him until his purpose was fulfilled, and +then he was utterly prostrated. For many a night I watched by his bed, +hopeless as to his recovery, but in the end his vigorous constitution +conquered. The old Baron was right. + +"During his convalescence we often discussed our plans for the future. +We both resolved to send in our resignations. I spare you our reasons +for this course of action, for I know that you, my dear Assessor, are +one of Prince Bismarck's most enthusiastic supporters, and that my +lovely cousin Adèle, as the daughter of a Prussian official high in +rank, could hardly appreciate the feeling that made it impossible for +us to continue in the army after peace was concluded. Arno's political +opinions so closely coincided with my own that our plans for the future +were the same. For him, as for me, it was simply impossible to accept +office under government, and so we determined to withdraw altogether +from public life, to study the management of estates and to find our +calling in the future in administering our own. + +"I wrote to my father, and received his speedy approval of my +resolution. Arno, as soon as he was strong enough, set out for +Hohenwald. I proposed to accompany him, but to this he objected, +telling me frankly that he could not invite even his dearest friend to +Hohenwald; that his father's seclusion must be invaded by no stranger. +He attained his wish, however; his father had no objection to make to +his plans; and so we both went to Tharandt to study, and later +travelled through Europe together, until my father's death called me +home. Since then Arno has been living in Hohenwald, where, as he writes +me, he has undertaken the management of his estates. I have not seen +him, for Hohenwald is closed to every one; but we correspond +constantly, and he has promised to pay me a visit shortly." + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +The ladies had listened eagerly to Count Styrum's narrative. Frau von +Sorr, indeed, was so impressed and interested by all that she heard of +the Freiherr that she forgot for the moment the late disagreeable +encounter with Count Repuin. + +Adèle was no less interested. So absorbed was she in her cousin's +account that she did not notice a certain restlessness that had begun +to pervade the guests seated at the numerous small supper-tables. It +was the invariable custom at the President's balls for the daughter of +the house to give the signal for the renewal of dancing, by leaving the +supper-room escorted by her cavalier. This duty the young girl, usually +so attentive a hostess, had wellnigh forgotten, and she would have +continued to question her cousin upon the subject that so interested +her, had not her brother Heinrich reminded her that their guests were +awaiting with some impatience the return to the ball-room. He left the +table where he had been playing the part of host, and, standing behind +his sister's chair, whispered in her ear, "You seem to have forgotten, +Adèle, that it is high time the dancing began again." + +"Why are you in such a hurry? You are not used to be so eager to +dance," Adèle replied, in a tone of some annoyance. + +"I speak for our guests, who have been looking impatiently for your +leaving the supper-room, as you would have seen yourself had not +interest in your conversation with our cousin made you blind and deaf +to everything else. Let me beg you now to bestow a little attention +upon others." + +Although her brother's reproof might have been more amiably +administered, Adèle felt the justice of what he said, and, rising +instantly, begged Count Styrum to conduct her to the ball-room. The +other couples followed her immediately, and the supper-room was soon +emptied of all the guests with the exception of the elderly gentlemen, +for whom the President now produced his choicest Havanas, and whose +enjoyment of the evening only rightly began when, supper finished, they +could linger over their wine with closed doors. + +For those younger men who were not enthusiastic dancers, but who were +fond of high play, Heinrich von Guntram had his own sanctum prepared. +The gaming-table was set out, the champagne duly iced, and he only +waited until the dancing should have begun to assemble there the chosen +few. His father discountenanced gaming, and therefore there had been no +mention of play before supper, but now that the President was occupied +with his special friends, Heinrich dutifully danced once with his +partner at supper, and then led the way to his room, followed by all +those for whom gaming always formed part of an evening's entertainment. + +"Are you tired of dancing, Count Repuin?" he asked the Russian, who +stood in a doorway, gloomily watching Frau von Sorr as she was waltzing +with the Assessor. "Come to my room and you will find a cigar." + +"And cards?" + +"Of course." + +"Have you asked Sorr?" + +"No; you know----" + +"Yes, I know; but you will do me a great favour if you will ask him to +join us." + +This request embarrassed Heinrich; he did not like to spare the Russian +from the card-table, for he always lost, when he did lose, with great +equanimity, but he was naturally disinclined to extend his invitation +to Sorr. "I have already asked Arnim," he said, hesitating, "and I am +afraid----" + +"Of his making a scene with Sorr," the Russian completed his sentence. +"You need not be afraid. Whatever Arnim might say at the club with +regard to Sorr, be sure that beneath your roof he will respect him as +your guest. Indeed, you will greatly oblige me, Herr von Guntram, by +asking Sorr." + +"If you really wish it, of course I will do so," Heinrich replied; "but +I would far rather that the invitation should come from you than from +me. I could then excuse myself to Arnim, upon the plea that not I, but +you, introduced him." + +"Be it so," said the Count. "I will bring him with me, with your +permission. All that Herr von Arnim said was that he would not play +when Sorr kept the bank, and we can easily arrange that. I will not +follow you with Sorr until half an hour has elapsed, and your game will +have been begun when we arrive." + +Heinrich assented; he left the Russian, and, as he passed through the +ball-room, observed that Count Styrum was standing alone, looking on at +the dancers. "You are no dancer, Count," he said, addressing him. "I +think you did not dance before supper either." + +"No, I never dance much; and just now, as you know, I am in mourning." + +"It must bore you to look on at all this spinning and whirling. If you +have not forsworn cards, cousin, you will find in my room a good cigar, +excellent champagne, and a few very clever fellows." + +"Do you play high?" + +"Not at all, not at all. Count Repuin stakes rather large sums +sometimes, but no one else among us does so, except perhaps Herr von +Sorr, when he has any money, which is not often. The rest of us stake +but little; we play merely to kill time." + +Count Styrum cared very little for play. He had now and then won and +lost small sums at a public gaming-table, but it had been more out of +compliance with the wish of some friend who desired his companionship +than from any interest in the game. He would have refused his cousin's +invitation but that he was curious to know more of Herr von Sorr, and +thought that no better opportunity could offer for meeting the man who +was husband to the beautiful woman who had so interested him. He +therefore followed Heinrich, who led the way to the room which he +called his study, and presented him to the young men, mostly officers, +there assembled. Count Repuin and Herr von Sorr were not yet present. + +"Who is to keep the bank?" asked Herr von Saldern, who, impatient to +begin, was already shuffling the cards. + +"Let us take turns; each put in twenty-five thalers." + +"Twenty-five thalers is too little. There are but ten of us, and that +would only make two hundred and fifty thalers,' Herr von Saldern +objected. + +"Come, come, Saldern, you shall not insist upon high play," said Herr +von Arnim. "Let us have a comfortable evening, and not dip too deep in +one another's pockets. I agree to Guntram's proposal, but upon +condition that the bank is kept only by one of those now present." + +"But why?" + +"Because I suspect that Sorr will find his way here before long; he has +a wonderful scent for cards. I have declared that I will not play when +he keeps the bank, and I will run no risks." + +"You ought to be more careful in speaking of Herr von Sorr, my dear +Arnim," Heinrich von Guntram remonstrated. + +"Bah! I don't care that whether or not he hears what I say," said +Arnim, snapping his fingers. "Besides, he ought to feel flattered by my +fear of him. At all events, I am superstitious, and feel sure I shall +lose my money if Sorr keeps the bank; so I repeat my condition, and +will not take part in the game unless it be accepted." + +"Well, well, it is accepted. Let us begin, and let Guntram be banker +first!" the rest cried, impatiently, as they seated themselves at the +table; and Guntram, after receiving twenty-five thalers from each of +the players, began the game as banker. He had hardly drawn the first +card when Count Repuin and Herr von Sorr made their appearance. + +"I knew it!" Herr von Arnim whispered to Count Styrum. "Sorr scents +cards ten miles off; no vulture could be keener. Pray, Herr von Sorr," +he added, aloud, as the latter seemed inclined to take a seat between +Arnim and Count Styrum, "be good enough to find a place the other side +of the Count. I do not like to lose so agreeable a neighbour, and there +really is no room on this side." + +All eyes were turned upon Sorr, and every one looked for some hasty +reply to Arnim's words, which were almost insulting from their tone and +the manner in which they were uttered; but Sorr either did not or would +not perceive intentional offence in them, and, merely saying, "You are +right; there is more room here," placed a chair on the right of Count +Styrum and took his seat in it. + +This propinquity was not undesirable to the Count, who now had the best +possible opportunity for observing the man of whom he had heard so much +from the Assessor. As he did so he could not help saying to himself, +"How could this man ever have won the affection of that charming +woman?" Never had he been more disagreeably impressed by any one, and +yet he could hardly tell why this was so. Herr von Sorr's features were +regular; his fair full beard and curling light hair became him well; +his blue eyes were fine in form and colour; but the expression of both +features and eyes was to the Count most repulsive. An artificial smile +constantly played about his finely-chiselled lips. His eyes never +looked fairly into those of the man whom he addressed; there was an air +of utter weakness and want of character about him; defects which, +beyond all others, Count Styrum despised. + +The game began, and was very moderately conducted. Count Repuin, who +was seated opposite Sorr, beside Heinrich von Guntram, now and then +staked a large sum, which he usually lost. Sorr staked but little; +between him and Count Styrum on the table there was a little heap of +silver and paper money, from which he took his stakes and to which he +added his winnings; beside it lay the pocket-book of the Count, who, +for want of small notes, had one of larger amount changed by the +banker. The game interested him but slightly, and he had abundant +opportunity to watch the players, who, in spite of the small stakes, +gradually displayed an eagerness which was by no means allayed by the +champagne with which the servant in attendance plied them. + +The company began to grow noisy. Heinrich von Guntram, who had handed +over the bank to Herr von Arnim, and who began to stake larger sums, +cursed his luck loudly, and was laughed at by Arnim, who had a ready +word of ridicule for all, and bidden to imitate the composure of Herr +von Sorr, who won or lost with equal grace. + +Herr von Sorr did not seem to hear Arnim's persiflage; his attention +all appeared to be given to the game, and he showed a moderation in +drinking which contrasted strikingly with the conduct of his friend +Count Repuin, who emptied glass after glass of the champagne, which +Sorr refused, confining himself to a few glasses of seltzer water. The +wine, however, appeared to produce no effect upon the Russian; he +seemed not at all excited and observant only of the game. But Styrum, +who watched him narrowly, perceived that this was only seeming; that in +reality Repuin's whole attention was given to Styrum's neighbour, Sorr. + +Thus the game lasted for about an hour, when Repuin rose from the +table. "I have had enough for to-night," he said, gathering up his +money; "and you too, Count Styrum, seem but little interested. Shall we +not, without disturbing the others, take a quiet cigar together in the +next room and discuss--our Italian experiences, for example? I think we +were at Naples at the same time." + +Count Styrum was greatly surprised at being thus addressed. He did not +know the Russian, to whom he had been but formally introduced. What +could be his reason for desiring to converse privately with an entire +stranger in the next room? He must have some special aim in view, +although what this was Styrum could not divine. He hesitated to accept +the invitation of the man whose behaviour towards Frau von Sorr had so +disgusted him, but curiosity to know what the Russian contemplated +conquered his reluctance, and, taking his offered arm, he accompanied +him into the adjoining room, the door of which Repuin closed behind +them. + +"I thank you for accepting my invitation, Count," said the Russian, +from whose face the courteous smile vanished as soon as they were +alone. "You guess, of course, that I have sought this interview with +you for a graver object than any discussion of Italian experiences. I +shall therefore, without circumlocution, come to the point at once with +a question which will doubtless strike you as very strange. Do you know +how much money there was in the pocket-book which lay before you on the +table, and which you have just put into your pocket?" + +"Your question is indeed a strange one!" + +"I will explain it immediately, if you will be so kind as to give me an +answer." + +"I cannot see what possible interest the amount of money that I carry +in my pocket-book can have for you, Count Repuin, but, since you wish +it, I can tell you about how much there was. When I sat down to +play I had five one-hundred-thaler notes in my pocket-book; one of +these I exchanged for two fifties; one of these again I put into my +pocket-book, using the other for the game, so that, besides some small +notes, the amount of which I cannot tell you, since I do not know how +much I won or lost, my pocket-book must contain four hundred-thaler +notes and one fifty." + +"Thank you. I pray your patience for a moment, and you shall understand +my apparently indiscreet question. Be so obliging as to take out your +pocket-book and see whether it contains the sum you have mentioned." + +"Count Repuin, this is a most extraordinary request!" + +"It is; and if you insist, I will instantly explain it to you, but you +would greatly oblige me by first glancing at the contents of your +pocket-book; my demand can easily be complied with." + +Styrum could not avoid granting a request couched in terms so +courteous; he opened his pocket-book and counted his notes, finding, to +his great astonishment, that they numbered only three hundred-thaler +notes in addition to the fifty and the smaller sums. + +"Well, is your money all right?" asked Repuin, who was watching him +with eager interest. + +"No; a hundred-thaler note is missing. It must have dropped on the +floor when I changed the other. I will go look for it." + +"Do not trouble yourself, Count; you will find nothing," the Russian +calmly rejoined. "I will find it for you, and, in doing so, will +entirely explain my apparently unjustifiable curiosity." + +He awaited no reply from Styrum. Opening the door leading into the next +room, he called, in an imperious tone, "Herr von Sorr, one word with +you. Count Styrum wishes to speak to you." + +A livid pallor overspread Sorr's countenance. Did he suspect what was +coming? He started, and one hand sought his breast-pocket, but before +it could reach it it was seized by Count Repuin and held as if in a +vice. "Leave the contents of your pocket untouched," the Russian +whispered in his ear. "Follow me instantly,--I command you!" + +Sorr obeyed, following the Russian like a trembling slave. + +"What is the matter?" was the question that hovered upon the lips of +all, and that was uttered aloud by one of the young men at the table. +Although Repuin's last words had been spoken in a tone so low as to +reach Sorr's ears alone, all had heard his first authoritative summons +and had seen Sorr's confusion as the Count had seized his hand, and all +wondered what was the matter, although only one uttered the question. + +"Something very disagreeable, most certainly," Heinrich von Guntram +made reply. "In my opinion, gentlemen, we had better finish the game +and go back to the ball-room as soon as possible. Let those three end +their business as seems to them best; the less we know of it the +better." + +"But our bank!" Herr von Saldern exclaimed. + +"Arnim, who is banker, will attend to all that, and see that each one +receives his due proportion; will you not, Herr von Arnim?" + +"'Tis already done, my dear fellow. You will take charge of Count +Styrum's share," replied Arnim. "Be quick, gentlemen; here is your +money. I agree with Guntram that the less we hear of what is going on +in the next room the better. Let us go back to the ball-room. This +scandalous scene will at all events convince our friend Guntram how +unfit Sorr is to be admitted to the society of gentlemen, and we shall, +I hope, be spared any association with him in future." + +Count Repuin closed the door of the next room after Sorr, and then, +turning to Count Styrum, said, "I will now give you the solution of the +riddle I have just read you, Count." As he spoke he leaned against the +closed door, and looked with disdainful contempt at the miserable +wretch before him, who would evidently have fled from the room had not +the Russian's tall form barred his egress. + +Styrum had already taken a thorough dislike to Count Repuin, from +witnessing his behaviour towards Fran von Sorr. Now, as he marked the +triumphant malice that mingled with the contempt expressed in his face, +this dislike deepened to what was almost a horror. He divined what +would be the solution of the riddle of the lost money; he remembered +all that the Assessor had said of Sorr, and, recalling the keen +scrutiny that Repuin had bestowed upon Sorr's movements at the +gaming-table, he could not doubt why the Russian had summoned the pale, +trembling wretch before him. Still, he could not understand the triumph +with which Repuin was regarding the detected thief. Was he not, +according to the Assessor's report, the man's intimate friend? What +reason could he have for sacrificing him merely to restore some lost +money to a stranger? This riddle Styrum could not solve, for it was +incredible that Repuin should act thus, simply from indignation at +Sorr's dishonesty. + +After a moment's pause the Russian turned to Styrum: "Do you now +guess, Count, where your hundred-thaler note will be found? You do not +reply? Well, I will tell you; it is at present in Herr von Sorr's +breast-pocket, whither it was conveyed from your pocket-book, with +immense dexterity it is true, but not dexterously enough to elude my +vigilance. He is the thief,--does he dare to deny it?" + +He did not dare. Repuin's words seemed to annihilate him, all the more +that they were uttered by a man whom he had thought his friend. Pale +and trembling, unable to articulate a word in self-defence, he bowed +before the terrible fate that had thus overtaken him. All power of +resistance seemed crushed out of him. In silence he awaited his +sentence. + +"Give back the stolen note to Count Styrum," the Russian ordered. + +Again he obeyed; he was incapable of thought,--Repuin's iron will ruled +him irresistibly. Automatically be put his hand into his breast-pocket, +took out the note, and handed it to Count Styrum. + +"I have kept my word," Repuin continued. "You are again in possession +of the missing note. We must now consider what is to be done with this +scoundrel. It is your part, as the sufferer by his theft, to decide +this. Shall we deliver him over to justice and a jail? He is ripe for +it; this is not his first crime of the kind, as his skill in committing +it testifies. Let us take the gentlemen in the next room into council, +and send for the police. What say you, Count?" + +"For God's sake, have mercy upon me!" With this cry Sorr threw himself +at the Russian's feet. But Repuin thrust him from him. "Hands off, +scoundrel! To me you appeal in vain. There stands your judge!" + +He pointed as he spoke to Count Styrum, and to him the wretched Sorr +turned with clasped hands. "Spare me, Count!" he implored. "I have +given you back the note. Have pity!" + +Pity for the worthless creature who crawled thus in the dust after his +detection Count Styrum could not feel. Why should he have any +compassion upon the miserable worldling who had squandered his means in +every kind of low dissipation and was now nothing more nor less than a +common thief? He deserved mercy less than did the criminal whom want +and misery had driven to steal. It was his duty to banish him from the +society of honest men and deliver him over to a just punishment. + +And yet, just at this moment, there presented itself to Count Styrum's +mind a vision of the lovely young creature who, without a suspicion of +the horrible fate impending over her, had but a short time before +listened to his words with such interest. Would not a just sentence +pronounced upon her husband crush her also? And Adèle,--Frau von Sorr +was her dearest friend. What a blow her misery would inflict upon +Adèle! + +Thus Styrum was still undecided between the consideration he felt for +Frau von Sorr and for his cousin's peace of mind and the evident duty +of delivering over a thief to justice, when suddenly an idea occurred +to him that caused him to waver no longer. What reason had Count Repuin +for convicting his friend of a theft? Was he weary of a friendship +which, as the Assessor reported, cost him so much money? Had the +disdainful repulse he had but now received from Frau von Sorr incited +him to revenge? Or did he hope by ruining the husband to plunge the +wife into such misery that she would in the end be accessible to his +degrading advances? He looked quite capable of so devilish a scheme. + +"Decide, Count!" Repuin said, hastily. "What is done must be done +quickly!" + +"I have decided," Count Styrum replied. "We owe it to the hospitality +extended to us beneath this roof to avoid a scandal which would be most +painful to my uncle and to my cousin Adèle." + +"And you will let the fellow go scot-free?" Repuin asked, gloomily. + +"If we allow him to escape the legal penalty of his villainy, his sole +punishment must be the memory of this hour, which, I trust, may serve +him as a warning." + +"Oh, Count Styrum, how shall I thank you!" exclaimed Sorr, to whose +cheeks the colour began to return, as he attempted, but vainly, to take +Styrum's hand. + +"Spare me your acknowledgments," said Styrum, turning from him with +disgust. "It is owing to no sympathy for you, but to consideration for +the society in which I find you, that you are spared the punishment you +deserve. Go,--take my advice, and leave my uncle's house on the +instant. I trust I shall never meet you again beneath his roof." + +Sorr would immediately have followed this counsel, but it was +impossible, for Repuin, who was still leaning with folded arms against +the closed door, did not stir. The Russian's eyes were gloomily fixed +on the ground; evidently he was dissatisfied with Styrum's decision, +and was considering whether or how he should combat it. As Sorr +approached him he looked up. "You are in too great a hurry," he said, +disdainfully. "You and I are not yet quits; we have a few points to +discuss that would hardly interest Count Styrum. I left the decision in +this matter to you, Count, since you were the injured party, and I bow +to it, but I cannot suffer this man longer to frequent a society in +which he is regarded as my friend, and where I must continually +encounter him. The means that I shall use to prevent this will depend +upon the result of a private conversation, which I must insist upon +having with Herr von Sorr." + +There was in these words so direct a request to be left alone with Sorr +that Count Styrum could not but comply; he had no right to remain, +although an imploring look from Sorr seemed to entreat him to do so. +With a slight inclination to Repuin, who instantly made way, and even +opened the door, he left the room. + +Scarcely was he gone when Sorr raised his head. The degradation of the +moment when his villainy had been unmasked in the presence of a +stranger had robbed him of all power of self-defence; now that he found +himself alone with the Russian he was once more able to speak; his +wrath he might hope to appease. Although Repuin's savagely passionate +nature had always impressed him with a kind of terror, he thought he +could devise a means to pacify him, difficult as it might be. Extreme +caution was necessary,--in Count Styrum's presence this means could not +be mentioned, but now, let him but soothe his antagonist with hopes of +the fulfilment of his wild desires and all might yet be well. + +"How could you--you of all men--act as you have just done, Count?" Sorr +began. "How have I deserved such treatment at your hands? You know how +devoted I am to your interests, how grateful for all you have done for +me,--that I should think no sacrifice too great to testify this +gratitude to you, and yet you--you it is who would ruin me!" + +Repuin looked down with haughty contempt upon the cringing figure +before him. He had spent months in studying this man, and his servile, +degraded soul was as an open book before him; he knew the precise value +of all these asseverations. + +"Spare me your protestations, Herr von Sorr," he replied, "they will +avail you nothing. I did not detain you here to listen to your +assurances of friendship and gratitude, but to put a stop to any such. +I have lost my interest in the game which you and your beautiful wife +have been playing with me. I must be done with it. Understand me,--I +refuse to be any longer either your dupe or your wife's." + +"I do not understand you. I----" + +"You shall learn to do so. I know you. I have scrutinized your every +action for months past; your very thoughts are laid bare to me; I knew, +when I brought you to Guntram's room to-night, that you would deliver +yourself into my hands, either by cheating or, as has been the case, by +theft. I knew when Count Styrum left his pocket-book open before you +how it would all end." + +There was an expression of absolute horror on Sorr's face as he +listened to these words. That Repuin's treatment of him was due to no +sudden impulse, no outbreak of passion, but was the result of a cool, +well-considered scheme, robbed him of all hope, and he stood before his +savage persecutor and judge an image of despairing guilt. + +A cruel smile hovered upon Repuin's lips; he was satisfied with the +effect his words had produced; without awaiting a reply, he continued: +"You thought to play with me, Herr von Sorr; you were but a tool in my +hands,--a tool to be thrown away whenever it pleased me. I should have +done so long since, but for certain considerations. I might have +unmasked the thief in the little affair with that other lost note of +Herr von Saldern's, which I see you remember, but the fruit was not +quite ripe, and I disdained to shake the tree. I am not fond of violent +measures. I prepare them for my use, but I use them only in cases of +absolute necessity. So long as I hoped to win your wife to listen to my +suit, and to purchase her husband's easy compliance with money and a +show of friendship, I allowed you to go your way. I thought you wise +enough to use your influence with your wife in my favour. I paid you +well for such service; but to-day she has shown me that it is vain to +attempt to proceed upon a friendly footing. She has offended, insulted +me; the consequences be upon her head. For what has happened to-night +you may thank your beautiful wife." + +"What--what has happened?" Sorr exclaimed, marking with terror the +savage gleam in the Russian's eyes. + +"Your wife repulsed me with scorn and left me, when, after the dance +to-night, I whispered a few passionate words in her ear; and although +by agreement with you she was engaged to me for supper, she refused my +escort, and took the arm of that fool, Von Hahn!" + +"Impossible!" exclaimed Sorr. "When she promised me so faithfully! She +shall atone for it; she shall make you ample reparation!" + +"If your influence with your wife is so powerful, you should have +exerted it earlier," Repuin said, with cruel scorn. + +"How was I to know that Lucie would break her word? But you shall have +satisfaction; I swear you shall. I do not deserve that you should +punish me thus for Lucie's actions. I am your most devoted friend; ask +of me what you will, and you shall be obeyed." + +"I look for no less from you," Repuin replied, "though I certainly do +not reckon upon your friendship or gratitude, but upon your fear. That +you may know clearly what you have to expect, I will tell you plainly +what I meant, and still mean to do. Entire frankness is the best policy +between us. I love your wife passionately, madly; I have sworn that she +shall be mine at all hazards. Though I should commit murder in pursuit +of her, she shall be mine. You must separate from your wife. She must +be left to me." + +Sorr fairly staggered. He had, indeed, long known that Count Repuin +loved his beautiful wife; he had built upon this love his hopes of +mollifying the Count; but for this infamous demand he was not prepared. +He had often made shameful capital of his wife's exquisite beauty +when young men of fortune were to be decoyed to his house and to the +gaming-table; his dissipated life had long since destroyed in him all +ennobling affection for her; he felt no jealousy upon seeing her +surrounded by admirers; he had even exulted when the wealthy Russian +had been evidently conquered by her charms. And yet he was horrified by +Repuin's demand; to comply with it would banish him from the world in +which he had hitherto lived; who would take the slightest notice of him +if Lucie were no longer his wife? + +"What you ask is impossible!" he gasped, at last. + +"Do not dare to talk of 'impossible' to me!" the Russian angrily +exclaimed. "I require obedience of you, and if you refuse I will hand +you over to justice. Count Styrum, if summoned to court as a witness, +must tell what he knows, however unwilling he may be to do so. Your +fate in such a case is certain. Your only alternative would be to send +a bullet through your brains before you were arrested. If, however, you +consent to my will, I will not only be silent, and engage that Count +Styrum shall be silent, but I will also pay you ten thousand thalers +down. You shall receive the money on the day when your wife becomes +mine and we start for the Italian tour. You see I am magnanimous. +I buy your wife of you when I might force you to give her up to me. +Choose,--your fate is in your own hands!" + +As Sorr looked up at the Count's face filled with savage resolve, he +felt that all hope was lost. "My wife will never consent to it," he +said, with hesitation. + +"That would be unfortunate for you; but I am sure she will yield if you +tell her the true state of the case. Describe to her her future as the +wife of a convict. How will she live when her present support is +closely confined behind bolts and bars? Upon the other hand paint to +her the delights of a life by my side. There is no wish that she can +frame that it will not be my joy to gratify. If the fair Lucie is not +insane, I think that a just representation of the state of affairs--and +this must be your task--will soon convince her of what choice she had +best make." + +"You do not know my wife," Sorr said, still hesitatingly,--he was +afraid of arousing the Count's anger, and yet he dared not keep back +the truth: "her pride transcends belief; she would prefer the most +fearful fate, even death itself, to a life with you." + +"Exert all your eloquence, Herr von Sorr, and I am convinced you will +succeed. Remember the sword that is suspended above your head, and that +you alone can avert its fall. But enough for the present; you will now +return to the ball-room, only to leave it immediately with your wife +upon whatever pretext you may devise,--a sudden indisposition or +something of the kind. I owe it to Count Styrum that you spend not an +instant longer than is absolutely necessary beneath this roof. You will +inform your wife this very night of what has been agreed upon between +us. I will wait no longer than to-morrow morning for the result. Come +to me early and let me know what it is, and I will decide what is next +to be done." + +"Count----" + +"Not another word! Your part is to obey; woe upon you if you fail! I +shall expect you to-morrow morning by eight o'clock at the latest!" + +With a haughty, scarcely perceptible nod, the Russian withdrew, +and finding Heinrich's room--whence the gamblers had long since +departed--empty, returned to the ball-room. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +After supper there had not been the amount of gayety that was wont +to distinguish the President's balls. The young people had begun to +dance, and the elderly folk to enjoy the delights of card-room and +smoking-room, when there was whispered through the assemblage a rumour +that interfered greatly with the merriment of the evening. It was first +heard in the ball-room; whence it originated no one could exactly tell, +but there it was, flying from lip to lip. The younger men were seen to +crowd around Guntram and the officers from Heinrich's room, whom they +plied with questions, and although it had been agreed that no mention +was to be made of the disagreeable circumstance that had occurred +there, the dark rumour was not long in taking shape. + +How it came about that first the elder ladies and then the younger +portion of the assemblage learned it no one could tell, but it +circulated everywhere in the ball-room, and finally penetrated to the +smoking-room, where the older men left their cigars and cards and +returned to the ball-room to ascertain what had happened. + +They found the greatest excitement prevailing there; the band was still +playing, it is true, but there were only a few couples on the floor, +and these danced without enthusiasm, and apparently merely for form's +sake. + +And what was it all about? No one could precisely say. Had Count Repuin +actually boxed Herr von Sorr's ears in Heinrich's room and called him a +cheat and thief? Oh, no! it was not Count Repuin. He had interfered +when Count Styrum, who had been robbed by Sorr, would have chastised +the thief, and high words had passed between the two Counts. It would +certainly end in a duel. This was the tale told to Adèle by the wife of +Major Gansauge; but Frau von Rose, who stood by, declared that she had +it from the best authority--her informant had begged that his name +might not be mentioned--that there was not a word of truth in the whole +story. It all came from Herr von Arnim's recklessly accusing Herr von +Sorr of playing unfairly. Poor Herr von Sorr was very likely not so +much to blame; he played high, to be sure, but, good heavens! plenty of +people did that nowadays, and Arnim was probably irritated because +Sorr's luck was better than his own. He had lost his temper, accused +Sorr of cheating; Sorr had naturally resented it; a duel was impending; +Count Styrum was to be Arnim's second, while Count Repuin was to act as +poor Herr von Sorr's friend. It was outrageous that such an affair +should disturb the gayety of one of the dear President's charming +balls. Poor dear Lucie von Sorr was most to be pitied, for every one +knew that Arnim was the best shot in the world and always killed his +man. But there was Count Styrum just come back to the ball-room; he +could tell all about it, if he only would. + +Adèle listened with impatience to the contradictory statements of the +two ladies. They were both noted gossips, and equally untrustworthy, +but there must be something wrong, else how could the report of some +kind of scene in Heinrich's room have circulated everywhere, even +reaching the ears of Frau von Sorr, who, in some agitation, had begged +her friend to discover the truth of the matter for her? + +Heinrich, to whom his sister had first turned for information, had +refused, somewhat roughly, to give her any satisfaction. "Old women's +gossip," was his only reply, as he turned his back upon her. His manner +only served to convince Adèle that there was some truth in the rumours +she had heard, and anxiety for her friend Lucie induced her to pay some +heed to the talk of the two old ladies in hopes of learning some fact +of consequence. Her only satisfaction had been in hearing that her +cousin, Count Styrum, could give her the information she desired. It +was not easy, however, to enter into conversation with him, for +immediately upon his return to the ball-room he was surrounded by eager +questioners, each curious to know all that he could tell. In her +friend's interest, however, Adèle was brave. She walked towards the +group of gentlemen, who instantly made way for the lovely daughter of +their host, and, accosting Styrum, said, "Cousin Karl, let me beg you +to conduct me to a seat." + +The Count instantly offered her his arm, and, while conducting her +through the room, quietly remarked, "I suspect why you have sought me. +You want to know the truth with regard to the occurrence in Heinrich's +room, concerning which such wild rumours have got abroad with +inconceivable rapidity. Am I not right?" + +"Yes, cousin; I implore you to tell me the whole truth. My poor Lucie +is quite beside herself with anxiety. Only see how pale she is! Never +was there a woman so self-controlled as she. Look, she is smiling now, +as she must so often when her heart is almost breaking; but she cannot +quite conceal her torturing fear that something terrible has occurred. +Take me to a seat beside her, that you may tell us both what has +happened." + +"That I cannot do," the Count replied, gravely. "I will willingly tell +you all that I know, but I cannot describe to that most unfortunate +woman the disgraceful scene which I was forced to witness. You are her +most intimate friend, and yet I doubt if even you will be able to tell +her the whole truth. With this I can acquaint only yourself, your +father, and your brother." + +Adèle looked around; she noted the curious eyes fixed upon the Count +and herself; she knew that it would create gossip if she indulged in a +longer _tête-à-tête_ with her cousin, if she withdrew with him from the +throng; but she would brave it all for the sake of her poor Lucie. "Let +us go out upon the balcony," she said; "there is no one there at +present; the gentlemen are all gathered about Heinrich and his +friends." + +It excited no little observation in the ball-room when Styrum led his +cousin out upon the balcony. + +"Look, look!" the major's wife whispered to her crony, Frau von Rose. +"That is a little too strong. I know they are relatives and all that, +but it is possible to presume too much upon such relationships. Out +alone on the balcony with him! Who would ever have thought it of the +little prude!" + +"What are you thinking of, my dear?" Frau von Rose whispered in her +turn. "Adèle is as good as betrothed to the Assessor von Hahn. I have +it from a trustworthy source." + +"Indeed! So much the more reason why she should not be out on the +balcony alone with her handsome cousin. It is scandalous! Who would +have thought of such things happening here at the President's! First +this terrible Sorr story, and then such conduct on Adèle's part." + +"But, my dear, we advised her to ask information of the Count." + +"We?---- I beg pardon; I never should have advised any such thing; and +if I remember rightly, you only mentioned that the Count could tell all +about the matter if he would; you never hinted a word of advice. But of +course Fräulein Adèle will blame you if her father scolds her for such +behaviour, and very unseemly behaviour it is for a young girl to talk +to a gentleman alone in a dark night upon a balcony." + +"I myself do not think it exactly the thing, but there's no great harm +in it. The balcony is as light as day from the lights in this room. You +can see them both quite plainly. Look, Adèle is leaning against the +iron balustrade, and the Count is standing at a respectful distance +talking to her. He is telling her all about Herr von Sorr, it is plain +to be seen; and at any rate, my dear, what affair is it of ours if +Fräulein Adèle finds it convenient to talk more confidentially to her +cousin on the balcony than she could here in the ballroom? She will +know the particulars of the affair when she comes back, and we will +make her tell us all about it." + +While the elderly ladies in the ball-room were thus unfavourably +discussing the interview on the balcony, Adèle was listening with +painful interest to her cousin's story. She had long known of the evil +reports circulated with regard to Sorr; they had been matter of +discussion in the President's family circle, and her father had often +declared that he could not ask to his house a man whose reputation was +so bad. It was only in compliance with Adèle's entreaty that Sorr had +been invited to this birthday ball, and this only when Heinrich, upon +being consulted, had insisted that the silly stories concerning Sorr +were false, that they were all inventions of Lieutenant von Arnim, who +hated Sorr. + +Adèle, too, had hitherto given little credit to what was said of Sorr; +she knew that her friend led a very unhappy life with her husband, that +his habits were extremely dissipated, and that he neglected his wife +shamefully, but that he had ever been engaged in any dishonourable +transaction she did not believe. Nevertheless, at times, when Lucie +seemed oppressed with a sadness which no words of hers could relieve or +lighten, doubts had occurred to her; doubts which, however, since Lucie +never accused her husband, nor even alluded to him, the young girl had +resolutely banished, defending Sorr against her father's suspicions, +and treating all evil rumour concerning him as idle gossip. + +Now she knew the truth; and her heart seemed to stand still as she +learned that all that had been hitherto whispered of evil against Sorr +was exceeded by the facts,--her Lucie's husband was a detected thief! + +"My poor, poor Lucie!" she said, with infinite sadness, when Styrum had +finished his narrative. "What will be done now? What does that dreadful +Repuin mean to do?" + +"I am not sufficiently familiar with the relations which have existed +hitherto between Sorr and Count Repuin to answer that question," Styrum +replied, "but I must confess that my first thought was that Repuin had +brought about this catastrophe intentionally. I may do the Count +injustice, for he acted as any man of honour would have done in his +place. He could not suppress his knowledge of Sorr's theft, but he +acquainted me with it with great tact, leaving it to me to spare the +thief or to bring him to justice, and he acquiesced in my decision, +that out of consideration for your father the fellow must be let alone. +And no one can blame him for wishing to adjust without my assistance +his own relations with Sorr, who has hitherto passed in society for his +friend. He has only done his duty, and that in the most honourable +manner. All this I admit, and yet I cannot help suspecting that he +acted in accordance with a deep-laid scheme and in furtherance of his +own evil designs. I can never forget the look the man cast upon Frau +von Sorr when you took your friend's part so bravely, and the memory of +it fills me with distrust of him. Therefore I had intended to tell you +as soon as possible all that happened, and am especially grateful to +you for this opportunity to do so, since you are in a position to judge +whether any danger threatens your friend. She certainly must have told +you much that will enable you to know this." + +"Oh, if she only had!" said Adèle. "Unfortunately, it is not so. I love +Lucie like a sister. When we were at school together she confided +everything, even her very thoughts, to me: we had no secrets from each +other; but I no longer possess her confidence. I know she loves me as +well as ever, and if she could confide in any one, she would confide in +me and let me share and soothe her sorrow. Therefore I cannot but hope +for a return of the old intimacy. After her marriage I had not seen her +for a long time, and our correspondence had flagged, when something +more than a year ago she suddenly came here with her husband to live. +Her first visit was to me, and I was indescribably happy to see her +once more. She showed me all her old affection, but not her old +confidence. I soon perceived that she was very unhappy,--she could not +prevent my seeing that,--but to all my questions she returned evasive +answers, and I only judged from common report that her marriage was an +unhappy one, she has never spoken of it to me. And of her relations +with Count Repuin I know only what my own observation has taught me. He +has been for months Sorr's most intimate friend; they seemed +inseparable. Sorr lives very quietly, he never gives large parties, but +he frequently entertains a few friends, among whom, Heinrich has told +me, Repuin is always to be found. He has paid assiduous court to my +poor Lucie, never heeding the almost offensive coldness of her manner +to him. I know how abhorrent his attentions are to her, although she +has never mentioned him to me: I can read it in her eyes. This is all I +know; you were a witness of the odious scene at supper to-night, it +aroused in you the suspicion that troubles me also. My poor, dear +Lucie! I am in despair at not knowing how to advise or assist her. I +entreat you, dear Karl, to help me; my Lucie deserves to find faithful +friends in her terrible misery. Tell me, what will happen,--what can we +do?" + +As she spoke, Adèle looked up at her cousin, her large, dark eyes +glowing with entreaty and filled with tears. How beautiful her eyes +were!--almost more beautiful now when their brilliancy was dimmed by +those "kindly drops" than when sparkling with youthful gayety. + +Count Styrum was wonderfully impressed,--Adèle's cordial confidence +enchanted him. Frau von Sorr had already interested him; he was now +resolved to do everything in his power to aid her in her misery. +Adèle's friend could not be the accomplice of her unworthy husband. + +But what could he do? He pondered this question in vain. "What will +happen?" To this he could make no reply; he could not imagine what +Repuin contemplated doing. + +"You do not reply, Karl?" Adèle asked. "Will you not help me to protect +my poor Lucie from that horrible Count Repuin, to stand by her in her +misery?" + +"With all my heart I will, my dear Adèle," he replied, taking her hand +and kissing it so fervently that the girl withdrew it with a blush. + +"I accept your promise," she said; "we are now allies, and I am +convinced that you will be a help indeed. How we can aid my friend I do +not yet know, but I am sure that in her great need she will accord me +her full confidence, and appeal to me for help; then, Karl, I will +summon you and remind you of your promise." + +"And I will come. Ask of me what you will, you shall not ask in vain." + +"I thank you from my soul; you inspire me with courage and hope. But +look, cousin, there comes Repuin, followed by Sorr. Take me to Lucie +quickly,--I cannot leave her alone!" + +Repuin, as he entered the ball-room, looked around for Heinrich von +Guntram. To reach him he was obliged to traverse the entire length of +the room, and he waited several minutes to do this, since he did not +wish to disturb the dancers. He paused in the doorway and let Sorr pass +him, saying as he did so, "Good-night, my dear fellow," in a tone +evidently intended to be heard by all about him. "I hope," he added, +"that your terrible headache will be gone by tomorrow. Indeed, you +ought to consult a physician. Pray give my regards to your wife." + +He held out his hand to Sorr with a friendly nod, and then, turning to +Assessor von Hahn, he forestalled the question which that worthy was +about to address to him, by saying, "I am sorry for poor Sorr; he seems +to me in a very bad way. See, Herr von Hahn, how pale he is! He only +drank a couple of glasses of champagne, and they have given him a +racking headache." + +"Is his present ghastly appearance entirely the effect of champagne?" +the Assessor asked, with a slight laugh. + +"What else could it be? Do you think he can be seriously ill? I trust +not." + +"It seems, Count, that your great kindness of heart prompts you to +endeavour to hush up this ugly story. I admire your amiability. I am +naturally kind-hearted myself. I make no boast of it,--the gifts of +nature are variously distributed; but it enables me to understand you, +Count, and it makes it all the more painful for me to tell you that you +never will succeed in crushing this scandal,--nothing else if talked of +throughout the room. See how every one looks at Sorr, how his most +intimate acquaintances avoid him, turning away as he passes them. Your +kindness can avail that man nothing, Count; he is lost, branded, and he +knows it; a guilty conscience speaks in every feature of his face." + +Repuin had observed the same thing, and exulted to see the contempt +with which Sorr was treated by those of his acquaintance whom he was +obliged to pass in gaining his wife's side. What had taken place in +Heinrich's room was already known here, then. The young officers had +blabbed; they could not have told all, for they did not know all, but +enough had been said to affect greatly Sorr's reputation. + +This was just what he had intended, that Heinrich and his companions +should suspect Sorr's guilt without being sure of it. He had hoped to +find the ball-room filled with dark rumours, and his wishes were +gratified. Sorr would now be convinced that it needed but a word from +Repuin to annihilate him, and that his only hope for the future lay in +implicit obedience to the Russian's commands. + +He, however, feigned to be greatly amazed. "I do not understand you, +Herr von Hahn," he said. "What ugly story is it that my discretion is +to crush? Why should poor Sorr have a guilty conscience in addition to +a bad headache? What has he done?" + +"That you know best, Count." + +"I am but a poor hand at guessing riddles, and must beg you not to +propound them to me, but to tell me plainly what has happened. I must +request an explanation in the interest of my friend Sorr." + +The Assessor looked at the Count with a very puzzled air. He really did +not know what to think. Arnim had given him a succinct account of what +had taken place in Heinrich's study, and had added his opinion that +"Sorr was now done for," since Repuin had doubtless detected him in +cheating at the game. Arnim's trustworthiness was not to be questioned, +but how did his story tally with the Count's behaviour? Surely Repuin +would not call a detected cheat his friend? + +The Assessor did not know what to believe; he was in a very +disagreeable position. The only way out of it for him was to tell the +Count what reports were current in the ballroom, and thus justify his +over-hasty expressions. + +"A most annoying misunderstanding," was the Russian's comment upon his +communication. "I cannot, Herr von Hahn, explain the occurrence to you, +since it concerns a private matter of Count Styrum's, to whom I have +promised silence, but this rumour must be contradicted. Pray come with +me, we will make use of this pause in the dance to seek out Herr +Heinrich von Guntram, and I will explain matters as far as I may in his +presence." + +Repuin then walked directly across the room to Heinrich, the Assessor +following him, joined by several of the gentlemen, who guessed Repuin's +intention and were curious to know more of the scene in Heinrich's +study. Thus the Russian was surrounded by quite an audience when he +reached Heinrich, who was standing near the door of the balcony talking +earnestly with Arnim and Herr von Saldern. + +Heinrich replied but coldly to the Count's friendly address. He was +very indignant that Repuin should have been the cause of so unpleasant +a scandal beneath his father's roof upon this special evening; a +scandal that had called forth a decided rebuke from the President with +regard to the gaming in his son's apartment. He was also annoyed at the +indiscretion that had given rise to such disagreeable rumours, and he +visited this annoyance upon the Count, although he had but just entered +the room and could not possibly have originated any of them. + +Repuin took no notice of his cool reception. "I am sorry to disturb +you, Herr von Guntram," he said, in a loud voice, "but I am forced to +do so by a very unfortunate misunderstanding, which appears to be +wide-spread. It concerns a conversation which took place between your +cousin, Count Styrum, Herr von Sorr, and myself. May I beg you to ask +Count Styrum to step here for one moment, that I may have his +ratification of a declaration which I wish to make in your presence?" + +Heinrich was surprised at the conciliatory tone adopted by the Russian, +and he could not refuse to accede to his request. He beckoned to Count +Styrum, who had returned from conducting Adèle to Frau von Sorr, and +was standing near the balcony quietly surveying the assemblage. + +"I have to my regret learned from Herr von Hahn." Repuin began when +Count Styrum had drawn near, "that the aforesaid conversation between +the Count, Herr von Sorr, and myself has given rise to various +groundless reports, which I feel it my duty to contradict, in order +that the serenity of this charming entertainment may not be disturbed +by any silly gossip. I therefore declare, and beg all the gentlemen who +hear me to take notice of what I say, that the conversation between +Count Styrum, Herr von Sorr, and myself, which has given rise to all +this talk, related solely to private personal matters, and ended, I +trust, entirely to Count Styrum's satisfaction, so that we agreed to +forget the whole affair, and not to speak of it again. I beg Count +Styrum kindly to confirm this statement." + +Styrum did not immediately reply. Could he confirm Repuin's words? They +contained no falsehood, and yet they were calculated to deceive the +hearers, who would infer from them that the question was of a personal +disagreement, which, after a friendly adjustment, was to be forgotten. +Did they not imply a justification of Sorr which Styrum neither could +nor would ratify? What was Repuin's motive in thus gently treating the +thief whom so short a time before he had seemed unwilling to allow to +escape? + +"May I ask for the confirmation of my words, Count?" Repuin asked +again, on noticing Styrum's hesitation. "Have I not spoken truly?" + +"What you have said is true," said Styrum, who could hesitate no +longer, "but it might give rise to a further misunderstanding, which is +under all circumstances to be avoided. I therefore add that there was +no question of any quarrel." + +"I did not mean to imply that there was, and state expressly that there +was no talk of a quarrel between Count Styrum and Herr von Sorr. I +believe this affair may now be considered as dismissed." + +"Not quite, Count," Lieutenant von Arnim here interposed. "The affair +has unfortunately acquired such publicity that it must be pursued a +little farther. If you desire to re-establish as a man of honour Herr +von Sorr, whom in the presence of many witnesses you treated as no +gentleman should be treated by another, you must do it rather more +formally. Your conduct towards Herr von Sorr exposed him to suspicions +which nothing that either Count Styrum or you have said suffices to +allay. I have no desire, Count, to meddle in your private affairs; I do +not care to know what was the nature of the conversation to which you +summoned Herr von Sorr after so unceremonious a fashion. I shall be +quite content--so shall we all--if you and Count Styrum will simply +declare 'We consider Herr von Sorr a man of honour.' Let me beg you to +make this declaration, Count Styrum." + +"I do not feel justified in making such a declaration," Styrum replied. + +"Nor do I," Repuin added, "since I do not admit that any one has a +right to demand of me a statement as to the honour of a gentleman." + +"Your opinion is made sufficiently plain by your refusal," Arnim said, +very gravely. Then, turning to Heinrich von Guntram, he added, "I +think, Guntram, that you now owe it to yourself, to your family, and to +all of us to require this Herr von Sorr to leave a society where there +is no place for him." + +"I protest against such a construction of my words!" exclaimed Repuin, +with a dark glance at the lieutenant. + +"No quarrelling, gentlemen, let me entreat," Heinrich von Guntram +interposed. "We have had enough, and more than enough, annoyance for +to-night. Have some regard for my father and my sister, Arnim, and +recall your demand, compliance with which would only provoke a fresh +scandal." + +"There is no occasion for farther discussion," said Repuin. "Herr and +Frau von Sorr are just leaving the room. I advised Sorr to go, he +complained of a headache." + +"A very prudent proceeding on Herr von Sorr's part," sneered Arnim. "He +relieves our friend Guntram of a disagreeable duty. For the present the +matter is settled. You must decide for yourself, Guntram, how to act in +future with regard to this precious Herr von Sorr. Do not, gentlemen, +allow this miserable affair to disturb our enjoyment any longer. The +music is just beginning; let us at least have one more dance." + +To this all were agreed, even Count Repuin, who was not sorry to be +relieved from duty as Sorr's champion. Everything was taking the course +he desired; his victim could no longer frequent this society; he was +delivered over into the hands of his enemy. + +Herr and Frau von Sorr had indeed left the ball-room before Arnim's +last words. Their suburban dwelling was not far from the President's, +it took scarcely a quarter of an hour to drive thither, but to Lucie +the time appeared an eternity. + +She leaned back among the cushions, whilst her husband looked out of +the carriage window. Not a word did he address to his wife during the +drive, nor did she once break the silence. She did not wish to question +him to provoke an explanation, she would fain have avoided any such +altogether. She knew nothing decided with regard to what had occurred +at the President's. A few remarks, not intended for her ear, had hinted +at a most disagreeable scene, in which her husband had been implicated, +and in her anxiety she had applied to Adèle for information. Her +friend, however, had no time to impart this, for scarcely had Count +Styrum conducted her to Lucie when Sorr made his appearance, stating +that he was not well, and that he wished to leave immediately, without +any formal adieux. + +A few words only Adèle had contrived to whisper into her friend's ear, +few but significant. "Courage, dearest Lucie; remember, I am your +devoted friend; trust me; whatever happens, I will stand by you." + +What did these words mean? Lucie ran over in her mind the events of the +evening, but found no explanation of them. Adèle could not know how +insulting had been Count Repuin's presumption, or how sharply he had +been reproved. But if she did not know, she perhaps suspected it, and +therefore had her championship of her friend been so eager. + +Had the Count perhaps had a quarrel with her husband? They had returned +to the ball-room together, the Count with his head carried haughtily, +Sorr, on the contrary, with an air that seemed to Lucie to express +profound despair. Just so pale and downcast had he looked on the day +when he told her that the last remnant of his property had been lost at +the gaming-table, and that not his money only, but also his honour +would be sacrificed if he could not quickly find means to pay his +gambling debts. He threatened to put a bullet through his head if Lucie +did not sign a power of attorney that placed her maternal inheritance, +her whole fortune, at his disposal. He had promised then never to play +again, and to alter his whole manner of life. + +Lucie had long known that he had broken his word, that he had played +away her property also, and she only called this scene to mind now +because he had the same air of utter despair that had characterized him +on this evening when he had followed Repuin into the ball-room. + +What had happened? Should she ask him? No! Whither could such questions +lead? He had long ceased to tell her the truth; and even were he to do +so, she might well wish it untold. Even to guess at the dark ways by +which he maintained his position in society was misery enough. Why +should she wish to know the terrible truth? He must have been playing +again; Repuin had probably lost, and some quarrel had ensued, +which---- No, she would pursue such thoughts no further. She trembled +to think that her husband might have revelations to make to her that +would rob her of the last remnant of her peace of mind. + +The carriage stopped; Sorr got out, and, without troubling himself +about his wife, unlocked the door and entered the house. She followed +him, and they ascended the stairs in silence. In the anteroom he +lighted the two candles left in readiness for them. When they returned +from an evening entertainment it was his custom, after lighting the +candles, to retire to his room with a curt "good-night," but this he +did not do. "I have something to say to you," he said, handing Lucie +one of the candles. "I will go with you into the drawing-room." + +She made no reply; her hand trembled as she took the light. She had a +foreboding that a crisis in her destiny was at hand; that the +communication which Sorr was about to make to her would be momentous +both for her and for him. + +He went first. In the drawing-room he placed the light upon the table, +and then sank upon the sofa as if exhausted. He sat for a long time in +silence, his head resting on his hand, his looks bent on the ground. + +Lucie did not disturb him, but remained standing by the table in front +of the sofa, silently watching him, marking the convulsive twitching of +his lips, the terrible change in his countenance. She saw the struggle +going on within him. + +At last he seemed to have come to a determination. He looked up, but +when he saw Lucie's dark eyes fixed searchingly upon him he instantly +averted his own. He sprang up from the sofa and paced the room with +hurried, irregular strides, pausing at last before his wife. He tried +to look at her, but he could not meet her eye. It was inexpressibly +difficult to speak the first word. He longed to have her question him, +that he might reply, but Lucie was silent. He felt her keen glance +watching his every movement, and at last he could endure it no longer. + +This must end,--this terrible silence was not to be borne; he must +break it by some word, no matter what. "I am ruined!" he said. + +"I know it; we have been so for a long while," was Lucie's reply, given +with forced calmness. + +"You deceive yourself. I am far worse off than you think. I have lost +all,--everything! More than we ever possessed! I am overwhelmed with +debt; we are on the brink of an abyss from which there is but one means +of escape." + +"We should have adopted it long since." + +Sorr looked up in astonishment. "What do you mean?" he asked. + +"That we must at last resign the life we have led hitherto. I have +often, but always in vain, begged you to do so. Now necessity will +force you to it, and if you really see this at last I shall bless this +hour. By honest labour we can regain what we have lost. We have +influential friends, by whose aid we can easily begin life anew in +another city. You can procure some official position, and I will give +lessons in music and drawing, or in French and English. With courage +and determination we can easily achieve a secure independence." + +"You are mad!" + +This was all the reply that Sorr had for Lucie's words. Then he laughed +aloud. "It is incredible," he said, more to himself than to her, "the +wild ideas that will fill a woman's brain! An official post with a few +hundred thalers of salary--too much to starve upon, too little to +procure enough to eat! Tiresome work, from morning until night, and +hectored by a superior officer, to whom one must cringe. Regarded +askance by gentlemen. A pretty position! No, rather a bullet through my +brains and the whole mummery at an end. No need to waste a word upon +such nonsense. If I cannot live as I have been accustomed to live, I +had rather not live at all. This is not the means of escape which I +have to propose to you." He paused a moment; it was difficult to say +what he had to, but he could delay no longer, and he continued, "We +must separate, Lucie!" + +"You forget that this is impossible," Lucie replied, forcing herself to +speak calmly; "a Catholic marriage cannot be dissolved, or ours would +have been so long ago." + +"Nonsense! I am not talking of a divorce, which is of course +impossible, but of a separation. I have a proposal to make to you; I +know that at first it will seem odious to you; I do not like it myself, +but upon calm reflection you will see that in it lies our only means of +salvation. You must first know how matters stand with me, and this I +will tell you in as few words as possible. Our need is such that in +my despair I was induced to--to--it must out, there is no help for +it--Count Styrum's pocket-book lay open before me, and I took from it a +hundred-thaler note." + +Lucie recoiled; incapable of uttering a word, she stared at her +husband. A thief! No; for this she had not been prepared; this exceeded +her worst forebodings,--a thief! And he could confess his shameful deed +thus with cynical frankness; he did not even repent it; he was not +crushed and despairing. Had he not just expressed his contempt for +honest labour? A thief! And to this man she was bound by an +indissoluble tie! + +Sorr expected no answer; he had now gained the courage to speak; after +the confession of the theft nothing was difficult, and he continued, +"Well, yes, I could not resist the temptation; the pocket-book lay open +before me; the opportunity was too tempting. I thought no one saw me, +but I was wrong; Repuin saw it all. Our fate lies in his hand; if he +speaks I shall be condemned as a thief, and you will share my +dishonour. The wife of the thief who has escaped punishment only by +voluntary death is an outcast from society. Your plan of honest labour +would prove futile, for none would intrust their children's instruction +to a woman at whom the world points the finger of scorn. You will sink +into utter misery; that will be your fate, as mine will be to die by my +own hand, if you refuse to accede to the proposal in which alone lies +safety for us. It is in your power," the wretch continued, speaking +rapidly and in a firmer tone, "to secure yourself a gay and joyous +existence, free from care, and provided with every luxury that wealth +can give, while you keep your conscience clear of the guilt of my +death, for it will be your act that drives me to suicide if you refuse +to accede to my proposal." + +"And what do you ask of me?" Lucie inquired, in a low monotone. + +"Count Repuin," Sorr began again, "is madly in love with you. You have +hitherto treated him very badly, although you owed it to me to smile +upon him, as I have often begged you to do. His love, however, has been +only increased by your reserve. He is ready to make any sacrifice for +you now. But if he is again repulsed he is resolved upon revenge; he +will then be our deadly foe; he will ruin both you and me. You see what +is before us. If, however, you consent to our separation. Count Repuin +will take you to Italy, or whithersoever you wish to go. He will load +you with the costliest gifts, every wish that you can frame will be +fulfilled. You will insure yourself a most brilliant position and save +my life. It would be worse than madness to say 'no.'" + +Lucie's gaze was bent upon the ground. When her husband first began to +speak such shameful words, she thought she could not endure life until +he should have ended, but she summoned up all her strength of mind and +succeeded in conquering the terrible pain that tortured her; she +preserved an outward calm, while her heart seemed breaking with horror +and indignation. + +Sorr patiently awaited her answer. He thought she was considering his +proposal, and that was a good sign. He had feared that she would +indignantly reject it, give utterance to her detestation of the +Russian, and overwhelm him with reproaches for having dared to suggest +such a scheme, but nothing of all this had occurred; she had listened +quietly. He had prepared himself to overpower her resistance with +threats and entreaties, but there seemed to be no need for these. Since +she was so calmly considering the matter she would certainly be +reasonable in the end. He exulted in so easy and unlooked-for a +victory. + +At last she spoke: "You then desire that we should part? You yourself +would now declare me released for life from every obligation that a +wife owes to her husband? You distinctly consent to our separation, and +declare that you have no longer any claim upon either my life or my +fidelity. Answer me with a simple 'yes,' and I will consider whether to +accept your proposal, but before I decide I must be free." + +"If you accept my plan, it follows as a matter of course that you are +entirely free by my desire," Sorr replied, who could not help thinking +her demand rather ambiguous. + +"I asked for a simple 'yes' or 'no,' without any 'if.' I must be free +before I decide. Unless you say 'yes' unconditionally, I swear to you I +will die before I yield to your wishes and part from you." + +"Well, then, 'yes,'--you are free. But now be reasonable, Lucie; tell +me what to say to Repuin; he expects me tomorrow morning by eight +o'clock. I dare not go one minute later." + +"I will consider; you shall have my reply before eight to-morrow." + +"But, Lucie----" + +"You must wait. I will not decide to-night." + +"Well, then, as you will. To-morrow morning early. Good-night, Lucie." + +He held out his hand, but she turned from him with loathing, and, +without even looking at him, took up a candle and left the room. Sorr +heard the door of her own room bolted behind her. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +The Hohenwalds by no means belong to the old German imperial nobility. +It is said that in the forest-depths of the domain of a Saxon Prince +his trusty huntsman saved the life of his lord from the furious +onslaught of a wild boar, and that in gratitude the Prince bestowed +upon him the hunting castle where he had previously been overseer, and +in memory of his bravery gave him the name of Hohenwald,[2] which +gradually came to belong to the castle and the neighbouring village on +the estate. The title of Freiherr, or Baron, was bestowed much later by +the Emperor. Baron Werner von Hohenwald, who distinguished himself as a +colonel during the Thirty Years' War, was probably the first thus +honoured, and the founder of the family of _von_ Hohenwalds. + +This old colonel, who added much to the estate, not a large one +originally, was passionately devoted to the chase; he took up his abode +in the old castle, surrounded on all sides by the forest, and his +example was followed by all his successors, although such a residence +by no means lightened the cares of the management of the extended +estates of Hohenwald. The solitude of the forest had an irresistible +attraction for the Hohenwalds, and although they had erected a +comfortable grange near the village, they always occupied the castle. +Around the comparatively new grange were gathered the farm buildings +and the dwellings for inspectors and other officials. The Hohenwalds +thought nothing of the inconvenience of riding a couple of miles to +reach the grange; they thought themselves amply compensated by the +wonderful beauty of the site of the castle, buried in the depths of a +magnificent forest. The love of solitude seemed inherrent in the +Hohenwalds. If some among them had in their youth frequented the Court, +of Dresden, they were sure to return finally to Castle Hohenwald, and +none of them ever left it in summer. They had lavished so much money +and taste in fitting it up for a home, that it would indeed have been +difficult to find one more charming and desirable. The imperial colonel +had first begun to improve and add to the old hunting-nest, and each of +his successors had done his part in giving fresh beauty and grace to +castle, to gardens, and even to the forest, a portion of which had been +converted into a magnificent park. If they loved solitude, they were +all the more determined to surround themselves in their solitude with +every luxury that wealth could procure. Some of the rooms of the castle +were furnished with princely splendour, especially those on the lower +story, in which the present Freiherr Werner had been wont to assemble +frequent guests before his separation from his wife. The walls were +hung with paintings by illustrious masters;--the collection of pictures +at Hohenwald, although for years it had been seen by none save the +inmates of the castle, was accounted one of the best and largest in the +country,--and the castle library exceeded many a public one in its +treasures of literature. + +The ground-floor of the castle was less gorgeously fitted up than was +the first story. The present possessor, Freiherr Werner, had arranged +it for himself, and he thought more of solid comfort than of +superficial splendour. Nothing had been spared to make the rooms +pleasant and comfortable, but the hangings and furniture-covers were +not of silken damask, but of substantial woollen fabric, subdued in +colour, suiting well with the dark oak wainscoting and furniture. + +The Freiherr's favourite retreat was a large apartment, at one end of +which lofty folding-doors of glass opened upon a terrace, whence a +flight of steps led into the garden. As the castle crowned an eminence, +from this terrace almost all the garden could be overlooked, as well as +part of the road leading to the castle from the village of Hohenwald. + +The garden-room, as it was called, was the dwelling-room of Freiherr +Werner; he spent most of his time here, even in winter, and in summer, +when the tall doors were thrown wide open, the view from them partly +indemnified him for the loss of open-air exercise, from which he had +now been debarred for some years. + +Every morning he was pushed into this room in his rolling-chair from +his bedroom, for his right foot was so lame from the gout that he could +not walk. Here he assembled his family about him, here the daily meals +were eaten, and only late in the evening was he rolled back again to +his bedroom by his servant or by his son Arno. Every day he sat at the +open doors, gazing out into the garden. In former years he had devoted +much time to his garden; he was enthusiastically fond of flowers, but +since the gout had confined him to his rolling-chair he had been forced +to content himself with merely superintending the gardeners, to whom +from time to time he would shout down his orders. It was but seldom +that he could be taken out into the garden among his flowers, for the +slightest motion occasioned him great pain. + +On the afternoon of a lovely day in May the Freiherr was seated in his +favourite spot, looking abroad into the garden, where his beloved +flowers were budding gloriously, and delighting in their beauty and the +mild air of spring. He was in the most contented of moods; his book was +laid aside; he could read at any time; storms did not interfere with +that. His keen gaze wandered with intense enjoyment from shrub to +shrub; most of them he had planted himself, and his interest was +unflagging in watching their daily development from bud to blossom. + +If the Assessor von Hahn could have seen the Freiherr at this moment he +would hardly have recognized the gloomy misanthrope in this kindly old +man with genial smile and gentle eyes; but the next moment the +expression of the mobile features changed, the genial smile vanished, +the brow was contracted in a frown, the dark eyes sparkled with +irritation. + +It was the sound of a distant post-horn that caused this sudden change +in the Baron's expression. The old man listened. An extra post! He had +not heard the signal for a long time, but in former years his ears had +been familiar enough with it; he could not be deceived. A visit was +impending, for the road led only to Castle Hohenwald and ended there; +any traveller upon it must have the castle for his goal. Again the +signal sounded, rather nearer; the postilion was evidently determined +that the castle should be thoroughly apprised of the visitor at hand. + +The Freiherr picked up a bell from the table beside him and rang it +loudly. A servant instantly appeared at the door leading into the hall. +"Did you hear that, Franz?" his master angrily exclaimed. "Did you hear +that? An extra post!" + +"It cannot be, sir," old Franz calmly replied. "Who is there to come to +us?" + +"That's just it. Who can have the insolence? But there; hear it for +yourself. The cursed postilion is blowing with all the force of his +lungs just to vex me." + +"Can it be possible?" old Franz exclaimed, in the greatest +astonishment, as he hearkened to the postilion's horn now sounding much +nearer. + +"No doubt of it! A visit! Such insolence is insufferable! Do they think +me old and childish? Whoever it may be will find himself mistaken. +Hurry, Franz, to the castle gate; you know what to say. I receive no +one; I'm sick,--I cannot see anybody. The carriage must turn round and +go back; whoever it may be, don't let them get out. Call the gardener +and old John to help you, if you need them. Go; be quick. In a few +minutes that carriage will be here." + +The old man looked very angry as he shouted out these orders; his dark +eyes flashed from beneath the bushy snow-white eyebrows. With one hand +he stroked, as was his habit when vexed, his full silver beard, with +the other he rapped upon the small table beside him. "Well, what are +you waiting for?" he growled to the man, who still stood hesitating at +the door. + +"What if it should be the Herr Finanzrath?" + +"Werner? I positively never thought of him," replied the Freiherr, +mollified on the instant. "Of course he is an exception; but now to +your post. Go!" + +Old Franz vanished, and the Freiherr leaned forward in his chair, +disregarding the pain the movement caused him, that he might better +overlook the road leading up the hill, for in a few moments the extra +post would emerge from the forest and be visible upon the road. + +On came the horses and the vehicle, a light chaise, in which sat an +elegantly-dressed man leaning back among the cushions, and talking to a +horseman who was riding beside the carriage. + +"Of course it is Werner!" muttered the Freiherr, relieved, sinking back +into his chair. And yet he did not seem particularly rejoiced at the +unexpected arrival of his eldest son, for the frown did not quite leave +his brow. He looked annoyed. "What does he want, coming thus without +letting us know? But perhaps he did announce his visit to Arno; he is +riding beside him. Well, well, we shall see." + +The old man had not long to wait,--the post-chaise soon rattled +over the stones of the court-yard, and a few minutes later the +Finanzrath von Hohenwald, accompanied by his brother Arno, entered the +garden-room. + +The Finanzrath was a tall, handsome man, something over thirty years +old; he, as well as his brother Arno, bore a decided resemblance +to the old Baron,--they had the same dark, fiery eyes, and the same +finely-chiselled mouth, which, when tightly closed, lent an almost hard +expression to the face. And yet, despite their likeness to their +father, the brothers were so unlike that it was only after long +familiarity with them, and a careful comparison of their features, that +any resemblance between them could be detected. Both were handsome men, +tall and shapely, but their air and bearing were entirely dissimilar, +Arno having preserved the erect military carriage of the soldier, while +the Finanzrath was distinguished by an easy, negligent grace of +movement. Although he was the elder of the two, he looked much younger +than Arno; his fresh-coloured, smooth-shaven face had a very youthful +expression, while Arno's grave, earnest eyes made him appear older than +he really was. + +The old Baron's face cleared somewhat as the Finanzrath drew a chair up +beside his father's and greeted him most cordially. "I am delighted to +see you looking so well, father," he said, kindly. "I trust that +terrible gout will soon be so much better that you can get out among +your flowers. But where is Celia?" he asked suddenly. + +"Yes, where is she? Who can tell the whereabouts of that +will-o'-the-wisp? In the forest, in the park, in her boat on the lake, +in the village,--everywhere at once!" the old man answered, with a +smile. + +A slight shade flitted across the Finanzrath's countenance. "Just the +same as ever," he said. "I thought so; and perhaps it is as well that +Celia is not here at the moment, as it gives me an opportunity to speak +to you and Arno, father, of a matter that lies very near my heart, and +that I should like to have settled before I see her. I hope, sir, you +will not be angry with me if I speak frankly with you in regard to your +darling, whom you have just designated so justly a will-o'-the-wisp?" + +"What do you want with the child? Have you any fault to find again with +Celia?" the Freiherr asked, crossly. + +"Yes, father; I feel it my fraternal duty towards Celia to speak very +seriously to you and to Arno in regard to her. You both spoil the girl +so completely that a stop must be put to it. Celia is now fifteen years +old, she is almost grown up." + +"She is grown up," Arno interposed. + +"So much the worse. Then it is certainly high time that something were +done about her education, if she is not to run quite wild. She is a +charming, sweet-tempered creature, and I can hardly blame you, living +with her here in this lonely forest, for being content with her as she +is, nor can I wonder that you, my dear father, can scarcely grasp the +idea of allowing her to leave you." + +"What do you mean?" the Freiherr exclaimed, angrily. "What are you +thinking of? I let Celia leave me? Never!" + +"I knew what you would say, father," the Finanzrath replied; "but I +hope, nevertheless, that after calm consideration you will agree to a +plan that I have to propose to you. Celia has grown up here in the +castle without feminine companionship, for you will hardly call our old +Kaselitz, who has always spoiled the child to her heart's content, a +fit associate for a Fräulein von Hohenwald. The only person of +education with whom Celia comes in contact, with the exception of +yourself and Arno, is her tutor our good old pastor, Quandt, who, as +Arno wrote me, has taught her well in various branches of science and +literature, but can of course teach her nothing of what a young girl of +rank should know when she goes out into the world." + +"She never shall go out into the world!" the Freiherr indignantly +exclaimed. + +"Do you wish Celia to pass her entire life here in the solitude of +Castle Hohenwald? Will you run the risk of hearing her one day say to +you, 'You have robbed me of the joys of life, father! I might have been +a happy wife and mother, but since you chose to keep me by your side, I +am become a weary, unhappy old maid!' You cannot be so selfish as to +wish that your darling should sacrifice to you her entire youth?" + +"Nonsense! What would you have?" growled the Freiherr. "But go on. I +should like to know what you really want." + +"You shall soon learn. I spoke of Celia's education; she is well +grounded in science and literature; she rides like an Amazon,--not +badly perhaps; she handles a fowling-piece with the skill of a +gamekeeper. So far so good; but does she understand how to conduct +herself in society? does she possess the talent for social +intercourse,--a knowledge of those forms which, worthless in +themselves, are nevertheless indispensable accomplishments for a young +lady of rank?" + +"I have not brought her up to be a fine lady!" the Freiherr said, +peevishly. + +"I think, sir, if you will pardon me, that you have not brought her up +at all. I detest a fine lady and modern artificial culture, but a +Baroness von Hohenwald should not be utterly ignorant of the forms of +society. Celia must learn to conform to the rules that govern the +society of to-day, and it is high time that she began to do so. Arno +will admit that I am right." + +"I cannot deny it," said Arno, who had been an attentive listener as he +paced the room to and fro, and who now paused before his brother and +nodded assent. "I, too, have pondered upon what was to be done for +Celia. Something must be arranged for her further culture, but I have +vainly tried to devise what it shall be." + +"And yet the matter is simple enough. Two methods are open to you. Let +my father choose which he prefers. The first, which I myself think the +best and would therefore most strongly recommend, is perhaps the one +that will prove least pleasing to my father. Frau von Adelung's school +in Dresden has the best of reputations, and Frau von Adelung herself is +a woman of refinement and culture, who moves in the first society. I +made an excursion to Dresden before I came hither, saw Frau von Adelung +myself, and spoke with her regarding Celia, whom she is quite willing +to receive among her pupils." + +"Deuce take you for your pains!" cried the Freiherr, with a burst of +anger. "I know without being told that if I choose to pay for it the +best boarding-school in the country will be thankful to have my Celia, +but I tell you, once for all, I will not hear of it. I cannot part with +the child. Celia is my sunshine in this gloomy house. My heart rejoices +at the sight of her. The pain that tortures me is forgotten when I look +into her laughing eyes. I am a sick old man. You ought not to be so +cruel, Werner; leave me my jewel for the few years that I have to +live." + +The Freiherr's tone from one of angry reproach had become that of +almost humble entreaty. + +The Finanzrath nodded and smiled. "I hope you will rejoice for many +years in your jewel, and one day see her a happy wife and mother," he +said; and then continued: "If you will not part with Celia, she must +have the training here in Hohenwald which she could indeed procure more +easily at school; all that remains to be done is to engage a good +governess for her." + +Arno suddenly paused in his pacing to and fro in the room. +"Impossible!" he exclaimed. "What are you thinking of, Werner? A +governess here in the house! Live with the pedantic, insufferable +creature day after day, week after week, and always have her +interfering between our Celia and ourselves! Our entire life would have +to be changed. If so pretentious a person were to come here she would +require to be amused; we should have visitors, and would be forced to +pay visits in return. The peaceful repose that has hitherto reigned in +Hohenwald would be gone if a strange inmate were introduced among us." + +"Would you rather send Celia to school? I confess I should prefer it +myself." + +"But I should not!" the old Freiherr exclaimed, with decision. "I do +not like womenfolk, but sooner than part with Celia I will endure a +governess in the house. After all, she will be only a superior sort of +servant. We get along with Frau Kaselitz, and we can get along with her +too!" + +"Frau Kaselitz does not pretend to sit at table with us, nor to join +our family circle," said Arno. + +"That would be insufferable," the Freiherr said, reflectively. + +"Then let us have recourse to the school." + +"Don't say another word about that cursed school," growled the +Freiherr; "let us have the governess and be done with it!" + +Arno would have made some further objection, but his father cut it +short by declaring that not a word more should be said upon the subject +until Celia was by; the girl was old enough to have an opinion +concerning her own affairs. + +To this decision the Finanzrath assented, rather unwillingly, to be +sure, since he would have preferred to have the matter settled on the +instant. He saw, however, that his father was coming round, and he +feared to injure his cause by any insistance. And Celia herself +prevented the possibility of continuing the conversation in her +absence. + +A shower of syringa blossoms suddenly rained down upon the Finanzrath, +who was seated near the open door leading to the garden, and a +charming young girl appeared upon the threshold. It was Celia,--the +will-o'-the-wisp, as her father loved to call her,--who always appeared +when least expected. + +With a merry laugh she flew to the Finanzrath, sealing her +flower-greeting with a light kiss upon his cheek, and then turning to +the old Baron, she threw her arms around his neck. "You are a dear, +darling old papa!" she cried, gayly. "You will not let your Celia be +sent to school like a little child; you will not let me be disposed of +without consulting me! Thank you, my own dear papa; but as for you, +Werner, I shall not forget that you would have banished me from +Hohenwald." + +The Finanzrath shook off the syringa blossoms, and, leaning back in his +chair, contemplated his sister with increasing satisfaction. He had not +seen her for nearly a year; he had not been at Hohenwald since the +Freiherr's last birthday, and during this time Celia had changed +wonderfully. He had left a child, he found a maiden; the tall, lithe +figure had gained a certain roundness and grace. + +Celia was developed physically far beyond her years; mentally, she was +still the gay, careless child; the happy spirit of childhood laughed in +her large brown eyes, was mirrored in the bright smile that lit up her +lovely features, and in the gay defiance with which, after having +fairly smothered her father with kisses, she confronted the Finanzrath +with folded arms. "Well, my sage brother," she said, laughing, "here I +am, in my own proper person, prepared to listen to your highly valuable +advice with regard to my future training." + +"Have you been listening, Celia?" the Finanzrath asked. + +"Of course I have. I saw you arrive, and by way of welcome plucked a +whole apronful of syringa flowers to surprise you after a sisterly +fashion, and then crept up to the door on tiptoe. There, to my horror, +I heard how the redoubtable Finanzrath had the impudence to tell my +darling old papa that he had not brought me up. Was it not my duty to +listen? You are a detestable monster, Werner! Look at me and tell me +what fault you have to find with me." + +At this moment the Finanzrath certainly had no fault whatever to find +with his charming sister; he thought her lovely, and owned to himself +that if no one had brought Celia up, mother Nature had done the best +that was possible for her. Her every movement was graceful, her bearing +that of a lady, and even in the stormy embrace she had bestowed upon +her father there had been nothing rude or unfeminine, but only an +impulsive warmth that became her admirably. + +"Why do you not speak?" Celia went on, as the Finanzrath continued to +look at her with a smile but without replying. "You were ready enough +just now to prate about my want of social elegance, and Herr Arno, in +the character of a dignified echo, added his 'I cannot deny it.' Only +wait, Arno; you shall atone to me for that!" + +"That's right!" the Freiherr cried in high glee. "The little witch has +you both on the hip." + +"And, papa, I am a little angry with you, too. You were nearly talked +over by that odious Werner. Now let me tell you, if you ever send me to +boarding-school I will run away immediately. Even if I have to beg my +way back to Hohenwald I never will stay in Dresden with that horrid +Frau von Adelung, to whom Werner would sell me like a slave." + +"You would not talk so, child, if you had ever seen Frau von Adelung," +the Finanzrath observed. + +"I am not a child, and I will not let you treat me as such. Remember +that, Werner. I will never consent to be sent to school." + +"Assure yourself on that point, little one. You heard me say that I +never will permit such an arrangement: that I cannot and will not be +parted from you," said the old man. + +"Yes, I heard that, you dear old papa, and I could have shouted for joy +when you refused to listen to Werner's odious plan. You cannot live +without me, nor can I without you. So let Arno talk as he pleases. You +and I know that I am very well brought up. Neither you nor Arno has +ever found any fault with my manners, and as for what Werner has to say +about marriage, it is all nonsense. I shall never marry, but live here +with you two at Hohenwald. Upon that I am resolved." + +"Ah, indeed?" the Finanzrath asked, smiling. "So elevated a resolve +adopted by a girl of fifteen of course alters the case." + +"You are detestable! In two months I shall be sixteen." + +"A most venerable age, I admit; fortunately, however, not so advanced +but that you may still have something to learn. How, for example, does +your music come on?" + +Celia blushed, and replied, rather dejectedly, "I have not practised +much lately. Our good old pastor is so deaf that he never hears my +mistakes." + +"And therefore you prefer not to practise at all, but to forget the +little you have learned, although you have considerable talent, and +might give my father a great deal of pleasure if you had a good +teacher. Think, father, how you would enjoy having Celia give you an +hour or so of delicious music every evening." + +The old man looked fondly at his darling: "Yes, yes, I should like it +very well, but if it tires the child to practise, I can do very well +without it." + +"Oh, no, papa; I will turn over a new leaf, and practise well, if it +really will please you." + +"Practice is not enough," said the Finanzrath; "you never will improve +without a teacher. I consulted Frau von Adelung upon the subject, for I +foresaw that my plan of sending you to school would meet with +invincible opposition from you and my father. Therefore I asked Frau +von Adelung if she knew of any one whom she could recommend as a +governess for Celia." + +"Ah, now we are coming to the governess!" cried Celia, laughing. "You +are a born diplomatist, Werner. This is why you praised my 'talent' and +talked about my music. But no, my cunning brother, I am not to be +caught in your net. Am I, grown up as I am, to be ordered about by an +ugly old governess in green spectacles? I can hear her now: 'Fräulein +Celia, sit up; you are stooping again! Fräulein Celia, no young lady +should climb a chestnut-tree. Fräulein Celia here, Fräulein Celia +there! You must not do this, and you must not do that.' Oh, a governess +is always a horror! and I tell you, Werner, that if you send one here, +I will contrive that she is tired of her post in a week." + +"We will see about that," the Finanzrath rejoined, coolly. "Frau von +Adelung has recommended to me very highly an accomplished young person, +who, so far as I know, neither wears green spectacles nor is a horror. +She is very musical, plays the piano charmingly, and speaks French as +well as English." + +"She must be a prodigy, indeed!" Arno said. "Is it possible that such a +combination of the arts and sciences can condescend to come to Castle +Hohenwald? Celia is right; the lady could not stay here a week. Our +lonely castle is no place for such a wonder, nor is Celia any pupil for +her. Neither my father nor I could alter our mode of life for a +governess. Women, in fact, are so little to my mind, that it is only by +an effort that I can bring myself to speak to them." + +"Pray let me thank you in the name of the sex," Celia said, with a low +courtesy to her brother. + +"Nonsense! you are an exception, you little will-o'-the-wisp. No need +to talk artificial nonsense to you; you are not greedy for admiration, +and do not expect to be flattered." + +"And how do you know that Fräulein Müller, the lady recommended by Frau +von Adelung, expects it?" asked the Finanzrath. + +"All these modern governesses expect it. Most of them are pedantic, and +all of them are greedy for admiration." + +"You are certainly mistaken in this case. I described exactly to Frau +von Adelung the life that is led at Castle Hohenwald; I expressly told +her that no guest is admitted within its walls, that the governess +would have no companionship save Celia's, that my father was ill, and +therefore unfit for social intercourse, that Arno was a woman-hater, +who would never, probably, exchange three words with her, and that +therefore the position of governess here would not suit any one with +any social pretensions." + +"And what was Frau von Adelung's reply?" Arno asked. + +"That it was just the kind of situation that Fräulein Müller wanted." + +"That seems to me a rather suspicious circumstance. Why should such a +woman as you describe, talented and accomplished, desire to bury +herself in the solitude of Castle Hohenwald?" Arno objected, and his +father, too, shook his head doubtfully. + +But the Finanzrath was prepared for this objection; he said, "Frau von +Adelung, in whose sincerity and truth I place perfect reliance, +explained what seemed to me, too, an anomaly. Fräulein Müller has had +much to endure in her life; her father was a wealthy merchant, and she +was brought up in the greatest luxury. But all the young girl's hopes +in life were disappointed: her father lost his entire fortune. Frau von +Adelung hinted that he had committed suicide, probably in despair at +his losses, and gave me to suppose, although for the young lady's sake +she did not say so directly, that the poor girl was betrothed, and that +the loss of her money broke her engagement. Alone, and dependent +entirely upon her own exertions, the unfortunate girl is anxious to +earn an honourable livelihood. The solitude of Castle Hohenwald, Frau +von Adelung maintains, would make the situation here peculiarly +desirable to Fräulein Müller. I expressly stated, also, that my father +would be quite ready to indemnify her by an unusually high salary for +the disadvantages of her position here; and I have so arranged matters +that it only needs a note from me to Frau von Adelung to secure +Fräulein Müller for Celia. She might be here in a few days. It is for +you to decide, father, whether we shall embrace the opportunity thus +offered us of procuring a suitable companion and teacher for Celia, or +whether we shall let it slip." + +The Freiherr was convinced by his son's representations. There was +still a conflict going on within him between his distaste for having +his quiet life disturbed by the intrusion of a stranger and his desire +that Celia's education might be complete. But he was so far won over to +the Finanzrath's views that he would not say 'no' to his plan. Celia +must decide. "Well, little one," he said, "what do you think now of +Werner's scheme? Shall he write to Frau von Adelung to send us this +Fräulein Müller, or do you still declare that you will not have her?" + +Celia looked thoughtful. She must decide, then. She thought of the +delicious liberty she had hitherto enjoyed, of the restraint that would +be laid upon her in the future. But she thought also of her father's +pleasure in her progress in music, and more than all, it quite broke +her heart to think that her "no" would destroy the hopes of an +unfortunate girl who was seeking a position as governess. + +Her brother's account had excited her profound sympathy. She could not +say "no." "You are an odious fellow, Werner!" she said, after a short +pause for reflection. "You do just what you please with us; but you +shall have a kiss, and you may write to Fräulein Müller to come, and I +will try not to tease her." + +So the Finanzrath had his kiss, but he could not keep her by his side. +She had been serious long enough, and she ran laughing into the garden, +leaving her father and brothers to farther consultation. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +The Prussian-Saxon boundary defines also the bounds between the +Hohenwald estates, that lie entirely on Saxon territory, and the +Prussian domain of Grünhagen. The boundary-line here makes a great +curve into Saxony, so that the Grünhagen lands are almost shut in by +the Hohenwald forests and fields. The Grünhagen forest indeed forms a +continuation of the magnificent woods of beech and oak that surround +Castle Hohenwald, the boundary-line between them being only marked out +by a narrow path, so overgrown with moss and underbrush that only +careful observation can detect its course. + +The vicinity of the two estates has always been, since the memory of +man, a fruitful cause of quarrel between the respective proprietors of +Hohenwald and Grünhagen, each being strictly jealous lest his neighbour +should infringe upon his rights. At times some of the Hohenwald cattle, +when the herd-boy was not sufficiently on the alert, would stray into +the Grünhagen fields and be taken into custody by Herr von Poseneck's +people, and on one occasion the Hohenwald forester had actually +sequestrated the fowling-piece of Herr von Poseneck, when that +gentleman, who was devoted to the chase, had in his hunting attempted +to make a short cut through the Hohenwald forest. There had also been +various trespasses upon the rights of the chase which were hardly to be +distinguished from poaching committed on both sides of the boundary by +enthusiastic Posenecks and Hohenwalds. + +These innumerable quarrels had begotten a hostility between the Barons +of Hohenwald and Poseneck, which had been handed down from generation +to generation, and which was by no means lessened by the fact that, +since the annexation of Saxony with Prussia, the Posenecks had become +Prussian noblemen. No Hohenwald ever visited Grünhagen, and even in the +days when Hohenwald had been renowned for its brilliant entertainments, +at which were assembled all the country gentry and many families from +beyond the border, no Poseneck was ever invited within its gates. + +The hatred of the Hohenwalds for the Posenecks was so great that +Freiherr Werner, although he was not wanting in a certain amiability, +could not suppress a sentiment of exultation when, in 1849, Kurt von +Poseneck, who had allied himself with great enthusiasm to the +revolutionists, was forced to sell Grünhagen to his brother-in-law, the +Amtsrath Friese, and emigrate to America with his family to escape the +trial for high treason that threatened him as a member of the extreme +left of the Frankfort National Assembly. + +Since then, however, the animosity between Grünhagen and Poseneck had +slumbered, for the new possessor of Grünhagen was a man who detested +litigation, and who did all that he could to avoid giving cause for +offence to the Hohenwalds, while he overlooked any slight trespass on +their part. Thus open strife was avoided, but the old dislike only +smouldered. Freiherr Werner had transferred it to the Poseneck's near +relative, the Amtsrath, whom he detested for his Prussian extraction. + +Like master like man! All the inmates of the castle and the inhabitants +of the village of Hohenwald hated everything relating to Grünhagen. The +Hohenwald servants, from the steward and inspector to the commonest +stable-boy, held the "Grünhagen Prussians" for an odious race of men, +and, as they had received strict orders from the Freiherr not to be led +into any disputes, avoided all association with the Grünhagen people. + +Thus the road from Grünhagen to the village of Hohenwald wellnigh +disappeared beneath weeds and grass, for there was not the slightest +intercourse between the two places. Was it to be wondered at, then, +that a Hohenwald plough boy, driving his team in the meadow bordering +upon the Grünhagen lands, stopped his horses and stared in surprise at +a young, well-dressed man sauntering slowly along the disused road, +crossing the boundary, and then, when near the village of Hohenwald, +striking into a by-path leading directly to the Hohenwald oak-forest? +The fellow looked after the stranger until he was lost to sight in the +forest, and then whipped up his horses, resolving to acquaint the +inspector that very evening with the remarkable occurrence. + +The stranger noticed the ploughboy's wonder, but it merely provoked a +smile as he slowly loitered along the meadow-path. Now and then he +paused and looked around, surveying with evident pleasure the lovely +landscape spread before him, the fertile fields and meadows, girdled by +the glorious oaken forest, now clothed in the delicious green of early +spring. As he reached its borders he paused again to look back at the +charming village of Hohenwald, nestled on the edge of the forest, and +at the stately mansion of Grünhagen, overtopping the farm-buildings, +granaries, stables, and cottages about it. + +How near the two estates were to each other and yet how wide apart! A +smile hovered upon the young man's handsome face as he called to mind +the strange hatred of the two proprietors for each other. He had +laughed aloud when the Amtsrath Friese had told him of it at Grünhagen, +and he could not now suppress a smile, for such an inherited aversion +was entirely inconceivable to him; it was a folly for which there was +no possible explanation. + +Entering the wood, he pursued the narrow path through the thick +underbrush, and gazed about him with intense admiration. Nowhere else +in Europe had he seen such magnificent old oaks; they belonged +exclusively to the Hohenwald domain, whose proprietor cared for them +most tenderly, and never allowed any of the giant trunks to be felled +except those which nature had decreed should yield to time. The Baron +could well afford to cultivate his love for his oaks; and whatever +might be done in distant parts of the forest, no axe was ever allowed +to work havoc near the castle among his old oaks and beeches in his +dear "forest depths." The narrow foot-path crossed a broad road through +the wood; here the stranger paused irresolute and looked about him +searchingly. To the right the road wound through the forest, in whose +depths it vanished; to the left it led through rows of trees up a +gentle incline to Castle Hohenwald, one of the wings of which the +stranger could discern in the distance. He had not thought himself so +near the castle; the foot-path must have led him astray. According to +the directions of the Grünhagen inspector, he should be upon the path +which, cutting off a corner, was a more direct road to the Grünhagen +woods than the one leading from the mansion; but if this were so, it +ought not to have brought him so near to Castle Hohenwald. He +hesitated, pondering whether to follow the path on the other side of +the road or to turn round, when his attention was arrested by a +charming sight. Galloping upon a magnificent and spirited horse, there +suddenly appeared upon the road from the castle a girl scarcely more +than a child. She managed her steed with wondrous case and security; +the mad gallop gave her no fear; she sat as firmly and even carelessly +in the saddle as though the horse were going at an ordinary pace; +indeed, she even incited him to greater speed with a light touch of her +riding-whip. + +How lovely she was! A young girl, judging by her slender, well-rounded +figure, and yet only a child. There was a bright smile upon her +charming face, her eyes beamed with happiness, and her dark curls, +blown backwards by the breeze, escaped from beneath her light straw +hat. + +She was very near the stranger when the horse suddenly started and +shied, probably frightened by the young man's light summer coat among +the trees. + +A practised horseman might well have lost his stirrup through such an +interruption of the swift gallop, but the young Amazon kept her seat +perfectly, punished her horse by a smart cut with her whip, as she +exclaimed, "What are you about, Pluto?" and then, as with a strong +steady hand she reined him in, looked to see what had caused his +terror. + +A stranger in the Hohenwald forest! Celia had reason enough for +astonishment, for she could scarcely remember ever having seen any save +the people of Hohenwald upon her father's estate. And this was an +elegantly-dressed stranger, no forester or peasant, but a young man +evidently from the higher walks of society. Now a well-educated young +lady would certainly have found it becoming in such an unexpected +encounter with a stranger in the lonely forest to display a certain +amount of embarrassment, perhaps of timidity. Not so Celia. She scanned +the intruder upon her father's domain with a long, searching look,--the +sensation of fear she knew only by name, and there was no cause for +embarrassment. She was at home here, upon her native soil. She had a +perfect right to ask the stranger bluntly, "How came you here? Who are +you?" + +The stranger bowed very respectfully. "I think," he replied, "that I +have the honour of addressing Fräulein von Hohenwald." + +He was evidently a very polite and agreeable young man,--"the honour of +addressing Fräulein von Hohenwald." Celia suddenly felt very much grown +up. Hitherto she had been only Celia. Even the servants, who had known +her from infancy, called her nothing but Fräulein Celia. Fräulein von +Hohenwald sounded delightful. She quite forgot to pursue her inquiries, +and answered, "Yes, I am Cecilia von Hohenwald." + +Again the stranger bowed low, and taking a little card-case from his +breast-pocket, produced a visiting-card, which he handed to her, +saying, "I must pray your forgiveness for presenting myself in this +informal manner as your nearest neighbour." + +Celia read the card. "Kurt von Poseneck!" she exclaimed, and the tone +of her voice as well as the expression of her eyes manifested such +surprise and even terror, that for Kurt all the inherited hatred of the +Hohenwalds for the Posenecks found utterance in this brief mention of +his name. + +When the Amtsrath Friese, his uncle, had told him of the fierce hatred +between the Hohenwalds and the Posenecks that had been handed down +through generations, Kurt had laughed heartily, but now when he thought +he saw that this insensate hate had taken root in the heart of this +lovely child, he was filled with a sense of painful regret. "What have +I done to you, Fräulein von Hohenwald," he said, sadly, "that my name +should so startle you?" + +"It does not startle, it only surprises me," Celia replied, quickly, as +she looked with increased interest and a greater degree of attention at +this young man, who did not in the least resemble the picture she had +formed from the tales of Frau Kaselitz of a member of the evil-minded, +cross-grained quarrelsome Poseneck family. + +Certainly Kurt von Poseneck looked neither cross-grained nor +quarrelsome as his frank eyes met her own kindly and yet sadly. + +Her first inspection had inclined her in the stranger's favour, and +Celia now decided that he was a very fine-looking man, almost as tall +as her brother Arno and far handsomer, for Arno looked stern and +gloomy, while Kurt smiled kindly. His full brown beard and moustache +became him admirably. Celia thought his expression exceedingly +pleasing; she had never supposed that a Poseneck could have so frank +and honest a smile. + +The girl was quite incapable of dissimulation,--her thoughts and +sentiments were mirrored in her eyes,--and Kurt perceived to his great +satisfaction the first startled expression vanish from her face as she +looked at him with a very friendly air. + +"I thank you, Fräulein von Hohenwald," he said, "for those simple +words. I was afraid you shared the melancholy prejudice that has been +the cause of so many terrible disputes between our families in former +times, and this would have specially pained me in you." + +"Why specially in me?" + +The question was simple and natural, but yet not easy to answer. +"Because--because--well, then, honestly and frankly, Fräulein von +Hohenwald, because as soon as I saw you I said to myself, 'Let the +Hohenwalds and the Posenecks quarrel and hate one another as they +choose, Fräulein Cecilia von Hohenwald and Kurt von Poseneck never +shall be enemies!' Forget the mutual dislike that has divided our +families. Will you not promise me this? I know it is a strange request +to make of you, but you must forgive my bluntness. I returned to Europe +only a few months ago, and cannot forget the fashion learned upon our +Western farm in America. I hope you will not blame me for it." + +"Oh, no; on the contrary, I like frankness. Werner always scolds me for +having my heart upon my lips; he is odious, but papa and Arno take my +part." + +"Who is Werner?" + +"My brother, the Finanzrath. I thought you knew; but indeed you cannot +know much about us if you are only lately come from America." + +"More than you think. My father used often to tell me of Grünhagen and +Hohenwald, and my uncle Friese has talked of you to me also. I knew and +admired you, Fräulein von Hohenwald, from his description, and I am +doubly rejoiced that chance has brought us together. But you have not +yet answered me. Will you grant my request and promise me that for us +the old family feud shall not exist?" + +"With all my heart!" said Celia; and in ratification of her promise she +held out her hand to Kurt, although her horse seemed to take the +stranger's approach very ill, and grew restless. + +Kurt took the little proffered hand. "Peace is formally concluded, +then," he said, gayly. "We are to be good friends, and I trust, +Fräulein von Hohenwald, that if you should meet me again in the +Hohenwald forest, bound for the Grünhagen wood by the shortest way, you +will permit me to exchange a few friendly words with you." + +This Celia promised readily; but at the same time she pointed out to +Kurt that he never would reach the Grünhagen wood by pursuing a path +leading directly to the lake in the Hohenwald park, and offering to +show him the path he was seeking, she walked her horse beside him. + +She never dreamed that there could be anything unbecoming in her +readiness to show him the right way through the lonely wood; she +thought it very natural that she who was at home here should direct a +stranger aright, and quite at her ease, she chatted on to Kurt as to an +old acquaintance. + +He told her of his life in America, and spoke with such affection of +his parents, who had been dead now for some years, and with such loving +tenderness of his sisters, who were married in America, that Celia +could not but be interested and attracted by him. He told her how he +had served in the Northern army in the war with the South, attaining +the rank of major before it was over. He had then resigned, and, after +his father's death, had disposed of the American property, and had now +returned to Germany to assist in the management of the Grünhagen +estates, which, as his uncle's declared heir, would one day be his. He +had spent a few months in travelling in England, France, and Italy, and +had arrived only three days before in Grünhagen, where his uncle had +given him the warmest of welcomes. + +All this Kurt detailed to his guide on their way through the forest, +and he also expressed to her his sincere regret that, as his uncle had +told him, there was no possibility of establishing friendly relations +between Hohenwald and Grünhagen, and that he himself could not even +venture to pay a visit to Hohenwald to show that he had inherited +nothing of the old family hatred. + +"Oh, no, it would never do," Celia said, sadly. "Papa would be terribly +angry; his orders are positive that no visitor shall ever be admitted +to the castle. Arno would have liked so much to ask his dearest friend, +a Count Styrum, to stay with us; but, although papa thinks very highly +of the Count, and says himself that he must be an excellent man and a +worthy son of his father, who was once papa's dear friend, he could not +be induced to let Arno send him an invitation." + +"Of course, then, I cannot venture to come, but I hope at least to make +your brother Arno's acquaintance; this will surely be facilitated by +his being an intimate friend of my cousin, Karl Styrum." + +Celia shook her head dubiously. Arno was just as dear and good as papa, +but just as disinclined to come in contact with strangers. He never +left Castle Hohenwald except when some inspection of the estate was +necessary; he spent all his time in studying learned books. + +"Are you, then, quite alone in the lonely castle?" Kurt asked, +compassionately, but Celia laughed aloud at his question. "I alone and +lonely!" she cried. "What can you be thinking of? I have my own darling +papa, and Arno, who is so kind; you cannot conceive how kind he is. +Then I have my tutor, dear old Pastor Quandt, to whom I go every +morning from nine to eleven; that is, I always have gone to him until +now,--how I shall do in the future I cannot tell, for only think, now +in my old age I am to have a governess." + +Kurt laughed, and Celia laughed too, but the laugh did not come from +her heart. "You must not laugh at me," she said, with some irritation. +"I am afraid I have said something that I ought not. Tell me frankly +and honestly, are my manners so odd that I really need a governess?" + +"What a very strange question, Fräulein von Hohenwald!" + +"Answer it by a simple 'yes' or 'no.' Ought I to have a governess or +not?" + +Kurt looked at her, with a smile. "Do you really want a frank answer?" +he replied. + +"Of course I do; it would provoke me very much not to have it!" + +"I am afraid you will be provoked with me for giving it, but I will do +as you ask. In truth, I think you might learn much of a really good +governess, and that she would do you no harm in spite of your 'old +age.'" + +"How odious of you!" + +"Did I not say that I should provoke you by my frankness?" + +"No; I am not provoked with you, quite the contrary. I see now that +Werner was right. If you, who have only known me a quarter of an hour, +see that I need a governess, it must be so. But here we are on the +borders of Grünhagen, and there is the path that will lead you back to +the house." + +She stopped her horse, and pointed out to Kurt with her riding-whip a +narrow path, so grass-grown that it could have been detected only by +some one very familiar with the locality. + +"And you really are not angry?" Kurt asked, unpleasantly surprised by +his abrupt dismissal. + +Celia looked thoughtful, and after an instant's pause held out her hand +to Kurt. "No, I am certainly not angry with you," she said, cordially. +"I was provoked, I do not deny it, that you should have thought Werner +right; but you meant no unkindness, I am sure, or you would not have +been so frank." + +"I assuredly meant nothing but kindness!" + +"I am sure of it, and it makes me all the more sorry that you cannot +come to Hohenwald. It would be so pleasant to have you tell me more +about America and your adventures there. But that cannot be, and it +will be long before we see each other again, unless we should meet by +chance in the forest." + +"I trust in my good fortune." + +"Well, we may possibly chance to meet again soon, since I take my ride +almost every afternoon about this hour, and am very fond of the broad +road leading towards the Grünhagen woods. Adieu, Herr Kurt von +Poseneck." + +"Au revoir, Fräulein von Hohenwald." + +She gave him a friendly little nod, touched her horse with the whip, +and vanished in a minute along the road leading to Castle Hohenwald. + +Kurt looked after her vanishing figure, and then resigned himself to +delightful reflections. Was it not something more than chance that had +decreed that he, who had found his way so often in American forests, +should lose it here, and thus make the acquaintance of this charming +girl? + +The next day about four o'clock Kurt was seized with an irresistible +desire to inspect the forests; he could not stay in the house; it drove +him forth, much to his uncle's surprise, who, however, ascribed it to +the love of nature engendered by his life in the open air in America. +Kurt did not this time, however, pursue the path he had taken on the +previous day; he remembered the ploughboy's gaping wonder, and did not +choose to become a theme for gossip to the Hohenwald servants; he +followed, instead, the more direct course across the Grünhagen fields +to the woods, but scarcely had he reached it, when chance guided him to +the very spot upon the broad road leading from Castle Hohenwald where +he had been so unfortunate as to frighten Celia's horse. The same +chance that led Kurt to this place arranged that Celia also, who had +hitherto been very careless about the time at which she took her +afternoon ride, suddenly required her horse to be saddled on the stroke +of four. Old John, the groom, could not imagine why Fräulein Celia +should all at once be "so very particular." She never had seemed to +care whether the horse were brought to the door a quarter of an hour +sooner or later, and now she insisted sharply upon punctuality, +although it was the Baron's birthday, and the old servant had had a +great deal to do, as Fräulein Celia knew. She could scarcely restrain +her impatience to be gone, and as she galloped off down the road, the +old man looked after her with a thoughtful shake of the head. + +"We may possibly chance to meet again soon," Celia had said to Kurt as +she took leave of him, and chance conducted her to the very spot where +she had met him yesterday, and where she now met him again. From afar +she espied his light coat among the trees, and her lovely face was lit +up with a happy smile. + +Had she expected him? Impossible! She had made no appointment with him. +She knew enough of social rules to understand that a young lady could +not appoint a rendezvous with a young man whom she had seen but once, +and then only for a short time. Of course it was chance that had +brought them both to this spot at the same time, but she was very glad +of it, and greeted Kurt with a charming smile. + +It was quite natural that she should now walk her horse that Kurt might +walk beside her, although it cost her a struggle with Pluto to induce +him to agree to this new order of things. Kurt walked beside her, +looking up at her with admiration. How graceful was her every movement +as she reined in and controlled her impatient horse! She held the curb +in a firm grasp, but there was nothing unfeminine in the strength thus +put forth. For a while her whole attention was given to her horse, but +when she had reduced him to a state of obedient quiescence she replied +kindly to Kurt's greeting, and when he expressed his pleasure that a +fortunate chance had again brought them together, she answered, with +perfect freedom from embarrassment, that she also was much pleased. As +she spoke, her smile was so arch that he could not but laugh. And then +they laughed together like two children. They knew well what made them +laugh, although they said no more about it. + +It sounded almost like an excuse when Celia said that she had come from +home nearly a quarter of an hour later than usual this afternoon, old +John had been so long saddling Pluto, but that she could not scold him, +for he was very old now, almost seventy, and he had been up half the +night helping her to hang oaken garlands all about her father's beloved +garden-room, that he might be surprised by their beauty when Franz +rolled him in from his bedroom at five o'clock on his birthday morning. +And her father had been very much delighted,--he so loved his +oaks,--and he had been specially pleased with a tobacco-bag that she +had embroidered for him as a birthday gift. He was not very fond of +embroidery, but he knew how hard it was for her to sit still at any +kind of work, and he had been touched by the trouble she had taken for +him. + +Thus Celia talked on, and Kurt listened with rapt attention, as if she +were imparting to him the most important secrets. Her delight in the +garlands of oak-leaves and in the completion of her gift for her father +charmed him. He thought her almost more lovely now than when, a few +moments before, her eyes had sparkled and flashed in her struggle with +her horse. He did not know which to admire more, the blooming girl or +the lovely child; he only knew that both were adorable. + +On the day previous, Kurt had told of his adventures in the war and his +life in America; to-day he begged Celia to describe to him her life in +Castle Hohenwald, and she did so willingly. She was glad that Kurt +should have in his mind a true picture of her dear old father, whom +strangers could never portray truly, for no one knew how dear and good +he was. Arno too, Frau Kaselitz and Pastor Quandt had often told her, +was just as little known or appreciated as his father. She had seen +yesterday, from the compassionate way in which Kurt had spoken of her +solitude at Castle Hohenwald, how false was his conception of the life +there; now, strangers might think what they pleased of it, but Kurt von +Poseneck must know what happy days she led there with her kind papa and +her dear Arno. + +And so she described it to him, beginning with her father, so truly +kind, although a little hasty perhaps now and then, bearing pain so +patiently, never requiring any sacrifice of his people, but always +ready to befriend them. All who knew him loved him. The old servants +declared that there never was a better master; even the Herr Pastor had +a great respect for him, and only regretted that he had withdrawn from +the world, and was in consequence so misjudged. Arno, too, was as +kind as he could be. He might look stern and gloomy, but he was not +so,--only very sad,--and for this he had good cause. He had been +betrothed, and had lost his love, of whom he was inexpressibly fond. +Celia did not know how it had happened. Frau Kaselitz would not tell +her anything about it, and she could not ask Arno, for when the +engagement had been broken some years before, her father had forbidden +her ever mentioning the subject to her brother. He had travelled for a +long time, but travel could not make him forget his grief; that was why +he seemed so stern and gloomy, although he was always gentle and kind +to his father, to her, and to the servants and villagers. If any of +them were in trouble they always came to Arno for help; and even when +it was impossible to help them he always had a kind word for them. + +Celia's praise of her eldest brother was by no means so enthusiastic. +He was a very good fellow, but then he was not Arno; still, he was very +wise, and could always persuade his father to do as he chose. She had +been told that in his boyhood Werner was very irritable and passionate, +but he had quite conquered this fault. Now he rarely allowed himself to +be carried away by anger; his self-control was so great that even when +he was deeply irritated he could preserve a perfect calmness of manner, +and this was why he had such influence with his father, that whatever +he wished to have done at Hohenwald was done. If he did not succeed in +one way he tried another. Thus he had contrived that in spite of his +father's dislike of having a stranger in the house he had consented to +the engagement of a governess. + +As she said this Celia could not suppress a little sigh, although she +instantly laughed, and added, "Well, it may be best,--you think so, and +I will do what I can, and receive Fräulein Müller as kindly as +possible." + +Werner, she went on to say, came but seldom to Hohenwald, usually only +once a year, to be present on his father's birthday, when he stayed +only two, or at most three weeks. He was always very good and kind, but +she could not love him as she did papa and Arno; she could not tell +why, but so it was, and she could not deny that she was always a little +glad when he went away again. She was quite sure that papa and Arno +felt just as she did, although neither of them had ever said one word +to that effect, but she had observed that papa breathed more freely +after the carriage had rolled away with Werner. + +Then Celia described the few people, not her relatives, with whom she +had daily intercourse--Pastor Quandt, her tutor, an old bachelor nearly +eighty years of age, but still hale and hearty, and dear and good, and +Dr. Bruhn, the village physician, also an amiable old bachelor, and +Frau Kaselitz, the housekeeper, who could not do enough to show her +love for her darling Fräulein Celia. She, Frau Kaselitz, was the +childless widow of one of the former stewards of Hohenwald, and had +passed her entire life either in the village or at the castle. She was +as good as gold; far too kind; she, Celia, knew that Frau Kaselitz +spoiled her and made a governess so desirable--as he had thought it, +the girl added, with an arch glance at her companion. She could not +deny herself the pleasure of this little thrust. + +Celia's lively description soon made it possible for Kurt to have in +his mind a vivid picture of the simple life at Castle Hohenwald, and +his admiration for the lovely speaker was increased tenfold. What a +treasure of simple content she must possess, to preserve such a +cheerful gayety of mind with so little in her surroundings to induce +it! + +A long conversation followed upon Celia's narrative; she required, in +her turn, to be told of Grünhagen and its inmates. She asked about his +uncle Friese, and was amazed to learn that he was an amiable, kindly +old man, who only desired to live at peace with all men. According to +Frau Kaselitz and the Hohenwald servants, he was a cross, quarrelsome, +purse-proud old person. + +In such mutual explanations the time sped rapidly, and Celia, as well +as Kurt, was surprised to find that they had reached the Grünhagen +woods and the end of the broad road that led through the Hohenwald +estate. + +"It is time for me to turn back," said Celia, with a slight sigh. + +Kurt did not venture to remonstrate, although he felt as if he should +have liked to talk on with her forever, and although in Celia's manner +there was an indirect appeal to him to ask for a prolongation of the +conversation. + +"Indeed I must turn round," Celia added, with an interrogatory glance. + +"I am afraid you must," Kurt replied, suppressing his desire, and +yielding to more prudent suggestions. Then, holding out his hand to +Celia, he continued: "Chance has been so kind to-day that I trust it +will prove no less so in the future, and so I do not say 'farewell' to +you, Fräulein von Hohenwald, but 'till we meet,' and may that be +speedily!" + +Celia smiled as she nodded her farewell to him, and rode back along the +forest road; and on the following day chance was again so amiable as to +bring about a meeting between the young people at the same spot in the +woods. Yes, chance here proved steadfast and true, and day after day +the pair passed slowly along the forest road to the Grünhagen woods, +deep in innocent but profoundly interesting conversation. Kurt was on +the spot with unfailing punctuality at four o'clock, and a few minutes +later Celia would appear on Pluto, who now greeted Kurt with a neigh, +and was no longer impatient at the slow walk along the road to the +Grünhagen woods. For ten days the skies smiled upon Kurt's forest +walks, but then May, which had hitherto shown him such favour, +justified the reputation for variability which she shares with April. + +At Grünhagen a cold rain pelted against the window-panes, through which +Kurt disconsolately watched the skies, covered with dull gray clouds +that gave no hope that the weather would clear that day, nor perhaps +for several days to come. + +The Amtsrath had just finished his after-dinner nap and lighted his +long pipe. Sitting in his arm-chair and comfortably sipping his coffee, +he was not in the least incommoded by the rain that so interfered with +Kurt's good humour; on the contrary, he thought it good growing +weather, for + + + "Whenever May is wet and cool, + The farmer's store-house will be full." + + +He had often lately looked up to the sky in hopes of rain, and he was +glad that it had come at last to scatter abroad its blessings over +field and fell. + +"A fine soaking rain," the old man said, with a smile, to Kurt, who, he +felt sure, must agree with him. + +"Soaking indeed," Kurt replied, not by any means so pleased as his +uncle had expected; but then the old man was thinking of his meadows +and Kurt of Celia, whom the soaking rain would surely prevent from +taking her daily ride. + +The clock in the Grünhagen church-tower struck four; Kurt took his hat. + +"Where are you going?" asked his uncle. + +"To take a walk in the woods." + +"In such weather?" + +"A few drops of rain will do me no harm." + +The Amtsrath shook his head, for the few drops of rain were, as Kurt +himself had admitted, a steady, soaking downpour. Still there is no +accounting for tastes, and if forest walks in a pelting rain were among +Kurt's American habits, his uncle had no objection to make. + +As Kurt stepped out into the open air, and the huge drops were driven +into his face by the wind, he hesitated a moment. There was no +possibility of meeting Celia in the forest in such a storm. Still, +suppose she should persist in taking her ride? It was possible; no, it +was impossible; nevertheless, Kurt would not fail to be upon the +appointed--no, it had never been appointed--spot in the forest; he +could then tell her the next day that he had been there in spite of the +storm and rain, that he had not, indeed, expected her, but that he had +thought of her. He knew that she would laugh at him and tease him about +his walk in the rain, but he so liked to hear her laugh, she was so +wonderfully charming in her gayety. + +In spite of the increasing rain that soon penetrated his light summer +dress, the way did not seem long; he thought of her, and perhaps +because he had no hope of seeing her that day her image was all the +more present to his mind. During the past ten days a very peculiar +relation had been developed between Kurt and Celia. While Kurt +sauntered along the forest road beside Pluto they talked together like +brother and sister. Celia was never tired of hearing all that Kurt +could tell her of America and the life he had led there, and his +conversation had opened to her an entire new world of thought and +emotion. Brought up in a narrow home-circle, whence all strangers were +excluded, the girl had had no idea that people of culture could +entertain any views and opinions save those shared by her father, by +Arno, and by the old pastor her tutor. It was, for example, one of her +articles of faith that across the boundary, just beyond that strip of +meadow in Prussia, evil reigned triumphant. Prussian! The word stood +for all that was contemptible,--rapacity, low ambition, greed of gain, +and arrogant conceit. Like a good Saxon, Celia hated the Prussians from +her very soul, and worst and most to be hated among them all was +Bismarck, whose name her father never uttered without coupling it with +some opprobrious epithet. Kurt was the first to present to her mind +other views with regard to the state of affairs in Germany, and she +listened to him with profound interest. It was exquisite enjoyment to +Kurt to talk with Celia, and to note her rapt attention to all that he +said, her quick espousal of any cause advocated by him. He loved her, +and he knew that he loved her, but not for the world would he have +addressed to her one word of love; it would have been a sin against her +childlike innocence. His experience of life, spite of his youth, had +been so wide and varied that he could not but be aware what risk there +was for Celia in these daily interviews with a young man in the +solitude of the forest; and could he have seen her anywhere else, could +he but have sought her at Hohenwald, he would have abstained from his +daily walks for Celia's sake. But they offered him his only opportunity +for meeting the girl, and he had not the strength to refuse to embrace +it. He could not but yield to the spell that lured him daily to the +forest road, but he pledged his honour to himself that he would be +nothing to Celia save a friend and brother, that he never would betray +the childlike trust she reposed in him. + +Now first he felt what an absolute necessity for him the daily meeting +with Celia had become,--now, as he walked on in the wind and rain, +constantly repeating to himself that she certainly could not leave the +house to-day. In spite of this repetition, a yearning desire for a +sight of her spurred him on along the accustomed path. He never heeded +that in pushing through the trees and bushes he had become fairly +drenched with rain. He reached the broad castle road: the distant wing +of the castle, a glimpse of which could be had from here in fine +weather, was veiled in mist. Sadly he leaned against the trunk of a +giant oak, conscious that until this moment he had cherished a hope +that perhaps in spite of the rain Celia might take her afternoon ride; +she was no city-bred fine lady, but a strong, healthy child of nature, +who was not afraid of the rain. Now, however, as he looked forth into +the comfortless, white, impenetrable fog, his last hope vanished. + +But what sound was that? Surely something like the distant neighing of +a horse. And now--yes, there was no mistaking Pluto's loud neigh, close +at hand, as a tall figure emerged from the fog, and the next moment +Celia reined in her horse beside Kurt. + +"I thought so!" she cried, triumphantly. "I knew you would not mind the +rain!" Then, as she looked at him, she burst into a merry laugh. "Good +heavens! how you look, poor fellow! You could not be wetter if you had +fallen into the lake!" + +Kurt laughed with her. How odd it was that the huge waterproof that she +wore detracted not a whit from her beauty and grace! A gray waterproof +can scarcely be called an elegant garment, but Celia looked lovely in +this one. Her fresh rosy face smiled enchantingly from out of the hood +that she had drawn over her head, and from beneath which tiny curls +were rebelliously fluttering out into the wind and rain. + +"It certainly is a 'fine, soaking rain,' as my uncle says," Kurt +rejoined, laughing. "It has drenched me, but I have many a time tramped +through a wood in worse weather than this, and even slept soundly on a +hill-side in just such a pour, with only a soldier's blanket over me. +The rain can do me no harm, but you, Fräulein von Hohenwald, are very +wrong to come abroad in such weather." + +"And yet you expected me to do it." + +"No; I was sure you would prudently stay at home. It is no weather for +you to ride in." + +"No? Still, here I am, you see. Neither Pluto nor I ever mind the rain; +but then we are neither of us at all prudent. And besides, you do not +tell the truth. Why are you here if you thought I should not come? I +had more confidence in you. I knew I should find you here, and I should +have been terribly angry if you had stayed away for the rain. For +indeed I had to see you to-day. I have so much to tell you. Only think, +the new governess is really coming this evening!" + +"Indeed? Then the Finanzrath has carried his point." + +"Of course; just as he always does. He wrote to Fräulein Müller, and +sent the letter to Frau von Adelung in Dresden. I could not help hoping +that the Fräulein would decline to come, for papa consented to Werner's +plan only upon condition that he should truthfully describe the life +she would have to lead at Castle Hohenwald. Werner did so. He read his +letter aloud to papa, Arno, and me, and I must confess he did not +flatter any one of us. If I had been Fräulein Müller I never would have +said 'yes' to such a letter." + +"Did he give so terrible a description of the castle and its inmates?" + +"The castle and all of us. He made Arno out a gloomy woman-hater, and +called me a spoiled child. Was it not odious of him?" + +"He meant no wrong." + +"Oh, I know you agree with him! Now, confess honestly that you think me +a spoiled child, or rather do not confess it, or we shall be sure to +quarrel. Let me tell you more. Werner told Fräulein Müller that at +Castle Hohenwald she would be cut off from all social intercourse, that +she could neither receive nor pay visits, and that the family circle +there could not indemnify her for such seclusion, since neither papa +nor Arno was an agreeable companion. In short, he painted existence +here in such gloomy colours that papa said Fräulein Müller must be a +very extraordinary person if she accepted such a situation. But she has +accepted it. Her answer came to-day,--a very odd reply. Papa and Arno, +as well as Werner, shook their heads over it. They could not make it +out. So it is no wonder that I cannot comprehend it either. I have +brought it to you to read, that you may tell me what you think of it." + +"You have brought me the letter?" Kurt asked, in surprise. + +"Why, yes; I know you always tell me the truth when I ask you for it, +and when Werner gave me the letter I thought to myself, 'Herr Kurt von +Poseneck shall read it;' so I kept it and brought it with me. There, +read it; but be careful not to let it get wet. Wait a moment; I will +hold my waterproof out so as to shield it from the rain." + +Celia handed Kurt the letter and protected it with her cloak while he +read it. + +"An excellent hand," he said, as he opened it: "firm and clear. They +say that the handwriting shows the character of the writer; if that be +true, this letter should impress one greatly in Fräulein Müller's +favour." + +"That is just what Arno said; only he added, 'Only to be the more +bitterly undeceived afterwards.' But read, read, I beg you,--I am so +anxious to know what you think of the letter." + +Kurt read the short note, which ran as follows: + + +"Dear Sir,--Your description of the life at Castle Hohenwald so +perfectly accords with my wishes and inclinations that I accept with +pleasure the honourable position offered me of companion and teacher +to Fräulein Cecilia von Hohenwald. I shall arrive at the station at +A---- by the afternoon train, at a quarter-past eight on the +seventeenth, hoping to meet the carriage which you tell me will be sent +for me from Hohenwald. + + "With much respect, + + "Anna Müller." + + +"Well, what do you think of it?" Cecilia asked, eagerly. "It does not +seem odd to me at all. I think it simple, clear, and decided." + +"But what does she mean by saying that Werner's ugly description of the +life here accords with her views and inclinations? Arno says that must +be a falsehood; that no girl could like such a place, and that Fräulein +Müller must be a false, exaggerated person to say that she accepts such +a position with pleasure. Papa thought the same; and even Werner said +that the brevity of the note impressed him disagreeably, while Arno +insisted that its short, decided tone, its want of all conventional +courtesy, was the only thing in it to recommend it. What do you think?" + +"I think we should be overhasty in adopting a prejudice against the +lady upon reading her short note, which to my mind contains nothing to +inspire it. Why should we distrust her declaration that the life in +Castle Hohenwald is to her taste? If it were not so, could she not +decline the position offered her? It certainly speaks well for her that +she makes use of no stupid conventional phrases, and she shows a +correct appreciation of her duties towards you, Fräulein von Hohenwald, +in calling herself not your governess, but your companion and teacher. +I really cannot see any reason why you should form an unfavourable +opinion of Fräulein Müller. Take my advice and receive her after your +own frank, cordial fashion. Do not be swayed by your brother Arno's +(pardon me) unjustifiable prejudice, but see and judge for yourself, +and you will be sure to judge rightly." + +"Yes, I will," Celia said, cheerfully. "I knew you would give me good +counsel, and I shall follow it. But now," she continued, with a sudden +gravity, "we must discuss one point which I have never ceased to think +of since the letter arrived to-day. What will become of my beloved +liberty? Is it not lost from the moment that Fräulein Müller arrives at +Castle Hohenwald?" + +"It may be somewhat restricted, and is it not perhaps best that it +should be so, Fräulein von Hohenwald?" + +"Ah, you are thinking again that I need a governess. You will make me +seriously angry. I am not a child, and I will not have my liberty +restricted! I am willing to learn. I will sit still for hours and play +the piano every day, but I will not be put into leading-strings. It is +not kind of you to wish it for me, Herr von Poseneck. What will become +of my afternoon rides if Fräulein Müller thinks it unbecoming for a +young lady to roam about the forest alone?" + +Celia's words told a joint in Kurt's armour; had he not often reflected +that the propriety of these rides was questionable? It was hard for him +to carry out his resolve of always being frank and true towards Celia, +but he did it. With a sigh, he replied, "Fräulein Müller would not be +far wrong if she did think so." + +Celia suddenly reined in her horse, and looking down at Kurt with eyes +large with wonder, she said, in a tone expressing painful regret, "And +you tell me this?" + +"Yes, Fräulein Celia," and for the first time he avoided the formal Von +Hohenwald; "yes, I tell you so, because I always will be honest and +true to you." + +Celia made no reply; she urged Pluto into a walk again, and rode beside +Kurt in silence. She had never reflected whether these meetings in the +forest were becoming. She had made no appointments with Kurt, but +chance--no, it had not been chance entirely after the first meeting; +she knew that she should meet him, but she could not reproach herself +with having made any appointments. She was quite blameless. Quite? Why, +then, had she never mentioned these daily meetings at home in Castle +Hohenwald? Why had she never uttered the name of Kurt von Poseneck to +her father or Arno, and never even said a word when Arno had casually +mentioned the fact that a son of the Poseneck who had emigrated to +America had returned, and was living at Grünhagen with the Amtsrath, +whose heir report said he was to be? Her father, Arno, and Werner had +discussed the Posenecks at some length; why had she never said a word, +although she could easily have set them right upon several points? +Hitherto she had simply followed her impulse to see Kurt, whom she +liked so much, daily; but now, suddenly, she became aware that +something about these meetings was not just as it should be. + +After a long pause, she said, dejectedly, "I think you are right, Herr +Kurt; I have acted very unbecomingly; but then we never made any +appointments, and it was so pleasant to meet by chance. You have told +me so much to interest me, I could always listen to you for hours; but +if you think it improper, I will not ride on the forest road again. It +will be hard, for lately I have looked forward all the forenoon to this +hour of talk with you." + +The girl's childlike, innocent frankness enchanted Kurt; he yielded to +an irresistible impulse to seize and kiss the hand that hung down near +him. Then, startled at what he had done, he instantly dropped it, while +Celia, not in the least startled, looked at him with a happy smile. + +"Is it really so wrong for us to spend one short hour here every day +talking together?" she asked, looking down kindly into his face. + +He could not withstand the magic of her look; all the wise rules that +he had laid down for himself melted in the light of her eyes like snow +before the sun. "No, dearest Celia! A thousand times no!" he cried, +rapturously. "I swear to you by my honour that you never shall have any +cause to regret your confidence in me. I will not ask you to continue +your rides,--you shall not promise me to do so,--but I will be here +awaiting you every day; nothing shall prevent me. Although you should +stay away for weeks, you will find me here whenever you come at this +hour." + +"And you shall not await me in vain," Celia replied; and as she leaned +down towards him their lips met for one instant in a fleeting kiss. +Then she suddenly wheeled her horse about and was gone. + +Kurt stood for a while motionless. Long after the lovely rider had +vanished in the gloom he still saw her in spirit, and felt her kiss +upon his lips. He hardly noticed that the rain, which had ceased for a +few minutes, was pouring down with renewed violence; that a sharp wind +was blowing, colder than before. He stood like one entranced in the +lonely forest, and, when unconsciously he turned towards home, he never +heard the howling of the tempest. Not until the bough of an oak-tree, +torn off by the wind, fell directly across his path did he waken from +his revery. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +"Station A----. One minute's stop!" + +The conductor hastily opened the door of a second-class carriage and +helped out a young lady, civilly handed her her travelling-bag and +railway wrap, clambered into his place again, and in a few moments the +train was out of sight. + +The young lady was the only passenger who had left the train; therefore +the gentleman who had been walking to and fro on the platform for a +quarter of an hour easily recognized her as the person for whom he had +been waiting. He approached her, and, raising his hat, said, +courteously, "Have I the honour of addressing Fräulein Anna Müller? I +am the Finanzrath von Hohenwald." + +"Have you come yourself, Herr Finanzrath, in spite of this terrible +weather? It is really too kind." + +There was surprise as well as great satisfaction in the smile with +which Werner looked at the young lady; he was in truth deeply impressed +by her striking beauty. + +Fräulein Müller was by no means equally pleased. She had supposed the +Finanzrath to be a much older man; his fresh, smooth-shaven face looked +to her very youthful, and she was not agreeably impressed by the +satisfied smile with which he contemplated her. + +It was but a moment that Werner devoted to his scrutiny of the lady; he +now bowed even lower and more respectfully than at first, and said, +with extreme politeness, "I was too much rejoiced, Fräulein Müller, +that I had been able to induce you to come to Hohenwald to allow +another than myself to be the first to welcome you here. Moreover, I +felt it my duty to meet you, since I was the cause of your accepting a +position for the difficulties of which you are perhaps not fully +prepared. Before you enter Castle Hohenwald you ought to have a more +vivid idea of those with whom your life there will be passed than it +was possible to give you in my short letter. I described as impartially +as I could the difficulties of your position, but there is much that +you should know, which I shall be able to tell you during our drive to +the castle, which in this weather, and from the consequent state of the +roads, must needs be a slow one. And now let me conduct you to the +carriage as quickly as possible; it will, I fear, be quite late and +very dark by the time we reach Hohenwald." + +Then taking her travelling-bag, and offering her his arm, which after a +moment's hesitation she accepted, he led her through the station-house +to where a close travelling carriage was awaiting them. + +The wind howled, and the rain poured in torrents. The Finanzrath was +assiduous in his attentions, holding his umbrella over his companion as +she got into the carriage, then hurrying to see that the porter +fastened her luggage securely in its place behind the carriage. Not +until all was arranged to his satisfaction did he take his seat beside +her in the well-cushioned vehicle. The rattling of the carriage over +the stones while the road led through the town of A---- prevented all +conversation, and enabled the Finanzrath to observe his companion +attentively without attempting any of his promised communications. + +He was impressed anew by the girl's extraordinary beauty; an expression +of melancholy that vanished when she spoke, but which characterized her +features in repose, made her still more attractive, while it afforded +the Finanzrath--who remembered all that Frau von Adelung had hinted to +him of Fräulein Müller's misfortunes--an explanation of her readiness +to accept the offer of a position at Castle Hohenwald. At length the +carriage left the paved streets and entered upon the country road +leading to the castle. Although the wind howled about the vehicle and +the rain pelted against its windows, conversation had become possible. + +The Finanzrath was a clever man; it was but natural that his lively +portrayal of the inmates of the castle should interest Fräulein Müller +extremely. She listened eagerly, only interrupting him now and then by +brief questions, which he answered readily. With an impartiality which +was surely worthy of all praise, Werner entered upon a detailed account +of the characteristics of his nearest relatives,--his father, his +brother, and his sister; he warmly extolled their good qualities--his +father's kindness of heart and simple truth, Arno's stern sense of +justice, his earnestness, his industry, his varied acquirements, +Celia's gay good humour and childlike simplicity; but at the same time +he concealed none of their faults. As he discoursed, the daylight had +vanished and darkness had succeeded the short twilight. The sky was +black with clouds, and within the carriage it was so dark that Anna +could scarcely see the outline of her companion's figure, although he +leaned towards her as he repeatedly assured her that in him she would +find a friend ready to aid her in any way during her life at the +castle, and begged her to confide frankly to him any wish with which he +could comply. + +He said not one word that circumstances did not fully warrant, and yet +Anna was excessively uncomfortable. The _tête-à-tête_ with him in the +dark carriage seemed to her almost insufferable. She shrank away from +him at the very time when he was speaking so gently and kindly to her +that there could not be the slightest reasonable cause for her distaste +of his society. + +Suddenly the carriage stopped. Anna drew a long breath of relief when +the Finanzrath broke off his discourse and, opening the window, asked, +anxiously, "What is the matter, John? Why do you not drive on?" + +"I do not know, Herr Finanzrath," a voice from the box replied, "but I +think something is wrong." + +"What can be wrong?" It seemed to Anna that the Finanzrath's voice +trembled as he asked the question. Was he, strong man as he was, so +fearful of an accident that his fear betrayed itself in his voice? The +sign of weakness instantly put an end to all Anna's dread of the +Finanzrath. She felt strong, indeed, in view of his timidity. No +possible danger of the road in the dark night had power to alarm her. +All she had dreaded had been the _tête-à-tête_ with her companion. + +The coachman did not immediately answer; he slowly descended from the +box, and not until the Finanzrath asked in a tone of still greater +anxiety, "What has happened, John?" did he reply, sullenly, "Nothing +has happened, Herr Finanzrath, but the devil himself could not find the +way in this storm; you can't see your hand before your face. I thought +we had got off the road and were going towards the Grünhagen quarry, +but it is all right, and we can drive on." + +"No, no, don't try, for Heaven's sake, John!" the Finanzrath exclaimed, +in evident terror. + +"Oh, it's all right," the coachman said, with great composure. "We must +drive on; we can't spend the night here in this weather." + +He mounted the box again and whipped up his horses, but the next +instant there was a jolt, a crash! The wheels on one side of the +carriage rolled over a stone, while those on the other sank deeper and +deeper into the mud, the carriage leaned more and more to one side and +finally upset. + +Anna felt herself tossed to one side; her head struck against some hard +object. She experienced a burning pain in her temple, and was near +fainting, but the next moment recalled her to herself; she did not +choose to faint, and her will was victorious. + +The carriage had fallen upon the side where sat the Finanzrath. Anna +heard him groan as he struggled to rise. + +"Are you hurt?" she asked, anxiously. + +"My foot pains me terribly; I fear it is broken," he replied, in a +loud, distinct voice which soothed Anna's apprehensions that his +injuries might be mortal. + +"I will try to open the door that is uppermost," she said; and this, +after several attempts, she succeeded in doing. The rain poured down +upon her, but she braved it, and exerting all her strength, she climbed +out upon the side of the carriage and thence got down to the ground. At +first she sank ankle-deep in the mud, but in a minute she found firm +footing. "Can you possibly get out, Herr Finanzrath?" she asked. + +"I will try," a voice from the carriage replied, and immediately +afterward the Finanzrath looked out of the open door. He gazed about +him, but in the gloom could see nothing. Anna's figure was hardly +distinguishable, although she was but a few paces off. "John! John! +Where are you?" Werner called loudly, but, although he repeated the +call several times, there was no reply. + +"I am afraid the poor fellow has had a bad fall," said Anna. + +"So it seems, since he does not answer," rejoined the Finanzrath. There +was not much sympathy in the tone of his voice, and still less was +there in the remark that followed. "The clumsy scoundrel cannot even +hold the horses after upsetting us. This is horrible! Suppose the +horses should run off just as I am climbing out?" + +This fear was groundless. The horses had stopped the instant the +vehicle overturned. They did not stir, and the Finanzrath climbed out +upon the carriage, but did not attempt to descend from it. + +"Is your foot so painful that you cannot step upon it?" Anna asked, +compassionately. "Can I help you? Take my hand, I pray you!" + +"Thank you," he replied; "but my foot will not permit me to climb +farther. What are we to do? We cannot sit here all night in the rain." + +"I will seek help," Anna replied, resolutely. "The road must lead to +some house or village. Wait for me here. I shall soon return with men, +who can right the carriage." + +"For Heaven's sake, do not go one step!" Werner cried, in great +agitation. "We are close upon the quarry; there must be a deep chasm +just at hand!" + +"I will be very careful. At all events help must be procured. Something +must be done for the poor coachman, who has given no sign of life yet; +and you too, Herr Finanzrath, need assistance." + +"Yes, yes; but you must not leave me. Let us both shout for help. We +shall perhaps be heard. There must be labourers' cottages near the +quarry. Help! help!" he thereupon shouted with all the force of his +powerful lungs. And in fact scarcely had the sound died away when a +distant "Halloo!" was heard. + +"Thank Heaven, they have heard us!" Werner said, and then shouted +again, "Help! help!" + +The answering shout came nearer, and in a few moments a dark figure +approached. "What is the matter here?" a rough voice asked. "A carriage +upset, as I live! What the devil were you doing in the quarry at this +hour?" + +"We lost the road, and are greatly in need of assistance," replied +Werner. + +"Lost the road? Were you going to Grünhagen?" + +"No; to Castle Hohenwald." + +"To the castle? Then you belong to Hohenwald?" + +"I am the Finanzrath von Hohenwald; but this is not the time for +talking. I beg you, my friend, to help me to reach some place of +security." + +A burst of discordant laughter was the only reply vouchsafed to this +request. After indulging in his ill-timed merriment, the new-comer +inquired, "Have you ever heard of Carter Jock?" + +"No; but, my friend----" + +"No friend of yours! I would rather eat my head than help a Hohenwald. +Any of the castle people can tell you about Carter Jock. Finely they +treated him indeed; and, by way of thanks, he wishes you a pleasant +night!" With another scornful laugh the man turned on his heel and +would have gone, when Anna approached him, and, laying her hand on his +shoulder, said, "You will not be so cruel as to desert us in our need?" + +"The deuce! There's a woman in the scrape, and not the madcap Celia +either!" the man exclaimed, in amazement, after having lighted a couple +of matches, which the rain, to be sure, instantly extinguished, but not +before he had perceived that it was not Celia who addressed him. + +"A lady! a stranger!" he muttered to himself. "She must not be left all +night in the quarry. The devil take the Hohenwalds; but I must let the +folks at Grünhagen know what has happened." + +For one moment he stood reflecting, and then, without heeding the +Finanzrath's entreaties, he turned away and vanished in the darkness. + +For a while Werner von Hohenwald sat silent as if in utter despair. At +last a red spark of light appeared in the distance; again he shouted as +loud as he could for help, and to his joy the voice that answered him +was Arno's. + +In a few minutes Arno, followed by several men with lighted torches, +reached the overturned carriage. "I was afraid," he said, "that John +would miss the road, and so came out to meet you with torches; not soon +enough, unfortunately, to prevent an accident. But why do you sit up +there on the carriage, Werner? Why don't you jump down?" + +"The chasm must be close by, Arno." + +"Nonsense! there is no chasm here. Give me your hand and spring down." + +Werner grasped the hand extended to him and sprang out upon the road. +His foot could not have been severely injured, since he accomplished +this with apparent ease. + +"Where is Fräulein Müller? I hope nothing has happened to her." + +"Nothing has happened to me, Herr von Hohenwald," said Anna, who was +standing in the shadow, "but I am afraid the coachman has received some +injury." + +Arno turned hastily, and stepped aside so that the torchlight fell full +upon Anna's face. Its great beauty astonished him also, but he was +shocked at the sight of a dark-red streak that extended from beneath +the chestnut curls on her temple to the white kerchief about her +throat, which was stained crimson. "You are bleeding?" he exclaimed, +"you are hurt?" + +"It is nothing. Never mind me; but let us search for the unfortunate +coachman. I fear he is terribly hurt." + +"Where is he? John, where are you?" + +There was no reply, and Arno became alarmed. He took one of the torches +from the men, and was not long in finding poor old John, who was lying +unconscious by the roadside, with a terrible wound on his forehead. +Arno kneeled beside him, and laid his hand upon his heart. "He is +alive," he instantly declared, "but I am afraid he is very badly hurt." + +"Oh, is he?" said Werner, who was seated on a stone, calmly watching +his brother's proceeding. "I thought it must be so when he did not +answer. But what are we to do, Arno? My foot is terribly painful." + +"Indeed? It cannot be very bad, since you easily jumped from the +carriage." + +"Nevertheless it pains me terribly. I never can walk to the castle. Can +the carriage not be righted?" + +"We will see." Arno examined the carriage, but found the axle broken. +"This is bad," he said. "We cannot, then, drive poor old John to +Hohenwald, but we can make a litter comfortable with the carriage +cushions, and you, my men, can carry him to the village." + +The men assented eagerly, but the Finanzrath was not satisfied. "I +should suppose," he said, peevishly, "that I might be attended to +before John. I cannot possibly walk. When the men have carried me to +Hohenwald they can return and fetch John." + +His brother greeted this speech with a glance of contempt. "If you +cannot walk," he said, coolly, "you can sit here! The old man's life, +perhaps, depends upon his having surgical aid speedily." + +"I cannot stay here in the pouring rain; I shall catch my death of +cold!" + +"Death is not easily caught of cold!" Arno rejoined, unsympathetically. +"Make haste," he said to the men, who were busy constructing the +litter. "Poor old John must be moved as quickly as possible." + +"How far are we from Hohenwald?" the Finanzrath asked, when the litter +was nearly completed. + +"Three-quarters of a league from the castle and half a league from the +village." + +"Then the manor-house of Grünhagen must be close at hand." + +"Grünhagen is not ten minutes' walk." + +"Indeed? Then, Arno, I think it would be much wiser to carry John +there, and I could manage to hobble there myself." + +"You would go to Grünhagen?" Arno asked, and there was surprise as well +as disapproval in his tone. "What business has a Hohenwald in +Grünhagen? Am I to ask shelter for old John and for you of the Amtsrath +Friese or young Kurt von Poseneck, only to meet with a rude refusal, +or, what would be worse, with a condescending compliance, which would +burden me with an obligation to them?" + +"What folly!" Werner declared. "You ought to be above such prejudice, +Arno. It speaks ill for your humanity that you insist upon dragging +poor old John to Hohenwald." + +Here one of the men whom Arno had brought with him advanced, and, +taking off his hat, respectfully said, "No offence to the Herr +Finanzrath, but we cannot take old John to Grünhagen." + +"What do you mean?" the Finanzrath angrily inquired. "Would you disobey +orders?" + +"Certainly not," the man replied, exchanging a glance with his fellows. +"We are old soldiers, and know how to obey always, but indeed we could +not answer it to the master or to old John himself if we took him to +Grünhagen. If he had his senses he would be sure to say that he would +rather die than be carried to Grünhagen. And, besides, if we do take +him farther, we get the doctor sooner, for our Dr. Brühn in Hohenwald +would not go to Grünhagen for the world; when they want a doctor there +they have to send to A----, and that is too far." + +Arno nodded approvingly to the man. "You are right, Kunz; we will take +John to the Hohenwald village. Lift him carefully and lay him on the +cushions, and let us be off instantly." + +"But, Arno, what is to become of me and of Fräulein Müller?" Werner +asked, plaintively. + +Anna had been no idle spectator during this time; she had helped the +men to arrange the cushions on the litter, and was holding a torch to +light them as they lifted the unconscious John upon it, listening the +while with surprise to the conversation between the brothers. She had +been disgusted with the Finanzrath's selfishness in desiring to be +carried when his foot was evidently not severely hurt; and Arno's stern +refusal to carry the wounded man to Grünhagen had also impressed her +disagreeably. She had no desire to take any part in the discussion, but +now, when the Finanzrath asked of Arno what was to become of her, she +hastily interposed with, "I shall carry one of the torches, since I +cannot, unfortunately, render any more important assistance; there is +no occasion to waste any thought upon me." + +Arno looked at her with a surprised but kindly air. "Brava!" he said. +"You are brave, and I trust can walk the half-league to the village; if +you are very tired I will assist you. You, Werner, must help yourself. +If you cannot walk with us, creep back into the carriage and shelter +yourself from the rain until I can send you assistance. And now on to +Hohenwald!" + +"No, Herr von Hohenwald; to Grünhagen," a strong, manly voice was now +heard to say. + +The voice was Kurt von Poseneck's; he emerged from the darkness into +the torchlight, and, advancing towards Arno and the Finanzrath, +courteously informed them that he had just heard the news of the +accident in the quarry, and had instantly given orders to have a +carriage prepared, while he had hurried hither to entreat the gentlemen +to turn towards Grünhagen, where they would be cordially welcome, and +where apartments were already prepared for them. The injured coachman, +too, should have every care bestowed upon him, and a carriage should be +instantly sent to fetch Dr. Brühn to Grünhagen. + +Kurt spoke so kindly, so cordially, that even Arno could not help for a +moment forgetting his prejudice against the Posenecks as he thanked the +young man for his proffered hospitality, which, however, he declined. +In vain did Werner add his entreaties to Kurt's. Arno refused to yield, +and cut short all further discussion by ordering the men to proceed +with the litter. + +Werner was very indignant at his brother's obstinacy. "Such +unreasonableness is inconceivable!" he exclaimed; "but you shall not +force me, Arno, to share your folly. I accept your invitation +gratefully, Herr von Poseneck, for Fräulein Müller and myself; we will +return with you to Grünhagen and accept your hospitality." + +"You must not speak for me, Herr Finanzrath," Anna protested. "I +promised to be at Hohenwald this evening, and I shall keep my word." + +"But, Fräulein Müller, you cannot surely persist in walking to +Hohenwald in this weather? I will engage to excuse your delay to my +father." + +"I need no excuse, Herr Finanzrath," Anna replied. + +In vain did Werner expend his eloquence in entreaties and +representations. She carried one of the torches and walked beside the +litter towards Hohenwald. She stoutly braved the storm; the wind +blowing in her face cooled her burning temples, and she experienced a +sense of strange satisfaction when, upon looking back, she found that +the quarry was already so far in the distance that the light of the +torch left with the Finanzrath gleamed like a faint spark in the black +darkness of the night. + + * * * * * + +The castle clock had struck eleven, and the Freiherr von Hohenwald, who +was usually rolled into his bedroom at ten precisely, was still sitting +in the spacious garden-room. He was not in a good humour, as was +manifested by the frown upon his forehead, which even Celia's +cajoleries could not smooth. The girl was seated on a low chair beside +him, endeavouring in vain to win him to cheerfulness. Sure as she +usually was of an affectionate reply to her questions, to-night he +would not be amiable. She had been reading aloud to him; but even that +did not please him. He took the book from her, grumblingly declaring +that she was inattentive, that her emphasis was all wrong; she was +thinking, of course, of the new governess, on whose account the whole +house was turned upside down. + +As he spoke, the Freiherr glanced angrily at the table in the centre of +the room spread for four people. "It capped the climax," he added, +peevishly, "for Werner to tell me it was not the thing to smoke in +ladies' society, I am not to be hectored after that fashion, however. +Bring me my meerschaum!" + +Celia sprang up and brought him his large meerschaum, with a lighted +match. He usually rewarded her for this service with a loving smile, +but to-night he sat puffing out clouds of smoke without a word, until +he drew out his huge gold watch and said, "Ten minutes after eleven! +This household is topsy-turvy. It was not enough that Werner should +insanely go to meet the woman at the station himself, but that fool +Arno must needs run after him. There stands the table waiting,--nine +o'clock is the supper-hour, and it is now nearly midnight." + +"But you had your supper at the right time, papa," said Celia. + +"How would it have helped matters to have me kept waiting? It is enough +that all the rest of the household suffers because of you and this +governess. It was the stupidest thing I ever did to listen to Werner. +What's the use of your having a governess? Your manners are quite fine +enough for Castle Hohenwald, for Arno, and for me." + +"Still it was very wise in you, papa, to follow Werner's advice. I can +learn a great deal from a good governess, and some time, I suppose, I +shall meet those who demand more than Arno or you." + +"Oho! the wind has changed, then? So Werner has converted you too!" + +Celia blushed. Werner had not even attempted the conversion of +which his father accused him; but she did not say one word in his +defence,--she could not tell her father that it was Kurt von Poseneck +who had caused her change of opinion. + +"Where can they be?" the Freiherr exclaimed, impatiently; "they ought +to have been here by ten o'clock at the latest." + +"I hope there has been no accident." + +"Nonsense! The road is perfectly good, and since Arno chose to go and +meet them with torches an accident is impossible. There is just as much +pother about this governess as if she were a lady of distinction." + +"Do not be unjust, papa! If old John, who has not driven over that road +for so long, should have missed the way and got into the Grünhagen +quarry, and any accident had happened to Werner or the lady, you never +would forgive yourself for scolding Arno for going to meet them, Only +hear how the wind howls and the rain beats against the windows. For my +part, I am almost dead with anxiety lest an accident has happened. But, +thank Heaven, no--there they are; I hear the carriage rattling over the +stones of the court-yard." + +Celia started up, and would have hurried out to meet the arrivals, but +a peremptory word from her father detained her. "Stay here!" he +exclaimed. "There is such a thing as being too kind. It is more than +enough that Werner brings her from the station, that Arno goes to meet +her, and that the table and you all are kept waiting for her. As she +herself wrote, she is to be your paid companion and teacher. Remember +that, child. Any undue familiarity is very undesirable." + +Celia tossed her head and a reply was upon her tongue, but as she +looked at her father she thought it wiser not to provoke him further, +so she bit her lips and obeyed in silence. At the same time she +privately determined that neither her father's command nor her +brother's advice should influence her conduct towards the governess. + +Her patience was put to the proof, for several minutes elapsed before +the hall-doors were thrown open and Arno appeared, ushering in a lady, +whom he presented. "Fräulein Anna Müller. My father, my sister Celia." +This introduction he evidently considered quite sufficient, for he +instantly turned from her, and, taking his father's hand, said, "We +have kept you waiting a long while, father--you shall hear why when you +have welcomed Fräulein Müller. I have much to tell." + +The Freiherr made no reply; during the presentation he had not removed +his pipe from his mouth, but when Anna approached with a slight +courtesy, and, in a soft, rich voice, said, "Forgive me, Herr Baron, +for having been the involuntary cause of so much disturbance," he +instantly laid it aside and made an attempt to rise from his chair in +answer to her words. It was many years since he had exchanged a word +with a lady, but the memory of the time when he lived in society +stirred within him as he looked at Anna. He had supposed that a +negligent word of greeting would suffice for a governess, after all +only a kind of upper servant, but he saw before him a lady to whom he +involuntarily paid a mach greater degree of respect. It was not Anna's +extraordinary beauty that thus impressed him, although he found it +admirable, but a certain indescribable something which characterized +her, and which her unsuitable dress could not conceal. She had left her +drenched clothing at Inspector Hauk's, in the village of Hohenwald, and +had borrowed a dark woollen dress of his wife's, which, although much +too large for her slender figure, could not disguise its beautiful +proportions. + +A few minutes previously the Freiherr had not been by any means +inclined to receive kindly the disturber of his domestic peace, but as +he looked into Anna's pale face, and thought he saw an entreaty for +kindness in her fine eyes, the expression of irritation vanished from +his features, and he said, very kindly and simply, "You are heartily +welcome, Fräulein!" + +These were the first words that Anna heard from the dreaded +woman-hater, the stern Freiherr. Her future pupil's reception of her +was far more effusive; she had taken Celia's heart by storm. While Anna +was speaking to the old Baron, the girl stood rapt in admiration of the +stranger's exquisite smile and melodious voice, and when she turned +from the father to the daughter, the latter threw her arms around her +in a sudden burst of girlish enthusiasm, which conveyed a far more +cordial welcome than could have been given in words. Anna gently kissed +her brow and felt inexpressibly pleased by the manner of Celia's +greeting, founding upon it the brightest hopes for the future. + +And what did the Freiherr say to this infringement of the rule he had +laid down but a few short minutes before? He was not in the least +angry; he smiled benignantly, and watched with great satisfaction the +two charming girls, the governess, apparently but a few years the elder +of the two, and his darling, his will-o'-the-wisp. Paternal pride +whispered to him that, beautiful as the stranger was, she was no +lovelier than Celia. + +Arno by no means shared his father's satisfaction. His face grew dark +as he looked at Anna. What magical charm did this stranger, whom Werner +had introduced among them, possess, to enable her thus, by a single +word, to transform his father, prompting him to utter that "heartily +welcome," and now so completely winning over Celia, who had naturally +rebelled against the idea of a governess? Had she not even made a far +deeper impression upon himself than he was willing to admit? She must +be an adept in the art of pleasing. + +"Now you shall have supper," said the Freiherr; and Arno rang the bell +to have it served immediately, and then pushed his father's chair up to +the table. It was only when old Franz had placed the dishes on the +table that Celia observed that Werner's place was empty. Her father +noticed this at the same time, and they asked, simultaneously, "Where +is Werner?" + +"Where you would least suspect him to be, father," replied Arno. "The +Finanzrath is so far exalted above the traditional prejudices of his +family that he has accepted Herr Kurt von Poseneck's invitation, and is +at this moment either calmly supping with the Amtsrath Friese and Herr +von Poseneck, or comfortably tucked in bed at Grünhagen." + +This announcement produced very different effects upon Celia and her +father. Celia blushed crimson; but so far from seeming shocked at +Werner's transgression, she laughed merrily, and asked, "How did it +happen?" + +The Freiherr, on the contrary, would have risen hastily from his chair +had not his gout prevented; he muttered an oath, and exclaimed, "What a +devil of a story is this? Werner at Grünhagen with those scoundrels of +Posenecks!" + +"Why should you speak so harshly of Herr von Poseneck, papa?" Celia +asked, indignantly. + +The Baron gazed at his child in amazement. "What is the child thinking +of?" he asked. "Actually taking me to task! Since when have you become +the champion of the Posenecks, little one?" + +"It seems to me unjust to abuse the absent, who do not deserve it, and +cannot defend themselves!" + +"How do you know what the Posenecks deserve? Would you send your old +father to school? Truly, it seems high time that your education were +looked after, child." + +Celia's cheek grew more crimson still, but she made no reply to her +father's reproof. Arno had listened to the brief war of words with a +smile. "Positively," he said, "I shall henceforth believe in signs and +wonders. A Hohenwald partakes of the hospitality of Grünhagen; Celia +appears as the champion of the Posenecks; my father scolds his darling, +and she makes no reply! Who can discredit miracles after all this?" + +"Nonsense!" the Freiherr rejoined, peevishly. "Rather tell me how +Werner came to meet that Poseneck fellow." + +In answer Arno gave a narrative of the evening's adventures. He had +determined to state the simple facts to his father, alluding as little +as possible to Fräulein Anna Müller, but as he proceeded, his +remembrance of the scene at the quarry was so vivid that he went +farther than he had intended. He could not forbear, for mere justice' +sake, to enlarge somewhat upon the courage and unselfishness of Anna's +conduct, in contrast with Werner's weakness and egotism, when he told +how, although wounded herself, she had declined his aid and had begged +him instantly to bestow it upon old John. He did not utter one word of +praise, but in his description of what had occurred there was much +commendation implied, while he did not spare his sarcasm in speaking of +Werner's very slight injury. + +Anna was not a little embarrassed by his account; she would have liked +to disclaim Arno's praise, but what could she say while he confined +himself to a narrative of facts? When Celia, however, turned to her +with a warm caress, saying, "Good heavens, you are wounded, and have +said nothing to us about it!" she smilingly lifted the dark-brown curls +upon her forehead, and said, "You see it is a mere scratch; the village +doctor attended to it, and told me that it would be perfectly healed in +a few days. It really is nothing." + +Arno confirmed her words, and went on to reassure his father as to old +John's condition, which Dr. Brühn pronounced to be not at all +dangerous, although his injury had at first seemed grave. He then gave +a detailed account of Werner's desire from the first to go to +Grünhagen, and of how he was not to be dissuaded from accepting Kurt +von Poseneck's invitation, which, Arno admitted, was most amiably and +courteously tendered. + +The Freiherr nodded, well pleased, when he heard how the Hohenwald +people had refused to carry old John to Grünhagen, but he was all the +more irritated by the Finanzrath's acceptance of Kurt's invitation. "It +is disgraceful!" he exclaimed. "How could a Hohenwald forget himself so +far as to accept hospitality at the hands of a beggarly Poseneck!" + +"It is not at all nice of you, papa!" Celia instantly declared, with +flaming cheeks and flashing eyes. "How can you, who are usually just +and good, speak so unkindly of Herr von Poseneck, who has never done +anything to you? It is poor thanks to him for hurrying out to the +quarry in the storm to help Werner. And Werner was perfectly right to +accept the invitation; what had he to do with an old worn-out feud? +Herr Kurt von Poseneck certainly had no share in it; he has only lately +arrived from America." + +"Why, what an eloquent advocate the Posenecks have in our little one!" +Arno rejoined, before his father, who was quite speechless with +astonishment, could frame a reply. "And in truth she is partly right, +for the young Herr von Poseneck certainly conducted himself excessively +well on this occasion; nevertheless, I did not wish to accept his +invitation, nor did Fräulein Müller; Werner, however, is superior to +all Hohenwald prejudice. The Finanzrath knows far better how to conduct +himself than we, who rust here in Castle Hohenwald, possibly can. His +father and brother ought to be banished to the lumber-garret,--eh, +Celia?" + +"Come, come; have done with sneering, Arno. Go on with your story," the +girl replied. + +"You are right. Disputing cannot change matters; that neither my +father, nor Werner, nor I can do. You and I belong to the old order of +affairs, father; we must be content to find others leaving us; and it +is but natural that Celia should vow allegiance to modern ideas; so I +will not waste another word upon the Posenecks, although I confess I +practise self-denial in not doing so." And he finished his narrative, +describing Anna's courageous braving of the storm and rain on their way +to the Inspector's at the village of Hohenwald, where they found warmth +and shelter, and whence a messenger was despatched for Dr. Brühn, who +soon pronounced upon old John's case and dressed the cut upon Fräulein +Müller's forehead. Then, after Arno had exchanged his wet clothes for a +suit of the Inspector's, and Fräulein Müller had been provided with +garments from his wife's wardrobe, a village wagon had brought them +both to the castle. + +The old Baron was greatly interested in Arno's account; even Werner's +visit to Grünhagen was almost forgotten as he eagerly listened to his +son's narrative. The new governess was evidently no spoiled city lady. +He briefly expressed to her his admiration and gratitude, and it +pleased him still more that Anna quietly declined to accept any thanks +for what was merely a matter of course and of no consequence. + +Meanwhile, it had grown late, and still, contrary to his custom, the +Freiherr leaned comfortably back in his rolling-chair and said not one +word of retiring, so interested was he in discussing the events of the +evening. Suddenly, however, he happened to glance at the clock, and +discovering that it was just about to strike one, he remembered how +fatigued Fräulein Müller must be. Directing Celia to show her to her +apartment, he had himself rolled into his bedroom by Arno, after +wishing the new governess a courteous good-night. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +"My dear Arno,--You have a right to scold. I can see you frown when you +learn that this letter would have reached you two weeks ago, if I had +fulfilled my promise of writing to you about my visit to my uncle +Guntram soon after my arrival in M----. + +"But man proposes, and a charming, smiling little blonde disposes. +Indeed she is charming enough to make a man forget even the sacred +claims of friendship, and so I confess my fault, and pray your +forgiveness. But I can see the frown deepen on your brow, you +incorrigible woman-hater, and you are less inclined than ever to +forgive upon such a plea. What will you say, then, when you know the +worst? Listen, and wonder, Arno. I am betrothed,--the happy lover of +the aforesaid lovely little blonde. I beg leave to present to you the +betrothed pair, Adèle von Guntram--Karl, Count Styrum. There! Do not +throw the letter angrily aside, or you will not learn how it has all +come about so quickly, and, besides, you must accustom yourself to the +idea of receiving, upon your promised visit to Altenheim, a welcome +from a charming little Countess Styrum. That your welcome from her will +be of the warmest I can assure you, for my betrothed takes the keenest +interest in Arno von Hohenwald, about whom she is never weary of +hearing. I might almost be jealous of him did I not know his views with +regard to women. + +"And now let me tell you what is stranger than all, that it is owing to +this interest of Adèle's in you that I am now her accepted lover, or +rather that I am so much sooner than I could otherwise have been; and I +will tell you as briefly as I can, without breaking a promise I have +made, how this came about. + +"You know I visited M---- on account of the vexatious lawsuit with my +uncle Guntram which I inherited from my father, and concerning which I +hoped to effect some sort of compromise. My uncle received me with the +greatest cordiality, and we should speedily have arranged matters had +it not been for my cousin Heinrich, who, being a newly-fledged lawyer, +would not hear of any adjustment of the affair. I believe I could not +have offended him more deeply than by voluntarily relinquishing my +claims. Now he must put up with this offence, although it is given in a +manner different from any that he could have foreseen. His zeal +for litigation was of the greatest service to me, for it kept me in +M---- when I thought my presence necessary at Altenheim. Thus weeks and +even months passed, and I was no nearer the goal than at first, that +is, so far as the lawsuit was concerned, otherwise my stay in M---- was +entirely delightful to me. My uncle Guntram was all that he could be in +the way of affectionate kindness, Heinrich extremely amiable in a +cousinly way, and Adèle--no, I will not write about Adèle, for you +would only laugh at me and call me a love-sick fool. Wait until you +come to M----, as friendship demands you should do, to be present at my +marriage, and you will understand how welcome any pretext was to me for +a protracted stay here, and how willingly I spent day after day beneath +my uncle's roof, passing the most of my time talking with Adèle. She +treated me in the kindest manner, but her innocent familiarity, which +was almost like that she might show to a brother, made me anxious. A +distant connection of yours, a certain Assessor von Hahn, frequents my +uncle's house, and was evidently suing for my cousin's favour. I heard +reports from all sides of a private betrothal between them, which was +not to be announced until the Assessor had obtained the position of +circuit judge, since my uncle greatly disapproved of long engagements. + +"I really could not perceive that Adèle favoured the pretensions of the +Assessor, who is a very well-disposed but rather ridiculous little man; +but as all the world declared that it was a settled affair, and as even +the Assessor himself let fall several hints to the same effect, I +thought I should be forced to accept my fate. I should never have dared +to tell my charming cousin how dear she was to me had not you, Arno, +without knowing it, lent me your aid. + +"I had often talked of you to Adèle, telling her of our delightful +travels, and even describing to her your father, your sister Cecilia, +and your surroundings at Castle Hohenwald, as I had learned to know +them from yourself. + +"When I went to my uncle's this morning at the usual time, I found +Adèle alone; she received me more kindly than usual; she even owned +frankly that she had for an hour been longing for my coming. Flattering +as this reception was, I founded no hopes upon it, for I saw that my +cousin was desirous to acquaint me with some plan, in the execution of +which she looked to me for assistance. She was in a state of feverish +agitation; at times she would look at me with an expression of intense +entreaty, and then, just when I hoped she was about to speak frankly of +what was nearest her heart, she would introduce some indifferent topic +of conversation. At last she evidently summoned up courage sufficient +to enable her to bestow her confidence upon me. 'Cousin Karl,' she +said, in her sweet, gentle voice, 'I have a very, very great favour to +ask of you.' I need not tell you how fervently I assured her that she +could not ask what it would not be my delight to grant. She then +proceeded to tell me that her dearest friend, a Fraulein Anna Müller, +who had been her schoolmate at Frau Adelung's, in Dresden, was forced +by dire misfortune to seek a position as governess. Frau von Adelung +had recommended the young lady to your brother Werner for your sister +Celia, and Fraulein Müller was to start for Hohenwald this very day. +The mighty favour that Adèle asked of me was to write to you and exert +my influence with you to insure the young lady a favourable reception +at Castle Hohenwald. I never can tell so evil-minded a woman-hater as +yourself how exquisitely lovely Adèle was as she thus pleaded with me +for her friend, nor how it happened that I retained the hand I took in +mine and forgot all the silly stories about the Assessor von Hahn. +Indeed, I do not know where I found the courage to tell her how +inexpressibly dear she was to me, and how life had no greater joy for +me than the hope of keeping for my very own forever the hand I then +held. I was afraid she would instantly withdraw it, but she did not, +and--no, I will only tell you that I am the happiest fellow in the +world. Uncle Guntram, when he came from his study shortly afterwards, +found us betrothed, and gave us his blessing, assuring me that his +dearest wish was fulfilled in our betrothal, and adding that Adèle +should have the lawsuit for her dowry, so that if I wished to continue +it I could do so with my wife. Heinrich made a wry face at this, but +there was no help for it, and he offered us his brotherly +congratulations. + +"Thus, you see, I owe my being the happy lover that I am to you, Arno, +for had it not been for Adèle's request I never should have had the +courage to confess to her that I loved her. The bugbear of her +betrothal to Herr von Hahn would have prevented my speaking frankly to +her. Adèle laughed at me when I told her this, and rallied me upon +lending an ear to such silly gossip. + +"And now, Arno, that my confession is made, my next duty is to fulfil +my love's request, and cordially to recommend her friend to your +kindness. I do this with a good conscience; she is a cultivated, +highly-gifted person. I congratulate your sister that your brother +succeeded in inducing her to come to Castle Hohenwald. I as well as +Adèle am convinced that Fraulein Müller's talents and acquirements will +achieve for her an honoured position in your father's household, and +Adèle hopes for more yet; she trusts that her friend in the solitude of +Hohenwald, in a refined family circle, may in time forget the +misfortunes that have befallen her, and that your kindness may assist +her to do so. I know your magnanimity and delicacy of sentiment, and +that you only need be told that Fraulein Müller, owing to no fault of +her own, is very unhappy, and that any allusion to her past, any +question with regard to it, would be extremely painful to her. To +alleviate her sorrow she only needs cordial kindness, confidence which +she deserves in fullest measure, and considerate regard. All these I +know she will find at Castle Hohenwald, and among you she will not be +subjected to a curiosity to which she would be specially sensitive. You +will forgive me for communicating no further particulars to you with +regard to the lady's past when I tell you that I am bound by a promise. +I know that you will be content with my declaration that I vouch for +Fraulein Müller's blameless integrity and purity of character. When you +receive this she will already be beneath your roof; let me pray you not +to let her know that I have written to you, and my Adèle will thank you +for not doing so when you come to M---- to our marriage. + +"One thing more before this long letter is concluded: with regard to +your nearest neighbor, my cousin, Kurt von Poseneck. I have heard +something of an hereditary feud between the Hohenwalds and the +Posenecks, but I know you too well to suspect you of giving heed to any +such folly, and therefore I cordially commend my cousin to your +kindness. Kurt's life in America has been the best of training for him; +he is a fine fellow. I learned to know him well when he paid me a visit +at Altenheim not long ago, and I assure you that I have rarely seen a +young man so greatly to my mind, as I know he will be to yours. +Although we are antagonistic in politics (he is a democrat, as was his +father before him), I enjoyed every moment of his stay with me at +Altenheim, for even in a political discussion Kurt never forgets that +he is a gentleman. He defends his views with spirit, but with such +calmness and moderation that he is never offensive. I am sure you will +soon be friends, if you will only consent to break the spell of your +solitude so far as to become acquainted with him. + +"And now adieu! God bless you! Woman-hater though you be, your +congratulations are confidently expected by + + "Yours always, + + "Karl Styrum." + + +Arno laid the letter aside, after he had read it, with a sigh. He had +found it with his other letters by the day's post upon his table after +he had left the garden-room, as we have seen, long after midnight. "He, +too!" he muttered to himself, with another sigh, and then he read the +letter for the second and third time, his face darkening as he read. +After the third perusal he sat for a long time lost in thought, and +finally took up a pen and wrote: + + +"My Dear Karl,--You expect congratulations from your friend; it is +indeed an ancient custom to offer kind wishes to the newly betrothed, +and I follow it all the more readily as in my case I employ no empty, +idle phrase when I wish you happiness with all my heart. We have always +agreed to be frank and true in our dealings with each other, and never +to shun entire openness through fear of giving offence. I now fulfil my +share of our compact. Indeed, after reading your letter three times I +cannot but reply to you, my only intimate friend, as my heart dictates +upon the impulse of the moment, not as I might after long and cool +consideration. Therefore this is no formal letter of congratulation, +but the true and faithful reply of a friend. Yes, I wish you all +happiness, but I do so with a heavy heart, for I know how much I lose +by your betrothal,--I, who have hitherto held the foremost place in +your regard, must content myself with the second, and I shall shortly, +as mournful experience teaches, lose this also, for love is the mortal +foe of friendship. Both cannot exist together in the same heart. Thus I +know that I have already half lost you, and shall soon lose you +entirely, for I shall never be content with the cold modicum of regard +which is all that the bridegroom and husband has for an every-day +acquaintance. This pains me profoundly. You were the only man in whom I +could thoroughly confide,--the only one to whom I could look for entire +comprehension and sympathy. Nevertheless, I wish you happiness, and my +wish is all the more fervent since I dread its non-fulfilment. Yes, my +pain in losing you is augmented by my fears for your future. I know +you, and I know that you never can content yourself as can so many +unless your marriage brings you full sympathy of heart and mind. You +are in love, and I know from sad experience that love drugs the +intellect and bewilders the judgment. You will, therefore, doubtless +regard my doubts as to your future as a positive crime against your +betrothed, but I must be frank with you, my regard for you demands it. +I repeat, I wish you joy; you need all good wishes, and if I could I +would close this letter with mine, for my head and heart are so full of +your betrothal that there is hardly room in them for another thought, +but you have made a request of me to which I must reply. + +"Fraulein Müller, your betrothed's friend, has been for several hours +in Castle Hohenwald, to which I myself introduced her after a most +extraordinary fashion. Of this I will write you shortly. I will only +tell you now that I have already had abundant opportunity to admire the +lady's rare courage. She has by her beauty and her frank attractive +bearing already taken Celia's heart by storm and conquered my father's +prejudice against her. I received your letter _after_ her arrival here, +and therefore could not comply with your request as to her reception, +but rest assured that the lady herself insured its cordiality far +better than I could have done. I could not have believed it possible +that my father should treat a stranger with such urbanity, although a +few hours before Fraulein Müller's arrival he had scouted the idea of +any friendly familiar intercourse with the new governess, and had +declared that while Celia's companion and teacher was entitled to a +courteous and respectful reception in Castle Hohenwald, she could lay +no claim to admission within our family circle. Fraulein Müller can +have no cause to complain of any want of the cordiality you desire in +my father's or Celia's welcome, but the requirement of such from me is, +unfortunately, a demand with which I cannot comply. You know how I +value your opinion, how highly I rate your recommendation; it is a +warrant to me that the lady is deserving of all regard. I promise you +that she shall be annoyed by no curiosity as to her past, and that I +will do all that I can to conceal from her the discomfort that her stay +among us causes me. More I cannot promise. You would not ask me to be +false to my nature, and I tell you frankly that I have an invincible +repugnance to all intercourse with this young person, which is rather +increased by the fact that she is beautiful, cultured, and amiable, and +that I cannot refuse to accord her a certain degree of esteem in view +of the admirable courage she displayed this evening under exceedingly +trying circumstances. + +"To treat her with cordiality is impossible for me; I will keep out of +her way as far as I can. I will always observe every rule of +conventional courtesy in my unavoidable intercourse with her, and, in +deference to your request, will endeavour to make her position in the +household as pleasant as it can be under the circumstances; you will +not ask more of me. Enough for to-night. In a few days I will write you +a detailed account of my adventures in bringing Fraulein Müller to +Castle Hohenwald, and of my encounter with your cousin Kurt von +Poseneck, whom I saw for a moment upon the same occasion. Farewell, and +do not be angry with me for perhaps mingling one bitter drop in your +cup of happiness,--I could not help it. I must always be utterly frank +and true with you. + + "Always and all ways your faithful friend, + + "Arno von Hohenwald." + + +The letter was finished; but when Arno read it over he was not +satisfied with its contents. He had meant to tell his friend in +heartsome words how he feared for his future; but now that they were +there on the paper in black and white they seemed cold and insulting. +It was but a poor reply to Karl's warm-hearted letter. And he was no +better pleased either with what he had written about Fräulein Müller. +He had meant to be perfectly candid and true to his friend. Had he not +promised always to be so? and this surely justified all he had said. +But was what he had written quite true? Did he feel an invincible +repugnance to any familiar intercourse with Fräulein Müller? Had she +not, on the contrary, inspired him with an inexplicable interest which +he vainly tried to suppress? While he was writing she was perpetually +in his mind. He had been obliged once to lay down his pen because her +image so flitted before him; he saw her walking beside him through the +night and the tempest, braving the storm so boldly, and yet without +doing violence to a true feminine nature. Even on the road to the +village of Hohenwald he had tried to resist the impression that the +first sight of this charming girl had made upon him, but in vain, +although he conjured to his aid the ghosts of a vanished past. He would +gladly have detested this stranger thus thrust into his life; he heaped +her with all kinds of accusations, and yet confessed to himself that +they were all unjust. What reason had he for crediting her with a +desire for admiration? had she sought by look or by gesture to attract +him? Would Styrum have commended her so warmly if she had not been +worthy of all praise? Still, why should she alone of all women be +careless of admiration? No; Styrum was in love; he saw with his +betrothed's eyes. He was credulous, and had not purchased with his +heart's blood the sad experience that the most innocent of smiles upon +lovely lips is but a prearranged means to some desired end. Poor Karl! +he had not seen through the game they were playing with him, or he +would not have fallen into their toils so easily. The rich Count, +belonging as he did to the foremost of the Saxon nobility, would at any +time have been considered by the President Guntram as an excellent +parti for his daughter; but the prospect of a happy conclusion to the +lawsuit had doubtless made the match doubly desirable. Therefore it was +that the engagement between the fair Adèle and the Assessor had been +dissolved, and no means had been neglected to bring the Count to a +declaration. Interest for her friend had afforded Adèle an excellent +opportunity to treat her cousin with flattering confidence, and she had +won the game. Poor Karl! in his noble trust in innocence and purity he +had fallen a victim to an excellently-laid plan, and was now made use +of by Adèle to insure her friend a firm footing in Castle Hohenwald. +Arno could not but laugh at himself. Had he really been in danger of +proving false to his principles? He had seen through the game at the +right moment, however,--the suspicion that had been aroused on the road +to Hohenwald now became a certainty, and what he had written to his +friend was the truth. Yes, he now felt an invincible repugnance to any +closer intercourse with this intriguing stranger, who had selected +Castle Hohenwald as the theatre for her schemes. The letter should be +despatched just as it was. He folded and sealed it, and then betook +himself to rest. The day's exertions had wearied him, and he soon +slept, but the image of the lovely stranger mingled in his dreams. + +The stranger herself stood at the window of the room to which Celia had +shown her, and gazed out into the gloomy night; she heard the howling +of the wind and the beating of the rain against the panes, but she did +not heed them, for before her mind's eye rose a form that made her +oblivious of the present. She shuddered as she looked back to that last +terrible night spent beneath the same roof with the wretch who would +have bartered his wife's honour for a release from poverty and +detection. She had clung to him faithfully, had always conscientiously +fulfilled her duty to him, hoping that she might perhaps in the end +influence him for good. She had forgiven him for squandering her +property, for plunging her into poverty, although she no longer loved +him, and was bound to him only by a sense of duty; but that he could so +dishonour her as actually to wish to sell her to the Russian was a sin +never to be forgiven,--it separated her from him forever. + +He had spoken the decisive word himself, he had restored to her her +freedom, lured by false hopes perhaps, but he had done so +unconditionally, and she was now her own mistress; she no longer felt +the chains that had bound her to her wretched husband; they might exist +for the world, but no longer for herself, for her own conscience. When +on that dreadful night she had bolted herself into her bedroom, her +resolution was already taken. Without hesitation she proceeded to carry +it out. She exchanged her ball-dress for a simple stuff gown; she +packed a few necessary articles of clothing in a travelling-bag, and +hastily wrote these lines: "You have given back to me my freedom; I +accept it. It is your desire that we should part; it shall be +fulfilled: you will never see me again. Should you dare to persecute +me, you will force me to denounce you publicly and to give to the world +the reasons that justify my conduct. The detected thief, who would +barter his wife's honour, has forfeited the right to control her +destiny.--LUCIE." + +Her hand did not tremble as she wrote these words. She folded the +sheet, sealed it and placed it where its address could be plainly seen +by any one entering the room. + +It was done! She was parted from him forever. A shudder ran through her +as she thought of his threat of suicide if she refused to accede to his +wishes, but the thought did not for an instant deter her. Only the +coward, whose courage is never equal to the commission of the deed, can +threaten suicide; if he could have preferred death to disgrace he never +would have been a detected thief. + +She cautiously unbolted her door and crept through the drawing-room to +the hall, upon which the door of Sorr's sleeping-room opened. Here she +paused and listened,--he was wont to breathe heavily in his sleep,--but +she could hear nothing: a proof that he was still awake. What if he +should hear her and come from his room to prevent her departure? What +then? The wonted gentleness of her look gave place to stern +determination; involuntarily she clinched her hand; the struggle had +begun, and should under all circumstances be carried on. + +Fortunately, however, she encountered no obstacle to her progress down +the stairs to the house-door, which she softly opened and as softly +closed behind her. The streets were deserted; she passed a watchman +asleep on a doorstep, and walked as quickly as possible towards the +President's mansion without being seen by a human being. The windows of +the house were still gleaming with light, and there was a long line of +carriages in the street before it. Lucie paused and hesitated for a +moment. The ball was not yet over. She had hoped this would be the +case; else it would have been difficult for her to obtain an entrance +to the house. But how was she to pass the line of carriages? So late a +wanderer would be sure to be noticed by the coachmen and lackeys, and +she might be the object of coarse jests. Perhaps the little gate +leading from the garden into a side street was open: it was seldom +locked; and even should it be so, she could easily climb the low +garden-fence. She was not to be stopped by such an obstacle; from the +garden, the wing in which was Adèle's room was easily entered by a +back-door, which was, of course, still open, and once in the house she +could soon make her way to Adèle's room. + +She hurried into the side street. The garden-gate was not locked, nor +was the back-door even closed. Fortune favoured her; not a servant did +she encounter as she hurried up a narrow staircase and along the +passage leading to her friend's room, which she reached without being +observed. Arrived here, she sank down upon the little lounge where she +had so often sat conversing gayly with Adèle, upon whose aid she now +relied in her plan of flight. + +An hour passed slowly; the music floated in from the ball-room; but at +last it ceased; there was a bustle of departing guests, servants ran to +and fro in the house, and the rattle of carriages told Lucie that the +ball was at an end. Another half-hour went by; the house grew quieter, +the bustle entirely subsided; there were steps in the passage, and +Heinrich von Guntram's voice said, "Good-night, Adèle. Shall I light +your candle for you?" + +"Oh, no; there are matches on the table Good-night, Heinrich." + +"Good-night." + +The door opened. Adèle entered, bolted it behind her, and then, going +to the table in front of the sofa, lighted a match, by the flickering +light of which she distinguished a dark figure sitting on the sofa. She +gasped with terror and ran towards the door, but was instantly arrested +in her flight by the gentle tones of a familiar voice, whispering, +"Don't be frightened, dearest Adèle; it is I,--Lucie!" + +"You--you here at this hour?" + +"I need your help, Adèle. In my extremest misery I seek refuge with +you, my dearest friend." + +In an instant Adèle's arms were about her, and the tenderest assurances +of sympathy and aid were poured into her friend's ear. Then she drew +the curtains close and lighted the candles, before seating herself +beside Lucie and entreating her to tell her all. + +Lucie complied; she told her of her wretched past with her worthless +husband, and of the incidents of the last few hours, remaining +perfectly calm amid the storm of indignation with which her friend +greeted her narrative. Anger was dead within her, slain by the thorough +contempt she now felt for Sorr. + +"And now, dear Adèle," she concluded, "I come to claim your aid. Your +last words to me this evening when I left the ball-room were, 'Trust in +me; whatever happens, I will stand by you.' This has given me courage +to take this decided step to break the fetters that bound me to one so +unworthy. I knew I should not be quite alone, that you would not desert +me, and therefore I come to you." + +"Never, Lucie dear, never; and not only I,--there is another whose aid +will be of more use to you than that of a poor weak girl. My cousin +Karl told me every detail of the miserable scene in Heinrich's room; he +suspected you would soon need protection and assistance, and is ready +to give it to you. You may trust him; he is a noble, true-hearted man, +and has promised me to befriend you at your need. Be sure he will keep +his promise. He will advise us what is best to be done." + +"I do not need any advice," Lucie gravely rejoined; "my resolution is +taken, my plans for the future are arranged. I need the help of +faithful friends only in their execution. I shall be grateful for Count +Styrum's help; but later, when I am no longer here." + +"What do you propose to do?" + +"Herr von Sorr has given me my freedom. I will employ it in beginning a +new life. For years I have foreseen that I should one day be obliged to +turn to account for my support the accomplishments acquired during my +girlhood, and I have continued to study with this end in view. I am +perfectly qualified to fill a position as governess. Such a position I +shall endeavour to find in some retired country-seat, but in order to +obtain it I need testimonials, with which so young a man as Count +Styrum cannot furnish me. I have therefore thought of writing to our +dear old teacher, Frau von Adelung, in Dresden. I remember that she was +constantly applied to for governesses. But I am afraid to confide +wholly in her. With the best intentions she is something of a gossip, +and would find it difficult to keep my secret, and yet her +recommendation I must obtain. When Herr von Sorr finds my letter +to-morrow and discovers that I am fled, he will, I know, together with +Count Repuin, leave no stone unturned to discover my retreat. He will +not be deterred even by the threat in my letter, and he must learn +nothing, and therefore I cannot confide in good Frau von Adelung. You +must write to her and bespeak her good offices for a friend of yours; +you were always one of her favourites, and she will not hesitate to +comply with your request. I am sure, dearest Adèle, you will do this +for me." + +Lucie's scheme seemed to her friend admirable, and she declared herself +ready to do all that she could to further it: but when Lucie went on to +state that she intended to leave M---- the next morning by the five +o'clock train, to await in some retired village the result of her +friend's action, Adèle reused to entertain any such idea. Nowhere, she +said, could Lucie be so safe from Sorr's persecution as in M----, where +he certainly would never expect to find her. The arrival of a lady +alone and unattended in any little village would surely excite remark, +while Lucie might stay for weeks in Adèle's room and her presence +beneath the President's roof never be suspected. Adèle never received +her friends in her bedroom or dressing-room, and neither her father nor +her brother ever came to her there. All that was to be done was to take +Lina, Adèle's special maid, into their confidence,--she had lived in +the house for years, and a more faithful, trustworthy creature there +could not be. Adèle's representations overcame her friend's scruples, +and it was agreed to admit the maid to a full knowledge of the state of +the case. And when the dawn was at hand the two friends retired to bed, +Adèle happier with regard to Lucie than she had been for a long while. + +The next morning when Lina came to call her young mistress her surprise +was great at finding a new inmate in the room, of whose coming no one +had been aware. Adèle told her the true reason for Frau von Sorr's +flight from her husband's roof, and Lina, flattered by the confidence +shown her, promised to keep such guard over the fugitive that no one +should dream of her whereabouts, while she should daily fare like an +honoured guest, without arousing the suspicions of the other servants. + +She kept her word, which she would have done out of her faithful +devotion to Adèle alone, even if Frau von Sorr's gentleness and +misfortunes had not excited her sympathy and spurred her on to +redoubled watchfulness. The scheme was eminently successful. Neither +the President nor Heinrich nor any of the other inmates of the house +ever suspected that Lucie von Sorr, whose sudden disappearance was the +town-talk of M----, was concealed in Adèle's room. + +The President, at the dinner-table, expressed his surprise that so +beautiful a woman could have contrived to vanish utterly without a +trace. He told how Herr von Sorr had applied to the police for +assistance in his search for his wife; that inquiry had been made of +all the hack-drivers of the town and the porters at the railway +stations. No one could remember having seen the fugitive; an +extraordinary fact in view of the lady's remarkable beauty. Herr von +Sorr was beside himself, and feared that his wife might have been +driven to suicide by the strange reports circulating in the town. + +Adèle listened to all this in silence, and reported it to her friend +afterwards. + +In a few days many visitors made their appearance at the President's, +in hopes of learning something satisfactory from Adèle, who was well +known to be Frau von Sorr's nearest friend. Among them were Madame +Gansauge and Frau von Rose, the Messrs. von Saldern and von Arnim, +Assessor von Hahn, and others, all craving information. + +Adèle listened to all that they had to say, but had nothing to tell +them. She could not imagine why her friend had left M---- so suddenly; +she could not look upon her disappearance as a flight, and she feigned +a fresh interest in every repetition of the reports circulating +in M----. + +It was positively certain, the wife of Major Gansauge asserted, that +Frau von Sorr had destroyed herself,--a peasant had seen her at five +o'clock in the morning near the Marble Gate, close by the large pond. +The body had not yet been found, but doubtless would be shortly. Count +Repuin was quite inconsolable, far more so than Herr von Sorr, who bore +his trial with more equanimity. + +Frau von Rose knew from the very best authority--she was not at liberty +to mention names--that Count Repuin and Herr von Sorr had a violent +quarrel. The Count would not believe that Sorr was ignorant of his +wife's whereabouts. The affair was certainly very odd, for the Count +behaved precisely as though his wife, and not Herr von Sorr's, had run +away, and had threatened the husband with some dire revenge if the +fugitive were not shortly discovered. + +The Assessor von Hahn was more cautious in his expressions; he hinted +that Frau von Sorr had made a profound impression upon Count Styrum, +and that the Count had perhaps been willing to shield her from Count +Repuin's persecutions. The Assessor remarked that he was too discreet +to say more; he did not boast of it, for discretion was a gift of +nature, and her bounties were variously distributed; discretion was one +of his natural endowments, therefore he would be silent. + +All these contradictory reports which Adèle heard from the gossiping +friends of the family she faithfully recounted to Lucie, and the +friends congratulated themselves that no attempt had been made by Frau +von Sorr to leave M----. + +Adèle had written immediately to Frau von Adelung, telling her that one +of her dearest friends, a Fräulein Anna Müller, was very desirous to +procure a situation in the country as governess. She expatiated upon +the talents, acquirements, and culture of the young lady, who regretted +that, never having dreamed of being obliged to support herself, she +possessed no testimonials to her ability. Now, however, she was in +great distress; her father had died brokenhearted at the loss of his +large fortune, and Fräulein Müller had been very unfortunate also in +other ways, so that she craved retirement from the world, and would +prefer a situation in the solitude of the country. + +An answer to this letter arrived by return of mail. Frau von Adelung +expressed her pleasure at being able to do anything for her dear Adèle, +whose friendship for Fräulein Müller was a sufficient recommendation in +her eyes. At present she knew of no situation for her, although there +was no doubt that one could shortly be found, and she promised to write +again as soon as this was the case. + +More than a week elapsed before Frau von Adelung was again heard from. +Lucie continued to live in her concealment in her friend's room, +hearing from her all that was going on in M----. Count Repuin and Sorr +had both suddenly left town, the latter deeply in debt. Whither they +had gone no one knew. Count Repuin had left orders that his letters +should be sent to Berlin _poste restante_. + +At last, when Lucie was beginning to chafe under her enforced idleness, +a second letter arrived from Frau von Adelung, asking whether Fräulein +Müller would be willing to accept the position of governess to the +Baroness Cecilia von Hohenwald, or rather, as the young lady was +sixteen years old, that of companion and teacher. Lucie and Adèle were +greatly surprised by this letter; they well remembered the description +given by Count Styrum on the evening of the ball of the secluded life +at Castle Hohenwald, and this remembrance decided Lucie at once to +accept the offered position. In the solitude of Castle Hohenwald, where +no guest ever found admission, surely she might look for the seclusion +she so earnestly desired. + +In a short time a third letter was received from Frau von Adelung, +enclosing the one addressed to Fräulein Müller by the Finanzrath, of +which we have already heard. His dreary picture of the castle and its +inmates, far from deterring Lucie from accepting the post offered her +there, only made her the more desirous to accept it, and she acceded +instantly to the Finanzrath's request that she would, if she could, +return a favourable reply and inform him of the day of her arrival at +the station A----. + +Thus the die was cast. Two days more were all that she could spend with +the dear friend who had so aided and sheltered her. Adèle now wished to +intrust Lucie's secret to her cousin, that he might write and insure +her a friendly reception at Castle Hohenwald, but this Lucie permitted +her to do only upon condition that she should wait until she had +actually departed from M---- before she spoke to Count Styrum upon the +subject. + +The day of departure arrived,--an agitating day for Lucie. Hitherto +Lina's fidelity and caution had made concealment possible; not one of +the household even dreamed that the vanished Frau von Sorr was quietly +living in Adèle's apartments; but how could she steal away unobserved? + +The gossiping Assessor had reported that Count Repuin had bribed all +the railroad officials, who were to give him immediate notice of the +appearance at any one of the M---- stations of the well-known Frau von +Sorr. The police also were in his pay, and it seemed to Lucie almost +impossible to leave the President's house without discovery. + +Here, too, the faithful Lina rendered most efficient aid. She had come +to seek service in M---- years before from an Altenburg village, and +the ugly national dress of the Altenburg peasantry, although long since +discarded by her, was still reposing neatly folded in her trunk. She +was about Lucie's height, and, with a few alterations, the peasant's +dress was made to fit the lady perfectly, so that when, one morning +towards four o'clock, a neatly-dressed Altenburg peasant-girl walked +out from the President's garden into the side street, the most +experienced detective would hardly have suspected her of being the +admired Frau von Sorr. + +At the Marble Gate Lina was awaiting her in a covered wagon, driven by +one of her cousins, an Altenburg peasant lad, whom she had sent for to +take her to her native village, where she had received permission from +her master to spend a week's holiday. The peasant lad was rather +surprised that his cousin Lina should have stopped him, when they had +driven no farther than the Marble Grate, to wait for a young girl, who +shortly arrived and got into the vehicle. Still greater was his +surprise when, at a little wayside inn some miles from M----, Lina made +him wait much longer, while she went into the house with the young +girl, who must have remained there, for when Lina got into the wagon +again it was in company with a very fine lady, who paid him for driving +her to the nearest railroad station, where she took a kind leave of his +cousin. + +Once in the railway carriage bound for A---- Lucie had no farther fear +of discovery, and we have already heard of her safe arrival there, and +of her adventurous drive with the Finanzrath. + +How different her reception at the castle had been from any she had +anticipated! She had looked forward with a heavy heart to meeting the +old Baron; but he had welcomed her so kindly, so cordially, that she +felt sure that in him she should find a friend. + +But Arno? Even if Count Styrum had written to him beseeching his kind +offices for the new governess, this morning, after his visit at the +President's, he could not have received the letter; his conduct had +been characterized only by the coldest courtesy. Still, she was +prepared for this; she knew his sentiments with regard to women. He had +behaved precisely as she had expected him to do, and his manner was +certainly far preferable to the Finanzrath's. As she called him to mind +a burning blush overspread her cheek, and she leaned her forehead +against the cool glass window-pane. She could not tell what it was in +his behaviour to her that so aroused her repugnance. He had been all +that he should be, and no more, and yet his courtesy inspired her with +dread; this man was antipathetic to her. But why trouble herself about +him in any way? He was but a guest at the castle, where everything +seemed so much more encouraging than she had hoped to find it; he would +be gone in a few days, and Celia, this charming, lovely Celia, who had +evidently conceived a sudden affection for her new companion, would +still be with her. How entirely unnecessary had been Lucie's fear of +the "wayward, spoiled child"! Celia could not feign; in her clear, +honest eyes the genuine welcome she had given to her new governess +was plainly to be read. How happy she had seemed upon noting the +pleasant impression produced by the pretty and luxurious bedroom and +dressing-room to which she had shown Lucie! How cordially she as well +as Frau Kaselitz had begged to know if anything were wanting for the +comfort of the new inmate! and how caressing had been the kiss with +which she had said good-night! + +Yes, everything was far, far more pleasant than Lucie had expected; +surely she could find repose and forgetfulness amid these surroundings, +and in the fulfilment of a duty so interesting as the instruction of +this sweet young girl; and yet she could not look forward into the +future with any degree of buoyancy; the driving rain, the dark night, +the moaning wind, seemed to her to symbolize her destiny. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +The tempest had spent its fury in the night, and the sun shone warm and +bright into Lucie's bedroom when she awaked at a rather late hour the +next morning. She was habitually an early riser, but the fatigue of the +previous day and evening had prevented her from sleeping until towards +morning, and she did not awake until eight o'clock from her dreamless +and refreshing slumber. She gazed around her in some bewilderment, and +could not at first remember where she was; but in an instant all the +past, her parting from her dear Adèle, her journey hither, and last +night's adventures, flashed upon her mind, and brought with them the +consciousness that she was actually in Castle Hohenwald. If her room +had looked pretty and comfortable by candle-light on the previous +evening, it was positively charming now, with a bunch of fresh spring +flowers, which she had not seen the night before, upon a little table +between the windows, and the sunlight glorifying the landscape without. +Lucie hastily left her bed, and was proceeding to dress, when there +came a low knock at her door. "Who is there?" she asked. + +"I,--Celia. I waited until I heard you stirring, to tell you that your +trunk has been brought over from Grünhagen, and is here in the next +room--our morning room--with your dry dress from the Inspector's. I +will come to take you to breakfast in half an hour." + +When Lucie opened the door into the next room Celia had vanished, but +her trunk stood near, and her travelling-dress, brushed and dry, hung +across a chair. She made haste to perform her simple toilet, and then +went again into the apartment which Celia had called "our morning +room." This room, then, she was to share with her pupil. It was a +delightful and luxurious retreat; its windows opening upon an +enchanting prospect of the garden, the mighty oaks in the park, and the +distant mountains; near one window was a table, upon which lay a +half-finished piece of embroidery, while another table, evidently new, +and prettily furnished with writing materials, was plainly destined for +the new governess. Upon it was a small vase filled with flowers +evidently plucked but an hour ago, the dew not yet dry upon the petals +of the roses. Flowers! So little, and yet so much! They made a welcome +where they stood. Lucie bent over them to inhale their cool fragrance, +and when she raised her head looked into Celia's laughing eyes. "How +can I thank you for placing these here, Fräulein von Hohenwald?" she +said, with emotion. + +"By never again calling me Fräulein, but Celia. Every one who cares for +me calls me Celia, and I want you to care for me very much." + +Such a request, accompanied as it was by a kiss and a caress, could not +be refused. The girl's frank tenderness was inexpressibly soothing to +Lucie. + +"And now come with me to the garden-room," Celia went on, putting +Lucie's hand within her arm. "Papa is waiting for us; he drank his +morning cup of coffee long ago, but he wants us to take our breakfast +in the garden-room all the same." + +The Freiherr had indeed been awaiting the appearance of the ladies to +breakfast in the garden-room for more than an hour. Seated in his +rolling-chair in his favourite spot, he was rejoicing in the beauty of +the lovely morning and inhaling the mild air of spring, while, as he +sipped his coffee, he received his morning visit from his son. + +Arno seated himself beside his father's chair and began, as was his +wont in the early hour of talk, to discuss matters connected with the +estate, agricultural schemes, etc., which did not, however, appear to +have the power to interest him today as deeply as usual. It almost +seemed as if he were thinking of other things as he expatiated upon the +new ploughs and the building of fresh stables. He now and then paused +in his talk, and seemed to lose the thread of his discourse. The case +seemed the same with the Freiherr. He could think of nothing but what +had already occupied his mind since he arose,--the pleasant talk of the +previous evening. For years he had not conversed with a lady. Celia, +Frau Kaselitz, and the servant-maids were the only women with whom he +ever exchanged a word. His conversation with the governess had +therefore the added charm of novelty, and he had greatly enjoyed it. + +Celia's appearance to wish her father good-morning interrupted, to the +Baron's satisfaction, the agricultural discussion, and gave him an +opportunity to ask after Fräulein Müller. Celia announced that she had +listened several times at the door of her bedroom, but that she was not +yet stirring. + +"Evidently accustomed to late hours," Arno observed. + +His words sounded like sarcasm, and instantly aroused Celia's +combativeness. "Do you suppose," she said, indignantly, "that a +delicately-framed woman, not used like you to hunting all night long, +can endure without fatigue such a walk through the storm as Fräulein +Müller took last evening? It was almost three o'clock when we went to +bed, and it is now just seven. Four hours' sleep is not much after such +fatigue, although you may think it sufficient for yourself. Besides, +you are used to such early rising that you should not judge for +others." + +"Don't quarrel, children," the old Freiherr interposed; "although you +are quite right, child, to take up the cudgels for your governess; she +certainly has well earned a few hours of sleep. Even you, Arno, +expressed your wonder last evening at her quiet endurance of so much +fatigue." + +"Yes, papa; is it not odious of Arno to be so unjust to Fräulein +Müller, when she is so charming, so divinely beautiful, and so +amiable?" + +"The child is all fire and flame!" Arno remarked. "Well, well, it is +nothing to me; believe that your governess is an angel of light and a +miracle of amiability if you choose, only do not require me to agree +with you. Your enthusiasm lightens the duty with which my friend Styrum +has charged me. I found a letter from him among my papers last night +announcing his betrothal to his cousin, Adèle von Guntram, and telling +me that Fräulein Müller is his betrothed's most intimate friend. Here +is his letter; read aloud to my father what he says of Fräulein Müller, +Celia, if you like." + +This Celia did most willingly. As she returned it to Arno she said +reproachfully to her brother, "You do not deserve the confidence, Arno, +that Count Styrum reposes in your friendship. I cannot conceive how you +can judge Fräulein Müller so harshly and unjustly after such a +recommendation from your dearest friend." + +"Bah! his recommendation is utterly worthless; he sees with the fair +Adèle's eyes, and would recommend the devil's grandmother to us if his +betrothed desired it. What I did promise him was that the lady shall be +annoyed by no inquiries or allusions to her past. In this respect +Karl's word is all-sufficient, for not even the entreaties of his +betrothed could induce him to vouch for Fräulein Müller's purity of +character if the slightest blame attached to her. I know my promise +will be kept by all." + +"Most certainly it shall," the old Freiherr rejoined. "Styrum's word is +quite enough for me; he is a man of honour, as was his father, once my +intimate friend. I respect the young fellow, although I do not know him +personally. You remember, Arno, how well he conducted himself upon a +former occasion, with what tact and delicacy----" + +"Let the past be forgotten, father!" Arno interrupted him; and, turning +to his sister, he added, "I hope you will be discreet, Celia, and not +ask any idle questions of Fräulein Müller." + +"I am not curious, and I certainly will be careful," Celia replied, as +she left the room. + +The Freiherr called after her, "Beg Fräulein Müller, if she is up, to +take her breakfast here in the garden-room. I am expecting her." + +It was not long before his darling reappeared with the governess, whose +cheerful good-morning the old man returned after his most genial +fashion. Then, ringing the bell, he desired Franz to have Fräulein +Müller's breakfast served immediately, and to roll his chair nearer to +the table that he might take part in the conversation. + +This he found exceedingly entertaining. Whatever was the subject under +discussion Fräulein Müller bore her part charmingly. The Baron found +her possessed of a far higher degree of culture than he had thought +possible in a woman, and he was specially pleased to find her at home +in his beloved classical literature. + +When the meal was ended she seated herself, at his request, at the fine +grand piano, which had been his last gift to Celia, and, after a lovely +prelude, sang a little national melody, in a rich, deep contralto, with +such pathos that Celia embraced her enthusiastically with eyes swimming +in tears, and the old Freiherr was inexpressibly delighted. It +certainly was a fact that Werner had found a treasure; his advice, +after all, had been worthy of all gratitude. The old man was in an +admirable humour, as was plainly shown when his sons unexpectedly +entered the room together. He had intended on the previous evening to +greet the elder upon his return from Grünhagen with a thunder-blast; +but he was now half inclined to condone his transgression of the family +traditions. "Why, here we have the Herr Finanzrath," he said, as Werner +approached him. "Have you had a comfortable night at Grünhagen with the +Posenecks? I am pleased to see that your broken leg is mended again. I +certainly should not imagine from your walk that anything had ailed +it." + +Werner had expected a much harsher reception, therefore he quietly +accepted the raillery. "It was not so very bad," he replied, with a +smile, "although it certainly pained me so much last evening that I +could not have undertaken the long walk to the village." + +"Which Fräulein Müller courageously accomplished, in spite of her +evident fatigue," Arno interposed. + +"I admire Fräulein Müller's courage," the Finanzrath continued, with a +courteous bow to Lucie; "but she would hardly have been able to walk so +far had her injury been of the foot instead of the temple. I positively +could not, and, as Herr von Poseneck was polite enough to invite me to +Grünhagen, I saw no reason for declining his kindness; it might have +offended him." + +"So you preferred to offend your father by accepting it," the old Baron +said, angrily, his good humour already disturbed by Werner's words. + +"I knew of no reasonable grounds why you should be offended by my doing +so. Young Herr von Poseneck, who has only lately come to reside at +Grünhagen, has certainly never insulted you, nor had any desire to +insult you. He assured me that he had the highest respect for you, and +that only your express refusal to receive visits at Hohenwald had +prevented him from paying his respects to you." + +"Let him try it! let him try it!" the old Baron said crossly. + +"I hope, father, that calm reflection will induce you to change your +mind," the Finanzrath quietly rejoined. "I can assure you that young +Kurt von Poseneck in no wise deserves the dislike which you have +transferred to him from his late father, and that he really desires to +testify his respect for you. I cannot sufficiently extol the cordial +hospitality extended to me at Grünhagen, and which can be ascribed only +to the fact of my being your son." + +"Nonsense!" growled the Freiherr. + +"The Amtsrath Friese, as well as Herr Kurt von Poseneck, repeatedly +expressed his pleasure in being able to render any little service to a +Hohenwald. Both lamented your seclusion, and wished they might convince +you of their friendly regard. Both treated me with distinguished +hospitality, for which I am greatly obliged to them. Herr von Poseneck, +after he had conducted me to Grünhagen, went back with horses and men +to the quarry to extricate the carriage and horses and get them under +shelter; he sent over Fräulein Müller's trunk at daybreak this morning, +and when I expressed a wish to return home, the Amtsrath placed his own +carriage at my disposal. Common courtesy requires that I should drive +to Grünhagen to-morrow to call, and to tell Herr Kurt von Poseneck that +he will gratify me by visiting me in return at Hohenwald." + +Celia's eyes sparkled as she heard the Finanzrath thus announce his +intentions, but her joy quickly fled as she looked at her father, upon +whose forehead the frown had deepened as Werner spoke, and whose rage +now burst forth with, "I'll have the dogs set on him if he dares to +enter the court-yard! No Poseneck shall show his face in Hohenwald so +long as I am master here!" + +"Papa, that is very disagreeable of you," Celia ventured to say; "you +do yourself great injustice!" + +"Is the girl out of her senses?" the Freiherr asked, angrily. "What are +the Posenecks to you, that you should defend them against your own +father?" + +Celia flushed crimson; she could not answer this question. + +Fortunately, Werner came to her assistance, saying, "Celia's words, +although they are perhaps to be reprehended, are prompted by her innate +sense of justice. She could not help exclaiming against your threat of +requiting the courtesy of a visit by setting the dogs on the visitor. I +think, upon calmer consideration, you will find her conduct but +natural. I am very sorry, sir, that I should so have provoked you, and +will try to avoid doing so again. Of course I am not to be deterred by +the unfortunate prejudice entertained by you against the Posenecks from +fulfilling the duty enjoined upon me by common politeness. I must call +at Grünhagen, but I will not invite Herr von Poseneck to Hohenwald. I +will convey to him your thanks, and tell him you regret your inability +to receive him at Hohenwald, since your health does not admit of your +receiving visitors." + +"Then you will tell him a lie; my health admits of my receiving any +visitors whom I care to see." + +"I think my conscience can endure the weight of a lie of that kind," +the Finanzrath rejoined, with a smile. + +"Do as you please, but let me hear no more of the Posenecks!" growled +the old Baron. His relations with his eldest son were peculiar; he +constantly disputed with him, but in spite of his father's angry +vehemence Werner usually gained his end, because he never lost his +temper. The old Baron felt now that he had been wrong, and, although he +did not frankly admit this, he yielded. + +Werner seemed not to notice this; he was too wise to insist upon his +father's acknowledging himself in error. To change the conversation he +turned to Lucie, who, still seated at the piano, had been an +involuntary listener to the dispute between father and son. Approaching +her, the Finanzrath took her hand, and saying, with the air of +protection which had so annoyed her on the previous evening, "Permit +me, dear Fräulein Müller, to bid you cordially welcome to Castle +Hohenwald," would have carried it to his lips had she not hastily +withdrawn it. + +Why she did so she could not herself have told. She had frequently +allowed her hand to be kissed by way of greeting; it was a received +custom in the society to which she had belonged, and yet she could not +endure that this man should avail himself of it; it seemed to her an +unbecoming familiarity on his part. She acted upon an impulse, and she +did not observe the fleeting smile that passed over Arno's face as he +noticed the intentional withdrawal of her hand. She replied to the +Finanzrath's courtesy by a simple inclination of her head. + +Celia, too, had seen that Werner's salutation was not received with +favour, and with ready tact came to her new friend's aid. "You must +reserve all your fine speeches for another time, Werner," she said, +stepping to Lucie's side; "Fräulein Müller belongs entirely to me +to-day. I am burning with desire to take my first lessons of her, to +show her what a good scholar I can be." + +Lucie's grateful glance as she arose and followed Celia from the room +showed the young girl that she had done right. + +From this time Celia devoted herself to her studies with ardour. +Lucie's hardest task was to induce her to moderate her zeal. The +"will-o'-the-wisp" quite forgot its errant nature; for hours the girl +would sit at the piano practising wearisome exercises, and at other +times she would bury herself in a book,--an entirely new experience for +Celia. It needed but a few weeks of intercourse with her new friend to +arouse within her a genuine literary taste. The old Baron and Arno were +astounded at the change; the former feared that his darling, whom he +saw thus tamed, might perhaps become too tame; he shook his head as he +reminded Celia that she must not study too hard, lest her health should +suffer; she ought to continue to take her daily exercise in the open +air. + +To such admonitions the girl was not at all deaf. True, she no longer +roamed about the garden as she had done: it took too much time; she +confined herself to a morning's walk there with Fräulein Müller to +visit the green-houses and the shrubberies; but her afternoon ride was +never omitted. When the hour for this arrived she could no longer fix +her attention upon her book: her thoughts flew forth to the forest. +Fräulein Müller smiled at her enthusiasm for her daily ride, ascribing +it in great part to the force of habit, since no weather was too stormy +to keep her at home. + +Celia always rode alone. Formerly, old John had sometimes accompanied +her, but, although he soon recovered from the effects of his fall, his +young mistress never now desired his attendance. She could not so +easily have declined Lucie's companionship, but Fräulein Müller had +never been a horsewoman, and did not care to learn to ride. + +Thus, then, Celia rode alone. A happy smile illumined her features and +her dark eyes sparkled as she daily caught the first glimpse of the +light straw hat among the trees, and found Kurt at the appointed place +in the forest waiting to walk along the woodland road by her side. Then +the girl would drop the bridle on her horse's neck, and Pluto, who was +now on the best of terms with Kurt, knew perfectly well that before he +was urged to greater speed than a leisurely walk an hour would elapse. +An hour! How quickly it flew by! how much had both Celia and Kurt to +say in that brief space of time! Celia told of her studies, of the +delightful hours she now owed to her friend Anna, whose beauty and +loveliness, clearness of head and goodness of heart, she described in +such glowing terms that Kurt could not at times suppress a smile, for +which Celia would instantly reprove him as implying a doubt of the +accuracy of her descriptions. + +Kurt, on the other hand, would tell of his life at Grünhagen: how he +was becoming more at home in Germany, how his uncle's hospitality and +social qualities made his house delightful, a resort for the country +gentry and for the principal people in the neighbouring town of A----. +He often spoke also of the Finanzrath, who was now frequently at +Grünhagen. Kurt, who was always candid and unreserved towards Celia, +admitted to her that, although for her sake he should always treat her +brother with the utmost politeness, he had very little liking for the +exaggerated polish of his manners and bearing. + +Thus they talked in the most innocent manner. At parting Celia always +offered her hand to Kurt, and smilingly permitted him to imprint upon +it an ardent kiss, but not again did she bend over him as when she once +had yielded to an irresistible impulse. If he had uttered one tender +word she would hardly have refused him a second kiss, but this word was +not spoken; he withstood with manly determination the temptation to +utter it. He had registered a vow that never should this innocent girl +have cause to regret the frank confidence she had shown him. + +Lucie had no suspicion of the attraction that took Celia to the forest, +nor that the simple-hearted girl could have a secret from her. She took +delight in her charming pupil's tender affection for her, which indeed +she reciprocated with all her heart. + +The old Freiherr had greatly changed since Lucie's coming to Castle +Hohenwald: he had grown social. True, his sociability was confined to a +desire for the society of his immediate family circle, among whom he +reckoned, of course, Fräulein Anna Müller; but with them he developed a +genial courtesy that astonished his sons. + +Arno, on the other hand, preserved the same attitude towards his +sister's governess that he had adopted upon her first arrival at the +castle; he was conscious of an involuntary thrill of delight when, in +the course of conversation, or upon an accidental encounter in their +walks, Fräulein Müller bestowed upon him one of her rare sweet smiles; +but the next moment he would rouse himself to renewed hatred of the +entire sex, bethinking himself that this very enchanting smile was bit +a trap set by overweening love of admiration, and could avail nothing +with him. And yet he could not avoid her. When Lucie, occupied with +some bit of feminine work, seated herself at the table beside the +Baron's rolling-chair and talked pleasantly with the old man and Celia, +Arno would join the circle, placing his chair where, unobserved, he +could watch every change of expression on the lovely face. He spoke but +little, but not a word of hers escaped him,--especially did he watch +and listen when, as was but rarely the case, she appealed to Werner. + +Why was he so pleased at the coldness and reserve of her usual manner +towards his brother? Why should he be so much annoyed when one day +Werner announced that he had just received a favourable reply from his +chief in office to his request for a prolongation of his leave of +absence? Wherefore should Werner have seemed to him absolutely +insufferable since he had taken to paying such marked court to Fräulein +Müller? + +Arno had never been upon terms of close intimacy with his +brother,--theirs were antagonistic natures; but now he felt an absolute +repugnance to him for which there was no accounting; surely it was +nothing to him if Werner chose to pay court to Celia's beautiful +governess. + +No; it was not "nothing to him." He excused himself for this by +reflecting that Werner's superficial, frivolous manner was unworthy a +Hohenwald. What views could he entertain with regard to Fräulein +Müller? Had he not often declared that in the choice of a wife he +should consult his head, and not his heart? Wealth was of no +consequence; but the future Freifrau von Hohenwald must belong to a +family through whose influence the Hohenwalds might recover the +importance they had lost with the government. Arno thought he knew well +that Werner, keenly devoted as he was to his own interests, never +carried away by sentiment, would not be false to these expressed +principles of his. It was inconceivable that he should sacrifice his +ambition to love for a poor bourgeoise girl, his sister's governess! He +could scarcely cherish honest intentions with regard to her, and Castle +Hohenwald should never be profaned by the reverse! And this was why, as +Arno tried to convince himself, he watched Werner and Fräulein Müller +so narrowly. + +Often when riding alone in field or forest it would suddenly occur to +him to wonder whether Werner were at the moment talking with Fräulein +Anna in the library, or walking with her in the garden. Then resistance +was useless; he was forced to succumb to the impulse that drove him to +plunge the spurs into his horse and gallop furiously to the castle, +where his calm was restored only when convinced of the groundlessness +of his alarm. + +Lucie found nothing to offend or displease her in his manner towards +her. When she had resolved, in defence of her honour, to undertake the +battle of life under a maiden name, she had not been unmindful of the +dangers that might beset her path, and she had gladly accepted the +position offered her at Castle Hohenwald, since she knew from Count +Styrum and Adèle that there she should have nothing to fear from +obtrusive admirers. She had reckoned upon Arno's hatred of her sex, and +she had not been deceived. From her first meeting with him his manner +had been not only indifferent, but even repellent. It was what she had +hoped for, and she was glad of it; but her gladness was not heartfelt. +Count Styrum's recital of his misfortunes had awakened Lucie's interest +in the misanthrope, and this interest had grown since she had known him +personally. His coldness and reserve did not irritate her; they were +but natural after the terrible experience that life had brought him. He +had--how could it be otherwise?--lost all faith in mankind; but still +he might have shown a trifle less animosity towards her. Sometimes a +severe remark of his would bring a warm flush to her cheek, and she was +tempted to as severe a retort; but if she yielded to the temptation she +always reproached herself afterward. He was so unhappy! What a blessed +task it would be to heal the wounds from which he was still bleeding! +But such ministry was forbidden in her sad case. + +Here was a dark spot in Lucie's otherwise contented life at Castle +Hohenwald, and there was one still darker in the anxiety she felt at +the Finanzrath's demeanour towards her. There was surely no sufficient +cause for this anxiety, for the cultured man of the world never +transcended conventional bounds. He was attentive and polite, but never +officious; his courtesy and kindness never degenerated into any +familiarity which Lucie could be justified in resenting. When he +extolled her beauty and amiability, her delightful singing, her +admirable instruction of Celia, and spoke of the excellent influence +she exerted over her pupil, it was all done after so refined a fashion +that she could not take exception to what was said. The old Freiherr +said precisely the same things, though far more bluntly. And yet Lucie +could not away with a feeling of uneasiness with which the Finanzrath's +manner always inspired her. The news of the prolongation of his leave +of absence was very unwelcome to her; it made her really unhappy. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +"There comes Werner again!" Arno said to his father, when an extra post +was again seen approaching Castle Hohenwald; and the announcement did +not seem particularly to delight the old Freiherr. + +The Finanzrath had spent a few days in Dresden about the end of May in +arranging for another prolongation of his leave of absence. He had been +successful, and upon his return had remained at the castle only a few +days when a letter arrived for him from Paris. He immediately declared +that he must go to Berlin, where a friend whom he had not seen for a +long while was awaiting him. He departed, remaining away but a few +days, when he returned, only to leave again after two days, this time +to see an old college friend in Hanover, and to take a trip to Cassel, +where another of his friends resided. Even after this journey he was +not content to stay quietly at home. He had scarcely been at the castle +for a week when he left it again for a somewhat longer tour; he wished +to visit the South German capitals, Stuttgart and Munich, passing +several days in Vienna, and returning by way of Dresden. + +The Freiherr received Werner's announcement that this time he should be +absent two weeks, and could not return to the castle before the +beginning of July, with a smile of satisfaction; he was not at all +displeased that his eldest son should break in upon his prolonged stay +at Castle Hohenwald with these frequent journeys. He as well as the +other inmates of the castle felt relieved when the carriage with the +Finanzrath inside rolled out of the court-yard. + +"Werner makes the atmosphere dense; he kicks up a dust wherever he +goes," the old man was wont to say in excuse of his evident relief at +his son's departure; and was it therefore to be wondered at that he +greeted with a sigh Arno's exclamation, "There comes Werner again!" + +Arno, too, frowned when old Franz announced the Herr Finanzrath's +arrival a few moments before Werner himself entered the garden-room. + +He paid his respects to his father and greeted his brother with his +usual quiet courtesy, in which, however, there was never any genuine +cordiality, and then he dropped into a comfortable seat beside the old +Baron's rolling-chair. "Home again at last!" he said. "I travelled all +night to reach Hohenwald as quickly as possible, and I bring news of +vivid interest, especially for you, Arno. Not only for Arno, however, +but for every one who carries a good Saxon heart in his bosom. To arms, +Arno! It is time that you girded on your sabre again. I hope you will +write to the king this very day to ask for your appointment to your +former military rank, for I tell you beforehand in confidence that +France is about to humble the arrogance of Prussia, and I need not say +what side we Saxons should take in the fray; the time has come to +revenge ourselves for Königgratz and Sadowa!" + +"Are you mad, Werner?" burst out the old Freiherr, who really thought +that his son had taken a little too much wine. + +"I mad? Do you think madness or the love of change has driven me away +upon these various journeys lately?" the Finanzrath exclaimed in his +turn. "I must tear the veil from your eyes and rouse you from your +fancied security; the time for action has come,--a time that calls upon +you, Arno, in especial. You must re-enter the army immediately, for it +is eminently advisable that the number of right-minded Saxon officers +should be as large as possible, that Saxony may not fail to do her duty +at the right moment. There is a wide-spread secret alliance in process +of formation against Prussia. War will immediately ensue upon its +completion. The question is not of months, perhaps not of weeks, but +only of days, for every preparation is concluded, and our action must +be prompt and sure." + +"From what source have you gathered this wondrous information?" Arno +asked, incredulously. "Since when have you linked yourself with those +who decide the destiny of nations?" + +"Spare your sarcasm, Arno!" the Freiherr said, crossly; "and you, +Werner, come to the point. I should like to know something of this +wonderful mess you seem to have been helping to cook." + +"You shall be informed, father, in a very few words of the present +condition of political affairs." Werner began by ascribing the quarrel +between Prussia and France to the choice of a Hohenzollern prince for +king of Spain, and then continued, "Napoleon will compel William to +choose between a humiliating compliance, that will deprive him of all +prestige, and war. Now, relying upon the power of the North German +alliance, upon the military treaty with the South German states just +concluded, upon the friendship of the Emperor of Russia, and upon that +of England, Bismarck, who has no suspicion of the secret alliance +against Prussia, to which, in addition to the dispossessed princes, +Austria, Bavaria, Würtemberg, and the hereditary princes of Russia +belong,--Bismarck, I say, will undoubtedly choose war. This you will +see by next week, perhaps sooner. We can rely upon Russia absolutely; +this I have learned in conference lately with my friend Count Repuin. +The heir to the throne of Russia hates Bismarck, and the Emperor's +voice is powerless in the matter; the anti-Prussian party at the +Russian court is too large and too powerful. The French preparations +are all complete. Immediately after war is declared a French army will +invade the very heart of Germany, and will be received by the +acclamations of the liberated Hanoverians." + +"And what part have you assigned to me in the struggle which you +describe as so near at hand?" asked Arno, who during the preceding glib +explanations had been pacing the apartment with eyes fixed upon the +ground, but who now paused and confronted his brother. + +"The one marked out for you by your duty as an enemy of Bismarck, as an +officer of the Saxon army which was so shamefully defeated in 1866, +and, above all, as a true Saxon patriot," the Finanzrath replied. "If +Saxony is to hold its own as the equal of Bavaria and Würtemberg after +the downfall of Prussia, if it is to have its full share in the +distribution of the Prussian provinces, this unnatural Prussian +alliance must be dissolved, and that speedily. Now our king will hardly +be in a condition to do this; at the beginning of the war he will be +deterred by considerations that have no weight, however, with Saxon +patriots. As in 1813, York, by his independent action, decided the +destiny of Prussia and earned the gratitude of his king--as Saxon +troops then, following the ignorant leading of the common people, went +over to the German army with flying colours, so must they now, in the +coming conflict, act independently for their fatherland. It will +produce a tremendous impression upon the entire German people, and +conduce essentially to the speedy overthrow of Prussia, if the Saxon +regiments sunder the Prussian alliance and turn their bayonets against +Prussians. The animus of our troops is good, but it will avail nothing +unless their officers take the initiative, and, unfortunately, many of +these are not to be relied on. Our corps of officers is tainted with a +Prussian mania; they must be recalled to their duty. Let this be your +task, Arno. You can easily influence your old comrades; you can arouse +their Saxon patriotism, inflame their slumbering hatred of Prussia. You +must instantly apply for reinstatement in your old rank. I have +provided that your application should receive immediate attention." + +"Treason, then! You would incite me to degrading perjury and treason?" +Arno exclaimed, looking at his brother with flashing eyes. "Matters +have gone far indeed when a Hohenwald can make such proposals to his +brother!" + +The Finanzrath was quite unprepared for such a reply. He had never +imagined that Arno could refuse to undertake the task assigned to him, +and therefore had he explained his schemes and hopes with such reckless +frankness. He suddenly found himself exposed to a danger of which he +had not dreamed. What if Arno should misuse the knowledge thus gained! +He grew pale, but speedily recovered his composure. He must show no +sign of fear; the game might yet perhaps be won. + +"Who talks of treason?" he rejoined, with forced calmness. "Is it +treason for a Saxon officer to obey his king's command? Is it treason +to break an alliance that was framed by mere brute force? Was York +guilty of treason in 1813? Has not posterity honoured him as the +saviour of his country? Do not judge too hastily, my dear Arno, do not +yield to a momentary emotion, but ask yourself, after calm reflection, +whether you are justified in refusing your services to your country at +her sorest need. Can you ever forget that you are a Saxon? Our king and +country are to be delivered from the Prussian yoke; remember that, +Arno, before you decide." + +Arno looked at his brother with profound contempt. "I will hear no +more!" he said, sternly. "What your share may be in the disgraceful +intrigue of which you speak I do not know, nor do I wish to know. Go +your own dark way, but do not think to mislead me by your sophistry. I +know my duty. You reckon upon my hatred of Prussia, upon my love for +our own little Saxon land; your reckoning is false from beginning to +end. Yes, I do hate the arrogant, ambitious Prussian, but I have a +fiercer hatred for the arch-enemy of all Germany, and it fills me with +shame and indignation that a Hohenwald should dream of inciting his +brother to a disgraceful league with France in a war with Germany. This +is the error in your prudent calculations: you reckon upon the hatred +of Prussia in South Germany, in Hanover and Saxony, but that hatred +will vanish like chaff before the wind when it comes to be a question +of defending Germany against French lust of conquest. Neither you nor +your noble Russian friend Count Repuin can use the German love of +country as a factor in your calculations, for you do not appreciate its +existence, nor that there are happily but few scoundrels in Germany so +ready as yourself to satisfy their own selfish ambition by giving over +their fatherland to French greed of territory." + +The Finanzrath sprang up in a rage, but his brother, without waiting +for a reply, left the room. "Insulting!" Werner exclaimed, quite beside +himself. + +"Not one word against Arno!" the old Freiherr said, sternly. "Every +word that he uttered found its echo in my soul, and I thank God that +there is at least one Hohenwald who retains within him a sense of right +and honour and a genuine love of his country. Not a word, Werner! I +will hear no more of your disgraceful schemes; not now, at all events. +I must be more myself than I am now when I speak with you again. Now +leave me; I wish to be alone." + +Werner hesitated for a moment, but judged it wisest to make no attempt +at present to recover the ground he had lost. "I obey your commands, +sir," he said; "I hope calm reflection will induce you to change your +mind, and that it will also have its effect upon Arno." + +After the angry dispute with his brother, Arno walked out into the +garden, and, feeling the need of quiet to collect himself, took his +seat upon a rustic bench nearly hidden in a clump of shrubbery. It was +a favourite retreat of his, and from its seclusion he could overlook +almost the entire garden. Here, then, he sat down, and resigned himself +to thought. So buried was he in reflection that, although he was aware +that Fräulein Müller and Celia came from the castle to take their +morning walk, and passed quite near him, he did not heed them: his mind +was filled with Werner's dark schemes. + +Thus he remained for he could not tell how long, when he was suddenly +roused from his reverie by the sound of the voice that never reached +his ear without thrilling him to the heart. He looked up. Walking along +a leafy side-path came Werner and Fräulein Müller; she was speaking, +and looking, not at Werner, but upon the ground. Arno thought he +perceived that her voice trembled, although he could not distinguish +what she was saying. + +Werner's reply was made in so low a tone that not a sound reached +Arno's ear; he could only perceive its effect upon Fräulein Müller, and +it aroused within him a feeling of indignation. There was pain that was +almost agony expressed in Anna's face as she listened eagerly to her +companion's whispered words. Werner spoke long and persistently, +bending above Fräulein Müller the while, and devouring with passionate +admiration the lovely downcast face. As the pair passed his retreat +Arno caught two words from his brother's lips, "Count Repuin," and +marked how colourless was Anna's cheek, down which a tear was trickling +from beneath the drooping eyelid. + +They passed, and at the end of the woodland path turned into a walk +leading to the castle. Celia here joined them. Near the castle gate +they paused. Fräulein Müller, with a slight inclination to Werner, left +him and entered the castle with Celia. The Finanzrath turned into a +side-path leading to the forest and disappeared from Arno's sight. + +What had passed between Werner and this girl? Was there a secret +understanding between them? Arno felt his blood boil at the thought. +Had Werner really induced Anna, who had hitherto treated him with cool +reserve, to grant him a private confidential interview? She had begun +her morning walk, accompanied by Celia, and had sent away her pupil +that she might speak alone with Werner. Arno sprang from his seat in +uncontrollable agitation; but he grew calm again as he remembered the +pained expression of Anna's features, the tear that had rolled down her +pale cheek. If there were some private relation between them, it +certainly was not a friendly one. Still the mere thought that Werner +by some fine-spun scheme had induced the girl to accord him this +_tête-à-tête_, and to listen with eager attention to his words, was +torture to Arno. If he had succeeded thus far, what might not be the +result? She must be warned, warned against the vile arts of the +betrayer! Thus much was certain. But who should warn her? To whom could +he confide his fears? To his father? Impossible! The Freiherr was not +overfond of Werner, but he would indignantly have rejected the idea +that his son, that a Hohenwald could be guilty of such infamy. Celia, +then? An innocent child of sixteen? No! Celia never must dream that her +eldest brother could harbour a thought that could wrong her dear +companion. And there was no one else in the castle who could speak one +word to Anna upon such a subject; he had held himself so aloof that he +never could advise her in so delicate a matter. + +To Styrum he would turn in this need; but first he would narrowly +observe Anna and Werner, that he might be able to give his friend a +clearer idea of the relations between them than he had yet been able to +gain for himself. + +The result of his observation during the next few days could scarcely +be called favourable,--it strengthened his suspicions as to Werner's +dishonourable intentions, but he arrived at no decided conclusion. + +There was evidently a change in the relations between Werner and Anna. +She no longer avoided casually meeting the Finanzrath; she did not cut +short her morning walks with Celia when he joined them, but Arno never +again saw them alone together. + +The political horizon darkened daily,--the newspapers were read with +avidity. None of the Hohenwald household could resist the conviction +that a political convulsion was at hand; there were constant +discussions at table and in the evenings in the domestic circle as to +public affairs. On these occasions Celia's governess, who took an eager +interest in the conversation, proved herself as enthusiastic an admirer +of Bismarck as was the Finanzrath his bitter opponent. + +One morning, in the library, Arno was eagerly discussing the news of +the day with Fräulein Müller. Celia's teacher was unusually interested; +she declared that her hopes for her country were centred on Bismarck. +"His enemies," she said, with ardour, "conspire in secret; in their +foolish conceit they believe him blind to their man[oe]uvres, deaf to +their machinations, but I am convinced that he clearly sees through +their dark dealings. A Bismarck is not to be hoodwinked by such men as +the Herr Finanzrath." + +Scarcely were the words uttered when she seemed to regret them,--they +had evidently escaped her unawares. + +Arno listened surprised. "You know of my brother's schemes, then?" he +asked. + +There was nothing for it but to reply. "They are not difficult to +divine; he has made no secret of his desires and hopes; but he and all +his associates will find themselves deceived. Your brother in his +miserable plans reckons upon the pitiable jealousies of all petty +governments; but he is out in his reckoning,--the German people is not +yet so degraded as to lend itself to so frivolous a game. If war should +really be declared, Germans will, with a few disgraceful exceptions, +rally promptly around the banner that will wave in the front of the +battle to vindicate German honour and faith against all rude assaults. +The very attempt now made to retard Germany in its march towards +internal unity will but bear it more swiftly to its goal of unity and +freedom!" + +As she spoke her dark eyes sparkled, her cheeks glowed, and Arno +thought he had never seen her so enchantingly beautiful. + +"I trust from my soul that you are a true prophet!" he rejoined. + +She rewarded him for these words by a brilliant glance of appreciation. +"I knew that you must think thus," she said, with emotion; "you will be +among the first to forget an ancient grudge when the time comes to +stand forth for German honour and German right. The Freiherr Arno von +Hohenwald will be at hand when the German people is summoned to the +defence of the fatherland; of that I am convinced from my very soul." +She held out her hand to him: he seized it and pressed it to his lips: +for the moment he scarcely knew what he was doing; his past, his +prejudices, were all forgotten; it was as if a dark cloud which had +enveloped him were suddenly rent asunder, revealing to his mental +vision a bright, sunlit future. "Your trust shall not be deceived," he +said, with enthusiasm. "Be sure that when the battle begins I shall be +ready. And when I return from the field, will you not give me a kindly +welcome?" + +He had not released Anna's hand; he bent over it to kiss it once again, +when it was suddenly withdrawn. He looked up, and was shocked by her +altered looks. Her cheeks were deadly pale, the light of enthusiasm in +her dark eyes was gone: they were veiled in tears. "This must not be, +Herr Baron," she said, in a low monotone. + +"Have I offended you?" Arno asked, startled. + +"No--but--I must leave you, Herr Baron; I must not and will not listen +any longer!" + +She would have turned and left the room, but Arno took her hand again +and held it fast. "But you must listen," he said, gravely; "there must +be truth between us. You will not yield to an over-sensitive delicacy +of feeling that is unworthy of you, you will not leave me without +letting me tell you that the light of your candid eyes has banished the +mists that hung about me; your words have broken the spell that parted +me from you. My heart is filled with sunshine; I know now that I love +you with my whole soul, that I have loved you from the first moment +that I saw you in the quarry. I have struggled with this love, I have +even tried to hate you; have in my blind folly often shocked and +offended you, because I would have it that the deception which so +blasted my first youthful passion had killed all power to love in my +heart. I know now how grossly I deceived myself. I am in your eyes a +gloomy, irritable misanthrope; you can accord no liking to one who has +so often wounded you by his severity; but it is my dearest hope that +one day your love may be mine, and in this hope I shall leave you when +duty calls me to the field. It will henceforth be the star of my life." + +Anna had listened in silence to this torrent of words; her hand still +rested in his: she did not withdraw it until he had ended; then first +she raised her eyes and looked him full in the face with an expression +of profound sadness. She did not reply at once; she could not for a few +moments sufficiently master her emotion to attain an external calm. +When she spoke at last, it was with an evident tremor in her voice. +"There must be truth between us," she said; "you require it, Herr +Baron, and I owe perfect truth both to you and to myself. Your sudden +and unlooked-for declaration has destroyed the hope in which I had +found peace. I hoped to regard Castle Hohenwald as my home; I hoped to +pass years here, sheltered from the sorrows which have poisoned my +life; but your words drive me forth into the world again!" + +"Anna! I conjure you----" + +"No more, Herr Baron! I must not listen to you; must not permit hopes +that can never be fulfilled. You say that the hope of one day winning +my love will be the guiding star of your life; banish the idle thought, +for never,--I swear it by Almighty God,--never may I return your love." + +"You love another, then?" Arno exclaimed. + +"No, Herr Baron." + +"Then I will not resign the hope you call idle. I implore you not to +turn from me; I ask for so little, for no promise, only for permission +to love you." + +"And this little I must not grant. I pray you leave me, Herr Baron; we +must part forever. I must not again expose myself to a danger from +which I thought myself safe with you; my duty as well as my honour +forbids me to listen to you. Once more I entreat you to leave me!" + +"You rob me of all hope?" Arno asked, gently. + +"All!" + +She spoke so calmly, and with such absolute firmness, that Arno +despaired of moving her; he did not venture to add a single word of +entreaty; after so decided a rejection he could no longer refuse to +accede to her request. He took her hand once more, kissed it +passionately, and hurried from the room. + +He never looked back, and therefore could not see how, even before the +library door had closed upon him, Lucie's hardly-won composure utterly +forsook her. She sank into a seat, buried her face in her hands, and +burst into a passion of tears. + +Half an hour afterward she was seated at her desk in her room, writing +to her dearest, her only friend, Adèle. + +"I must leave here immediately,--every hour of my stay at Castle +Hohenwald is a period of unspeakable torment for me. I had feared and +hoped so much from this place; both fears and hopes are unfulfilled, +and I must leave Hohenwald, where I was so content. I love the old +Freiherr like a father, and I know he is fond of me; scarcely a day +passes that he does not tell me that the sun has shone more brightly in +Hohenwald since I came here. And I love my darling Celia, dear, +innocent child; with my whole heart do I return the tender affection +she lavishes upon me,--her progress delights me, but I must go. + +"Do not, dear Adèle, think me variable and fickle,--my heart bleeds at +the thought of leaving these dear people, but it must be; you will say +so yourself when you hear all. You know I have faithfully described my +life here to you. I have told you of the distaste with which the +Finanzrath's attentions inspired me. I did all that I could by the cold +reserve of my manner to impress him with this fact. I did not think he +would ever succeed in forcing me to grant him a private and +confidential interview, and yet this he has done. About a week ago he +came into the garden where Celia and I were taking our usual morning +walk. He had just returned from one of his frequent journeys, and I +could not avoid replying to his courteous greeting. He joined us and +entered into conversation with us. He talks extremely well, and even I +could not help being amused by his lively descriptions of his +travelling adventures, while Celia, who is not very fond of her eldest +brother, was much entertained. Suddenly he paused, and, turning +directly to me, said, 'But I have not told you the most interesting +experience of my trip, Fräulein Müller.' Then, with a searching glance, +he added, 'I have seen several friends of yours, and have talked of you +a great deal.' + +"I felt the blood mount into my face at these words. I could not +conceal the terror with which they inspired me; whereupon the +Finanzrath, with a satisfied smile, went on, 'I need only mention the +name of one of my friends, of Count Repuin, to convince you how +interesting was our conversation about you.' The detested name of that +terrible man produced upon me all the effect that the Finanzrath had +doubtless expected. It was only by a strong effort that I could keep +myself from fainting. Celia noticed my pallor; she had not heard her +brother's words,--he had chosen a moment for them in which she was +lagging behind to pluck a flower. 'What is the matter, dear Anna?' she +exclaimed, in terror; 'you are deadly pale.' In fact, had she not put +her arm about me I think I should have fallen, although I soon +recovered myself. The Finanzrath offered me his arm, and despatched his +sister to the castle for a vinaigrette. I did not dare to refuse his +proffered aid, lest I should offend him, and thus I found myself alone +with him, forced to continue my walk leaning upon his arm. 'I thank +you, Fräulein Müller,' he said, as soon as Celia had left us, 'for your +readiness to grant me this _tête-à-tête_. It gives me a precious proof +of your confidence in me,--a confidence which, I promise you, you never +shall regret. Chance has revealed to me your secret; but I give you my +word of honour it shall remain buried in my breast.' He then told me +how he had learned who I was. Repuin is his friend,--he had seen him in +Munich, and one day, while Repuin was engaged in writing letters, had +whiled away the time by looking over some photographs in a book upon +the Russian's table. Many of these he was familiar with; but his +astonishment was great when in one of them he recognized his sister's +governess. He waited until Repuin was at leisure, and then his first +thought, so he told me, was to ask the Count whether he was acquainted +with Fräulein Anna Müller, the original of the photograph; but, +reflecting that Count Styrum had made it a request that no curiosity +should be shown regarding my past, he suspected that I should prefer +the Count's remaining in ignorance as to my whereabouts, and therefore +he took up the book of photographs again, as if casually, and suddenly +exclaimed, 'A pretty face, Count; who is this girl?' showing my +likeness as he spoke. + +"'Not a girl, but a married woman,' Repuin replied. 'Sorr's runaway +wife!' + +"'I could not so command my features,' the Finanzrath continued his +narrative, 'as not to show the surprise I felt at this information. +Fräulein Anna Müller the wife of that Herr von Sorr whom Repuin had +presented to me! It seemed impossible! + +"'And then the shameful words which Repuin had uttered, "Runaway wife." +I could not rest without some explanation. Can you wonder at it, +Fräulein Müller? "The picture reminds me of a lady whom I saw not long +ago," I said. + +"'Scarcely had I uttered these words when Repuin sprang up in great +agitation. "You have seen her?" he cried. "There is no other face that +resembles hers; tell me where you saw her. I have been searching for +her for months, but she has vanished utterly." + +"'What was I to tell him? I saw instantly that he must be put upon a +false track, and on the spur of the moment replied that I had shortly +before travelled in a railway carriage with a young lady who closely +resembled the picture. + +"'My answer was so prompt that Repuin was fortunately deceived. He +never suspected that I was misleading him, and questioned me further +with the greatest eagerness. I told him that the young lady had been my +travelling companion from Berlin to Cassel, but that of course I had +not exchanged a word with her. + +"'"I will go to Cassel this very night!" Repuin exclaimed, in the +greatest excitement. "I must find her! I have sworn to do it though it +should cost me half my fortune. Now that I have traced her she shall +not escape me." + +"'He was completely deceived by my invention, and I could no longer +doubt that it was to destroy all trace of your existence that you had +taken refuge in Castle Hohenwald under a feigned name. I remembered +your enigmatical letter to me, and was convinced that I had found its +explanation. Let me assure you that it was entirely owing to my +profound sympathy for you that I now begged the Count for further +particulars concerning you. What I heard filled me with horror and +indignation. With cynical candour he informed me that he had spent +fabulous sums upon Sorr that he might be near his charming wife, who at +last, when he had actually purchased her of her wretch of a husband, +vanished without a trace.' + +"Such, dearest Adèle, was the Finanzrath's story, which he concluded +with assurances of his profound secrecy. + +"I cannot describe my sensations while he was speaking, of mingled fear +lest he should betray my secret and give Count Repuin some clue to my +retreat, and aversion for the man himself. I quivered with anger when +he called me, as he did repeatedly, 'dear Fräulein Müller,' and yet I +did not dare to show him that it offended me, lest I should provoke his +resentment. Celia, who came from the castle with the salts, at last +relieved me from my embarrassment. The Finanzrath left us. Then I +determined to leave Hohenwald, but, as the days slipped by and the +Finanzrath made no further allusions to my secret, I decided to remain, +since the noble old Freiherr would surely grant me his protection in +case of any disagreeable advances from his son. Each day the shadow +that the Finanzrath's revelations had thrown upon my peaceful life here +faded still more; my courage returned to me. I believed myself quite +safe in my beloved Hohenwald with my dear Celia, when one wretched +moment blasted all my hopes. + +"I must go; I cannot stay here, for Arno has just told me that he loves +me. I thought his heart was dead to all affection, and he has just +declared his passionate attachment for me. + +"I suffered indescribably when all that I could do in answer to his +frank avowal of affection was calmly and coldly to crush his hopes +forever. I wept bitter tears when he left me, and yet--yet the +consciousness of his love brought happiness with it as well as misery. + +"Strength was given me to fulfil my duty; not by look or word did I +betray what I felt in rejecting him, but could I resist him a second +time? I must flee from my own weakness. + +"I can write no more, dear Adèle, and must close. I am filled with but +one desire,--to go away from here as soon as may be. I rely upon your +aid again, my dear, kind friend; try to find me another asylum. I do +not care where it is or what it is, only let it be far, far away from +here and from all of you. + +"Help me, dear Adèle; protect your + + "LUCIE." + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + +Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden +from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be +unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post. She +listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the +rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird. + +What could have happened? He had hitherto always been awaiting her at +their place of meeting. How could he allow anything to curtail, even by +a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so +eagerly? Although he could not be to blame, still she felt aggrieved. +Pluto, too, seemed to find his absence very unnatural. He pawed the +ground impatiently with his fore-foot and shook his black mane; then +pricked his delicate ears with a neigh as a distant crackling of the +underbrush was heard, and a minute afterwards Kurt made his appearance. +He was very warm and quite out of breath with the haste he had made to +atone for his want of punctuality. + +"Now this I call scant courtesy!" exclaimed Celia, who had intended to +punish him by a cool reception for his tardiness. She was quickly +appeased, however, when she saw how warm he looked from his hasty walk. +She held out her hand to him, and when he took it leaned down towards +him. "You do not deserve a kiss for keeping me waiting so long, but I +will temper justice with mercy. Poor fellow! you are terribly warm; you +ought not to have walked so fast!" + +What had become of Kurt's good resolutions? They had shared the fate +that awaits such resolutions generally. How could he resist when Celia +smiled so bewitchingly upon him? The temptation was too great. Besides, +he had only resolved never by a single word to betray Celia's childlike +trust in him, to treat her as a brother would treat a tenderly-loved +sister, and is it not perfectly allowable for a brother to kiss a dear +sister? He was not wrong in kissing her. Had he been wrong several +weeks before, when Celia, after some slight dispute, offered him her +rosy lips in token of reconciliation, not to refuse the precious gift? +Celia, in her innocent purity, never could have comprehended such a +refusal, and would have been deeply grieved by it. + +Since then it had become a custom for the young girl to receive him +daily with a kiss, and to take leave of him with a kiss, and they +called each other by their first names. It would have been ridiculous +in Kurt, after becoming so intimate with Celia, to adhere to the formal +"Fräulein von Hohenwald" in addressing her. It had vanished; neither +Kurt or Celia could tell when or how; it had done so so naturally. + +Still, after that kiss of reconciliation Kurt had not felt perfectly +comfortable as he walked home to Grünhagen; he was dissatisfied with +himself. Cool reflection told him that he had been false to his +resolve,--he, a man to whom life and its perils were familiar, should +have conquered himself; he should have been a guide to Celia, who was +half a child, and who had no idea that there could be any danger in her +guileless familiarity. But his heart bore away the victory from his +understanding. Kurt quieted his conscience when it would have +reproached him. Was it his fault that he did not go directly to Celia's +father and declare his love for her, and that she loved him in return? +Ah, how gladly would he, if he could, have done this! But the miserable +family feud, the invincible prejudice of the old Freiherr, forbade all +approach. Should Kurt, then, sacrifice the happiness of his life, his +love for Celia, to such a phantom? Should he reject the dear girl's +confidence because the old Baron in his obstinacy had an unaccountable +hatred for the name of Poseneck? No; he could not and he would not. He +never had asked Celia whether she loved him and would be his; but there +was no need of such words between them. He knew that her heart belonged +to him, and his determination to win her hand was absolute, although he +vainly sought in his imagination for some means to attain this end. + +Castle Hohenwald was surrounded for him by an insurmountable wall; +there was no possible way by which he could approach Celia's father. +Did not the Finanzrath whenever he came to Grünhagen loudly lament that +it was impossible for him to invite Herr von Poseneck to return his +visit? The attempt, too, which Count Styrum had made to influence Arno +had been without result. Arno was as inaccessible as his father. Castle +Hohenwald was closed against Kurt. + +Yet he would not resign hope; he was resolved that his life should not +be ruined by a silly prejudice. Although Celia was now too young to +bestow her hand where she chose, perhaps, in direct opposition to her +father's will, it would not always be so. Thus Kurt hoped in the future +for some lucky chance that would make it possible for him to surmount +the barriers that kept him from Castle Hohenwald. + +With these hopes he soothed his conscience when it reproached him for +yielding to the spell that Celia's confidential familiarity cast around +him. He knew that no unholy thought stained his devoted love for the +dear girl, and knowing this, he believed himself justified in enjoying +the bliss of the present. + +"But you were angry with me, Celia," he said, as, after her kiss, he +walked slowly along beside Pluto. "You were angry with me for keeping +you waiting. Confess it; your first words hardly sounded kind." + +"Well, yes; I will not deny," Celia replied, "that I was a little vexed +and hurt. I had been thinking of you all day long, and you were not +here; I did not know what to think. You never kept me waiting before; +indeed, you spoil me, Kurt, as does every one,--you, and my father, and +Arno, and my dear Anna. You all spoil me, and ought not to be surprised +when I am impatient." + +"I am only surprised that you forgave me so quickly." + +"Oh, I was so glad to have you here, although I ought to have scolded +you for walking so fast in this terrible heat. You look warm still." + +"I could not help it. I was afraid you would think I was not coming and +would ride home again. In my heart I cursed that tiresome Assessor for +detaining me, and when at last I escaped from him, I walked straight +across the Hohenwald fields to meet you here." + +"You need not have done that, you dear, kind Kurt. I should have waited +an hour here for you at least." Again she held out her hand to him, and +surely it was but natural that he should kiss it passionately. + +"Have you another visitor at Grünhagen?" Celia continued, without being +put at all out of countenance by the tender kiss imprinted upon her +hand. "You said something of a tiresome Assessor who had detained you." + +"Yes, an Assessor von Hahn, who has lately been transferred to the +courts at A----, saw fit to pay my uncle a visit this morning. With his +usual hospitality my uncle invited him to stay, and to my horror he +accepted the invitation. He is a commonplace, tiresome man, and +incredibly inquisitive. He has only one good quality, which is that he +is a distant relative of yours." + +"Yes, the Hahns are remotely connected with my mother's family, but I +never heard anything of them, and did not even know of the existence of +an Assessor von Hahn." + +"I assure you it would mortify him excessively to hear you say so. He +has already told my uncle and myself much with regard to his +relationship to the Hohenwalds, and has deeply lamented that Castle +Hohenwald is closed even to near connections. When he heard that your +father had consented to have a governess for you he was overwhelmed +with astonishment, and asked every imaginable question concerning +Fräulein Müller, where she came from, who she was, how she looked; +whether she were ugly or pretty, young or old, learned or ignorant. He +wanted to know all about her, and I could see was greatly dissatisfied +with the scanty information he gathered from us. He tormented me with +questions about you and your brothers and your father, and I escaped +from him only by slipping off when he was engaged for a moment with the +newspaper. My uncle told him that I was in the habit of taking a +solitary walk in the forest every afternoon, upon which he offered to +accompany me, and was not at all dismayed by the terrible picture I +drew of the difficulties of the path through the underbrush. I could +not get away from him except by secret flight." + +"My precious cousin seems to be a very agreeable man," said Celia, +laughing. + +"He is insufferable, and yet I ought to be glad of his visit. In his +loquacity he supplied my uncle and myself with some important +information which made it especially desirable that I should see you +this afternoon." + +"Information that concerns me!----" + +"That concerns your brother Werner," Kurt replied, very gravely. "I am +afraid he has allowed himself to be drawn into certain schemes which +may place your father and Arno in a very embarrassing situation, +although I do not believe that, as the Assessor hinted, they have any +share in them. I never regretted so deeply as to-day that your father's +and Arno's wretched prejudice against our family made it impossible for +me to hasten to Hohenwald to warn your father, and to entreat him to +turn a deaf ear to Werner's insidious whispers. I long to do this, but +how would he receive one of the hated Posenecks? He would not credit my +information, just because it came from me; he would repulse me as an +unauthorized intruder. My warning would probably do more harm than +good, and Arno is just as inaccessible as your father." + +"Unfortunately, you are right," Celia said, sadly. "You would not be +kindly received at Hohenwald. But can you not tell me what you wish to +say to my father and Arno? I am afraid that neither of them would pay +me much heed, but I will induce Anna to help me, and my father at least +will be influenced by her. Arno, to be sure, is incorrigible; even Anna +has no effect upon him." + +"Has Fräulein Müller any influence with Werner?" + +"I do not know," Celia replied, thoughtfully. "I have sometimes thought +so; at all events, the relations between them seem to me very odd and +quite incomprehensible. She cannot endure him, and avoids him whenever +she can, and yet he pays her devoted attention. I cannot understand +it." + +"It might be dangerous, then, to trust Fräulein Müller?" + +"Now you are unkind, Kurt!" Celia exclaimed, indignantly. "You must not +speak so of my Anna." + +"But you yourself said----" + +"I never said or thought anything that could imply a want of confidence +in her. I trust her entirely. But you have told me nothing of these +mysterious schemes of Werner's. I know nothing as yet." + +"You shall know all that I know myself, although it may be wrong for me +to acquaint a young girl of sixteen with political intrigues existing +perhaps only in the diseased fancy of this garrulous Assessor." + +Celia hastily withdrew the hand which Kurt had held in his own as he +slowly walked along beside Pluto. "You are very disagreeable, Kurt," +she said. "I am no longer a child; girls are far more precocious than +boys, and at sixteen I may surely be trusted. And I am very much +interested in politics: I read the papers daily; have we not often +discussed them together? I continually scold papa and Arno for abusing +Bismarck as they do." + +Kurt could not but smile at her indignation. "Do not be angry with me, +dearest Celia," he said. "I will tell you all I know, which, +unfortunately, is not much; the Assessor's hints were rather vague and +confused. Since you read the daily papers you know well how imminent is +the danger of a war with France. At such a time it is the duty of every +German to be true to the fatherland, and yet there is a large party in +Germany who ignore this, and who, because they are opposed to the +Prussian government, wish for a war with France and the overthrow of +Germany and Prussia. To this party your brother Werner unfortunately +belongs." + +"Unfortunately!" Celia said in confirmation of his words. + +"Those belonging to it," Kurt continued, "know nothing of true +patriotism. Prompted by mean self-interest and by silly hatred of +Prussia, they are ready to ally themselves with the Frenchman, the +arch-enemy of Germany, who believes that when war is declared all the +enemies of Prussia in Southern Germany, in Saxony, and in Hanover will +flock to his banner. There are at present French agents scattered +through Germany employed in plotting and arranging for this disgraceful +treachery. These agents are of every nation; some of them are even +Germans of rank, who believe that their names shelter them from +suspicion, and that they can pursue their dark designs unobserved. But +they are mistaken; the leader of Prussian polities is not so easily +hoodwinked as they think; he knows his treacherous opponents, and will +know how to bring them to the punishment they deserve." + +"And you are going to tell me that Werner is one of these treacherous +agents," Celia interrupted Kurt, "I suspected it; this is why he has +taken these frequent journeys. Werner is sufficiently unprincipled to +lend himself from vanity and ambition to such treachery, but Arno, I +assure you, Kurt, is incapable of it. He is stern and hard, but he +never would dream of aiding in treason against his country. You must +not suspect him for an instant." + +"I do not suspect him, but others do, and therefore I fear both for him +and for your father. The gossiping Assessor hinted to my uncle and +myself that Castle Hohenwald is the centre of various treasonable +intrigues, that Werner is in constant communication with the most +dangerous French agents, with a certain Count Repuin, for example; nay, +that he is himself such an agent, working in the French interest among +the Saxon nobility, and that he is probably assisted by your father and +Arno, whose hatred of Prussia is well known. The Assessor implied +further that Castle Hohenwald is under strict surveillance, and that it +is only a question of time when these treasonable intrigues are to be +crushed out by the arrest of all the Hohenwalds. Your father and Arno +must be put upon their guard against Werner, but how it is to be done I +do not know." + +"I will warn them!" Celia said, decidedly. + +"Will they believe you? Will not your father's first question be whence +came your information?" + +"Of course it will, and I know he will be terribly angry when he knows +all; still, I must not mind that if he and Arno are in danger of +arrest. He will get over it in time. The worst is, that until he does +he will forbid my riding out, or will always send Arno with me, so that +we shall not see each other. But I must bear that too. It has perhaps +been wrong for us to have these meetings here every day. I have never +been able to look papa full in the face when the Posenecks were +mentioned, or any allusion made to my afternoon rides. I never before +had a secret from my dear old father, and he has a right to be angry +that I have concealed from him what he ought to have known long ago. +But if I should hesitate now from fear of his anger to tell him that +danger threatens him, and that you have informed me of it, how could I +ever forgive myself if anything should really happen to him? Tell me, +dear Kurt, am I not right?" + +"Yes, you are right, darling courageous child that you are. I do not +know how I can bear to lack the sight and sound of you every day; I +shall be wretched without this hour of delight; but you are right. We +must not think of ourselves, but of how to avert the danger that +threatens your father and Arno." + +"You are the dearest and the best fellow in the world!" + +As she spoke, Celia allowed Kurt to lift her from her horse and conduct +her to a rustic bench, which he had himself constructed, just upon the +borders of the Grünhagen forest, where they usually parted from each +other. Many a time lately they had sat here side by side, but to-day +every moment seemed more precious than ever, the future was so +uncertain. + +They sat silent for a long while, his arm about her waist and her +lovely head reclined upon his shoulder, while her eyes were downcast; +she was reflecting upon the coming parting. + +"Will your father believe you when he knows that your warning comes +from me?" Kurt asked, suddenly. "Will he not suspect me of giving it +with a view of arousing his gratitude, and thus obtaining an entrance +into Castle Hohenwald? If I did not fear that this would be so, I would +go to him myself, his commands to the contrary notwithstanding; but, as +I told you before, I dread his transferring his doubt of him who warns, +to the warning itself to the extent of rejecting it incredulously. The +same thing will happen if you tell him that it is I who warn him; he +will even be more suspicious and mistrustful in his anger at our +intimacy, which has become such without his knowledge and against his +will." + +Celia's eyes sparkled. Hard as she knew it would be to put a stop to +these meetings by a frank confession, she was still resolved to make +the sacrifice, but Kurt's words showed her that it would be useless; +she was quite ready in a moment to convince herself that for the +present it was best that her father should be ignorant of her meetings +with Kurt, lest he should regard the warning with suspicion. + +She raised her head, and looking at Kurt with a happy smile, said, +"Anna will help us; we will tell her all. If she puts my father upon +his guard and tells him that she cannot mention the source whence comes +her information, but that she knows it to be correct, he will pay heed +to her; he has the greatest confidence in her, and it never will occur +to him that she could deceive him." + +Kurt had no objection to urge to this. He consented that Celia should +confide everything to her friend, both as regarded their daily +meetings, and as to what Kurt had heard from the Assessor von Hahn. + +Thus conversing, the time flew by so quickly that the lovers did not +suspect the lateness of the hour. The outer world was forgotten, when +suddenly they were recalled to it by an unfamiliar voice, that gayly +interrupted their confidential talk with, "Found at last! I beg ten +thousand pardons for disturbing you; I never suspected that I should +find Herr von Poseneck in such charming society. Now I understand his +sudden disappearance; but pray don't let me disturb you; I am +thoroughly discreet; I will not boast of it, for discretion is a gift +of nature; I possess it, and would not for worlds interrupt a +delightful _tête-à-tête_." + +Kurt and Celia, as soon as the voice fell upon their ears, started up +from the bench, Celia looking down blushing, greatly confused, while +Kurt, with anger flashing in his eyes, confronted the Assessor, who, in +the best of humours, did not seem to perceive how unwelcome was his +presence. This first appeared to occur to him when Kurt approached him, +saying sternly, "Sir, what do you mean? how dare you thus follow me +without my permission?" + +The Assessor retreated a step, taught by the angry gleam in Kurt's eyes +that his jesting remarks had been quite out of place. In much confusion +he stammered, "I beg pardon; indeed nothing was farther from my +intention than to intrude; I am inconsolable at having disturbed you." + +The poor little man, as he shrank from Kurt's indignant glance and +poured out his terrified excuses, cut so odd a figure that Celia could +not help smiling, although she was anything but pleased with the +present aspect of affairs. She could see that Kurt's indignation was +still further aroused by the intruder's apology, and she whispered to +him as gently as possible "Be calm, dearest Kurt, I pray you, for my +sake." + +Her words produced an instant effect. Kurt's brow grew smooth, the +angry look vanished from his eyes, which sparkled strangely as he +looked at Celia, and then turned with an air of sudden determination to +the Assessor, saying, in a much gentler tone, "It is not to me, Herr +von Hahn, that you should excuse yourself, but to my betrothed, +Fräulein Celia von Hohenwald." As he spoke he cast at Celia a quick +glance of inquiry, afraid lest his words might offend her; but no, she +did not even look surprised; an arch smile quivered about her lips for +a moment, and she nodded to him assentingly. + +The Assessor's amazement, however, was unbounded; his large and rather +prominent blue eyes grew larger and more prominent as he looked from +Kurt to Celia. "Ah--really--indeed"--he stammered, bowing low--"I had +no idea--I humbly beg the lady's pardon--permit me to offer my cordial +congratulations--indeed--I am so surprised that I hardly know what to +say." + +Celia laughed; she could not help it: the flaxen little Assessor was +too comical; and Kurt smiled; he was no longer angry, but inexpressibly +happy. Celia's hand was in his and returned his pressure. How could he +be angry with the Assessor, who had been the cause of his sudden +resolve? "Never mind, Herr Assessor," he said, kindly. "We will credit +you with the most heartfelt good wishes. But"--and he suddenly changed +his tone to one of grave admonition--"since chance has willed that you +should be the recipient of our confidence, I must pray you not to +misuse it. You know that there exists an hereditary feud between the +Hohenwalds and the Posenecks, which some of the members of the families +have not yet agreed to forget, therefore we, my betrothed and myself, +do most earnestly enjoin upon you to be silent as to what you have +learned. Any allusion to it to others would be an indiscretion for +which I should be obliged to call you to account. I am sure we may rely +upon you." + +"Absolutely. I swear it!" the Assessor eagerly replied. "Not a word +shall escape my lips. I am silent as the grave!" + +"I am quite sure that your promise will be kept. And now we will no +longer detain you from the enjoyment of your walk. This broad road +leads to Castle Hohenwald; by pursuing it until you reach three huge +oaks in a group you will find a by-path on the right, which will give +you a pleasant stroll through the forest and lead you out into the +open, whence you will perceive Grünhagen in the distance." + +The Assessor bowed. Clearly he was dismissed. He would have liked to +exchange a few words with his relative Celia, whose voice even he had +not heard, but there was something in Kurt's manner that told him it +was hardly advisable to linger here longer. In a few choice phrases he +expressed to Celia his delight at this chance meeting with so charming +a cousin, and his sorrow that circumstances over which he had no +control would prevent him from calling upon her at the castle. Then +imagining that Herr von Poseneck was growing impatient, he took his +leave, turned in the direction that had been pointed out to him, and +was soon out of sight. + +"Are you angry with me, dearest Celia?" Kurt asked so soon as this was +the case. + +"Why should I be angry with you?" + +"I could not help it; I had to decide on the instant what to do, and it +was only by presenting you as my betrothed to the Assessor that I could +prevent him from speaking of having seen us." + +"And why should I be angry with you? It was perfectly natural; you only +said what we have both long known. I am glad you said it; I only wish I +could tell my dear kind father how very, very happy I am. But," she +added, with a little sigh, "it would not do,--it would not do at all; +he would be terribly angry, for he does not know you, Kurt, does not +know how dear and good you are, and if I should tell him we were +betrothed he never would give his consent. Anna must help us. I will +tell her everything to-day; she has more influence than any one else +over him, and she will contrive to have you come to Hohenwald,--she is +so good and so wise!" + +Kurt shook his head doubtfully, but he could not shake Celia's +confidence in Anna's power over the old Baron. Meanwhile it had grown +late; they had been together much longer than usual. Pluto was +evidently impatient; still, Celia had more to say than ever before. +Kurt put her on her horse again, and, when she begged him to turn back +with her for a little way, walked slowly beside her along the broad +forest road. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + +Lucie's resolve was a hard one. Castle Hohenwald was to her as a home. +The thought of leaving Celia and the old Freiherr gave her intense +pain, but it must be done,--she could not stay. She had written her +letter to Adèle with feverish haste, almost immediately after Arno had +left her; but now that it lay before her sealed and addressed she +hesitated to despatch it. She shrank from so decisive a step. + +Did stern duty really require of her to leave this loved asylum and +brave the world again and the danger of Repuin's persecution? Here she +was safe both from the Russian and from Sorr; both the old Freiherr and +Arno would extend protection to her, and must she give it all up just +because Arno loved her? No; not for that. Had she been sure of her own +heart she might have remained. She had not felt the need of fleeing +from Werner's distasteful devotion. + +But Arno! She had summoned up strength to utter the words that +annihilated his hopes; but she felt that in so doing she had almost +exhausted her self-control. Could she have withstood his pleading a +moment longer? Even while writing to Adèle the thought would not be +banished from her mind that she was actually free, bound by no +obligation to the wretch who himself on that terrible night had +sundered the tie that had linked her to him! + +But could he sunder it? No; it must still remain a brazen fetter +chaining her to her unworthy husband, although she were forever parted +from him. As she had herself said, her marriage could not be dissolved; +she was free only in spirit,--only the death of the dishonoured thief +could make it possible for her to form another tie. + +Her heart rebelled against so unnatural a chain; but cool reason told +her that she could not disregard it without dishonour. Sorr's wife must +not listen to Arno's words of affection; if she could not slay within +her the love she now knew that he had awakened there, he must never +know it. + +The sealed letter trembled in her hand; if it were to be sent it must +go instantly. From her window Lucie saw already saddled and standing in +the court-yard the horse upon which the groom was to take the daily +mail from the castle to A----. Frau Kaselitz stood upon the steps just +about to close the post-bag. One minute more and it would be too late. +A day at least would be gained, a day for reflection, and a day, too, +of imminent peril, a day in which Arno might repeat his protestations, +his entreaties! + +She hastily threw open the window. "Wait one moment, Frau Kaselitz; I +have a letter to go!" she called out into the court-yard, and then +hurried down the great staircase to the hall-door. She could not trust +herself, and it was only when she had seen the groom gallop away +bearing her letter with him that she breathed freely again. + +The die was cast, and she could think clearly and calmly. Her strength +of will returned, and she knew that she could brave any struggle +which the next few days might bring her. She had regained the calm +self-control that would enable her to fulfil her duties towards the +Freiherr and Celia during the time she should yet remain in the castle, +and this fulfilment should instantly be put into action. Celia should +suspect nothing during lesson-hours of the mental agony that had so +tortured her teacher. + +But where was Celia? She had not made her appearance, although the time +had long passed at which she usually returned from her afternoon ride. +Lucie inquired of old John, who was on his way to the stables, and +learned that Fräulein Celia was still out in the forest. She never had +stayed so late before, the old man added; indeed, she had had time to +ride up and down the broad forest road to Grünhagen at least twenty +times. Of course that was where she was; she always rode there. John +could not see why she never tired of that road. Lucie was not ill +pleased to hear that the girl was still in the forest: she longed for +its cool depths; and since John assured her that she could not fail to +meet Fräulein Celia, she determined to go in search of her. She +declined John's attendance, for she felt perfectly secure in the +vicinity of the castle. Quickly tying on her hat she sallied forth. + +Her walks hitherto had never extended beyond the castle garden and the +park. This was her first flight into the "forest depths," from which +the castle took its name. She gazed in wonder at the mighty oaks and +beeches. Around her brooded the mystery of the primeval forest; in the +vicinity of the castle no axe had rung a discord in the poetry of +woodland life. The deep silence, broken only by the low notes of the +woodland birds, harmonized with Lucie's mood; she sauntered dreamily +along the path, passing in mental review the events of the day, and +particularly the struggle with herself, in which--and there was a +measure of content in the consciousness--she had come off conqueror. + +Lost in thought, she almost forgot that she had come out to look for +Celia; her gaze wandered unconsciously over the wealth of foliage on +every side of her. She did not observe, when she had reached the +loneliest part of the forest, a solitary stranger walking towards her, +and hastening his steps with every sign of amazement upon seeing her. +Not until he had approached her very nearly did she look up and start +in terror. Could she believe her eyes? The Assessor von Hahn, whose +element was fashionable society, here alone in the woodland solitude? +She could not be deceived; the Assessor stood before her as elegant as +if bound upon a round of morning visits, staring at her out of his wide +blue eyes, and twirling, as was his wont when startled or surprised, +his flaxen moustache; it was indeed Herr von Hahn as large as life. + +The good Assessor was no less startled than was Lucie. "Is it +possible?" he exclaimed; "am I awake or dreaming? Frau von Sorr here in +the forest! This is a surprise indeed,--a most agreeable surprise of +course. I am enchanted to meet you, madame." + +As he spoke he held out his hand, and Lucie was obliged to place her +own within it and to allow him to kiss it; she could not show him how +unwelcome was his presence here. Of all her former acquaintances she +would have preferred to have almost any one invade her retirement +rather than the gossiping Assessor, but she could not let him perceive +this; she banished all surprise and terror from her face and said, not +unkindly, "A most unforeseen meeting. I never should have expected to +find you in this remote corner of Saxony, Herr von Hahn." + +"My presence here is easily explained, madame. I have been transferred +to A----, and, as there is scarcely any society in the tiresome little +town, I beguile my leisure by visits to the neighbouring gentry. I am +at present enjoying the Amtsrath Friese's hospitality, in Grünhagen, +and was just taking a woodland walk. But you, madame,--how happens it +that I meet you here? You must be living either at Grünhagen or in +Castle Hohenwald. Oh, I see, I see. My cousin, the old Freiherr, has +overcome his antipathy to your charming sex and has admitted into his +household a governess for my lovely cousin Celia. You are this +governess of course. This is why you vanished so suddenly from the face +of the earth. It must be so; my keen perception has penetrated the +mystery. I do not boast, for keenness of perception is one of the gifts +of nature, and her gifts are variously bestowed, but I possess it. +Confess, madame, that I am right." + +The Assessor, who had now succeeded in twirling the ends of his +moustache into two long thin points, stayed the torrent of his words +for a moment to regard Lucie with a triumphant look of inquiry. + +What should she reply? Chance had revealed to him her retreat in Castle +Hohenwald; he now knew too much to admit of his not being told more. +She dreaded his loquacity, but perhaps he might be induced to curb it +if she appealed to his honour. And, besides, he need keep silence only +for a short time; in a few days she hoped her friend Adèle would have +provided another refuge for her, and then the good Assessor's love of +gossip could do no harm. "Your keen perception has not been at fault, +Herr Assessor," she replied. "I live in Castle Hohenwald as governess +to Fräulein Celia von Hohenwald, but I need hardly tell you that in +order to obtain such a situation I have been obliged to change my name. +The consequences would be disastrous to me if any one in Castle +Hohenwald should learn my real name, and still more so if any one save +yourself, Herr Assessor, whom I trust implicitly, should suspect that I +have taken refuge in Castle Hohenwald. Your perceptions are too keen to +make any explanations necessary as to the painful circumstances that +have driven me thus to change my name and to take refuge in the deepest +seclusion. I rely upon your honour, and am convinced that you will not +abuse the knowledge you have gained by accident, and that you will +mention to no one our meeting to-day." + +The Assessor bowed profoundly, feeling immensely flattered. He seized +Lucie's hand and kissed it with fervour, "Your gratifying confidence is +not misplaced. I swear it by my honour!" he exclaimed, his hand on his +heart. "I will be torn limb from limb sooner than that Herr von Sorr or +Count Repuin or any enemy of yours, dear madame, shall learn where you +have found an asylum. Rely upon me, madame, and if you should need +counsel or aid I am always at your service." + +"Thank you, Herr von Hahn. I knew I could trust you, and therefore I +have bestowed upon you my entire confidence. If I need your assistance +I shall certainly apply to you, but at present I ask only your silence +and your forgiveness for concluding this interview; I must not be seen +in your society." + +"I understand and respect your wishes, madame; I am discreet; I make no +boast of it, but----" + +"I know it, Herr Assessor, and I thank you for it. But before we part +let me ask one question. Have you encountered upon this road a young +lady on horseback?" + +"Ah, you mean my fair cousin, Celia von Hohenwald." + +"Do you know Celia?" + +"Certainly; that is, I have seen her." + +"Did you meet her?" + +The question was a simple one, and yet it confused the Assessor. He +remembered Herr von Poseneck's words and felt very uncomfortable. True, +he had not been told not to mention meeting Celia. Kurt's prohibition +had borne reference only to his betrothal, but he had expressly +declared that he should call the Assessor personally to account for any +indiscretion, and Herr von Poseneck seemed to be a man very likely to +keep his word. Would he not consider it an indiscretion to direct Frau +von Sorr to where she would find the lovers together? He would not run +any risk, and so answered with some hesitation, "I really do not know, +madame; I hardly remember----" + +"Whether you have met Celia in the forest? You can hardly have +forgotten it." + +"Certainly not, but--some one is coming. You desire that we should not +be seen together; I hasten to comply with your wishes. Adieu, madame!" + +He bowed very low, glad to have any pretext for his flight, and walked +away so quickly that he was in danger of overlooking the group of +mighty oaks near which was the by-path to which Kurt had directed him. +Fortunately, he discovered it in time and was soon lost to sight. + +Lucie looked after him, at a loss to understand his conduct. Why should +he find such difficulty in answering her simple question with regard to +Celia, and hurry away in such confusion? He must have seen Celia; why +not say so? She quickened her pace and soon reached a turning-point in +the road that opened a long vista before her. Here her glance instantly +encountered Celia, who was riding slowly towards her, attended by Kurt, +whom Lucie instantly recognized, having seen him upon the evening of +her arrival at Castle Hohenwald. Celia held her bridle negligently in +her left hand; her right was clasped in that of Kurt, towards whom she +was leaning, talking so earnestly that at first she did not perceive +Lucie, who stood still transfixed with astonishment. + +This, then, was the reason of the Assessor's mysterious behaviour; this +was the explanation of Celia's devotion to her daily rides in the +forest. + +Pluto was the first to become aware of Lucie's presence; he tossed his +head and neighed; this attracted Celia's attention, and she perceived +her friend. "Anna!" she exclaimed in a tone of delighted surprise, in +which there was not the slightest trace of terror. She withdrew her +hand from Kurt's and urged her horse to where her friend stood. "Anna, +my darling Anna!" she said, tenderly. "I am so rejoiced to see you! Now +you shall learn all. Kurt himself can tell you all about it. Yes, Kurt, +tell Anna everything,--how we first came to know each other, that we +are betrothed, and that nothing now can separate us; tell her, too, +what you told me awhile ago of Werner. Ah, how glad I am that chance +has brought you two together! Now, Kurt, you will know my dearest Anna, +and will see how wise it is to confide in her absolutely. Adieu, my +darling Anna! Au revoir, dear Kurt!" + +She kissed her hand to Lucie and Kurt, then gathered up her reins and +galloped towards the castle. + +Lucie looked after her very gravely. She was inexpressibly pained by +the discovery she had so unexpectedly made. It had never occurred to +her that Celia, gay, innocent, frank child that she seemed, could be +engaged in any secret love-affair; she would have rejected any such +idea with indignation. + +And yet here was the proof. She felt grieved and ashamed; grieved +because she had believed herself possessed of Celia's entire +confidence, and ashamed that her care of her pupil had been so +negligent that the girl had been able to deceive her from the first day +of her arrival at Hohenwald. + +Her anger, however, was not for Celia, but for Kurt; Celia was an +inexperienced child, who did not and could not know the peril of such +secret entanglements; Kurt's was all the blame. + +It was therefore a very stern and forbidding look with which she +received Kurt, who approached her with some embarrassment in his +greeting. He knew that her judgment of him could hardly be a favourable +one. She had seen him but once, when his courtesy in proffering +assistance and his whole air and manner had made a very pleasant +impression upon her, an impression in which she had been strengthened +by what she had learned of him from the Finanzrath and from Adèle's +letters. Even now, as she looked at him with severe scrutiny, she could +not but admit to herself that his appearance was greatly in his favour. +He was not, strictly speaking, handsome, his features were not +perfectly regular; but his countenance was frank and manly in +expression, his fine eyes were honest and true, and about the firm +mouth there were lines that betokened great gentleness and kindliness +of nature. Lucie easily understood how a young man of so pleasing an +exterior could win the heart of the inexperienced Celia, who was +debarred all society, and her indignation was the deeper that Kurt +should have so unscrupulously used his power over an innocent child. + +"You will have the goodness, Herr von Poseneck, to give me the +explanation to which Celia has just alluded," she said, gravely and +sternly. + +Kurt bowed, and not without some confusion, for his conscience was not +quite clear, he replied: "You have a right, Fräulein Müller, to ask +this explanation of me, and I give it you the more readily, since my +betrothed was about to give you her entire confidence this very +evening. Even without this chance meeting you would have learned from +her what you are now to learn from me." + +"Your betrothed?" Lucie repeated the words with sharp emphasis. "Your +betrothed? Are you not aware, Herr von Poseneck, that a child of +sixteen cannot be betrothed without her father's consent? So far as I +know, the Freiherr von Hohenwald has not given his paternal consent to +your betrothal to his daughter, nor will he, for reasons with which you +doubtless are familiar, ever be likely to do so." + +"You condemn me without hearing me!" Kurt said, sadly. + +"I have heard from Celia and from you that you are betrothed to my +pupil, although you know that the Freiherr is hostile to your family, +and that you can never hope for his consent. Was it right, was it +honorable, that you, a man of ripe knowledge of the world, should +induce a young, innocent girl, almost a child, to grant you private +meetings in the forest, and finally to betroth herself to you against +her father's will?" + +"You are right, Fräulein Müller; I cannot deny it; I have often said +just the same thing to myself; but my heart was stronger than my head. +I hope, however, that you will judge me less severely when you have +heard that I came to know Celia by chance, and that my love for her +soon grew to a consuming passion that was beyond heeding the sage +suggestions of reason. Only grant me a short interview; I promise you +that I will be absolutely frank with you. Will you not hear me?" + +Lucie consented, and the short interview ended in a long conversation +between the two as they slowly paced to and fro in the woodland road. + +Kurt kept his promise to be entirely frank and candid; he began with +his first accidental meeting with Celia, who had won his heart at once, +although he had determined that he would entertain for her only +brotherly friendship. He described eloquently how this love had grown +within him, until he had been carried away by it so far as to reveal it +to Celia, and how he had been, as it were, forced by the Assessor's +intrusion to utter the decisive word that betrothed them on this very +day. He went on to tell Lucie how he had agreed with Celia that she was +to acquaint her dearest friend with their secret, and ask her for aid +and counsel; that he had at first been resolved to go to the old +Freiherr and confess everything to him, but that he had been deterred +from doing so by Celia's entreaties and representations. He informed +Lucie of all that he had heard with regard to Werner's schemes, and of +the danger threatening the Freiherr, adding that Celia looked to her to +aid in averting it. "And now," he said, in conclusion, "you know +everything. Judge for yourself whether I am as culpable as you thought +me at first. I confess that my only excuse is my passionate affection +for my darling Celia." + +Lucie did not reply immediately,--she pondered well upon all that Kurt +had said; his candour and integrity she could not doubt,--truth shone +in his eyes; she could not help believing him. "I cannot approve your +conduct," she said, after a long silence, "but neither will I judge you +too harshly. What is done cannot be undone; we can do nothing with the +past, but I demand that you atone in the future, as far as in you lies, +for the wrong you have committed. There must be an end to these +meetings with Celia; this you must promise me,--this duty you must +fulfil, however hard it may seem to you. Do not answer me immediately, +but reflect. I know that at this moment you think it impossible to +comply with my demand; nevertheless it must be done. You must have +sufficient self-control to enable you to resign a fleeting moment of +happiness. If you love Celia truly and honestly, and would not separate +her from her father, you must sacrifice thus much for her sake. You +ought not to see Celia again unless by the Freiherr's consent. If you +promise me this, Herr von Poseneck, I will promise you to do all that I +can to influence the Freiherr in your favour. I will try to combat his +unjustifiable hatred of you; I will be silent with regard to what I +have seen to-day, although it is perhaps my duty to put him on his +guard. Will you make me the promise that I ask, Herr von Poseneck?" + +"Can I make it? Would not Celia doubt my faith and affection if she +should not find me in the forest at the accustomed hour?" + +"Celia will never again, while I am at Castle Hohenwald, ride in the +forest alone, and she shall learn from me with what a heavy heart you +make the sacrifice to your love which I have asked of you. It is very +likely that she, too, will rebel against this sacrifice, and will blame +both you and me; but this consideration ought not to deter you from +doing your duty; thus only can you enable me to keep silence to the +Freiherr, who, if he should learn now, without any preparation, that +his daughter is secretly betrothed to a Poseneck, never would forgive +you!" + +"You demand an impossibility!" Kurt replied. "I cannot make a promise +which I may be forced to break. If Celia should call me, should need my +help, should I not hasten to her aid? And how easily this might happen! +Am I not Celia's natural protector? You know what danger threatens the +Freiherr through the Finanzrath's intrigues; if he, with his two sons, +should be placed under arrest, to whom could Celia turn for aid and +counsel? Ought I then, bound by a promise, to refuse her this aid? I +could not!" + +"Nor do I ask this. Your promise is not to be held binding in so +extreme a case. Give it me with this condition." + +"You are very cruel." + +"I am only doing my duty, and requiring that you should do yours." + +Lucie's firmness conquered, and Kurt submitted after much hesitation. +He could not but admit to himself that Lucie was right, and that in her +influence with the Freiherr lay his only hope for the future. He gave +the required promise. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + +Away into the open air, to field or forest, wherever nature offers +solitude! This was Arno's thought; he longed to be alone, to collect +himself, after the fearful blow he had received. He crossed the +court-yard and hurried through garden and park into the depths of the +forest. Arrived there, where he felt sure of encountering no one, he +threw himself down upon the moss-carpet at the foot of a giant oak. The +quiet soothed him; he needed it to aid him to control the storm of +emotion within him. What had he just undergone? To his humiliation he +had been harshly rejected,--rejected in a manner that wounded his pride +as well as his heart. What folly his former suspicions of Anna had +proved to be! He had preserved towards her a cold and chilling +demeanour to convince her that her feminine arts to attract him were +vain. How she must have smiled at the silly vanity for which he was now +paying so dearly! And he had asked for so little, for only one ray of +hope, only for permission to love her, and even this she had coldly and +firmly denied him. He had thought his heart desolated by the deceit +from which he had suffered years before, but the contrary was proved in +the bitter pain that now tortured him. He loved, and she whom he loved +scorned his affection. Was her heart no longer free? Did she love +another? She had denied this; but could he believe her? He remembered +all that Werner had told of her, that she had been betrothed and +forsaken by her lover when her father's wealth had vanished. Could she +still cling to one so worthless? No; it was impossible. She must +despise such a man, and she was too noble to give affection where she +could not esteem. Had Werner's studied attentions produced any +impression upon her? No; her tone, in speaking of him, had been that of +contempt; she saw through him,--he never could touch her heart. And yet +how could "duty and honour," of which she had spoken, demand that she +should reject forever a genuine devotion, and that she should declare, +"We must part forever!" The claim of another upon her affection could +alone make it her duty to refuse to listen to his protestations. The +thought was torture. He could endure everything save that. He was a +prey to a savage jealousy of this unknown who robbed him of all that +could make life fair, and he had to force himself to reflect that he +had not an atom of foundation for this jealousy, which, nevertheless, +he could not crush out of his heart. There it was, and it would assert +itself, laughing to scorn the arguments of sober reason. + +The sun was low in the heavens when Arno was roused from his long +brooding reverie by the crackling of the underbrush, caused as he +thought by some animal making its way through the thicket. But no; in a +few moments there emerged upon the open space, in the midst of which +stood the giant oak at whose feet he was reclining, Hauk, the chief +inspector of the Hohenwald estate. + +The man was much surprised at encountering thus his young master, whom +he had never supposed to be addicted to daydreams in the depth of the +forest, and he evidently reflected that his presence here, instead of +in the fields superintending the labourers, might seem strange to Baron +Arno. He approached him, hat in hand, with an air of some +embarrassment. "I beg pardon for disturbing you, Herr Baron," he said, +"but I never dreamed of finding you here." + +"True, Herr Hauk," Arno replied, recalled to the actual world by the +Inspector's presence, "nor could I have expected to find you here +instead of in the fields." + +The Inspector's embarrassment was increased by the reproof conveyed in +the young Baron's words; and it suddenly seemed to him that the reasons +for which he had undertaken his walk through the forest were mere +folly. "I beg pardon, Herr Baron," he said, meekly, "I should not have +left my work with the men, but I saw Herr von Poseneck again, and I +wanted to know what the young gentleman is after on our land. Something +must be wrong when a Poseneck tramps about our forest!" + +"You are dreaming. Inspector!" Arno rejoined, harshly. "What could +bring Herr von Poseneck to Hohenwald? Go back to your men, and refrain +from woodland rambles while harvesting is going on." + +The Inspector had never before received so stern a rebuke from the +young Baron, and the faithful fellow felt aggrieved. "Of course, if the +Herr Baron orders it I will return immediately, but it is a pity that I +should not discover what Herr von Poseneck is continually after in our +forest. Still, it is no business of mine why he is sneaking here, if +the Herr Baron does not care about it." + +Arno's curiosity was aroused; he had thought at first that the man's +story was an invention to cover his neglect of duty, but he now saw +clearly that he had wronged Hauk, who had been a faithful servant for +many years. Therefore, in a much gentler tone, he asked, "What is it +you are saying about Herr von Poseneck? Explain your meaning, Hauk." + +"I mean only, if the Herr Baron will excuse me, what I say. Young Herr +von Poseneck, who lives at Grünhagen with the Amtsrath, has been for a +long time sauntering about in our forest every day; what he is after I +do not know, but since he is a Poseneck, it can be no good. He usually +takes the path along the Grünhagen boundary, and gets into the forest +that way; but to-day I saw him hurry directly across the Hohenwald +meadow. Early in the spring, Kunz, who was ploughing near the Grünhagen +boundary, saw him do just the same thing. I watched him enter the +forest to-day with my own eyes, and I came through it from the other +side, thinking to strike the very path he must have taken, and catch my +fine gentleman in the act, if, as I suspect, he is at any poaching +work." + +This was a strange piece of news. It was folly to suspect Kurt von +Poseneck of poaching; the idea was begotten in the Inspector's mind by +the universal mistrust of the Posenecks that was rife among the +Hohenwald tenantry and servants; still Arno wondered what could bring +the young gentleman daily to the Hohenwald forest, and he thought the +matter called for an explanation. "Are you sure, Hauk, that you are not +mistaken in the man?" + +"Perfectly sure, Herr Baron; besides, all the men at work saw him as +well as myself." + +"Strange! And you say that he has been in the habit for some time of +wandering about in our forest daily?" + +"Yes, Herr Baron; he has often been seen, mostly by the women when they +were gathering sticks, but they said nothing about it, for they +themselves were on forbidden ground." + +"Mere old women's gossip then!" + +"No, Herr Baron; the forester has seen him too, but he did not speak to +him, because the Freiherr has ordered us to avoid all quarrels with the +Grünhageners; and Kunz saw him, as I said, long ago." + +"Long ago? That is very vague. How long ago?" + +"I cannot tell exactly, but it must have been about the time that +Fräulein Müller came to Hohenwald, for Kunz was with the Herr Baron +that night in the quarry, and he told me shortly afterwards that he had +seen young Herr von Poseneck cross our field to the forest; that he had +not been sure it was he until he saw him that night in the quarry; but +that then he was perfectly certain of him. So he must have been seen +first about that time, and since then scarcely a day has passed that he +has not been seen by some of the people in the wood." + +Arno's brow darkened. Kurt was no poacher, but he thought he had +discovered the reason for his walks in the Hohenwald forest. Following +the path by which he had been seen to enter it, he would reach the lake +in the park, upon the shore of which, hidden among the shrubbery, was a +bench, whence there was a lovely view of the little sheet of water. +This spot was a favourite one with Fräulein Anna Müller. Whenever, as +was, to be sure, but rarely the case, she walked in the park during +Celia's absence upon her afternoon ride, this bench was always her +goal, for she knew that even Werner would not venture to intrude upon +her there. Her reason for seeking this retreat was now plain, as was +also Kurt's attraction for the Hohenwald forest. + +And yet Anna had said that her heart was free! Could she lie? Why had +she not frankly confessed the truth? He would have had no right to +blame her; her avowal would, indeed, have pained him, but the pain +would have been easier to bear than distrust of her. He suffered in the +thought that she was no better than the rest, that she could descend to +a falsehood when the happiness of a man who loved her devotedly was at +stake. + +"Is it the Herr Baron's commands that I should return to the +harvesters?" + +The Inspector's question aroused Arno from his confused imaginings. +"Yes, Herr Hauk," he said, with hardly-won composure. "You had best do +so." Then seeing the man's discontented expression, he added, "I will +myself endeavour to encounter Herr von Poseneck, but I do not desire +any one to spy upon his movements. Let him walk as much as he pleases +in the Hohenwald forest; I am sure that no ill will towards us brings +him here, and I will not have him interfered with. Tell this to the +people, Hauk, and bear in mind what I say. My father's desire that all +disputes with the Grünhageners shall be avoided must be strictly +complied with. Good-afternoon, Hauk." + +"As you please, Herr Baron," the Inspector replied, with a bow, as he +took his departure. + +Long after he was gone Arno stood leaning against the trunk of the oak, +uncertain what to do. Was Kurt at this very moment perhaps seated +beside Anna on the bench near the lake? Jealousy impelled him to +discover whether his suspicions were correct. In vain did he represent +to himself that he had no right to spy upon Anna's actions. He strode +through the wood and soon reached the borders of the broad Hohenwald +forest road, which he was obliged to cross in order to reach the lake. +Here, as he was making his way through the bushes that lined it on +either side, he heard a voice that thrilled him; it was Anna's. He +could not distinguish what she said, nor the words of the reply, which +was given in clear, manly tones. He cautiously proceeded a few steps +farther, until, parting the bushes, he obtained a clear view of the +broad road. His worst fears were confirmed: Kurt and Anna were slowly +walking along it engaged in earnest conversation. They approached the +spot where Arno stood concealed; a few more steps and he should hear +every word that was said, for they did not suspect a listener near. For +a single instant a wild desire possessed Arno to penetrate Anna's +mystery; he leaned forward as far as was possible without discovering +himself, but the next moment he rose superior to the disgraceful +temptation. His cheek flushed at the thought that he had been deaf +though but for an instant to the dictates of honour. Silently and +hastily he withdrew, moderating his pace only when he could no longer +hear the sound of voices. As he returned to the castle he felt that +although he had heard nothing he had seen enough. + +Lucie parted from Kurt as his friend, and as she slowly walked back to +the castle she reflected upon the perils encompassing the people who +had become so dear to her. She pondered how to put the Freiherr upon +his guard without betraying Celia's secret, and how at the same time to +influence the old man to relinquish his foolish prejudice against Kurt. +She could hardly warn him directly, but could it not be done indirectly +through Werner, perhaps? If she should inform the Finanzrath that his +connection with Repuin and other French agents was no longer a secret, +that his movements were watched, that he was in danger of arrest, and +that his presence in Castle Hohenwald imperilled the safety of his +father and brother,--if she begged him to leave the castle, would he +not comply with her advice? + +Celia hastened to meet her friend; she had not been able to remain +within-doors. Arrived at the castle, the girl threw Pluto's bridle to +old John and hurried to her room to change her dress, thinking that she +would await Anna in their sitting-room; but, although the windows there +were all wide open, the confinement seemed to stifle her; she wanted +air,--not the air of park or garden, but that of the cool, fragrant +forest. As she issued from the gate of the court-yard and was just +about to turn into the broad forest road she encountered Arno, and was +hurrying past him, longing to see Anna and hear what she had said to +Kurt, when he detained her, saying sternly, "Where are you going?" + +"That is not your affair," she pertly answered her brother's harsh +question. "I might as well ask you, Where have you been?" + +"I have been in the forest." + +"And I am going to the forest." + +She would have passed him, but he still detained her. "Do you usually +select this road for your afternoon ride?" + +Celia blushed. What did he mean by the question? Did Arno know anything +of her meetings with Kurt? With feminine evasion she hastily rejoined, +"Why should I always choose this tiresome broad road?" + +"Why, indeed? How long since you returned from your ride?" + +"About a quarter of an hour ago," she answered, frankly. + +"And did you ride on the broad road to-day?" + +"What a foolish question! Let me go, Arno! How can it possibly interest +you when or whore I ride?" + +But Arno still held her hand fast, seeming not to notice her +embarrassment. He gazed darkly down the forest road. If Celia pursued +it she would meet Kurt and Anna together. Such a discovery would be but +a merited punishment for Anna, but what impression would it produce +upon his innocent sister? A second glance along the road reassured +him,--Anna was slowly approaching the castle alone. He let go Celia's +hand, relieved of an ugly dread lest Anna should have confided to her +pupil her love-affair with Poseneck. That Celia knew nothing about it +was clear from her replies to him; the "will-o'-the-wisp" was so frank +a creature. + +So soon as she found herself free, Celia ran towards Anna, bestowing +not another thought upon Arno, who went his way. Throwing her arms +around her friend, she whispered, as she caressed her tenderly, "At +last you are come! My darling, darling Anna! Now all is well, and my +conscience is once more clear." + +"You ought to have had confidence in me," Anna said, in a tone of +gentle reproof. + +"Oh, I have often said that to myself. I have repeatedly determined to +tell you all, but I was so afraid lest you would be angry, and perhaps +forbid my meeting Kurt, and so--I cannot live without just saying a few +words to him every day." + +"You must try it, my dear Celia; you must not meet Herr von Poseneck in +the forest again." + +"I thought you would say that!" Celia exclaimed. "I knew it, but you +are mistaken if you think I shall obey you. I am not a child; I know +what I am doing. Kurt is my betrothed, and I have a right to meet him. +But no, Anna dear, I will not be angry with you, only do not ask +that of me. If you think it wrong for me to see Kurt alone in the +forest,--and I have sometimes been afraid that it was,--then come with +me; we have no secret from you; only you must not ask me not to see him +again,--I cannot obey you: and if you will not go to the forest with me +I must go by myself." + +"It will be of no use. Herr von Poseneck has promised me that he will +not meet you in the forest again." + +"That is detestable of you,--detestable!" Celia exclaimed, indignantly. +She had been so utterly unused to control that she was really angry, +and it was only after a long and grave explanation upon Lucie's part +that the girl was brought to see that her friend's counsel was dictated +by the truest motives and an earnest desire for her happiness. At last, +however, she agreed to be guided entirely by her "darling Anna," and +the compact was sealed with a kiss. + +Relieved to have been successful with Celia, Lucie now applied herself +to the second task she had undertaken, and, instead of entering the +castle, turned into the garden, where the Finanzrath was usually to be +found towards evening. + +"Are we going to the garden?" Celia asked, surprised. "We cannot talk +together there, for Werner, as you know, will instantly join us, and we +shall not be able to get rid of him." + +"I am going purposely to meet him this afternoon," Lucie replied, "and +I beg you to leave me with him when he joins us." + +"Have you more secrets with him?" Celia asked, fretfully. + +"I must speak with him," was Lucie's calm reply. "I promised Herr von +Poseneck to warn your father of the danger that threatens him. I cannot +do this directly, since I cannot say whence comes my information." + +"And you are going to warn him through Werner?" the girl asked, shaking +her head. "Don't attempt it, Anna dear; you do not know Werner,--he +will not believe you; he thinks he knows more than any one else. Do not +have any confidences with Werner; speak to Arno,--he is true and +trustworthy; he will find a means to put papa on his guard and to force +Werner to go away." + +"I must speak with the Finanzrath," Lucie insisted; "do not try to +dissuade me, dear child; I cannot help it." + +Celia said no more; she silently accompanied Lucie into the garden, and +walked beside her along the winding paths until, as had been foreseen, +Werner joined them, when she lingered behind to pluck a flower, and +then, turning into a side-path, left her brother and her friend to +themselves. + +Werner greeted Lucie after his usual smooth, courteous fashion; but she +interrupted the flow of his complimentary speeches by saying, in a very +grave tone, "Our meeting this afternoon, Herr Finanzrath, is owing to +no chance. I came into the garden expressly to find you, for I have an +important communication to make to you." + +Werner's attention was aroused; Lucie frankly admitted that she had +come in search of him. What could she have to tell him? And Celia had +evidently left them together intentionally. She could have done so only +by Lucie's desire. A secret hope that his endeavours to obtain the +beautiful woman's favour were about to prove more successful flashed +across his vain soul, but vanished as he looked into his companion's +grave and even stern face. "I am extremely happy, madame, in receiving +this proof of your confidence," he said, "and await with eagerness what +you have to tell me." + +"It is of no agreeable nature," Lucie went on; "but I will go directly +to the point. You are in great peril, Herr Finanzrath; your connection +with Count Repuin has aroused suspicion that you are of the number of +French agents who are at work here, in the interest of the French +Emperor, endeavoring to effect the dissolution of the treaty that +unites the South German states and those of the North German alliance, +with Prussia, and who are plotting against Prussia among the people as +well as in the army." + +Werner stayed his steps and looked searchingly into Lucie's face. His +cheek grew a trifle paler, and his voice was not quite so firm and +clear as usual, as he replied, with forced composure, "Your information +is indeed startling, madame; I am excessively grateful to you for it, +but you must permit me one question. Whence comes your knowledge that +so foolish and ungrounded a suspicion attaches to me?" + +"There are all-sufficient reasons, Herr Finanzrath, why I cannot answer +your question and reveal to you the source of my information, but I can +assure you that my warning is sent you by a sincere friend of yours and +of your family, who is well aware of the necessity for it. But let me +proceed, and then you can judge for yourself of the magnitude of the +peril menacing you." + +"I am all ear, madame." + +There was a dash of contempt in his tone, and Lucie saw that her +refusal to mention the source of her information had shaken his belief +in its truth; but she went on quietly: "The suspicion of which I have +told you, whether it be well founded or not----" + +"Do you doubt me, madame?" + +"I have no right to form an opinion, and there is no reason why, if +formed, I should express it. Of course, since you declare the suspicion +unfounded, I have no choice but to believe you; nevertheless, it +exists, and it attaches not only to you, but to your father and +brother. The authorities are convinced that your relatives know of your +schemes, and aid and abet them, and that Castle Hohenwald is a centre +for treasonable plots and conspiracies. The castle is already under +surveillance; how strict this is I cannot say, nor whether it extends +to the letters sent from here, but I know that it exists, and that the +authorities have it in mind to crush any treasonable scheming before it +becomes dangerous, by the arrest of the entire Hohenwald family. I +think, Herr Finanzrath, that under these circumstances you will see +that you owe it both to your family and to yourself to leave the castle +as soon as possible. Your presence here imperils your father's safety. +He will, on the other hand, be left undisturbed, though not unobserved, +if you, the cause of this _groundless_ suspicion, absent yourself from +Castle Hohenwald for a while. Your father's age and infirmity, his +seclusion from the world, will shield him from all annoyance as soon as +you are away, since it certainly must be the aim of the authorities to +avoid exciting indignation in Saxony by any useless arrests. This +is all that I had to say to you, Herr Finanzrath. I hope that my +well-meant warning will effect its purpose, and that you will, by a +speedy departure from Castle Hohenwald, both protect your relatives +from the danger of arrest and insure your own safety." + +Werner had listened in silence, an evil sneer playing about his lips +the while. "Then my departure from Castle Hohenwald is the purpose of +your communication, madame?" he asked, watching Lucie with keen +scrutiny. + +"It is; I confidently hope that your departure will remove all danger." + +"Indeed? You are extremely kind. I really cannot be sufficiently +grateful to you for your care, but I must pray you to fill the measure +of your kindness by telling me to what good friend you owe your +information, which has the air of proceeding directly from the +Chancellor himself, if, indeed, it be not the fabrication of an idle +fancy or of a well-laid scheme." + +"I do not understand you, Herr Finanzrath," Lucie asked, amazed. "Do +you really imagine I could wish to deceive you?" + +"Let me beg you again for the name of your informant." + +"Let me repeat that I cannot, or rather will not, give it to you; you +have no right to demand it of me." + +"I do not demand it, madame; I do not even desire it, but perhaps you +will allow me to mention it to you myself." + +"You cannot know it!" + +"But I can guess it. I see through the game that is playing with me. +Have a care, madame, that the bow is not too tensely bent; the string +might break." + +"I do not understand you." + +"Then I must speak more clearly. You shall have your will and +understand perfectly. Yours be the consequences of allowing me a +glimpse into your heart,--of ruthlessly annihilating my fairest hopes. +You shall not escape unpunished from the intrigue which you have spun +to drive me from Castle Hohenwald." + +Werner's eyes flashed fire and his cheek was crimson as he spoke. His +agitation Lucie could not understand, and it terrified her. She had +never seen the calm, easy Finanzrath thus moved. "You speak in riddles, +Herr Finanzrath," she said, looking frankly in his face. "I do not +understand your anger. What do you mean by your threat, and by accusing +me of intriguing to drive you from Castle Hohenwald?" + +"Am I not yet sufficiently clear?" Werner continued, even more angrily. +"Do you still imagine you can deceive me? You are mistaken. I see +through your game. You choose that I should speak it out plainly? Well, +then, so be it! I am weary of the restraint that I have put upon myself +for months I will no longer be your plaything! I have loved you +passionately since the day when I brought you to the castle; to win +your love in return was my highest aim in life, my fondest hope----" + +"I must not listen to you. I must leave you!" Lucie exclaimed, +indignantly. + +"You must listen; I will force you to hear me!" Werner declared. + +"You are mad!" + +"You have made me so. Thank yourself that my passion asserts itself, +that I cast aside the fetters that have bound me for months. As long as +I hoped to win your love I endured their restraint; now, since I see +through your schemes, I will do so no longer. I suspected it all long +since. I have often told myself that you were but playing with my love, +but never until now did I know it surely. Do you think I have been +blind,--that I have slumbered through these long weeks? No, jealousy +has spurred me on to constant watchfulness; not a look exchanged +between Arno and yourself has escaped me. I have been insane with +jealousy when you were alone with him in the library, but I would not +believe that you could prefer him to me, and so I deceived myself and +you deceived me. You may well desire my absence. I could by a single +word put a stop to all your loving dalliance. Arno is your informant; +he would thrust from his path the brother in whom he suspects a rival, +and he thinks to drive me away by the threat of an imaginary danger. +Fool! I see through his game." + +Lucie listened in blank amazement to the accusations thus heaped upon +her, which, in their suddenness and strangeness, bewildered her +comprehension. Was this Werner, the polished, easy man of fashion, +confronting her now with angry eyes and laying bare before her the +inmost secrets of his soul? What should she reply to so disgraceful an +attack? A contemptuous silence was all that it deserved. And she was +silent, but this Werner regarded in the light of a confession; he +thought she was trembling at his anger and unable to reply. He laughed +scornfully, and continued, "Am I sufficiently clear now, madame? Now +you know, I imagine, that you can no longer deceive me. You are right +not to attempt it by any denial. One thing, however, you have +forgotten, that I know your past, and that one word from me can put an +end to your brief dream of love. My precious brother is an idealist who +might indeed bestow his heart upon Celia's poor governess, the lovely +Anna Müller, but who would turn with aversion and disgust from the +runaway wife of Herr von Sorr! Hitherto I have kept your secret +faithfully, but I might easily be tempted to forget to do so in future. +Herr von Sorr has not resigned his rights; he is still searching for +you, and it is owing to my silence alone that he is not now here +asserting those rights in defiance of which you would vainly seek +protection from Arno. Your safety here you owe only to the love which, +spite of all the offence it has received at your hands, still glows +within me, a consuming flame. Have a care that you do not convert it to +hatred, Frau von Sorr. Continue to reject my devotion, to play with my +jealousy, and you shall bitterly repent!" + +Not a word could Lucie utter. Amazement, shame, and indignation +overwhelmed her. Werner no longer awaited a reply; he left her not as +was his wont with a low bow, but with head proudly erect, hurrying +towards the castle, and not even looking back at her whom he had so +insulted. He did not see the intense scorn and disgust expressed in her +face as she gazed after him, nor hear the word "wretch!" that passed +her lips as she did so. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + +For a few moments after leaving Lucie Werner's features wore a smile of +triumph; he thought the proud beauty subdued and terrified by his +threats; but when he reached his own apartment, and had time for +reflection, he felt by no means so sure of his victory. As his +excitement subsided he became greatly discontented with himself, and +bitterly regretted having yielded to one of the outbursts of passion +which had cost him dear in his boyish years, but which he had lately +learned to control. Pacing his room to and fro, he pondered upon the +occurrences of the past hour. While in Lucie's presence, rage at the +thought of his brother's successful rivalry had bewildered his +understanding; he could not think clearly. Reason had returned, and he +confessed to himself that he had played the part of a jealous fool. His +brother was no intriguer, his ways were never those of a schemer. But +whence, if not from Arno, could Fräulein Müller have received her +information? She saw no one but the inmates of the castle, and she had +lately received no letters, as no one knew better than Werner, who +distributed the letters from the post-bag every morning. He grew very +uncomfortable; Lucie had known of his acquaintance with Repuin, and she +had now learned of what nature this acquaintance was; she still +maintained a correspondence with influential people in Prussia, Adèle +von Guntram, President von Guntram's daughter, was her most intimate +friend, and any information forwarded to them would soon reach the +Chancellor's office. + +The longer the Finanzrath reflected the more grave did the situation +appear to him. Vague pictures of an examination of his papers, of an +arrest, and possible trial for high treason presented themselves to his +imagination. Finally, he seated himself at his writing-table, and +thought he would write to inform Repuin of what he had heard. This, +however, proved to be by no means an easy task; he could scarcely do it +without implicating Lucie, and should he mention her relations with +Adèle von Guntram the Russian's suspicions would surely be aroused; he +would make his appearance at the castle with Sorr, who would enforce +his marital rights. Should this occur, Lucie would be restrained by no +considerations from betraying him. At present she would feel obliged to +have some regard for the man who knew her secret and held her fate in +his hands. He tore up his letter to Repuin, and decided to attempt to +avert in another way the danger that menaced him. Lucie was not +implacable; she had no reason for bringing distress upon the Hohenwald +family by betraying him; only a desire for revenge or to defend herself +from attack could prompt her to do this; he would ask her pardon for +expressions used in the heat of passion, and would not allow his love +for the beautiful woman or his jealousy to carry him so far again. +Soothed by these reflections, Werner began to look to the future with +confidence. + +What now? Lucie had asked herself, when left alone in the castle +garden. To answer this question was not easy. Suppose that Werner, +impelled by anger and jealousy, should discover her retreat to Count +Repuin, would not her best course be to leave the castle immediately, +and await in some secluded village the result of Adèle's efforts to +procure her another situation? The thought of the consequences of +Werner's betrayal of her secret filled her with horror. What if Sorr, +summoned by the Finanzrath, should appear at the castle and require her +to return to him! She felt sure that the old Freiherr would grant her +his protection, but what would it avail her against her husband! And +Arno? Lucie's heart died within her as she thought of the pain that a +knowledge of her secret would cause him. Nothing was left her but a +hurried flight. But no, she would not leave Hohenwald; had she not +promised Kurt and Celia to use her influence with the old Freiherr to +induce him to forget the wretched feud with the Posenecks? Could she +disappoint Celia's confidence in her by forsaking her at her need, in +selfish care for her own safety? Would not Kurt in that case have a +right to recall the promise he had given her? And what mischief might +ensue! No, it was her sacred duty to watch over Celia; she would not +leave the castle for some time yet. But she had written to Adèle +begging her to procure another situation for her as soon as possible. +The letter had gone; should she not write another and revoke her +request? + +In the midst of her uncertainty, Celia, who had seen from her window +that Werner had returned to the castle, joined her again, eager to know +the result of the interview with her eldest brother. "Well?" she asked. + +"You were right, I ought not to have spoken to your brother," Anna +replied; "he does not believe me. I cannot tell you more, Celia; it is +enough that my appeal to him was quite in vain." + +"I knew how it would be," the girl said, sadly; "I wish you had taken +my advice, but it is not yet too late. Let me call Arno; he is in his +room, I saw him go to it; he will be here in a few minutes. Indeed, +dear Anna, Arno has the best heart in the world. He is not so amiable +and agreeable as Werner, he cannot pay compliments, but you can rely +upon him. I have often watched him when he thought no one was observing +him, and I am quite sure that he likes you very much. He will believe +you, and soon devise some way of shielding our dear old father from +danger. Do speak with Arno, dearest Anna. Let me call him. May I?" + +"Yes; I will await him here." + +Celia's gratitude was shown by a fervent kiss, and she flew towards the +castle, returning in a few moments with Arno, whose hand she held in +hers. + +"Here he is!" she exclaimed as she approached Anna. "Only think, the +miserable fellow refused to come at first. Scold him well, Anna dear; +although he does look so grim, he is really dear and good. There, he is +smiling; now you need not be afraid of him. Adieu!" + +And she was gone, tossing a kiss to her friend as she vanished in the +shrubbery. + +The smile which her merry talk had called forth faded from Arno's grave +face as he bowed formally to Lucie. "I await your commands, Fräulein +Müller," he said. "You must forgive my momentary hesitation to follow +my sister. I thought her jesting when she told me you wished to speak +with me." + +"Celia was not jesting, Herr Baron. I requested an interview with you, +and I thank you for complying with my wishes." + +A low bow was Arno's only reply. + +Lucie had thought it would be easier to begin a conversation with Arno. +As he now walked beside her, grave and serious, without smoothing the +way for the opening of their talk by a single word, she felt +exceedingly uncomfortable. Her last words to him in the library had +deeply offended him, as was evident from the formality of his manner. +She had determined to make no allusion to their previous interview; but +how could she help it? And she longed to say one kind word to him. + +"You are angry with me, Herr Baron," she began, and her fair face +flushed slightly; she could not look up at him as she spoke,--her eyes +sought the ground. "I regret deeply if what I was forced to say to you +offended you. I did not mean that it should. It was my duty to tell you +the perfect truth; if I did this too harshly, I pray you not to be +angry with me. I told you to-day that your words would drive me from +Castle Hohenwald; I was overhasty. After calm consideration, I have +decided not to go away. I know that Baron Arno von Hohenwald is too +proud and too noble to repeat words that could pain me; I know that +although I was forced to offend him, he will still be my friend. May I +not cherish this conviction, Herr Baron?" + +As she spoke the last words Lucie looked up at Arno and held out her +hand, but he did not take it. He replied, coldly and with a low bow, +"You are very kind, Fräulein Müller. I am glad that you do me justice; +I am, indeed, too proud ever again to intrude upon you after the harsh +rejection I have experienced. I assure you that you shall never hear +from me a word that could cause you to leave Hohenwald sooner than you +would otherwise intend. May I hope that this assurance is satisfactory +to you, and that you will inform me to what I owe the honour of this +interview?" + +Lucie slowly let fall her hand; Arno's cold refusal to take it, and his +measured politeness, convinced her that she had nothing to fear from +him, and yet she was not glad that he was thus able to command his +feelings; his cold words grieved her. But he must not suspect this; she +forced her composure to equal his own as she explained to him that she +had a duty to fulfil towards the Freiherr and himself in telling him of +the warning sent to them from a perfectly trustworthy source. His +brother's plots were discovered, Castle Hohenwald was under +surveillance, and such suspicion rested upon his father and himself of +sharing in the Finanzrath's schemes that they were threatened with +arrest. "I trust you, Herr Baron," Lucie concluded, "to devise means +for averting the threatened danger. I had hoped that the immediate +departure of the Finanzrath would effect this, and therefore I first +appealed to him, told him what I have told you, and begged him to leave +the castle, but he would not believe in my information, refused to be +guided by it, and thus forced me to turn to you, Herr Baron." + +"Which you would not otherwise have done," Arno rejoined, bitterly. +"Nevertheless I am grateful to you for your warning; but you must +excuse me for putting one question to you. You tell me that Werner +refused to believe in your information. Did he tell you his reason for +doubting it?" + +Lucie hesitated to reply. She had not expected this question, and yet +it was a very natural one. How could Arno expect to induce his brother +to depart if he were not informed of the entire state of the case? He +must know that the Finanzrath mistrusted him, and this Lucie could tell +him only by letting him know of Werner's jealousy. It offended her +sense of delicacy to inform Arno of this; but it was her duty to +overcome her scruples and let him know what insane folly possessed +Werner. + +"You do not answer," Arno continued, after a short pause, "and yet my +question is a very simple one." + +"It shall be answered, Herr Baron. The Herr Finanzrath thinks that I +have been induced by you to acquaint him with a fictitious tale of +danger, in hopes that terror may drive him from Castle Hohenwald." + +"Indeed? The suspicion is like him!" Arno exclaimed, indignantly. "And +why should I wish to drive him from the castle, and why should you lend +yourself to second me by a falsehood? I do not perceive the connection +here." + +Lucie's cheeks were crimson; but, hard as it was to reply, she did it +bravely. "The Herr Finanzrath explained this in a manner very insulting +to me. He thinks that it is my desire as well as yours to banish him +from Castle Hohenwald, that we may escape his observation. You will not +require me to explain further the disgraceful suspicions aroused in his +mind by an unfortunate passion." + +"Shameful!" Arno exclaimed. "I have long known of his passion for +you,--his cold, calculating nature is incapable of a genuine affection; +his love is an insult to you. I did not believe that he would dare to +offend you by such unworthy suspicions; he is more worthless than I +thought him. I thank you from my heart for bestowing your confidence +upon me; rest assured you shall not repent it." + +For a few minutes they walked on in silence, Arno thinking of Werner's +silly suspicion that he was the author of Anna's warning. Who was its +author? The answer that instantly occurred to him to this question +disturbed the satisfaction that Anna's frankness had afforded him. Her +information could proceed from but one person, from him with whom he +had so lately seen her in earnest conversation; from Kurt von Poseneck. + +But a moment ago he had regarded with profound contempt Werner's +groundless jealousy, and yet now he suddenly felt a like sensation with +regard to the rival who had robbed him of Anna's love. Her warning lost +all credibility in his eyes; he rebelled against receiving it from a +man whom he hated, and felt inclined, as Werner had done, to believe +that it had been given with some unworthy aim. He must have certainty +upon this point. + +All that was genial vanished from his manner as he turned to Lucie, and +with the same icy courtesy that had characterized his first address to +her, said, "I owe you a debt of gratitude, Fräulein Müller, but let me +pray you to complete your information. It is very important that I +should know the source of your warning. Tell me frankly, do I owe it to +Herr Kurt von Poseneck?" + +"How did you know? What made you think of him?" Lucie asked, greatly +surprised. + +"Thank you, Fräulein Müller; I am answered. You do not deny, then, that +Herr von Poseneck has commissioned you to communicate with me?" + +"Why should I deny it? But I really cannot understand how----" + +"How I arrived at the knowledge of your intimate relations with Herr +von Poseneck? Chance revealed to me your secret. I saw you to-day in +the forest engaged in confidential discourse with him. I now know why +you refused me all hope in the future." + +"Herr Baron!----" + +"Say no more! Why should you blush because I allude to your relations +with Herr von Poseneck and to our interview? You never gave me a right +to hope for your love; it was my fault if in my conceit I cherished +hopes which you crushed as they deserved. I reproach myself, not you. I +deserved the harsh repulse which I received, but I did not deserve that +you should deceive me at the very time when my heart was laid bare +before you. Had you but told me frankly that you loved another it would +have pained me deeply, it is true, but my confidence in you would have +been unshaken. At such a time you should not have told me a falsehood." + +"Herr Baron, I assure you----" + +"Would you still deceive me? That first falsehood was enough, and more +than enough. Let us break off this conversation. Let me give you one +last piece of advice in return for your warning. You know the dislike +that my father entertains for the Posenecks. For this reason, perhaps, +you have refrained from any mention of your intimacy with thus +gentleman, and you certainly are right, for even your powerful +influence would hardly avail, I fear, to conquer the hereditary hatred +of a Hohenwald for a Poseneck; but if you would keep your secret, let +me advise both you and Herr von Poseneck to be more circumspect in +future. The people on this estate have noticed his daily visits to a +certain part of the Hohenwald forest, and will shortly discover to whom +these visits are paid unless you are more careful." + +It was positive torture to Lucie to hear Arno's icy tone as he gave her +this advice. She perceived how he suffered; he had betrayed his pain +when he showed her how deeply he felt the suspicion of her untruth. +This wretched mistake! But could she undeceive him without betraying +Celia? And if she did,--if she proved to him that it was solely upon +Celia's account that Kurt came daily to the Hohenwald forest, might +there not be danger of reviving hopes which he had resigned? Still, she +could not bear that he should leave her with a doubt in his mind of her +integrity. + +As he turned to go, with a formal bow, she lightly touched his arm. "We +must not part thus, Herr Baron," she said, gravely. "You owe it to me +at least to listen to me." + +"What can you have to say, Fräulein Müller?" Arno asked as he paused. + +"You have brought a grave accusation against me," Lucie continued, "and +you have done so deceived by appearances." + +"Was I deceived when I saw you scarcely an hour ago in the forest with +Herr von Poseneck?" + +"No; you saw correctly." + +"Is it not true that Herr von Poseneck has, since your arrival at +Castle Hohenwald, daily sought a certain spot in the Hohenwald forest?" + +"This, too, is true." + +"Is it not true that in the forest he sought the seat hidden in +shrubbery near the lake, where you are so fond of dreaming away a +solitary hour?" + +"That is not true, at least so far as I know." + +Arno's face expressed doubt and amazement, but Lucie's eyes flashed. "I +have never given you cause to doubt my truth," she said, more sternly +than he had ever heard her speak. "My word must suffice; I assure you +that I have seen Herr von Poseneck but twice in my life, once upon the +night of my arrival here, and this afternoon for the second time. I +stand in no relation whatsoever with him, and our meeting to-day was +entirely accidental." + +"But you were talking to him so earnestly." + +"And about most important matters. I esteem Herr von Poseneck very +highly, I do not deny. He, inspired by the purest friendship for the +Hohenwalds, begged me to warn you as I have done." + +"Was this all you were talking of?" + +"This and something else no less important. What it was is my secret, +and I feel under no obligation to give you farther information, as you, +Herr Baron, have no right to doubt my truth. This is all I wished to +say; I will no longer detain you." + +Arno was dismissed; he bowed in some confusion as Lucie left him, and +yet, in spite of the severity of her words and manner, his heart felt +lighter than before, and hope began to stir within him. "She does not +love him," he repeated to himself. "There is no falsehood in those +eyes." + +Lucie hurried to her room before joining the family circle, according +to daily custom, in the garden-room, where the old Freiherr was already +looking for her,--she wished to write a few lines to Adèle. This she +did hastily, delivering her letter herself to the Inspector when it was +sealed, and begging him to see that it was put into the bag for the +next morning's post. + +A few moments after Lucie had left the Inspector's room Werner entered +it. He had watched her from his window, had seen the letter in her +hand, and had been filled with vague misgivings. "That letter I must +see!" he had said to himself. + +"Can a messenger be sent on horseback to A---- to catch the evening +mail?" he asked of the Inspector, who was just putting Lucie's letter +into the bag. + +"Certainly, Herr Finanzrath, very easily," Hauk replied. "Old John can +go on Fräulein Celia's Pluto; there is plenty of time." + +"Give me the post-bag then,--I have an important letter to send; and +tell John to saddle Pluto, and I will have it ready for him." + +The Inspector handed him the bag, which Werner instantly carried with +him to his room and opened. With a triumphant smile he took from it +Lucie's letter addressed to Fräulein Adèle von Guntram. "I thought so," +he muttered to himself. "I am just in time." Then tearing off the +envelope he read: + + +"What will you think of me, dear Adèle, if a few hours after writing my +last letter I tell you not to heed the request it contained? I hope +soon to be able to let you know why I do this, but I cannot tell you +to-day. I cannot leave Castle Hohenwald, and so you are relieved of the +burden of looking for another situation for me. Farewell, dear; you +will soon hear further from your LUCIE." + + +Werner dropped the letter disappointed. "Nothing more?" he muttered. "I +need not have opened this letter, although I had better know what she +intends to do." He tried to put the letter in its envelope again, but +it could not be done, the latter was too much torn. There was nothing +for it but to destroy it. He tore it up therefore, and threw it into +his waste-paper basket. Then putting several unimportant letters into +the post-bag, he took it out to John, and despatched the old man upon +his useless errand. + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + +The time at which the old Freiherr expected his family to assemble +about him every evening in the garden-room had come. Werner on his way +thither encountered his brother, who was awaiting him at the foot of +the staircase. In a few indignant words Arno informed him that Fräulein +Müller had acquainted him with the manner in which her well-meant +warning had been received, and said all that was possible in so short a +time to induce his brother to leave Hohenwald as quickly as he could. +"In the castle," he added, "there are none who do not look upon your +fine-spun schemes as treasonable plotting, and it is unjust that peril +should threaten all on your account." + +Werner, however, who had now entirely recovered his usual self-control +and ease of manner, treated his brother's words with contemptuous +indifference, and thus the two men entered the garden-room together, +the elder dissembling his jealousy and rage beneath an easy amiability +of manner, the younger vexed and indignant at his failure to influence +the brother whose ambitious vanity and want of principle were abhorrent +to him. + +The Finanzrath evidently felt perfectly secure, and exerted himself +to prove to Fräulein Müller his sincere regret for his late want of +self-control. He begged her for one of her charming songs, and meeting +with a curt refusal, acquiesced in it without a word. He was all that a +courteous, high-bred cavalier should be; and yet, in spite of his +efforts to maintain the conversation, it flagged continually, for each +member of the little circle felt a secret oppression, which made it +impossible to join in it with any interest. + +Arno was unusually taciturn; he possessed none of the versatility +that enabled Werner so quickly to forget the serious matters that +had lately occupied him. Even Celia seemed to have lost all her +wonted sprightliness; she sat buried in thought beside her father's +chair,--her stool placed so that he could not see her face, for she +could not look him frankly in the eyes to-night, and her heart was too +full to allow her to take any part in the conversation. This would soon +have become monosyllabic in spite of Werner's exertions had he not +casually mentioned a visit that he had paid a few days before to +Grünhagen. So favourable an opportunity of turning the conversation +upon Kurt did not escape Lucie; she asked Werner, with evident +interest, how young Herr von Poseneck liked Grünhagen, and whether he +was readily adapting himself to the European mode of life. Werner could +not understand why Lucie should take so vivid an interest in Kurt, but +he was glad to have found a topic upon which he could command her +attention. He expatiated willingly upon Kurt's excellent capacity as a +landed proprietor, and upon the admirable understanding that seemed to +exist at Grünhagen between uncle and nephew. + +The Freiherr listened silently; that the topic was not an agreeable one +to him the frown gathering on his brow told plainly. + +Arno, too, said not a word, but sat glancing now and then at Lucie with +displeasure in his look. What could be Fräulein Müller's aim in this +show of interest in Kurt? If it were intended as a punishment for his +jealousy, it seemed but a petty revenge. + +Celia, however, sat quite still, with sparkling eyes and glowing +cheeks; she said nothing, but not a word that was spoken escaped her. +Werner suddenly appeared kind and amiable in her eyes as he thus +praised Kurt. + +For a while the Freiherr endured Lucie's continued inquiries about +Grünhagen and Kurt; but at last his patience was exhausted. "You seem +to take a remarkable degree of interest in this fellow Poseneck, +Fräulein Anna," he said, crossly; "for Heaven's sake leave him to +himself in Grünhagen,--the less I hear of him the better I am pleased!" + +This was the very outbreak for which Lucie had been hoping. She turned +to the Freiherr and, pushing her chair nearer to his, said, "What has +poor Herr von Poseneck done to you, Herr Baron, that you should be so +angry with him?" + +"He has done nothing to me, but I hate the Posenecks one and all," was +the harsh reply. + +"I am quite sure that you would like Kurt von Poseneck if you knew him, +Herr Baron," Lucie rejoined. + +"I don't want to know him!" the Freiherr exclaimed, discontentedly. + +Nevertheless Lucie continued, boldly, "He is the very man to please +you. Honest and true, earnest in character, but with the enthusiasm of +youth, a thorough gentleman, but no fop, he has won golden opinions +from every one during the short time that has passed since his arrival +in Europe." + +The Freiherr stared at her in amazement; her unexpected praise of Herr +von Poseneck did not at all please him, but as she spoke she looked at +him with so charming an air of entreaty that he could not be angry with +her,--he even smiled as he shook his finger at her, saying, "Aha! +Fräulein Anna seems quite infatuated with the young man. I had no idea +that she knew him so intimately." + +"Oh, yes, I know him very well, although I have really seen him but +once; my opinion of him is based upon that of a far more competent +judge than I am. Count Styrum, my friend Adèle's lover, is a relation +of Herr von Poseneck; his word is the best warrant for the young man's +excellence. A man to whom Count Styrum gives his friendship and esteem +is certainly deserving of them." + +"Make your acknowledgments for the compliment, Arno! Count Styrum is +your friend too," the Freiherr said, with a laugh; and he then +continued, half in jest and half in earnest, "The friendship of the +Count, for whom I have a great regard, is certainly a recommendation +for the young man, but fortunately I am entirely indifferent as to +whether this Herr von Poseneck deserves your praise or not, for I have +nothing to do with any of the Poseneck crew. One thing strikes me, +however, and that is, that I must stop abusing them when Fräulein Anna +is by. Well, well, we shall not quarrel about them, only, if she +persist in singing this young fellow's praises, she will make her old +adorer jealous." + +Lucie smiled in reply; she had done enough for to-day, and Celia's +grateful look thanked her. She arose, and going to the piano unasked, +sang one of the old man's favourite songs, which would have won him to +forgiveness even had he been angry. + +The tones of her voice had just died away when old Franz entered the +room with the post-bag, which he said had just been brought to the +castle by an extra messenger, and must contain news of importance. + +The Freiherr eagerly opened it, and seizing the newspapers, which, with +a few letters for the Finanzrath, were all that it contained, searched +them for the expected news of importance. This he found in the first +one that he opened; it contained the telegram reporting the abdication +of the Crown Prince of Hohenzollern. With eyes sparkling with joy the +Freiherr read it aloud. "Thank God!" he exclaimed. "I trust we have +done with this miserable war. Franz, bring a bottle of champagne in +honour of the good news!" + +"I must leave you this evening; my duty recalls me to Dresden, as I +learn from this letter," Werner said, after having eagerly looked over +his letters. + +"What! this evening?" the Freiherr asked, and, although the question +expressed surprise, there was no regret in his tone. + +"I must obey the call of duty," Werner replied. "While Franz orders the +carriage I will pack my portmanteau, and I hope I shall be in time to +catch the night train." + +He shook hands with his father, and then turned to Lucie, who was +standing near the window. "I comply with your wish, and leave you; +forgive me," he whispered; adding aloud, "Have you any commands for +Dresden, Fräulein Müller? No?" as she answered by a gentle shake of the +head. "I am sorry, but pray remember that you may always command me as +you please. Adieu, Celia; be diligent and good, you little romp. Adieu, +Arno; I trust you will forget, as I do, that there have lately been +some differences of opinion between us; upon reflection I see that you +were right in the last conversation we had together, this letter has +convinced me." + +He offered Arno his hand, but the latter refused to take it. "I have no +confidence in you," he said, in too low a tone to be heard by the +others. "I do not know your reason for this sudden departure, but I am +sure that it is not regard for the safety of your family." + +"Are you then implacable?" + +"I refuse to reply to deceit with deceit." + +"What is the matter, boys? Do not quarrel when you are taking leave of +each other," the old Freiherr interposed; and Werner, with a shrug, let +fall the hand he had offered his brother, and, with another general +"adieu," left the room. + +In his own apartment, he packed a few necessaries in his portmanteau, +devoting all the time he had to a careful disposition of his papers. It +was not until he was certain that not a scrap of writing was left +either in desk or writing-table that he locked his portmanteau and gave +it to old Franz, who came to announce that the carriage was waiting. + +As he drove off, just in time to catch the night train, those whom he +left behind him at Hohenwald by no means experienced the usual relief +felt in his absence. They did not believe in the reason assigned by him +for his hasty departure, and it aroused in his father's mind suspicions +that he was more deeply implicated in rebellious plots than he had +hinted. No one of the little circle could throw off the gloom that +oppressed all, and the old Freiherr was rolled into his bedroom much +earlier than usual. + +In the course of the next few days the political horizon again +darkened; all Germany keenly felt the insult offered to the King of +Prussia by the French Emperor, and was ready to resent it. + +"Disgraceful!" Arno exclaimed, after reading the account of it aloud in +the newspapers, "This is enough to make every German forget all petty +jealousies and prejudices. We should be one nation in the struggle that +France thus forces upon us. I am quite sure, father, that you will +gladly see me leave you to take my part in the war that now seems +inevitable for the fatherland." + +"Go, and God speed you, my son! Only cowards and traitors can hesitate +now!" + +The Freiherr spoke with profound emotion, regarding with paternal pride +the while the son in whom he delighted. Celia threw her arms around her +brother's neck and kissed him tenderly. "You are my own darling Arno!" +she exclaimed; "the best and truest fellow in the world!" + +And Lucie? She bestowed upon Arno a smile that fairly intoxicated him +and impelled him to offer her his hand, in which for one fleeting +instant she placed her own. + +The small circle at Castle Hohenwald presented a picture in miniature +of the sentiments of the entire country at this time, and every day's +developments served but to increase the patriotic enthusiasm +everywhere. No sooner did the cry resound from Paris, "On to Berlin!" +than it was decided that as soon as war was formally declared Arno +should apply for re-admission to the army, and with a view to so doing +he set about arranging affairs on the estate so that his absence might +cause his invalid father as little annoyance as possible. Those cares +kept him from home almost every day,--it was only in the evenings that +he could make one in the family circle; but these evenings, when his +father's welcome was so affectionate, Celia's so enthusiastic, and +Lucie's so fall of gentleness and sympathy, more than indemnified him +for the hard labour of the day. Only one drawback marred the pleasure +they gave him, and this was the manner in which he was constantly +reminded by Lucie herself of his last _tête-à-tête_ with her. What +reason could she have for perpetually dragging in Kurt von Poseneck as +a subject for conversation, when she could not but perceive that it was +distasteful both to the old Freiherr and to himself? This the Freiherr +frankly declared many times, but considerate as Lucie usually was of +his wishes, on this point she paid no regard to them. With persistent +obstinacy she made use of every available opportunity to refer to Kurt, +to extol his admirable qualities, to describe his adventures in +America, in short, to depict him as a young man of distinguished +qualities both of mind and of heart. + +Of course Arno never dreamed that Celia had supplied Fräulein Müller +with her accurate knowledge of Herr von Poseneck's life, and it seemed +to him excessively strange that she should be so well informed +concerning a man whom, according to her own declaration, she had seen +but twice. This contradiction struck the Freiherr also, and he +expressed his surprise at it, but Lucie only smiled and replied, "Oh, I +have a private source of information which I know just how far to +trust. I do not mean to describe Herr von Poseneck as an actual angel +in beard and moustache, but he certainly is a charming fellow, whom +you, Herr Baron, would especially like if you only knew him, as I +sincerely wish you did." + +Celia grew crimson at this reply, but, fortunately, no one save Lucie +noticed this. The old Freiherr shook his head and declared that he felt +"no desire to know any Poseneck," but, nevertheless, it was plain to be +seen that Lucie by her persistency had aroused in him a species of +interest, and finally one evening, when she had been recounting some of +Kurt's war adventures in America, he remarked that that Poseneck must +be a brave fellow since he had attained the rank of major so soon. + +Arno was not so easily cured of his prejudice against Kurt, Lucie's +constant reference to whom was utterly inexplicable, and at times +roused within him the bitterest jealousy. He was worried and anxious, +too, with regard to Werner, from whom nothing was heard after his +departure. Whether the Finanzrath were really in Dresden neither his +father nor his brother knew, and when Arno at times saw accounts in the +newspapers of the arrest of persons suspected of being agents of the +French government here and there in Germany, he could not but fear lest +a like fate might overtake Werner, and he knew that such a disgrace +would crush his father to the earth. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + +On one of the last days in July an unusual crowd thronged the platform +of the railway station of A----, looking eagerly for the train, in +which, so crowded was it sure to be at this time with troops, it was +difficult for civilians to find places. On this particular occasion +there were only three passengers for A----, and these had been obliged +to content themselves with places in a baggage-wagon, every carriage +being crowded with troops in process of transportation. As soon as +these three stepped upon the platform they were besieged with questions +of all kinds from the throng of men waiting there,--questions which +seemed especially annoying to one of the three, an apparently choleric, +elderly gentleman, who elbowed his way right and left through the +crowd, now and then giving vent to his irritation in a good round oath, +as he declared, "I know nothing and care less!" and all the while +evidently on the lookout for some one whom at first he could not find. + +At length his face cleared. "Hollo, Assessor!" he called; and then, +with another struggle to clear himself of importunate questioners, +"Deuce take you all!" he exclaimed, "I have something better to do than +to answer every fool's questions!" + +The people about him grumbled, but perceiving that there was no +satisfaction to be gained from him, turned their attention to the other +two passengers, and the elderly man was left to pursue his way +successfully to where the Assessor von Hahn stood awaiting him. "Here I +am at last!" he said, holding out to him the hand unencumbered by his +travelling-bag. "I have been trying to get to you for the last three +days, but not even standing-room could I find in the railway-trains, +which are nothing but military transports. I had to pay an enormous +price to-day for a place in a baggage-wagon." + +The two men were now quite clear of the crowd, and the Assessor shook +the new-comer cordially by the hand. "I am rejoiced to see you!" he +said. "You know how entirely I am at your service, Herr----" + +"Fernheim!" the stranger interrupted him before he could pronounce the +name. + +"Fernheim? Really, I do not know----" + +"Call me Fernheim. It is as good a name as any other," the stranger +said, in a tone only to be heard by the Assessor. "I do not wish these +curious people to know who I am, or what I want. The news of my coming +might else reach Castle Hohenwald sooner than I desire that it should." + +"You are right, Herr Fernheim. I never thought of it; but you are +right, you were perhaps in more danger than you thought. Do you know by +sight the Finanzrath von Hohenwald or Count Repuin?" + +"No, I have no knowledge of the scoundrels!" + +"Then you do not know that they were your fellow-passengers in the +train?" + +"Not an idea of it. But thanks for the information. I shall know them +again when I see them. The bearded fellow is the Russian of course. +Pity that Sorr is not with them; the noble trio would then be +complete." + +"He is not here." + +"I know that; I am familiar enough with the rascal's face. I suppose +those two precious rogues are bound for the castle, so the sooner we +are on our way there the better. You have kept your promise, Herr +Assessor, to prepare everything for a visit to Hohenwald?" + +"Of course; I have awaited you at every train since I received your +despatch. The carriage is here to take you instantly to Grünhagen, +Herr----" + +"Fernheim. Do not forget the name. And no one in Hohenwald suspects my +arrival?" + +"No one." + +"A thousand thanks, Herr Assessor. We will leave instantly, since so +much depends upon our arriving before those two worthy gentlemen." And +preceded by the Assessor, he passed through the station-house, and +getting into the carriage waiting for them, they were well on their way +before the Finanzrath and Count Repuin had extricated themselves from +the crowd of eager inquirers on the platform. + +The Finanzrath had good reasons for answering all questioners civilly, +here so near his home, where there was special need that he should +preserve a character for patriotism. During the last few days several +of his friends who had dared in Munich, Leipsic, and elsewhere to +express unpatriotic sentiments had been roughly handled by the enraged +populace. In fear, therefore, of a like fate, Werner judged it wisest +to answer all questions with the greatest amiability, re-echoing +bravely the curses of the French heard on all sides, and even his +companion, Count Repuin, thought it prudent to follow his example. + +The Finanzrath informed his hearers that war had been declared the day +before; that Bismarck had announced this officially in the Reichstag, +and that the enthusiasm in Berlin was boundless,--any amount of funds +for the prosecution of the war would be voted unanimously. Werner bore +his part admirably in the wild shouts of exultation that followed this +intelligence, waving his hat with the foremost, hurrahing for Bismarck, +and even adding his fine bass voice to the yelling rather than singing +of "Die Wacht am Rhein," in which the enthusiasm of the mob culminated. + +By degrees, however, the crowd dispersed, and the two men were left +alone on the platform. "Low-lived canaille!" the Russian exclaimed, +giving vent to his suppressed indignation. "I would have every +scoundrel of them well thrashed!" + +"You do them too much honour, my dear Count, in allowing them to ruffle +you!" Werner calmly rejoined. "Let them roar their 'Wacht am Rhein' as +they please. I am annoyed only by Sorr's non-appearance. He cannot have +arrived, as he is not awaiting us here." + +"True, I had forgotten the rascal in the midst of their shouts; but you +are right. Baron, he should have been here if he obeyed my commands and +left for A---- two days ago. What can have happened to him?" + +"Nothing; we have seen the difficulty that exists now in getting from +one place to another. He will come by the next train,--but it is very +unfortunate for me to have to wait here at the station. I am so well +known in A---- that people will wonder why I do not go immediately to +Castle Hohenwald." + +"Unfortunately, there is no help for it." + +"Why should not you await him here while I go on to Hohenwald alone?" + +"Impossible; you know that I cannot appear at Hohenwald, and that Sorr +must accompany you thither, since, if introduced there by you, his wife +cannot refuse to give him a hearing. Then when he swears that he has +broken off all connection with me, she cannot refuse to follow him, and +should she, your father would refuse protection to a wife so false to +her duty. Sorr will do as I say, swear what I dictate to him, and the +result is certain." + +"But what, after all, Count, can the result avail you? You know Frau +von Sorr detests you. Will she not instantly return to Hohenwald when +she finds that she has been deceived?" + +"That is my affair, my dear friend," Count Repuin replied, with an ugly +smile. "There are means to tame the wildest bird, and of those means I +shall avail myself." + +What means, the Finanzrath asked himself, would the Russian use to bend +the young wife's will, to conquer her hatred of him? Brutal force spoke +in the Count's words and gleamed in his treacherous eyes. And to such +villainy he, Werner von Hohenwald, was lending himself! + +A few days previously, in a burst of indignation at hearing that he had +been denounced to the government, the Finanzrath, believing that Lucie +had caused this, had revealed to the Russian the place of her retreat; +now he bitterly repented having done so, and blushed for the part he +was playing. He would gladly have warned her of the danger threatening +her, but the ties that bound him to the Russian were of such a nature +that he dared not provoke the man's resentment, and every precaution +must be taken lest his suspicion should be aroused. With as easy an air +as he could assume he said, "I suppose you will find means to attain +your object, but I would advise you to take care. The lovely Frau von +Sorr would, I imagine, hesitate at nothing if driven to extremes, and +might appeal to the law. If I go on now to the castle I can prepare my +father's mind for Sorr's visit, and insure his refusal to grant her his +protection in case she should rebel against her husband's authority." + +As he spoke Repuin eyed him with a contemptuous smile. "Counsel for +counsel, my dear Baron," he replied, with a composure equal to +Werner's. "Take care that I do not suspect your good faith towards me. +In your delay in informing me of Frau von Sorr's whereabouts there has +been quite enough to put me on my guard. I mistrust you. I will not +have you going to Castle Hohenwald alone, nor will I permit you one +word with Frau von Sorr, except in her husband's presence." + +"Your suspicion is insulting, Count Repuin." + +"You can allay it by making no attempt to provoke it. I do not wish to +offend you; we are allies, and I desire that we may continue friends, +but I swear to you that any obstacle laid by you in the way of my plans +here, will transform me into your mortal foe. Candour for candour, +then; is it to be peace or war between us?" + +What could Werner reply? He had no choice. Lucie must be sacrificed to +save himself. He adopted an aggrieved tone and answered, "I shall +remain here until Sorr arrives, and upon your head be the consequences +of your imprudence." + +Several hours passed, and it was afternoon before Sorr arrived in a +crowded train, in which he was the only civilian. During the last +months he had greatly changed. There was in his appearance not a trace +of the elegance that had formerly characterized it. His dress was +neglected, his beard unshaven, his face bloated. He looked like a man +given over to drink and debauchery. + +When he emerged from the railway-carriage he looked eagerly about for +the Count, whom he did not immediately perceive, but who greeted him +upon his approach with the air of a master addressing his slave. + +Sorr, however, interrupted the imperious commands of the Russian with, +"One moment, Herr Count; I have most important news for both Baron von +Hohenwald and yourself, which will doubtless affect your plans. We are +betrayed! You as well as the Herr Finanzrath are not safe for a moment. +Your arrest is already ordered; your intention to visit Castle +Hohenwald is known, and it is there that you are to be arrested." + +The Finanzrath turned pale and his voice trembled as he exclaimed, "I +am warned from all sides; this news must be true!" + +"It may still only be over-anxiety on the part of our friends," said +Repuin. "Where did you get your information, Sorr?" + +"From Herr von Waltershausen." + +"Then we must indeed be upon our guard. By the infernal gods, this is +danger! What else did Waltershausen tell you?" + +"He has received trustworthy intelligence that Castle Hohenwald is to +undergo a thorough search to-day. The Finanzrath von Hohenwald and +Count Repuin, if they are found there, are positively to be arrested, +the old Freiherr and his son Arno only in case circumstances require +it. The prisoners are to be taken to Königstein. That the matter is +considered of importance in Dresden and Berlin is shown by the fact +that the arrests are to be made under the command of Count von +Schlichting, colonel in the army, and formerly an intimate friend of +the old Freiherr von Hohenwald. The notorious Geheimrath Steuber is +associated with him in the search of the castle. When I went to the +railway depot this morning, Count Schlichting was standing on the +platform eagerly conversing with some officers. I was afraid that he +was to come down by the very train in which Waltershausen had procured +me a place, and he knows me. Waltershausen, who was with me, feared +this too. He is extremely well acquainted with the Count, and no one +suspects him of any connection with Count Repuin, so he did not +hesitate to address Schlichting, who spoke to him without reserve of +his plans. + +"It appears that the colonel has been waiting since yesterday evening +for the Berlin Chief of Police, the Geheimrath Steuber, and was +determined that if he did not arrive by this afternoon he would take +the train for A---- without him, and would make a requisition here for +the military force needed to carry out his orders. Herr von +Waltershausen enjoined it upon me to beg you both, gentlemen, not to +delay an instant in escaping the threatened arrest. He is convinced, +from matters being placed in charge of an officer so high in rank, that +a court-martial will immediately ensue, and he is further convinced +that there would be no hope for you under such circumstances at this +juncture. Life and death are at stake, he bade me tell you!" + +"He is right," the Finanzrath said, eagerly. "Let me conjure you. +Count, to desist from your insane schemes, which may ruin us all. We +can still save ourselves by flight into Hanover, where we can be +concealed until we find means of getting to England. It would be +madness to persist in going to Hohenwald." + +Sorr's news had made Repuin anxious, but Werner's words enraged him. +"No power in the world," he exclaimed, "shall force me to turn back +when I have so nearly reached the goal of my desires! Yes, I will fly +with you, but only if Frau von Sorr accompany us. And if by word or +even by look you attempt to thwart me, look to yourself, Herr +Finanzrath. I will not spare you if you refuse to fulfil your promise +to me. I will not rest until you have reaped the harvest of your +treachery if you fail me now." + +"But how can our putting our heads into the trap at Castle Hohenwald +aid you, Count?" Werner cried, in deep agitation. + +"I do not ignore the danger," Repuin replied; "but I am determined to +meet it, and have no doubt that we shall succeed in escaping it if you +will stand by me. We still have several hours in which to act. Follow +the plan that I will mark out for you, and to-night will see us in +safety. As quickly as possible have at our disposal two vehicles and a +trusty messenger on a good horse, and the rest is very simple. While +you drive in one of these vehicles to the castle with Sorr, I will wait +here at the station. I know Count Schlichting by sight, although he +does not know me; it therefore cannot excite his attention for me to +leave the platform as soon as he arrives and despatch the messenger to +you at Hohenwald, while I get into the other carriage and drive to +R----, where I will await you. Before Count Schlichting has obtained +the military aid he requires I shall be miles from here and in perfect +safety. You, in the mean time, will have time enough at the castle to +explain matters to your father and to employ every means to induce Frau +von Sorr to follow her husband, for not until you receive by my +messenger the empty envelope, which is all I shall send, addressed to +you, will there be any occasion for haste on your part, and even then +it will be several hours before Schlichting with his dragoons can reach +Hohenwald. Of course you will not return here with Sorr and the lady, +but drive directly from the castle to Baron Kronburg's at R----, whence +we will pursue our journey together. This is my plan; you must admit +that it is simple and deals with certainties only, not probabilities. +Are you agreed?" + +Werner found some difficulty in replying. "It would be much more +prudent," he said, "to fly at once; but if Herr von Sorr consents----" + +"Herr von Sorr must consent. His opinion is not asked; all I wish is to +know yours." + +Sorr seemed not to hear the insulting words. "I shall do just as you +please," he said, with the air of a slave before his master. + +Repuin hailed Werner's compliance with a triumphant smile. "You never +shall regret your amiable readiness to further my plan," he said; "but +now to action! We must be prompt!" + +Matters were soon arranged according to the Russian's directions. +Werner, with his companion, drove off towards Castle Hohenwald, leaving +a trusty messenger, who had formerly been an inspector on the Hohenwald +estate, and a second carriage at the disposal of the Russian, who took +his stand upon the railway platform to await the next train from L----. + +He supposed that several hours would elapse before its arrival; but +here he was mistaken,--it made its appearance much earlier than he had +expected, and as it rolled slowly into the station Repuin recognized in +one of the carriages Count Schlichting in earnest conversation with +Count Styrum. This startled the Russian, and he feared instant +recognition; but Styrum was so absorbed in what Schlichting was saying +that he did not look up until Repuin had left the platform. Before the +guards had opened the doors of the railway-carriages the Russian had +despatched his messenger to warn Werner at the castle, and was himself +seated in the carriage he had retained for his own use, driving rapidly +towards R----. An evil smile hovered about his lips as he reflected +that he should shortly see the lovely Fran von Sorr again. He never +doubted his power to bend her will to his, and, leaning back among the +carriage-cushions, he resigned himself to pleasing dreams of the +future. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + +Lucie had withdrawn after dinner to the library, to pore over the +newspapers, now so filled with exciting intelligence. She was alone, +for Celia was in the garden usually at this hour, and since her harsh +rejection of Arno he never sought the library when Fräulein Müller was +there. She sat for a while lost in thought. Arno had applied the day +before for re-admission into the army; he was to leave for Dresden on +the following day, and her heart told her that this would be a +separation forever. She was so absorbed in her revery that she did not +notice old Franz's entrance, and looked up startled when he held +towards her a note and announced, with a grim air of discontent, "For +Fräulein Müller." + +"For me, Franz?" she asked, in great surprise. "Who could have brought +it?" + +"The Fräulein may well be surprised at the fellow's impudence. A +servant-man from Grünhagen brought it, and refuses to return without an +answer!" was the reply. After which Franz left the room with the air of +having made his protest, although vainly, against some crying sin. + +Lucie paid him but little heed; she opened her note and read: + + +"Dear Fräulein Müller,--I am to leave Grünhagen to-night for I cannot +say how long, perhaps forever. I am going to Berlin to obtain +permission to enter the Prussian army as a volunteer. Must I go without +seeing my dearest Celia once more? May I not bid her good-bye and tell +her how dear she is to me? I promised you not to see Celia again until +you consented to our meeting, and I will keep my promise if you refuse +to release me from it upon this one occasion; but I pray you to allow +us to see each other once more, perhaps for the last time in this +world. + +"I do not ask to see my darling alone. Pray come with her to the old +place of meeting in the forest, where I will await you. Let me hope +that you will grant my request. I need not tell you with what +impatience I look for your answer, a simple 'yes' or 'no,' by the +bearer of this. + + "With the greatest regard, yours, + + "Kurt von Poseneck." + + +Lucie was profoundly touched by Kurt's note. Celia too, then, was to +suffer the pain of seeing her lover depart for the war. Poor, and yet +happy Celia! She might hope that if he whom she loved returned alive +the old Freiherr would relent, and her love be crowned with happiness; +while if Arno returned, if he should ever seek her again, what then? +For her hope did not exist. + +She took up a pen and wrote hurriedly: + + +"I will be at the appointed spot at the usual time; whether Celia will +accompany me or not depends upon the decision of the Freiherr von +Hohenwald. Anna Müller." + + +She sealed her note, addressed it to Herr von Poseneck, and hurried +down to the court-yard to deliver it herself to the Grünhagen +messenger, upon whom she enjoined the utmost despatch. She did not +observe that as she spoke with the man Franz was watching her from the +hall, while Arno, who was crossing the court-yard, paused in +astonishment as he heard her words. Was she really so intimate with +young Poseneck that she corresponded with him? Perhaps the letter after +all might not have been for Kurt von Poseneck; but all doubts on this +head were set at rest by Franz, who, exercising his prerogative as a +privileged servant, said grumblingly, as his young master passed him in +the hall, "Fine doings in Hohenwald, when the Fräulein receives letters +from Herr von Poseneck, and even condescends to answer them!" This was +enough to arouse once more within Arno's heart the demon of jealousy, +which Lucie's words to him should have killed forever. + +Meanwhile, entirely unconscious of the suffering she had caused, Lucie +walked slowly towards the garden-room, to carry into effect the plan +she had hastily formed. The Freiherr greeted her with a smile of +welcome. "Why, here we have Fräulein Anna!" he said, in great +satisfaction. "Have you come to bestow your charming society upon an +old fellow at this unwonted hour? But what is that?" he added, pointing +to Kurt's letter, which she held in her hand. "I owe the pleasure of +your visit to business, I see, not to my own attractions. Never mind, I +am always delighted to see you, whatever brings you." + +"Indeed, Herr Baron? May I rely upon that?" Lucie asked, meaningly, as +she drew a chair to his side and sat down. "Are you sure that you will +not drive me away indignantly if I come to prefer a request that does +not please you?" + +"A request? 'Tis granted before 'tis asked; I know of nothing that I +could refuse you." + +"I might take you at your word, Herr Baron, but that I will not do. You +shall not be bound by a promise to grant my request, you must do it of +your own free choice." + +"Why, this sounds quite solemn. I am curious; out with your request, +whatever it is. What do you ask?" + +"Nothing for myself, Herr Baron. My request concerns Herr von +Poseneck." + +The Freiherr was not made in the least angry, as would formerly have +been the case, by this mention of the name of Poseneck; on the +contrary, he laughed, saying, as if in badinage, "Always Poseneck! +Really, child, I believe you are in love with this infernal Poseneck, +who must be a tremendously fine fellow to excite such an interest in +you." + +"That he certainly is, Herr Baron, although I just as certainly am not +in love with him. He is a noble-hearted fellow, who now, after having +served with honour in America, is going off to Berlin to enter the army +there as a volunteer. His life in America never lessened his honest +love for his German fatherland." + +"He is a fine fellow then, and I honour him. I never would have +believed it of a Poseneck," the Freiherr said, with a kindly nod at +Lucie. + +"You may believe anything that is good and true of him," Lucie +continued; "his self-devotion costs him more than it does most men. He +not only has to conquer his ambition as a former major in thus entering +the army as a common soldier, but he sacrifices his whole future +happiness. He passionately loves a young girl, whose father is a bitter +enemy to Prussia, and who never will give his daughter to a man who +fights for Prussia in this war." + +"Who is the scoundrel?" the Freiherr exclaimed, indignantly. + +"You do an excellent old man great injustice, Herr Baron," Lucie +replied, with a smile. "He is a man of honour, but the victim of a +prejudice which so possesses him that he cannot conquer it sufficiently +to call a Prussian his son-in-law." + +"Then he does not love his child!" the Freiherr eagerly asserted, and +then suddenly paused and eyed Lucie suspiciously. "Stop! stop, child!" +he said. "I begin to suspect that you have been playing your own little +game with me. Honestly, what has all this to do with your request?" + +"Will you really not be angry with me, Herr Baron, if I speak perfectly +frankly to you?" Lucie asked, laying her little hand on the old man's +brown, wrinkled fist, and bestowing upon him one of her charming +smiles. + +"Little flatterer, how can any one be angry with you? Oh, you have the +old bear fast in your toils, and now come, tell me all about it." + +"You shall hear, Herr Baron. First read this note which I received not +an hour ago from Herr von Poseneck; it will tell you all, and when you +have finished I will tell you how it came to be written." + +The Baron read Kurt's note, while Lucie noted with keen anxiety every +change in his features as he read. She saw his face darken, and then a +smile dawned about his mouth; he was not very angry. She could have +shouted for joy at her victory. + +"A most interesting production!" the Freiherr said, he handed the note +back to her. "Really, this Herr von Poseneck----" + +"Wait until you hear all, Herr Baron, and then judge," Lucie +interrupted him. + +And she went on to tell the old Freiherr how Celia had accidentally +made the young man's acquaintance; how, in her childlike innocence and +trust, she had grown to love him, and how, at last, chance had betrayed +her secret. She told how Kurt had given his promise never to see Celia +without her governess's consent, and how faithfully he had kept his +word. "And now for my request, Herr Baron," she said, in conclusion. "I +know it will be hard for you to grant it, but I hope everything from +your magnanimity. Let me take Celia with me; she knows nothing of this +note, and if you refuse me she shall know nothing; but you will not be +so cruel. There must be a farewell,--a last farewell. May not Celia go +with me?" + +"You are a white witch, and know how to wind the old ogre round your +finger," the Freiherr said, shaking his finger at Lucie. "In fact, I +ought to be excessively angry with you, but as this is impossible I may +as well take my pill without a wry face. The will-o'-the-wisp had +certainly better see the young man under your auspices than run off, +perhaps through the night and storm, to take leave of him; the child +might do it if she should hear that Poseneck was going away. But one +very serious word I must speak. Your Poseneck certainly is an honest, +honourable young fellow, his note and his whole conduct show that. +Celia in her unsuspicious innocence might have fallen into bad hands. +You cannot expect me to be quite content, but time will bring counsel. +Only there must be no more of it all for the present; no talk of a +betrothal as yet, no tender exchange of letters and such stuff. Celia +is as yet little more than a child. If the young man ever comes back +from the war he may come and see me here and we will talk it over +together. But before then I'll not listen to another word about it. Do +you agree, you white witch?" + +"Your will shall be my law in the matter, Herr Baron, and I thank you +from my very heart for conquering for your child's sake your dislike of +a Poseneck." + +"You may spare your thanks, child, or rather keep them for yourself, +who honestly deserve them for taking care that my dislike should +gradually subside. Have you not hammered away at my heart with your +Poseneck every evening, for weeks, until at last the tough old muscle +has grown quite tender?" + + +The Freiherr had caused his rolling-chair to be pushed near the open +glass doors of the garden-room, that he might inhale the fragrance +which now towards evening was borne in upon the delicious breeze from +the garden, already lying in shadow from the lofty forest. The papers +lay upon the table beside him. His thoughts were busy with the +occurrences of the day. "Where can Werner be?" he suddenly asked +himself. Several letters that had arrived at the castle for the +Finanzrath and had been forwarded to his address in Dresden had been +to-day returned, with the notice on the envelopes that he had left +Dresden. Hence the question that the father asked himself. He nearly +started from his chair when old Franz flung wide the folding-doors +leading into the hall and announced, "The Herr Finanzrath!" + +His visit was not welcome, and when Werner entered, not alone, but +daring to introduce a stranger without permission, the old man's +patience was too sorely tried. The look with which he regarded his son +was by no means amiable, but that with which he greeted his companion +was darker still. He was very unfavourably impressed by this man from +the first instant of his appearance. In spite of his long seclusion +from society the Freiherr had always retained the greatest neatness, +and withal an old-fashioned elegance, in his dress. Nothing was more +distasteful to him than a want of cleanliness or an air of neglect, and +both of these characterized the former fastidious Herr von Sorr, whom +Werner now presented to his father. And Sorr's countenance did not +belie his dress. The pale flabby cheeks, the watery eyes, the whole +expression indeed of the man, bore witness to his degraded, debauched +character and made him odious to the old Baron. For such a guest no +consideration was necessary. + +"What in thunder do you mean?" he said angrily to Werner. "How dare you +bring a stranger here? Don't you know that I receive no visitors? +Whoever you are, sir, learn that I permit no invasion of my seclusion! +There is the door!" + +Sorr, trained though he had been by Repuin to submit to all sorts of +contemptuous treatment, was nevertheless abashed by this reception, and +might perhaps scarcely have ventured to persist in his intrusion had +not Werner come to his aid. + +"Before you express yourself so angrily, sir," he said to his father, +"you should hear the reasons that exist for my transgression of your +commands and my introduction to you of Herr von Sorr. I appeal to your +sense of justice, sir, in informing you that Herr von Sorr has no +desire to intrude upon you, but has come hither because I have assured +him that no Freiherr von Hohenwald ever refused what another had a +right to claim, and that his just demand must be made directly to +yourself." + +"What have I to do with this man?" the Freiherr asked, crossly. + +"This you can only learn, sir, by granting a hearing to Herr von Sorr, +not by repulsing him in a manner that cannot but be offensive to a +gentleman who comes hither at the request of your eldest son." + +Again, as often before, the Finanzrath's imperturbable composure +asserted its sway over his father's passion. The old man gave his son a +dark look, but yielded, and turning to Sorr, said, with forced +calmness, "Approach, sir; I regret it if my hastiness offended +you,--such was not my intention. I can make no exception to the rule +which I have observed for years of denying myself to visitors, and +therefore I beg you to tell me as briefly as possible what you desire." + +Sorr complied with the invitation in spite of the ungracious manner in +which it was conveyed, and took a chair near the old man, but when he +met his dark, searching eye the words which he had committed to memory +that they might serve him in this need would not at first be uttered. +He cleared his throat in a vain endeavour to begin with some fitting +introductory phrase. + +"Well, sir?" + +The Baron's impatient tone admitted of no further delay, and Sorr +began, overcoming his first stammering hesitation as he proceeded. +"Herr Baron," he said, "you see in me a wretched man, who appeals to +you for aid in recovering his lost happiness. In the terrible +misfortunes that have overwhelmed me I have not been guiltless, but I +assure you on my honour that I repent the wrong I have done, and that I +am determined to begin a new life if through your aid I succeed in +attempting it." + +"What is it that you want of me? What business have you to ask me for +your lost happiness?" the Freiherr interrupted Sorr's studied speech. + +"Forgive me, Herr Baron, if, carried away by my emotion, I fail to use +the right words in which to convey my request. Bear with me for a +little while and you shall learn all. I will be as brief as possible, A +few years ago I was a happy man, my fortune was considerable, I enjoyed +the esteem of my friends, an exalted position in society, and I +possessed a charming wife, to whom I was ardently attached. I lacked +but one thing,--the strength to withstand temptation. One passion ruled +my life,--the love of gaming. Although I was usually fortunate, my +success in winning large sums destroyed in me all appreciation of the +value of money. I indulged in the wildest extravagances, and my income +was always exceeded by my expenses. Thus my property dwindled almost +without my knowledge. My wife, who loved me tenderly, warned me, +entreated me, but even her prayers, all-powerful in every other +direction, availed nothing to induce me to resist the fatal temptation +offered me by cards. It dragged me down into an abyss that engulfed my +fortune and that of my wife also. I found myself at last a beggar, my +fortune, friends, position in society, and, worse than all, the +affection of a wife whom I idolized, all gone. Meanwhile, one of my +friends had, with inconceivable cunning and treachery, abused my +confidence. The evenings that I spent at the gaming-table he passed +with my wife, representing himself as having been sent by me to beguile +her solitude. He was enormously wealthy, and no sacrifice being too +great in his eyes where the attainment of his vile ends was concerned, +he at times forced upon me large sums for the payment of my debts, and +I--with shame I confess it--was weak enough, when my wife complained to +me of the persistent attentions of this treacherous friend, to entreat +her not to offend him by any harsh rejection of them. I had utter +confidence in my wife, and never suspected to what depths of infamy my +false friend would descend." + +"What the devil have I to do with all this?" the Freiherr burst out, +more and more disgusted with Sorr, who had hoped his theatrical pathos +was producing a very different impression. "For Heaven's sake, come to +the point!" + +"I am about to do so. My treacherous friend, Count Repuin----" + +"Stay! What name was that? Count Repuin, the Russian, Werner's friend +and confidant,--was he the man?" + +"The same, Herr Baron. I lost the greater part of my fortune to him; he +systematically contrived my ruin, believing that when I found myself a +beggar, my wife, with destitution staring her in the face, would lend +an ear to his vile proposals. When I had lost all, so that I knew not +where to turn for the barest necessaries of existence, he carried to my +wife the false report that I was dishonoured, that I had been detected +in cheating at cards, and that it was in his power to send me to a +jail. It was a bold falsehood, but it found credence with my wife, +whose esteem for me my passion for play had destroyed; and when he +further informed her that, in consideration of a large sum of money, I +had resigned to him all claim upon her duty, in short, that I had sold +her to him, in her despair the wretched woman believed this lie also." + +"Infamous! incredible!" the Freiherr indignantly exclaimed, +involuntarily interested at last in Sorr's recital. + +"But the scoundrel failed in his schemes, although he has plunged me +into misery. Devilish though his cunning was, he failed to take into +account one thing,--in which, indeed, he had no faith,--that a woman +might be impregnably virtuous. He did not know my Lucie. What was his +wealth to her in comparison with her honour? She spurned his offers +with contempt, and yet she believed him, and driven by despair almost +to madness, she secretly left my house. When on the morning after +the fearful night in which I had sacrificed my last hope at the +gaming-table I sought my wife's apartment to pray for her forgiveness +and to make her the promise for which she had so often implored me, +that never again would I touch a card, I found upon her table this +terrible letter. Read it, Herr Baron; it will explain to you better +than any words of mine the depth of my misery." And Sorr handed to the +Freiherr the letter that Lucie had left behind her on the evening of +her flight. The old Baron read: + +"You have given back to me my freedom; I accept it. It is your desire +that we should part; it shall be fulfilled: you will never see me +again. Should you dare to persecute me, you will force me to denounce +you publicly, and to give to the world the reasons that justify my +conduct. The detected thief, who would barter his wife's honour, has +forfeited the right to control her destiny.--LUCIE." + +An odious smile hovered upon Sorr's lips as he watched the Freiherr +while he read this letter aloud, and as he marked the impression that +it produced upon him. He exchanged a significant glance with Werner, +and then, when the reading was finished, continued: "I was beside +myself with grief and fury when I found that my adored Lucie had left +me. She had fled, that was clear, although I could understand neither +her threat nor her strange intimations that I had desired to part from +her, that I had sold her. She had vanished; no trace of her could I +find, although I even summoned the police to my aid. Surely, as a +forsaken husband, I had a right to do so. All was in vain. Again and +again I read her mysterious letter, and at last, upon a sudden impulse, +I hastened to Repuin, showed him Lucie's note, and demanded and +received its explanation. The wretch had the effrontery to tell me with +a smile, of the manner in which he had destroyed the happiness of my +life. We fought. I arose from the sick-bed, where a wound received in +the duel prostrated me for weeks, an altered man. I have taken a vow +never again to touch a card. I have since that day earned my daily +bread by honest toil, correcting proofs for publishers, and giving +lessons in French and English. I have now an assured although moderate +income. In this period of struggle one hope alone has sustained me, +that of finding my Lucie again. She is my wife by the indissoluble bond +of marriage, a marriage blest by the Church. I know that she will +gladly return to me and share my toil and my poverty when she knows of +my change of heart and life. And chance has befriended me, Herr Baron, +leading me to a knowledge of your son, the Herr Finanzrath, from whom I +have learned that, in order to secure herself from fancied persecution, +my wife has taken refuge in a feigned name, and that she dwells beneath +your roof as Anna Müller." + +The Freiherr stared at Sorr in blank amazement. "Good God, sir! what do +you mean? Are you mad?" he exclaimed. "Fräulein Müller a wife, and your +wife!" + +"Ask your son, Herr Baron," Sorr replied; "he will confirm my words." + +"Herr von Sorr speaks but the truth, father; it is my duty to attest +this. Frau von Sorr has seen fit to undertake to fill the position of +Celia's governess under a feigned name. I had, of course, no idea of +this when I engaged her through Frau von Adelung. I learned her true +name only lately and by chance, and I felt it my duty to acquaint Herr +von Sorr with her place of abode." + +When the first shock of his surprise had passed, the old Freiherr +looked from Werner to Sorr and from Sorr to Werner in a kind of fury. +He had no suspicion as to the truth of Sorr's story; he remembered +that, by Count Styrum's desire, no allusion was ever made to Fräulein +Müller's past; there could be no doubt that Anna was Sorr's unfortunate +wife, forced by a sad fate to fly from her husband. What the Freiherr +did doubt, what, indeed, utterly discredited, was the man's assertion +of an altered course of life. One glance at his bloated features, at +his watery, crimson-lidded eyes, proclaimed the fact that Sorr was +deeply plunged in debauchery and drunkenness. This man had never +aroused himself to a life of honest toil. It was no affection for his +wife that impelled him to seek her out. + +The Freiherr's mind was filled with vague suspicion as to the man's +motives, suspicion that attached in a degree also to Werner, to whose +last words he sharply rejoined, saying,-- + +"So you have been playing the spy here that you might betray the poor +thing's confidence?" + +"As Frau von Sorr never honoured me with her confidence I could not +possibly betray it," Werner replied coolly to his father's reproach. +"When I saw how great was her husband's misery, and how sincere his +resolution to amend, I judged it my duty to acquaint him with his +wife's retreat." + +"I owe the Finanzrath an eternal debt of gratitude for bringing me +hither," Sorr interposed, "and for promising to set the crown upon his +kindness by doing all that lies in his power to induce my beloved Lucie +to fulfil the duty that she owes to an unfortunate husband." + +The Finanzrath bit his lip. Sorr's words reminded him, as they were +meant to do, of the promise he had made the Russian to do all that lay +in his power to further his schemes. The part assigned him here was +odious enough, but the fear inspired by the Russian's threats conquered +his distaste for it. He had gone too far to retrace his steps, and he +therefore replied to Sorr, "I will certainly keep my word, although I +think there will be little need of any influence of mine. Frau von +Sorr, I feel assured, will willingly follow you; but should she refuse +to do so, my father will surely not sustain her in such a departure +from her duty. Castle Hohenwald cannot possibly be an asylum for a wife +who has deserted her husband in misfortune and refuses to return to +him." + +As Werner spoke these words he did not look up; he did not dare to meet +his father's eyes, and therefore he did not see the contempt that shone +in them as the Freiherr turned from his son to Sorr and said, sharply, +"What you ask of me, then, Herr von Sorr, is that I shall force this +unhappy woman to return to you. Is this so? Speak out, sir; I want a +candid reply." + +"Your words sound harsh, Herr Baron," was Sorr's humble reply. "I never +thought of force, but only that you would place no obstacle in the way +of an unfortunate man who only seeks to maintain his rights. I have +made an expensive journey hither from Munich in the confident hope that +it needed only an interview with my dear Lucie to induce her to take +her place once more beside me as my faithful wife whom I dearly love +and will never forsake. Surely the last sad months have atoned for my +wrong-doing. I have a right to demand that she should follow me when I +solemnly assure her that I have broken off all connection with Repuin. +She is my wife before God and man, and what God hath joined let not man +put asunder. You certainly, Herr Baron, would never protect a wife +against the claims of a husband." + +The Freiherr did not immediately reply. This Herr von Sorr inspired him +with a disgust which his evident and nauseous hypocrisy only served to +increase, and yet he could not but admit to himself that the man's +claim, as he represented it, was a just one. + +He rang the silver hand-bell upon his table and said to Franz, who +immediately made his appearance, "Beg Fräulein Müller kindly to come to +me as soon as she can." + +Then, turning to Sorr, he said, "I will not listen to another word from +you until I hear the other side of the question. I reserve my decision +until then. Not until I have spoken to Fräulein Anna,--I always call +her so, and I have grown very fond of her under this name,--and until +she has confirmed your statement, will I accord it full belief." + +"I am convinced, Herr Baron----" + +"Not another word, Herr von Sorr! I will keep my judgment unbiassed. +You shall be confronted with the accused after I have first spoken with +her alone." + +"I have accused no one but myself, Herr Baron." + +"I attach no importance to that; it shall be as I say. I will hear what +Fräulein Anna has to say; I will talk with her alone,--she shall not be +influenced by the presence of any one. I am sure that she will tell me +the whole truth." + +This arrangement was not at all satisfactory to Sorr. He feared that +Lucie might tell the Freiherr of his conversation with her on the +evening preceding her flight, and so destroy his web of specious +falsehood. He would at least make an attempt to prevent this. "I +entreat you, Herr Baron, to permit me to repeat in Lucie's presence +what I have told you. It wounds me that you should doubt my words. +Lucie's testimony shall prove to you that I----" + +The Freiherr harshly interrupted him, "I will not hear another word. It +shall be as I say! Werner, take Herr von Sorr out upon the terrace; you +can walk up and down there until I call you; I wish to be alone." + +"But, Herr Baron----" + +"What the devil, sir,--will you do as I say or not? I am still master +in my own castle, I believe, and I will not be contradicted; I wish to +be alone. Your place for the present is out there on the terrace. If +you refuse to obey my orders, the servants will show you the shortest +way out of the castle." + +When the old Baron fell into a downright rage there was nothing to be +done with him, as Werner knew, and as Sorr perceived; he did not dare +further to gainsay his will, and, with a low bow, he followed the +Finanzrath out upon the terrace. + +The Freiherr sat alone, awaiting with the greatest impatience Anna's +appearance; but the minutes passed and she did not come, nor did old +Franz return to explain the reason why. The Freiherr rang his bell +again, and Werner and Sorr, who had been awaiting this summons, +instantly entered from the terrace. + +The Freiherr received them with a good round oath. "I was ringing for +that old ass Franz!" he roared out to Werner. "Stay outside on the +terrace with your Herr von Sorr until I call you by name!" + +The two men were obliged to withdraw. The Freiherr rang his bell a +second and a third time without any result, until at the end of a good +half-hour Franz appeared, with the intelligence that Fräulein Müller +was nowhere to be found. She was not in her room; Fräulein Celia said +that the Fräulein had gone for a walk in the garden or park; but he had +searched for her there in vain, and the gardener had helped him, and +was sure she could not be either in the park or in the garden. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + +"Oh, my darling, darling Anna, how can I thank you?" Celia laughed and +cried and kissed her friend amid tears and smiles, dancing about her +room like some wild sprite. + +"Come, Celia; pray be reasonable, child!" Lucie at last admonished her. + +"Anything but that, dearest Anna, you must not ask that; I am half mad +with delight. My dear, good old father! How unjust I have been to him! +How could I keep anything from him? It was shameful! oh, if I only had +told him all about it the very first day when I met Kurt!" + +Lucie said nothing; but she had her own opinion as to whether the +result would have been a very happy one for Celia if she had told her +father of her first meeting with Kurt. The girl went on pouring her +innocent delight into Lucie's ears, and repeating that she owed it all +to her darling Anna. + +The castle clock struck four. + +"At last!" Celia exclaimed, and begged Lucie to make the greatest +haste, lest Kurt should have to wait. Her friend complied; it would +have been cruel to detain the girl longer than was necessary to hasten +along the broad road, down which Celia had so often galloped upon Pluto +to the appointed spot. + +They soon espied the light straw hat, and an instant afterward Kurt +hurried towards them. + +"I have fulfilled your wish, Herr von Poseneck," Lucie said, offering +her hand to the young man. + +"How can I thank you sufficiently for so doing! for relinquishing your +purpose of referring my request to the Freiherr von Hohenwald----" + +"No, no, dearest Kurt!" exclaimed Celia. "She did not relinquish it. +Yes, you may well be surprised, you unprincipled fellow, who would have +persuaded me to meet you again without the knowledge of my darling, +kind old father. But, oh, Kurt, we are so happy, and Anna has done it +all!" And the girl, amid tears and laughter, told her amazed lover of +the success of Anna's exertions in his favour. + +In his joy that there was no longer an insurmountable barrier between +himself and his love, Kurt gladly promised to obey every condition +imposed upon him by the Freiherr, declaring that never would he write +so much as one word to his darling except under cover to her father. + +When Lucie had explained to him all that she had promised in this way +on his behalf she took no further part in the conversation, wandering +along the grassy path a little in advance of the lovers, anxious that +Celia should enjoy to the full every moment of this short hour of +bliss, and lost in sad reflections as to her own future. + +"I beg ten thousand pardons!" + +Kurt and Celia, who had forgotten all the actual world, and Lucie, in +the midst of her sad dreaming, looked up startled. They had just +reached the spot where the footpath from Grünhagen crossed the broad +road, and confronting them stood the Assessor von Hahn. He took off his +hat with an exceedingly low bow to Celia in particular. + +"I beg ten thousand pardons, Fräulein von Hohenwald, for intruding +again, but I am discreet; I make no boast----" + +"There you are quite right, Herr Assessor, for surely there is not much +discretion in appearing where you have once been told that your +presence is an intrusion." + +The Assessor grew crimson at Kurt's words; he retreated a few steps and +said, in great confusion, "You wrong me deeply, Herr von Poseneck; you +will, I am sure, retract your hasty words when I tell you that my +presence here has nothing to do with you or with my respected cousin, +but with Madame--that is--I mean, I wish the honour of a few words with +Fräulein Müller. I learned in Grünhagen, where I arrived half an hour +ago, that Herr von Poseneck had gone to the forest, and I suspected +that the two ladies would take their afternoon walk in the same +direction. Therefore, as it was highly important that I should speak +with Madame--that is, Fräulein Müller, I ventured to come hither." + +Lucie bestowed upon the Assessor a glance of anything but welcome, but +she could not refuse to respond to his look of appeal. "You have +attained your purpose, Herr Assessor," she said. "You probably bring me +a message from my friend Adèle. The Assessor is an old acquaintance of +mine," she added to Kurt and Celia, who looked rather surprised, "and +is a constant visitor at the President von Guntram's." + +The Assessor's courage returned upon hearing Lucie acknowledge his +acquaintance, and he went on with much more confidence than before: +"Certainly, Madame--that is, Fräulein Müller, I bring you a message +from Fräulein Adèle, and not merely a message. I am not alone; there is +a gentleman in the shrubbery who wishes to speak with you. I brought +him at Fräulein Adèle's express desire." + +Lucie recoiled in terror. Had the gossiping Assessor betrayed her +secret? Had he brought hither either Repuin or Sorr? They were the only +persons who could have any interest in discovering her retreat. She +gazed towards the spot indicated by the Assessor, and, in dread of +encountering Repuin's detested form, moved closer to Kurt as if for +protection. "Whom have you brought here?" she asked. + +"I cannot mention any name, Fräulein Müller," the Assessor replied. "I +promised not to do so, and I am a man of my word. But I can assure you +that you will rejoice to see my honoured companion. He wishes to meet +you alone, therefore I pray you step aside to where he is awaiting you +in the forest only a few steps from here." + +"I will not go!" Lucie declared. "Whoever your companion may be, he has +no right to require that I should go into the forest to meet him." + +"You do not know of whom you speak, Fräulein Müller," the Assessor +said, with unusual earnestness. "I entreat you not to refuse. I assure +you you will rejoice to see my companion, who longs to clasp you to his +heart." + +Lucie shot at the little man a glance of flame. She turned in +indignation at such insolence to Kurt, saying, "I have nothing further +to say to this gentleman. May I beg you, Herr von Poseneck, to continue +our walk?" + +"But, Madame--Fräulein Müller, I would say--you place me in the most +embarrassing position; there can be no reason why you should not see my +honoured companion. I give you my word of honour that he comes by +Fräulein Adèle's express desire; he is the only man in the world whom I +would have conducted hither. I was so glad to meet you here in the +forest, and not to be obliged to go to the castle to find you, and now +you refuse to go a few steps to meet him when he has come so many miles +to see you. Do you mistrust me? I do not deserve it of you!" + +There was so much of honesty and good will stamped upon the Assessor's +face, he was evidently so aggrieved by Lucie's distrust of him, that +his words produced some effect upon her. She hesitated, and wondered +whether she were right in her refusal; but before she could reply an +elderly gentleman, the same whom the Assessor had received at the +railway station, emerged from the forest and hastened towards her. + +She gazed at him for a moment, and then, with a shriek of joy, threw +herself into his arms, and, clasping her own about his neck, kissed him +again and again. "I have you again! Thank God! thank God!" she cried. +"This is too much joy! Now I will hold you fast. You must not leave +your child again." + +The gentleman was much moved, and the tears stood in his eyes as he +returned Lucie's kisses. "My child! my dear, good child!" he whispered, +tenderly. "You are mine once more, and I shall know how to protect you +from your dastardly persecutors." + +"We are not alone, we must remember that," Lucie said, at length, +extricating herself from her father's embrace. + +The old man turned, with his daughter's hand still in his, and extended +his right hand to Kurt. "Forgive me, Herr von Poseneck," he said, "for +presenting myself so unceremoniously to Fräulein Cecilia von Hohenwald +and yourself. I had hoped that my daughter would comply with our friend +the Assessor's request and come to me in the forest; but her natural +reluctance to do so is the cause why you are the witnesses of a meeting +between a father and daughter who have been separated for years." + +For a few moments the poor Assessor found himself upon a pinnacle of +glory. The modesty with which nature had endowed him was in danger of +great deterioration, so enthusiastic were Lucie's thanks to him for his +kind interest, so gratifying was the appreciation of his services by +his fair cousin and Herr von Poseneck. But alas, poor man! he soon +experienced the uncertainty of such a position, and felt himself no +better than the fifth wheel to a coach with the two couples, who +evidently desired to be left to themselves. Kurt and Celia paid him not +the least attention, and Lucie was so wrapped up in her newly-found +father that she soon seemed entirely to have forgotten Hahn's +existence. He was therefore fain to amuse himself by botanizing among +the forest flowers. + +Lucie clung to her father's arm as if fearful of losing him again +should she leave him for an instant. They walked on in advance of the +lovers, and as soon as they were out of hearing the daughter gave words +to her delight. "I am so happy, my darling father; I can scarcely +believe the evidence of my senses that I am looking into your dear eyes +and feeling your strong arm support me. Oh, father, how could you stay +so long away from your child? All would have been different if you had +been here!" + +"I could not have prevented Sorr from ruining himself and you," Ahlborn +gloomily replied. "Do not reproach me, my child. I did what I was +forced to do, and the result has crowned my work. When I left you +without even taking leave of you, I determined never to return unless +in possession of all, and more than all, I had lost. Even then I +suspected how bitterly we had been deceived in Sorr, and my only object +in life was to work for you, my darling, that your future might be +secure. With this one thought in my mind I went to America and plunged +into a life of toil, in which, when I might have faltered and fallen, +the thought of you sustained me. I added dollar to dollar with the +parsimony of a miser. I embarked, like a madman, in the boldest +speculations. All that I touched seemed to turn to profit. But why +dwell upon those wild years? I hate to think of them, for, although I +never stooped to what the world calls dishonesty, it galls me now to +remember how different was the system of mad speculation by which I +regained my lost fortune from the plodding industry by which I first +obtained it. + +"Three months ago I arrived in Bremen, and hurried to Berlin, where my +worst fears with regard to Sorr were confirmed. His reputation was +gone, his property lost; and I was told that he had removed with you to +M----. When I reached M---- it was too late, you had vanished +unaccountably, and Sorr, too, was not to be found." + +"Did not Adèle tell you where I was?" Lucie asked. + +"I never thought of going to her, so wide-spread was the report that in +your despair you had destroyed yourself. I left M---- a broken-hearted +man; of what use was my wealth? My aim in life was gone. + +"I tried to divert my mind by travelling aimlessly hither and thither; +and at Frankfort-on-the-Main, seeing by the papers that a fine estate +on the banks of the Rhine was for sale, I purchased it, in hopes of +finding relief from my misery in the care of it. But the peaceful +solitude to which I had looked to soothe my pain only increased it, and +again I began my wanderings, which suddenly found their close in +Berlin. Last Friday I was sauntering aimlessly along the street there +when I met the Assessor von Hahn. Remembering that in former days he +was in the habit of frequenting our house, where he was one of your +adorers, I did not rebuff him when he recognized me and with a cordial +welcome on his lips walked along by my side. I soon wearied of him, +however, and paid no attention to the gossip he continued to retail to +me, until I was aroused from my absence of mind by the question, 'Have +you been to see your daughter yet?' If he were conscious that your +friends mourned you as dead, why ask so cruel a question? I begged him +instantly to tell me all that he knew of you, and this threw the little +man into the greatest confusion; my joy was unbounded when he assured +me positively that you were still alive, although he refused to reveal +to me your retreat, and referred me to your friend Adèle. An hour later +I was in the train bound for M----, and the next morning I had an early +interview with your friend, who was in raptures at recognizing me. But, +ah, my child, what a tale she told me! My poor darling, to what a fate +did I resign you! Now, however, I know all,--all, for Adèle even gave +me your last letter to her to read, entreating me to go instantly to +your aid, to carry you to my home on the Rhine, far away from Castle +Hohenwald, where, as you said, each moment was torture to you." + +"Did Adèle say that?" Lucie asked, in surprise. "Did she not show you +my second letter, which she must have received almost simultaneously +with the first?" + +"I know nothing of any second letter; but your friend regretted deeply +that she had not yet been able to procure you the situation for which +you implored her, and added that she was upon the point of writing to +you, to insist that you should return to your old retreat beneath her +father's roof. We consulted together what was best to be done. We +agreed that you must leave the castle immediately, but in view of the +eccentricity of its lord, I judged it best to accept the friendly +offices, so frankly offered, of Herr von Hahn to procure an interview +with you, rather than to present myself in person to the Freiherr. + +"I telegraphed to the Assessor at A---- to meet me at the station +there, and as soon as I was able to procure a place in the crowded +trains came hither. He was waiting for me on the platform, and before +we left the station he pointed out to me two gentlemen who had arrived +by the same train as Count Repuin and the Finanzrath von Hohenwald." + +"Good heavens!" Lucie exclaimed. "Werner and the Count! This is, +indeed, wretched news. I feared it, I feared it, although I could not +conceive that the Finanzrath could be so basely treacherous. But let +Count Repuin come,--I am no longer defenceless; I will confront him +boldly in the presence of the old Freiherr." Then as she reflected that +her kind old friend was absolutely ignorant of her past, now probably +to be so misrepresented to him, she went on, in feverish agitation: +"But, oh! my father, there is a danger which you cannot avert. What if +my kind friend should be led to doubt me by the falsehoods that will +doubtless be poured into his ears? I will not lose his esteem and +affection; we must see him before the Finanzrath and the Count reach +the castle. Perhaps it is already too late. Protect me from them, +father, if they should be there, and stand beside me while I tell the +Freiherr my wretched story." + +But to this her father was not inclined to agree. Had it not been for +the presence of Repuin he would gladly have allowed his child to +acquaint the Freiherr with all her past, but he could not doubt the +Russian's close association with Sorr, and from her husband even +Lucie's father could not protect her. Should Sorr require her to follow +him, nothing remained for her save to elude him by a secret flight from +the castle without even bidding the old Freiherr farewell. Only when +beneath her father's roof could she thank Baron von Hohenwald for all +his kindness and explain to him the grounds for her sudden and secret +flight. + +When, however, Herr Ahlborn explained his wishes on this head to his +daughter, he encountered a determined opposition on her part; she was +so unwilling to leave without one word of explanation what had been to +her a dear asylum, that at last, trusting in Sorr's absence, the father +yielded to Lucie's entreaties and consented to accompany her to the +castle. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + +The time passed with incredible swiftness for all save for poor Herr +von Hahn. Celia had so much to say to her lover that when Lucie +reminded her that it was time to return she begged for "one more +quarter of an hour, dearest Anna!" and was only pacified by the +permission given to Kurt to accompany her to-day on the walk back to +the castle. + +Thus all turned their faces towards home. Celia wished the road were +miles long. She went first with Kurt, and Lucie and her father with +the Assessor followed them. The lovers paused at the gate of the +court-yard; Kurt could go no farther. As Celia was looking back for +Anna, her attention was diverted by the noise of a vehicle, and through +an opposite entrance came a carriage that drew up before the steps +leading into the castle hall. Two gentlemen descended from it,--one was +Werner, the other an entire stranger to Celia "Anna," the girl said to +her friend, who was still too far off to look into the interior of the +court-yard, "Werner has come, and he is not alone,--there is a stranger +with him." + +The intelligence did not startle Lucie; she had feared that the +Finanzrath and Repuin would reach the castle before her, but in another +instant she stood by Celia's side, and recognized in the stranger not +Repuin, but her miserable husband. + +"Sorr is there himself; you will not now return to the castle?" her +father, who instantly recognized his son-in-law, asked. + +Lucie did not reply; she was too much dismayed to appreciate at first +the result which a meeting with her husband in Castle Hohenwald might +bring about. + +"I yielded to your wish," said Herr Ahlborn, "when I supposed that +Count Repuin would be the Finanzrath's companion; but since Sorr +himself is here, doubtless with the intention of asserting a husband's +rights, you must not lose a moment, but must follow me instantly." + +"Only let me say one word of farewell, father." + +"No, you must not expose yourself to such peril." + +"What will the Freiherr think of me if I fly thus without a word? Herr +von Sorr will not venture to malign me if I confront him in the Baron's +presence." + +"But he will demand his rights, and, in spite of his baseness, he has +the law upon his side. You owe it to me, your father, as well as to +yourself, to come with me. Fräulein Cecilia will carry your farewell to +her father, and you can soon write to him and explain everything." + +All that Celia, standing by in utter amazement at the words exchanged +between father and daughter, could understand was, that the stranger +with Werner, whom they called Sorr, threatened Anna with great danger, +from which her father was entreating her to fly, and that her friend +was unwilling to leave the castle without a word of farewell. Celia had +often pondered the mystery of her friend's past, and was firmly +convinced that whatever it might be Anna never could have been to +blame. + +"What are you saying?" the girl exclaimed, in great agitation. "Are you +talking of leaving Castle Hohenwald without one word of farewell to +dear papa and Arno? Oh, no, Anna! Indeed, you must not think of doing +so. Whatever may be the evil intent of Werner and his companion, papa +and Arno will know how to protect you." + +"Fräulein Cecilia, do you really love my daughter?" Ahlborn asked, +earnestly. + +"Do I love her?" the girl rejoined. "She is my dearest friend. I owe to +her all the happiness of my life." And her glance sought Kurt. + +"Then, if you really love her, you will not try to persuade her to +enter the castle, when I assure you solemnly that she will by so doing +imperil the happiness of her life. Trust me, I implore you. You shall +soon hear from us and learn all that want of time now forces us to +conceal. Everything depends upon her leaving here with me without a +moment's delay. Would you yet persuade her to remain?" + +"No! no! you shall not stay, my darling Anna!" the girl exclaimed, more +impressed by the old man's tone and manner than by his words. "If your +happiness is at stake never think of us. I do not know how I shall live +without you now that Kurt and Arno are both going to leave us, but not +for worlds would I keep you. Go with your father, and I will tell papa +how sorry you are not to say good-bye to him, and that you will soon +write and explain everything." + +Lucie was deeply agitated. Her heart rebelled at the thought of leaving +the castle thus, but her reason told her that it was her only chance of +safety, and she yielded to Celia's unselfish entreaty. At Herr +Ahlborn's request the girl promised not to acquaint her father with +Fräulein Müller's secret departure until late in the evening, and to +state in answer to any inquiries concerning her that she had complained +of headache and had gone to take a solitary walk. + +The friends then took leave of each other with many tears, and Lucie, +with her father and the Assessor, struck into the foot-path leading +through the forest and village of Hohenwald to Grünhagen. Kurt lingered +for one moment for a last embrace of his darling, and then, joining +Lucie, walked silently by her side. + +Lost in thoughts of Hohenwald and of what Arno would say when he heard +of her flight, Lucie walked on swiftly. Suddenly she paused with a +thrill of delighted surprise, for he of whom she was thinking stood +before her. + +Arno was on his way from the village of Hohenwald, and owing to the +windings of the path was close beside the two gentlemen, who were in +front of Kurt and Lucie, before he saw them. His surprise was great on +beholding the Assessor, with whom he had formerly been slightly +acquainted, and who now bowed profoundly, while his elderly companion +accorded him a reluctant greeting by slightly raising his hat. Arno was +about to accost them when he perceived, to his still greater +astonishment, at some little distance, Fräulein Müller accompanied by +Herr von Poseneck. + +There had been another meeting in the forest, then. It had doubtless +been arranged in the letter that had aroused his jealousy. His soul was +filled with bitterness. How great had been his folly in trusting Anna's +words rather than his own eyes! How she must have smiled at his futile +irritation when she persisted in reiterating Poseneck's praises! What +did she mean now? She suddenly stood still as she perceived him, and on +her lovely face there dawned a brilliant smile as she held out to him +both her hands. "What an unexpected pleasure!" she exclaimed. + +He did not take her proffered hands, and would have passed on with a +bow, but this she prevented. She took his hand. "We must not part thus, +Herr Baron," she said, with so kindly a look that in a moment his +bitter mood was changed; he carried her hand tenderly to his lips, and +she did not withdraw it. + +"You are displeased with me, Herr Baron," Lucie continued; "but you do +me great injustice. Now that I see you I can in some measure explain +the grief that my hasty departure from the castle causes me. I told my +father--but you do not know my dearest father yet. This, father dear, +is the Baron Arno von Hohenwald." + +Herr Ahlborn was by no means pleased at this meeting in the forest; it +must lead to explanations which he would fain have avoided. He uttered +a few phrases of conventional courtesy, and regretted that the +necessity for reaching A---- that very evening would prevent any +prolongation of the interview. "I shall not fail," he added, "to +communicate shortly by letter the reasons which make my daughter's +sudden departure from Castle Hohenwald an imperative necessity." + +All that Arno gathered from this was the fact--and it filled him with +dismay--that Anna was to leave Hohenwald. "What!" he cried, "are you +going, going to desert my father and Celia at the hour of their sorest +need? No, Fräulein Müller, I cannot believe this. Tell me you will +remain. My infirm old father and Celia cannot do without you, and +I--but no, I will not speak of myself, of the wretchedness that the +thought of not finding you here upon my return from the war would cause +me. I will plead only for my father and Celia. Stay with us! do not +forsake us!" + +"It must not be. I cannot!" Lucie replied, in much agitation. + +"Every moment is precious!" Ahlborn exclaimed, impatiently. "Farewell, +Herr Baron! Lucie, take my arm." + +"No, father; you must grant me a few minutes of private conversation +with Baron von Hohenwald. I owe him some explanation of my conduct." + +"Lucie, take care!" + +"It must be, father; I cannot help it. I will follow you in a few +minutes." + +"You are your own mistress," Ahlborn rejoined, grumblingly. "You must +do as you please, only I implore you to remember the danger that lies +in delay." + +He touched his hat to Arno, and then taking the Assessor's arm and +accompanied by Kurt, he pursued the path until one of its windings +screened Lucie and the Baron from their sight, when they paused and +waited. + +Lucie left alone with Arno, resolved not to leave him until she had +justified herself in his eyes, and yet she was irresolute how to begin. +Her cheeks glowed with shame at the idea of imparting to him the sad +mystery of her life, and yet the precious minutes were flying; +something must be said immediately. + +"And you are really going to leave us?" + +This simple question from Arno broke the silence and relieved Lucie's +hesitation. "I must, Herr Baron," she replied. "I had hoped to find a +home in Castle Hohenwald, but a sad fate has snatched it from me." + +"Am I the cause of your flight?" Arno eagerly asked. "Do you so dread +the few hours that are all I can yet pass in the castle? I leave it +to-morrow. Do you hate me so bitterly?" + +"I do not hate you," Lucie gently replied. And in her candid eyes, in +the pressure of the little hand that still rested in his, Arno saw that +she spoke the truth. "You are not the cause of my leaving Hohenwald. +Your brother, who is now at the castle, will tell you the reasons for +my flight." + +"Werner? You have confided, then, in him?" + +"No; an unfortunate chance betrayed to him my sad secret, and he has +made sad use of it. Even without his interference I should have +followed my father, who is restored to me after years of hopeless +separation, but I should not have been forced to steal away thus, like +a criminal, without one word of farewell to your father, who has +treated me with such paternal kindness." + +"You speak in riddles. I do not comprehend you." + +"I will solve them for you," Lucie sadly replied. "You will comprehend +all when I tell you that the man whom your brother has just introduced +at Castle Hohenwald is the cause of my misfortunes, is my miserable +husband, Herr von Sorr!" + +Arno fairly staggered beneath the blow; he dropped Lucie's hand and +gazed at her in horror. "You are--you--you are----" + +He could not finish the sentence; hope seemed slain within him; his +future was a blank. + +"Do not be angry with me," Lucie said, taking his hand again. "I +implore you not to be angry with me. I am so wretchedly unhappy. I +could not part from you without telling you the whole truth. I have +longed to do this so often, and I have bitterly repented ever coming to +Hohenwald under a feigned name." + +"Lucie, we are waiting!" Ahlborn called from the distance. + +"Must I leave you without one word of forgiveness from you?" Lucie +continued. She still held Arno's hand in hers and gazed at him with +eyes of sad entreaty. Hitherto she had suppressed all expression of her +sentiments towards him. Never in the intercourse of daily life at +Hohenwald had she for an instant relaxed in the stern watch and ward +that she kept over every gesture, every look that might encourage any +hope in his mind. But this was a supreme moment; they were parting +forever, and her heart clamoured for its rights. + +Arno was profoundly agitated. Heart and mind were filled with tumult. +Anna the wife of a wretch from whom she was forced to flee! He suddenly +comprehended why she had denied him all hope; and now, as he looked +into her imploring eyes and felt the soft pressure of her hand, the +thought thrilled him with sudden ecstasy that she returned his love, +that her lips and not her heart had rejected his affection, that she +had but fulfilled a duty. He drew her closer to him, and for an +instant, with a burning blush, she yielded to his embrace. + +"Lucie! Lucie!" came Ahlborn's warning voice, in more impatient tones +than before. + +"You love me!" Arno whispered, all else forgotten in the overwhelming +bliss of the moment. + +Lucie extricated herself from his embrace. "We must part!" she said, +sadly. "Fate divides us forever, but in this last sad moment let me +implore you never to lose confidence in me, whatever you may hear upon +your return to the castle!" + +"Lucie! it is time we were gone!" + +"I must go. We must part," she said. Once more Arno clasped her to his +heart and kissed her passionately. She did not resist, but in an +instant turned and hurried to her father. As she reached the winding in +the pathway she turned, waved her hand, and then vanished in the +forest. + +Arno gazed after her like one in a dream, conscious only that just at +the moment when the blissful certainty was his that she returned his +love, she was lost to him forever. She was the wife of another, and +Werner, his brother, had brought to Castle Hohenwald that other, her +unworthy husband, from whom she had been forced to flee under a feigned +name. In an instant he comprehended that it was his part to hasten to +his father and espouse Lucie's cause. As he entered the castle garden +he observed two persons walking to and fro on the terrace: one was his +brother, the other then was Sorr. + +The garden-walk wound among shrubbery, whence Arno could watch the man +for a while without being perceived, and disgust stirred within him at +the thought that a man so evidently steeped in low dissipation should +be Anna's husband. He felt that he hated both him and Werner, who had +brought him hither. Resolved to defend his love against them both, he +soon reached the terrace. + +Werner awaited his brother's approach, and intercepted his direct +entrance to the garden-room. A malicious smile played about his lips as +he laid his hand upon Arno's shoulder. "Are you in too great a hurry, +Arno, to spare me a word of greeting when we have not seen each other +for several days? I will only detain you for one moment, however, to +present to you in Herr von Sorr a guest whom you will doubtless be glad +to welcome when I tell you that he is so fortunate as to be the husband +of the beautiful Frau von Sorr whom we have learned to know by another +name. For reasons of which you shall be informed hereafter, Frau von +Sorr thought fit to select our house for her abode under a feigned +name. We know her as Fräulein Anna Müller." + +Werner had arranged his sentence so that its conclusion should be a +sudden revelation to his brother. He had exulted in the prospect of +Arno's amazement and horror at the intelligence that Anna Müller was +Sorr's wife, but to his astonishment his brother did not betray the +slightest surprise, bestowing only a slight glance at the "guest," who, +hat in hand, but in evident confusion, stammered various conventional +phrases suitable, as he thought, to the occasion. + +Werner could not understand Arno's unlooked-for composure, and when his +brother coldly rejoined, "Frau von Sorr has already informed me of your +bringing this gentleman to Hohenwald," he hastily exclaimed, "You have +spoken with Frau von Sorr?" + +"Not long ago." + +"And she told you that I was at the castle with her husband?" + +"Yes." + +"She must have seen us then as we drove hither." + +"Very probably." + +"Why, then, does she not come to my father? She is evidently avoiding +us. Where did you see her? My father has been waiting impatiently for +her for more than half an hour." + +"Indeed? Then it will gratify him to learn tidings of her." + +And with these words Arno passed on into the garden-room; but in the +doorway he observed that Werner and Sorr were following him; he paused +therefore, and, barring the way, said, gravely, "The tidings that I +bring of Fräulein Anna Müller are for my father's ear alone." + +"Herr von Sorr certainly has a right to know where his wife is and what +you have to say to my father with regard to her." + +"The devil he has!" the Freiherr angrily exclaimed. "I told you before, +Werner, that you are to remain out upon the terrace with your Herr von +Sorr until I call you. No man in the world, and this Herr von Sorr +least of all, has a right to hear what my son wishes to tell me alone. +Understand that, Herr Finanzrath. Now go! I wish to be alone with +Arno!" + +Werner suppressed the angry retort that rose to his lips, and, +withdrawing once more, paced the terrace impatiently with Sorr. He knew +that when his father was as angry as at present there was nothing for +it but to obey. + +"What have you to tell me of Fräulein Anna? I will still call her by +the name I love. I can hardly believe that she is the wife of that +low-looking scoundrel," the Freiherr said, when Arno had taken his +accustomed seat beside his chair. + +His son as briefly and as simply as possible told of his interview with +her in the forest,--how she had presented her father to him and told +him that she was forced to flee from her unworthy husband. He also +delivered Anna's farewell to the Freiherr, and her entreaty that no one +would judge her harshly, but wait until a letter from her should +explain all. + +The old Baron interrupted his son frequently with exclamations of +surprise and with questions, and when he had concluded, declared "It is +a most extraordinary story, and I can make nothing of it; but I am glad +you said nothing about her to those fellows outside, for Werner is +evidently hand in glove with this precious Herr von Sorr. What they +want I cannot imagine; perhaps you may guess when you hear that +fellow's story." The Freiherr then related as briefly as he could the +tale told him by Sorr, adding, finally, "I must do the man the justice +to say that he acknowledged that he alone was to blame in his quarrel +with his wife; he never accused her, and I might have put some faith in +his protestations if it had not been for the scoundrelly hang-dog look +of him. I don't believe one word of his repentance and change of life. +There is a screw loose somewhere in his story about Count Repuin. If he +had fought a duel with the Russian is it likely that Werner would bring +his friend's mortal foe here? I had hoped to hear the truth from +Fräulein Anna, but now that she has gone, what's to be done I don't +know." + +"Celia may tell us something." + +"True, she may; that's an idea!" the Freiherr exclaimed. "She went with +Anna into the forest. Go, Arno, and bring the child here." + +Arno found Celia in her own room, and with difficulty persuaded her to +accompany him to her father's presence; where, until Arno finally told +her of his late interview with her dear Anna, she refused to give any +information with regard to Fräulein Müller's disappearance. Then, +however, she told the little that she knew; no more, indeed, than what +Arno had already learned, that Anna was forced against her will to +leave the castle instantly to escape a great peril, and that she would +shortly write and explain all. + +"We are no wiser than we were before," the Freiherr declared, when +Celia had finished speaking. "We know that she has fled, but we do not +know why or whither; there is some comfort in the thought that she is +with her father, and the question now is, what is to be done with those +two fellows outside. I must give them some answer." As he spoke, the +Freiherr glanced towards Werner and Sorr, and observed to his surprise +that they were no longer alone. A man, hat in hand, was handing Werner +a letter. "Is that not Hesse, our old Inspector?" the Freiherr inquired +of Arno. "Look, Arno, how agitated Werner seems; he must have received +some important intelligence; yes, here he comes again, without waiting +for a summons." + +Werner, followed by Sorr, now hurriedly entered. "I can wait no longer, +father," he said, approaching the Freiherr. "I must beg you to decide +instantly. Important information which I have just received forces me +to leave here immediately with Herr von Sorr. I trust Frau von Sorr +will accompany us. Surely you will not deny a husband his rights,--will +not compel him to have recourse to the law." + +The Freiherr did not reply. + +"I entreat you, sir, to delay no longer,--every moment is precious," +Werner went on. "Any long stay here is fraught with peril for me." + +"I will not delay you; go when you please." + +"Shall I have come in vain? Will not Frau von Sorr accompany her +husband?" + +"I have no right to detain her." + +"But you allow her to reside in the castle, while duty calls her to +follow her husband. You sustain her in her disobedience to duty by +permitting her to remain beneath your roof." + +"What a shameful accusation!" Arno cried, indignantly, but his father +interrupted him. + +"Hush, Arno!" he said, authoritatively. "I will have no disputing +between you brothers. My decision is made; I will not interfere between +Herr von Sorr and his wife!" + +"You will not shelter her, sir?" Werner asked. + +"No!" + +"Thank you. I expected no less of you." + +A contemptuous smile played about the Freiherr's lips as he rejoined, +"I am greatly flattered. Thus the whole matter is ended. You can find +Frau von Sorr, and tell her from me that I can no longer permit her to +stay in Castle Hohenwald. The rest is your affair, or rather that of +Herr von Sorr, whom I must now beg to leave me. I am far from well, and +will hear nothing further; therefore adieu to both of you. Find Frau +von Sorr, compel her to go with her husband, or do what you please, +only leave me in peace. Success to you, Herr von Sorr; adieu, Werner!" + +The old man leaned back in his chair, and by an imperious wave of the +hand dismissed his son. + +Werner left the apartment, followed by Sorr, whose fulsome gratitude +the Freiherr cut short by another impatient wave of the hand. As soon +as they had left the room, Werner, still accompanied by Sorr, hurried +first to the library where he hoped to find Lucie, and then up-stairs, +where the maid informed them that Fräulein Müller had not been seen +since four o'clock, when she had gone for a walk with Fräulein Celia; +old Franz had searched both garden and park for her in vain. + +Werner burst into a rage at this information of the maid's. "Arno saw +her!" he exclaimed, when he was once more alone with Sorr in the castle +court-yard. "He knows where she is, and must tell us where to find +her." He then returned to the garden-room alone, leaving Sorr to await +him in the court-yard. The reception he met with was of the coldest; +his father swore he would not hear a word from him, Arno refused to +answer any questions, and Celia continued her performance of one of her +father's favourite sonatas without deigning even to look at him. He +dared not linger longer in the castle,--there was nothing for it but to +return to the court-yard, where the vehicle in which he had arrived +stood ready for departure. + +"We must go, Herr von Sorr," said Werner; "time flies. My father, +brother, and sister are evidently in league with your wife; they know +where she is, but utterly refuse to tell,--it would take hours to find +her, and every moment is priceless." + +"We cannot leave without my wife; I do not dare to confront Repuin +without her." + +"Then stay here; I am going," Werner resolutely declared. "I will not +imperil my freedom by a fruitless search, and besides we may chance to +meet her on our way. Will you come?" He opened the carriage-door and +sprang in. Sorr hesitated a moment, and then followed him; the coachman +whipped up his horses, and they galloped off at a rattling pace. + + +Not more than a quarter of an hour had elapsed when there appeared, on +the road to the castle along which they had so lately passed, a mounted +gendarme, preceding, by another quarter of an hour, an open barouche, +in which sat three gentlemen, two officers and a civilian. Colonel von +Schlichting, with his adjutant, Lieutenant von Styrum, and the famous, +or, as some would have it, the notorious police official, the +Geheimrath Steuber, from Berlin; a second civilian, his assistant, sat +on the box beside the coachman. + +The gendarme, when in sight of the castle, awaited the barouche, behind +which came a detachment of mounted dragoons, and reported that he had +seen nothing suspicious, no carriage either going towards or coming +from the castle. + +"The birds are probably not yet flown," the Geheimrath said, rubbing +his hands and chuckling. "The castle can be approached only in this +direction. I was afraid upon learning at the station that immediately +after our arrival a carriage and a horseman had left it at full speed +that they might have got wind of our coming, but now I rather think we +shall find the entire band of conspirators, including Count Repuin, +together." + +The Geheimrath was evidently elated at the prospect of a good haul. +There was a smile upon his ugly face, which, to Count Styrum, made it +look uglier still, and his view was shared by Count Schlichting. Both +officers were fulfilling a disagreeable duty; they had received their +orders from the highest authority, and were instructed if the arrest of +the Freiherr von Hohenwald were really unavoidable, to proceed with the +greatest caution and delicacy. Count Schlichting and Count Styrum, the +latter of whom was but just re-admitted to military service, had +personally been informed by their august commander how painful it was +to him to issue orders for a search of Castle Hohenwald, which might +result in the arrest of the Freiherr and his son Arno in addition to +that of the Finanzrath and Count Repuin, which had already been +ordered. Stern necessity alone had overcome considerations which would +else have prevailed even with the highest authorities, and both search +and arrests were confided to the charge of the famous Geheimrath, who +was at the head of all investigations of the treasonable combinations +still existing after war had been declared. Thus the police official +was, in fact, the leader of this expedition to Hohenwald, although for +form's sake he appeared as the colonel's assistant, and this galled the +old soldier, for the Geheimrath's past was more than questionable; he +owed his lofty position entirely to his cunning. Schlichting would +gladly have replied harshly to the exultation of the man who, with his +old, wrinkled face and large, prominent eyes glaring through round +spectacle-glasses, looked like nothing so much as a malicious and +evil-minded kobold, but considerations of duty kept him silent. Styrum, +however, felt bound by no such considerations, and when the Geheimrath +went so far as to stigmatize all the inmates of the castle as +conspirators he indignantly repeated the obnoxious word, and added, in +a deeply offended tone, "You would do well, Herr Geheimrath, to be +better informed before you apply such an epithet to the old Freiherr +von Hohenwald or to my comrade and friend, the Freiherr Arno. As to the +latter, I can vouch for his patriotism and devotion to his country; he +is incapable of treason, and there is nothing but unfounded rumour, so +far as I can learn, that can cause you to regard the old Freiherr as a +conspirator." + +The colonel nodded approvingly to the younger officer, while the +Geheimrath looked at him with a smile half of pity and half of contempt +as he replied, "It is the privilege of youth to trust and to hope; you +must not wonder, however, that with my experience I am readier to +believe in guilt than in innocence. This, however, shall not prevent me +from searching with equal vigilance for proof of the innocence as well +as of the guilt of those under suspicion. If your friend is, as you +believe, innocent, his fate is in good hands; I am terrible only for +the guilty." + +"And you believe that Baron Arno may be guilty?" + +"I believe nothing, Herr Count. I only know that there are +incontestable proofs that the Finanzrath von Hohenwald has treasonable +relations with Count Repuin and other French agents; that he has +employed leave of absence granted him from official duty to make +various expeditions from Castle Hohenwald to the large South German +cities, always returning thither again, and that in his letters he has +expressed the hope of winning over his father and brother to what he +calls the 'good cause.' I know further that he has lately developed a +feverish activity, and that this very morning he arrived at Station +A---- in company with Count Repuin, the most dangerous of all the +French agents, doubtless intending to visit Castle Hohenwald in order +to mature with their associates those arrangements that cannot be +confided to paper. Therefore you must not be offended, Herr Count, if +an old police official makes use of the word 'conspirator' in +designating these associates. If your friend Baron Arno is no +conspirator so much the better, but at present his case has an ugly +look, and I must warn you both, gentlemen, not to allow your belief in +his innocence to betray you into any action detrimental to the success +of our expedition hither." + +"We know our duty, and need no reminder that it is to be fulfilled," +the colonel haughtily replied. + +"I am convinced of it, and beg to assure you that no 'reminder' was +intended," Steuber rejoined, after which, leaning back in the carriage, +he made no further attempts at conversation. + +Arrived in the castle court-yard, the Geheimrath sprang out of the +barouche with youthful agility, and after a few whispered words to his +assistant, requested the colonel, who followed him somewhat less +briskly, to place guards at every point of egress from the castle into +the garden, and then to present him to the Freiherr von Hohenwald. "The +sooner the search is begun," he added, "the more secure we are of +results." + +With the best grace he could muster the colonel ordered Styrum to place +guards as required. + +Meanwhile, old Franz, hearing the clatter of the horses upon the stones +of the court-yard, made his appearance, staring in dismay at the +strangers who dared, against his master's commands, thus to invade +Castle Hohenwald. + +"We wish to speak with the Herr Freiherr von Hohenwald. Conduct us to +your master!" + +Franz gazed open-mouthed at the man who uttered these words in an +imperious tone. What, show a stranger into his master's room +unannounced, and no permission asked! It was inconceivable. + +"The Herr Baron cannot see any one." + +"He will see us!" + +"No; the Herr Baron has expressly ordered that no strangers are to be +announced." + +"You are not to announce us, but to conduct us to him!" And as he +spoke, the man with the spectacles had so threatening an air that old +Franz felt constrained to obey. "This way, then!" he said, sullenly, +leading the way to the garden-room, followed by the colonel and the +Geheimrath. + + +Fatigued and agitated, after Werner's departure the old Freiherr lay +wearily back in his rolling-chair, his thoughts busy with Anna, who had +so often sung him the very song that Celia was now beginning to play on +the piano. Arno sat beside him silent and sad, listening to his +sister's charming rendering of the well-known melody. + +"It is past; and all is so different from what I had hoped," the +Freiherr said, after a long pause, taking his son's hand and pressing +it. "She has left us, and all my hopes are crushed." + +"What were your hopes, father?" + +"It is useless to speak of them." Another pause ensued; the old Baron +sadly gazing at his son, who was again lost in thought. Then he spoke +once more, "Tell me frankly, Arno, am I wrong in thinking that our Anna +had grown very dear to you?" + +At this unexpected question Arno hastily started from his seat, and +paced the apartment to and fro, then paused and confronted his father. +"Why ask such a question?" he said, reproachfully. "What is to you, +father, or to any one, whether I loved or hated her? Our Anna, do you +call her? Have you forgotten that she is the wife of that wretch whom +Werner has chosen for his friend? She is Frau von Sorr! Do you know, +father, that at times I think the thought will drive me mad!" + +"I thought so!" the old Baron rejoined, taking his son's hand as he +stood before him. "It has been so great a pleasure to me to watch you +during these last few weeks. My Arno will be happy after all, I +thought. I dreamed of her as the lovely mistress of Hohenwald, and +now--now it is all over." + +Arno did not reply. Again he paced the room restlessly to and fro, +never heeding the unusual bustle that had arisen in the court-yard. + +The Freiherr too was only aroused from his brooding reverie by the +sound of footsteps in the hall and the sudden flinging wide of the +doors to admit Count Schlichting, followed by the Geheimrath Steuber, +while almost at the same moment steps resounded upon the terrace, and +two dragoons with drawn sabres stationed themselves at the glass door +leading to the garden. At this sight the old Baron's sadness was +converted into violent anger. "Thunder and lightning, Franz! How dare +you introduce visitors unannounced!" he exclaimed, furiously, to the +old servant, who stood in the doorway quite uncertain which to fear +more, his master or the terrible man in spectacles. + +"Don't scold your servant, old friend," said Count Schlichting, +approaching the Freiherr's rolling-chair and taking his reluctant hand. +"He conducted myself and this gentleman hither only upon compulsion. +And we do not intrude voluntarily upon your seclusion, but in obedience +to an august command, which, I am sure, will be respected by the +Freiherr von Hohenwald." + +The Freiherr gazed at the colonel with flashing eyes. He had not seen +him for more than fifteen years, and had not at first recognized him. +Now he remembered his old friend well, but his anger was not diminished +thereby, and he had to put the greatest restraint upon himself to +suppress another outbreak. He looked from the colonel to the +Geheimrath, and then out upon the terrace at the two dragoons stationed +there, and the case suddenly became clear to him. He was not surprised +that suspicion should attach to him in consequence of Werner's +intrigues. True, he had never contemplated being arrested, but his +anger died away when he reflected that the colonel was merely +fulfilling his duty as a soldier, and he had no fear of consequences, +for he was conscious of his innocence. + +Quickly regaining his composure, he returned the pressure of the +colonel's hand and said, "Those two blue fellows out there explain the +'august command' which brings my old friend here. It is not your fault +that you must fulfil your duty, which, however, may perhaps allow you +to inform me why the Freiherr von Hohenwald is arrested in his own +castle." + +"Not quite that yet, old friend,--no fear of that," the colonel +replied, kindly. "My orders certainly are to arrest the Finanzrath, +your eldest son, and Count Repuin, your guest, and to assist this +gentleman, the Geheimrath Steuber, from Berlin, in the execution of his +orders, which are to search the castle for treasonable matter. Until +this is over I must indeed beg you not to leave this room." + +"A request with which I shall have no difficulty in complying, since I +am, as you see, confined to my rolling-chair," the Freiherr replied, +with a smile. + +"I see it with regret; but this gentleman also,--Baron Arno von +Hohenwald, if I do not mistake,"--Arno bowed in silence,--"and the +young lady,"--the colonel greeted Celia with chivalrous courtesy,--"I +must entreat to remain here until my disagreeable duty is finished. The +first and hardest part of it, unfortunately, concerns your eldest son +and Count Repuin, for whom I am forced to make search." + +"It will be fruitless," the Freiherr quietly replied. "My son Werner +was in the castle, but he left it more than half an hour ago. Count +Repuin I do not know. He has never been my guest." + +"That is not true!" the Geheimrath exclaimed. "The Count certainly +accompanied the Finanzrath to Hohenwald,--both must be concealed in the +castle!" + +"Sir! how dare you accuse me of falsehood!" the Freiherr burst out; but +the colonel laid his hand upon the old man's shoulder and said, kindly, +"Be calm, old friend. The Herr Geheimrath has in his zeal for duty made +use of a wrong expression. He cannot mean to accuse of falsehood a +nobleman whom he has been ordered to treat with the greatest +consideration. He will apologize for his error." + +This the Geheimrath immediately did, conscious that he was in the +wrong, and never reluctant to make use of smooth words. Nevertheless he +maintained that both the Finanzrath and Repuin were probably still in +the castle, although without the Freiherr's knowledge. He chose his +apologetic phrases so well that the old Baron was entirely appeased, +and even condescended so far as to explain that a certain Herr von +Sorr, and not Count Repuin, had been his son's companion, and that they +had left the castle together about half an hour previously. + +"For this you have my friend's word," the colonel remarked. + +"The word of honour of the Herr Freiherr von Hohenwald will suffice +me," the police official rejoined. + +"My simple assertion must suffice you, sir," the old man burst forth +again. + +The Geheimrath looked keenly at him for a moment, and then said, with a +courteous bow, "It is the word of a man of honour, and therefore a word +of honour; it suffices entirely. May I now beg the Herr Baron to allow +me to proceed in my search of the castle?" + +"I have nothing to say; do your duty!" + +"For the present, then, Herr Baron, I take my leave, only requesting +that the colonel will accord me the assistance of his adjutant in my +search, if he would himself prefer remaining here with his old friend, +I hope shortly to be able to report to you the result of what I feel +convinced will be a fruitless investigation." + +This proposal was most welcome to the colonel, who rejoiced to pass the +time with his friend instead of assisting in searching the castle, a +duty that would have been extremely repugnant to the old soldier. He +therefore acceded to all the Geheimrath said, and Steuber left the +room. + +Outside, his first care was to despatch his assistant upon a fleet +horse, taken from one of the dragoons, to intercept the flight of the +Finanzrath and Repuin, giving the man the most minute directions as to +how this was to be done, and how he should procure the assistance +necessary to his success in so doing. + +Then he turned to old Franz, over whom two dragoons had mounted guard, +and demanded his guidance over the castle. Poor Franz was so completely +subdued by the martial array about him, and above all so terrified by +the glance of the eyes behind the spectacles, that he obeyed with +submissive promptitude. Encountering in the hall Count Styrum, who had +just concluded the posting of his dragoons, Steuber detained him as he +was about to pass on to the garden-room, and said, "May I pray you to +follow me, Herr Count? The colonel has permitted me to demand your +assistance in the search I am about to begin." + +Styrum would gladly have refused to fulfil so disagreeable a duty; his +pride rebelled against assisting in a search in his friend's house, but +the Geheimrath, who suspected what was in his mind, soothed his wounded +sense of honour by adding, "I do not ask you, Count, to take any part +in this search, which indeed I now believe will be entirely fruitless. +The aid I need, and which your superior officer permits me to require +at your hands, consists simply in your presence as a witness during my +search. Thus you are a substitute, as it were, for your friend Baron +Arno von Hohenwald, to whom you may be able to render essential +service. May I look for your kind compliance with my wish?" + +"I am ready," Styrum replied, and, with old Franz for a guide, they +betook themselves to Werner's apartment. + + + + + CHAPTER XX. + + +The Finanzrath, when he stayed at the castle, occupied a spacious room +in a retired wing, where, between the windows, stood his writing-table +with its many drawers and compartments. This immediately attracted the +Geheimrath's attention. Upon it lay an unopened letter, which Steuber +at once took possession of and coolly opened. Looking up as he did so, +he smiled at the expression of an outraged sense of honour on Styrum's +face, and then read the letter aloud. "Make no further attempt to win +over your father and brother,--it might be dangerous. Unfortunately, +some of our friends have been very imprudent. I have received +trustworthy information that many of us are under strict surveillance. +The greatest caution is necessary; a new associate could avail us +little,--one traitor might ruin us. Your brother's friend, Count +Styrum, has already applied for re-admission to the army; if your +brother should do likewise, he will rank among our foes, not our +friends. Therefore I must entreat you to acquaint neither your father +nor your brother with any of our plans. More when we meet; until then +be upon your guard!" "And this precious epistle is signed 'A,'" the +Geheimrath added. "It tells me nothing new of the Finanzrath or his +friends, but it hints strongly that neither the old Freiherr nor his +younger son knows anything of the Herr Finanzrath's schemes. Do you +still think I did wrong to open the letter, Count?" + +Without waiting for a reply the Geheimrath went on to search in the +most careful manner every drawer and pigeonhole of Werner's desk, but +his trouble was vain. The drawers were all unlocked, but not one piece +of written paper was to be found anywhere. "Hm! the Herr Finanzrath has +been expecting me," Steuber muttered, impatiently. "There is nothing +here, and I have searched everything except the waste-paper basket." +Thereupon he proceeded to examine all the papers it contained, +worthless scraps, one and all, until nothing remained except some small +fragments at the very bottom of the basket. Then, while the Count +looked on in impatient wonder, he carefully assorted these, perceiving +that they consisted of two kinds of paper, one bluish and stiff, the +other creamy and delicate, murmuring, as he did so, "There can hardly +be more than two notes here, or the number of scraps would be greater." + +Styrum's interest began to be aroused. Since the Geheimrath now seemed +inclined to believe in the innocence of Arno and his father he was no +longer so distasteful to the Count, who testified his awakening +interest by drawing a chair up to the table and closely watching the +arrangement of the fragments of paper. His attention flattered the +Geheimrath, who showed himself in the most amiable humour. "We will +first undertake the strong, bluish paper," he said; "there are fewer of +the scraps, and our work will be comparatively easy. I fear, however, +that we are very indiscreet; the writing here is a lady's, and I +suspect we have to do with a love-affair." In a short time the sheet +lay completely fitted together before the official, who rubbed his +hands with his peculiar chuckle and said, "It is no love-letter; I was +mistaken; but it is from a lady, and not even addressed to the Herr +Finanzrath, but to Fräulein Adèle von Guntram, in M----." + +"A letter to Adèle!" Styrum exclaimed. "Do you know Fräulein von +Guntram, Count?" "Certainly; the letter is addressed to my betrothed." +"Then the contents, which are quite incomprehensible to me, will +interest you all the more; perhaps you may divine from them how the +note came to be torn up in the Finanzrath's waste-paper basket." And he +read: + + +"What will you think of me, dear Adèle, if a few hours after writing my +last letter I tell you not to heed the request it contained? I hope +soon to be able to let you know why I do this, but I cannot tell you +to-day. I cannot leave Castle Hohenwald, and so you are relieved of the +burden of looking for another situation for me. Farewell, dear; you +will soon hear farther from your + + "Lucie" + + +Styrum listened with the greatest attention, but, although his +betrothed had told him of the letter from Lucie in which she had +entreated that another position might be found for her, he could give +the Geheimrath no information as to why this letter, which had +evidently been written since, should be found in the Finanzrath's +waste-paper basket. + +Steuber tossed it aside and began upon the creamy-coloured scraps, over +which he worked diligently for nearly an hour. When the letter lay +complete before him he uttered an involuntary exclamation of delight. +"This," he said, "is a very important document; it puts me upon a fresh +scent. It is addressed to Count Repuin, care of Colonel von Berngberg, +in Cassel. Colonel von Berngberg has never before been suspected of +hostility to the government; this is a reward for all the trouble we +have had." Again the malicious twinkle of his eyes, the joy he +evidently felt at the implication in treasonable schemes of a man +hitherto thought loyal, disgusted Count Styrum, who, on the spur of the +moment, said haughtily "I must pray you, Herr Geheimrath, to spare me +the contents of this letter; any prying into official secrets is of +course extremely distasteful to me as a soldier and officer." + +Steuber looked up from his work for a moment and nodded kindly. "I +understand you, Count, but, unfortunately, I cannot relieve you from +the duty of listening. I am working under orders, and in the service +for the time of your superior officer, whom you now represent. Besides, +I will wager that you will not regret listening to the letter that now +lies before me. It was written by the Finanzrath, and afterwards, for +some unknown reason, destroyed by him; and it runs thus: + + +"I write in the greatest haste, my dear Count, to tell you that I have +received intimations, whether from a trustworthy source or not I cannot +say, that our correspondence is known and watched. It is better to be +careful: therefore do not intrust your letters to the post again. Send +them in the way you know of; it is more secure, although less speedy, +than the post. I will make one more attempt to win over my father and +my brother, but I tell you frankly that I fear it will be fruitless. My +father is no politician, and Arno is an idealist whose heart is set +upon a united Germany. If he should re-enter the service he will +probably fight against our friends. Indeed, he is so enthusiastic a +'patriot' that it is questionable whether it would be wise to attempt +to influence him. Always yours, + + "'W. Von H.'" + + +As he finished it the Geheimrath looked up to his companion with a +smile of triumph. "Are you satisfied now with my work, Count?" he +asked. "We may inform Count Schlichting that there can be no possible +pretext for arresting the Freiherr or his son Arno; not a shadow of +suspicion rests upon them. What do you think? For my part I consider +our search ended; there is nothing more to be found here. Let us go and +report to the colonel. My task at Castle Hohenwald is over." + + +Count Schlichting felt a sense of relief when the Geheimrath left the +garden-room and he found himself alone with his old friend and his +children. + +"This is but a sorry errand of mine here, Hohenwald," he said, seating +himself beside the Freiherr's rolling-chair; "but you must not take it +ill of me, since I accepted the part assigned me in hopes that you +would rather see a friend than a stranger, odious although his duties +might make him in your eyes. I am rejoiced that Werner got wind of our +coming and has vanished; now my hope is that that cursed Geheimrath may +poke his infernal nose wherever he chooses in the castle without raking +up any evidence against you and Arno." + +"Have you any doubts on that head?" the Freiherr asked, bitterly. + +There was a degree of embarrassment in the colonel's air as he replied, +"No, not that; but politics nowadays are puzzling. I have the greatest +confidence in you; but who can judge for others? Here's the Finanzrath +doubtless an excellent fellow in other respects, has dabbled in plots +and schemes which are now thought treasonable, but which may, at +another turn of the wheel, lead him to a ribbon and star. To-day a +warrant of arrest is out against him, but who knows whether in another +month he may not be held in high honour in Saxony and Southern Germany? +I should be very sorry if you, old friend, and your son, who fought the +Prussians bravely four years ago, had been led into any indiscretions; +but indeed I could not blame you, for, God knows, it is hard enough for +us Saxons to fight shoulder to shoulder with our former foes, against +those to whom we owe it that we are not to-day in the position of the +poor Hanoverians and Hessians. I am an old soldier, and go wherever my +king sends me; but I cannot say that this time I unsheathe my sword +with any enthusiasm." + +"I never rejoiced more to draw mine!" said Arno, whom the colonel's +expressions had evidently pained. "In 1866 I fought with bitterness, a +German against Germans, and I left the service with a savage hatred for +Prussia smouldering within me; to-day it is forgotten in love of +country, of the German fatherland, of which Prussia is now the +representative, standing foremost in the conflict with the arch-enemy +of German freedom, and as the defender of our German Rhine against +French greed of territory. If my brother can have forgotten the duty he +owes to his country, it is all the more incumbent upon me to do what I +can to wash away all stain of treason from the Hohenwald name." + +"That you will surely do, my dearest brother!" Celia cried, with +glowing cheeks. "Your fidelity will atone for Werner's treachery, and +our father will bless you for vindicating the honour of his name." + +The colonel looked at them with a smile as he stroked his gray +moustache, and said, "Aha, I see clearly that Steuber's long nose will +soon forsake Castle Hohenwald! You have cause to be proud of your +pretty daughter and your son, old friend; still, we will not judge +Werner; let every man be true to his own convictions. I hear with +pleasure, Herr von Hohenwald, that you wish to re-enter the army. I am +at your service in this matter; nothing would give me greater +satisfaction than to have so brave an officer in my regiment, and I +will, if you authorize me to do so, apprise the king of this when I +take him the news to-morrow of our fruitless errand to Castle +Hohenwald." + +This offer Arno gladly accepted, and it was thereupon agreed that he +should accompany the colonel to Dresden that he might immediately join +his regiment. All of the little party in the garden-room, in the +interesting conversation that ensued, quite forgot the object of the +colonel's visit, and were only reminded of it after a long hour by the +entrance of Count Styrum with the Geheimrath. + +While Arno was greeting his friend with cordial delight, Steuber set +the colonel's mind entirely at rest by his report, and by the request +that the dragoons might be sent back to A---- and himself relieved of +all further duty, since no possible suspicion could attach to any of +the present inmates of the castle. + +A quarter of an hour later the obnoxious official took his departure, +while the colonel and Styrum, upon the Freiherr's earnest invitation, +remained in the castle a few hours longer, that Arno might conclude his +preparations for leaving, and accompany them to A----, there to take +the night train to Dresden. + +The time for parting came. The colonel and Styrum took leave of the old +Baron and went down into the court-yard, where the carriage was in +waiting. Arno was left alone for a moment with his father and sister. +The old man was deeply moved. It evidently caused him an effort to +release his son's hand from the firm clasp in which he held it, while a +tear rolled down his wrinkled cheek upon his silver beard. "Farewell, +Arno! farewell, my dear son, pride and delight of my age," he said, +drawing his son gently down to him and, for the first time since that +son had grown to manhood, pressing his lips to his brow. "Farewell, +Arno!" he repeated. "Make me one promise before you go. If, when you +return, I am no longer here, be a father to my Celia. I place her +happiness in your hands. You must not sacrifice it to an hereditary +prejudice, but make good a promise I gave our Anna, and if you ever +meet Kurt von Poseneck in the war forget the family feud, and treat him +kindly. For Celia's sake look upon him as a brother, for I have +promised our Anna that when he comes back he shall be Celia's husband." + +Celia threw her arms around her father's neck and burst into tears, but +the old man gently put her away from him, and, paying no heed to Arno's +look of startled inquiry, lay back in his chair. "Go, children!" he +said, in a feeble voice. "You must leave me. This parting is almost +more than I can bear. Celia, go with Arno to the carriage. Farewell, my +dearest son! Your father's blessing be upon you in the coming struggle +for the fatherland!" + + + + + CHAPTER XXI. + + +Months had passed since the beginning of the war; the German hosts had +overrun France, and were girdling Paris with an iron ring, making its +surrender but a question of time, while upon the ruins of the empire +that had crumbled to decay at Sedan the young republic had been born to +pursue with the energy of despair the strife that had been bequeathed +to it by imperial policy. + +The pretty village of Assais was among the foremost to declare itself +devoted to the republic, following the lead of the Marquise de Lancy, +the widowed châtelaine of the castle of Assais, who, although a Russian +by birth, was an enthusiastic supporter of the new government. Towards +the end of September, however, the Marquise had departed for England, +leaving the castle in the charge of a cousin, the Baron de Nouart, who +had arrived at Assais only a short time previously in company with the +brother of the Marquise, a Russian count. The Baron was reported to +have been so busy in Germany in the French interest that an asylum in +the castle of Assais was exceedingly welcome to him. His reputation in +this respect stood him in good stead with the villagers, who otherwise +were by no means favourably impressed by the appearance and manner of +the substitute of their fair châtelaine, which were those of a man of +dissipated life given over to the vice of drinking. + +Assais had hitherto escaped any visit from the Prussian soldiery, but +its time of immunity had passed. One morning in October an officer of +Uhlans, with a small detachment of Prussians, spread terror in the +village by galloping through its principal street towards the castle, +where he demanded to speak with the Baron de Nouart. The Baron, who had +been apprised of the approach of the Prussians, had prepared to receive +them after rather a singular fashion. Retiring to his apartment, he had +donned a fiery-red wig, with a false beard and moustache of the same +colour, while a pair of dark-blue glass spectacles made the colour of +his eyes entirely undistinguishable. Thus disguised he appeared before +the young officer of Uhlans in the court-yard of the castle. The +officer scanned the strange figure before him rather curiously as he +asked whether he had the honour of addressing the Baron de Nouart, and +whether he could speak German. Upon being assured of the Baron's +identity, as well as of his inability to speak German, although he +understood it perfectly, the young man continued the conversation in +French, informing the Baron that a regiment of infantry and a squadron +of Uhlans were about to occupy Assais; that quarters must be provided +in the castle for the colonel, officers, and part of the men,--the rest +could be accommodated in the village. The more willing the inhabitants +showed themselves to receive the Prussian soldiers the less cause +should they have for complaint. Having delivered himself thus, and +having been assured by the Baron that the castle should be at the +disposal of the colonel when he arrived, the Uhlan departed with his +men to inspect the village accommodations. + +The Baron was as good as his word. Towards evening, when Colonel von +Schlichting, with his officers, arrived, the preparations for their +reception were far more complete than was required by the rules of war. +The Baron kept himself in the background, and was visible only to the +Uhlan commander and the colonel, who was by no means favourably +impressed with the man who, hat in hand, received him in the castle +court-yard and in execrable German declared that he would gladly do all +in his power for the comfort of the German officers, but must request +to be allowed to retire, as he was a very sick man, most of the time +keeping his bed by the physician's orders. His servile demeanour +disgusted Count Von Schlichting; but he was obliged to admit that he +did not promise too much, so admirable was every arrangement for his +comfort. + +At dinner, several of the officers expressed their surprise at finding +such luxurious quarters and such excellent wines in so secluded a spot, +and loudest in his praise was the Uhlan captain of horse, who had been +ordered with his squadron to the support of the Saxon regiment in the +work of ridding the surrounding country of the bands of franctireurs by +which it was infested. "There are no such quarters in all France!" the +captain cried, with enthusiasm; "such rooms, such a kitchen, and such a +cellar! Indeed, gentlemen, the Baron de Nouart deserves a toast for his +hospitality. He is not handsome, that there is no denying; but here's +to his health!" + +The Saxon officers joined, laughing, in the Prussian captain's toast, +and even the colonel did not refuse it, although he drank it with no +genuine cordiality. He turned to Count Styrum, beside whom he was +sitting at the large round table in the dining-hall. "Are you as much +pleased with our host, Count, as are our Prussian comrades?" he asked, +in a tone too low to be heard by the others; "although I must confess +that our reception here has exceeded my expectations, I am most +unpleasantly impressed by our host; he reminds me of some one whom I +have seen, I cannot remember whom." + +"That's odd," Count Styrum replied; "my own experience is the same. I +only saw the man for a moment, and at a distance, and yet it seems to +me that I have seen him somewhere formerly, though where I cannot for +the life of me remember." + +"Are you sure?" the colonel asked. + +"No, colonel; such fancies are very little to be relied upon. It struck +me, however, that the Baron beat a hasty retreat as soon as he espied +me, although I may have been mistaken there, too." + +"It is a singular coincidence, however, and I begin to think that +Monsieur may have some reason for requesting that we will in future +communicate with him through his factotum Gervais." + +The conversation was interrupted by Captain von Hohenwald, who came to +report that the men had been peacefully distributed among the +inhabitants both of Assais and of the neighbouring villages. Arno had +scarcely taken the place at table indicated to him by the colonel, with +whom he was a favourite officer, when the young Uhlan lieutenant, who +had brought the news of the approach of the regiment to Assais in the +morning, entered the dining-hall, and was presented by his superior +officer, Von Säben, to Count Schlichting as Lieutenant von Poseneck. + +Arno's attention was at once arrested upon hearing the familiar name. +He had never yet encountered Kurt von Poseneck,--Von Säben's squadron +had joined Count Schlichting's regiment only two days previously, Kurt +reported that he had made a reconnoissance in all directions and had +found no traces of the enemy. This information convinced the colonel +that, for the present at least, there was no risk in enjoying to the +full the repose and hospitality offered at Assais. + +And this the young officers certainly did. The best possible +understanding seemed to exist between the Prussians and Saxons, and the +hall resounded with mirth and laughter from the various groups into +which the large assembly soon divided. + +One of these consisted but of three, Count Styrum, Arno von Hohenwald, +and Kurt von Poseneck. They had withdrawn to a corner of the hall and +were engaged in earnest conversation. How much there was to hear and to +tell! Arno felt every trace of the foolish hereditary prejudice fade +within him as he looked at the handsome young fellow, who showed in +every word and glance his pleasure in thus meeting his Celia's brother. +Only from Celia's letters had Arno heard of Kurt, who had written of +his advancement to the old Freiherr. Now Kurt was not only begged for +the story of his experience since the beginning of the war, but Arno +drew from him the account of his first meeting with Celia, and of how +Frau von Sorr--Arno felt the blood mount to his cheek at the name--had +learned by accident of the intimacy between them. + +To that noble woman, Frau von Sorr, Kurt declared, glad indeed to make +a confidant of Celia's brother, did he owe it that his love for Celia +was no longer a secret. He had faithfully kept his promise never to +write to Celia, but he had written to Frau von Sorr two letters to be +forwarded to the Freiherr. One of these he feared had miscarried, as +Frau von Sorr had not alluded to it in her last letter to him. + +Arno's heart beat furiously as he asked, with all the indifference he +could assume, "You correspond, then, with Frau von Sorr?" + +"Yes. Frau von Sorr permitted me to write to her, and promised to +forward my letters to your father when there were any tidings of me to +be transmitted to Castle Hohenwald." + +"Then you know where Frau von Sorr is at present, and how she has been +since leaving the castle?" + +Kurt, all unmindful of the suppressed eagerness with which this +question was put, replied by giving a detailed account of Frau von +Sorr's departure from Grünhagen for Berlin, whence she had retired with +her father to his beautiful estate, Kaltenborn, on the Rhine, not far +from S----, where she had found a secure retreat from her husband's +persecutions. On this score Herr Ahlborn was now quite easy, since Sorr +and the Finanzrath had both been obliged to flee the country as +proscribed traitors, and any return to Germany for them was impossible +until the war should be ended. In her last letter Frau von Sorr had +described her life with her father as all that she could desire, +telling Kurt that she, with various other women of S----, had +established a lazaretto for wounded soldiers, and that she had also +prepared accommodations at Kaltenborn for some few, for whom pure +country air might be specially desirable. She expressed a hope that +Kurt never might be wounded, but prayed him if he were and could +contrive it to be sure and be brought to her at Kaltenborn. + +"And this," Kurt concluded, "I shall certainly do, if an unlucky bullet +should chance to lay me up for a time. I honour that woman from my very +soul; she is an angel!" + +It was with difficulty that Arno restrained himself from chiming in +with Kurt's enthusiastic admiration; his respect for his sister rose on +the instant. What penetration and judgment she had shown in bestowing +her heart upon this excellent young fellow! As a reward he allowed Kurt +to read Celia's last letter,--a letter that transported the lover in +thought to the Hohenwald forest, so vividly did it bring his love +before him in all that makes girlhood bewitching. + +Thus the hours flew by unheeded until the three friends found +themselves alone in the spacious hall, when, as they were not weary, +Kurt proposed a short walk before retiring to rest, and they all +sauntered out into the autumn moonlight that was flooding the garden +and park. They walked on aimlessly until, emerging from a thicket of +shrubbery, they saw before them one of the wings of the castle. All the +windows here were darkened except two upon the ground-floor directly +opposite them. The friends paused and gazed involuntarily into the +apartment thus revealed to them. It was a large room, luxuriously +furnished. In a cushioned arm-chair, beside a round table in the centre +of the apartment, sat the Baron de Nouart, and on the table, at his +elbow, stood a glass and a half-empty bottle. + +Just as the officers emerged from the bushes some slight noise probably +attracted the Baron's attention. He raised his head, seemed to be +listening for an instant, and then arose hastily and drew close the +heavy curtains that had been open to admit the air. + +"Let us turn round," Kurt said, in a low tone; "the Baron may else +suppose that we wish to spy upon him." + +"Which would be a poor reward for the hospitality he has shown us," +said Arno. + +Styrum said nothing, but followed his companions, and not until they +had reached the open lawn before the balcony of the dining-hall did he +remark, "The Baron seemed in a great hurry to screen himself from +observation." + +"Naturally," Arno rejoined; "he had good reasons for so doing. Unless I +am much mistaken, that was no wine-bottle at his elbow; it held good +cognac. A fellow at such night-work hardly likes to be seen." + +"They told me in Nontron that he was an incorrigible drunkard; never +sober after noon," Kurt added. + +Styrum shook his head; natural as was this explanation of the Baron's +conduct, it did not satisfy him. "He may be a drunkard," he said, "but +I am convinced that he had other reasons for drawing those curtains so +quickly,--the same probably that made him turn away this afternoon when +he saw me. I have surely seen that man somewhere; he knows me and fears +my recognition. What else did you hear about him in Nontron, Kurt?" + +"Not much, but quite enough to justify any suspicion of his honesty. He +is said to be a distant relative of the widowed Marquise de Lancy, the +owner of the castle, where he made his appearance only a few weeks ago; +and although he is a zealous patriot, he is not, they say, a Frenchman, +but a Russian. They say, too, that he can speak German extremely well, +and yet this morning, when I addressed him in German, he could scarcely +reply in the same tongue, although he said that he understood it +perfectly. He is a suspicious character." + +"I do not see any reason thus far for your distrust of him," Arno +observed. + +"Nevertheless, the colonel shall learn what Kurt has told us," said +Styrum. "It is best to be upon our guard." + +The friends then separated and betook themselves to repose. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII. + + +It had been a weary day for the Baron François de Nouart; he had not +even been able to have recourse to his usual stimulant, so impressed +was he with the necessity of keeping every faculty upon the alert in +the trying position in which he found himself. That this Saxon regiment +of all others should have been ordered to Assais was a stroke of +terrible ill luck! Not until Gervais reported to him that all was quiet +in the castle for the night did he venture to seat himself comfortably +at the table in his room with the brandy-flask at his elbow. And even +then five minutes had scarcely elapsed when a slight noise causing him +to turn his head, he plainly saw through the open window the three +officers on the moonlit lawn, and that one of them was the man whom he +so dreaded, Count Styrum. He started up and closed the hangings +instantly, hearing distinctly as he did so Kurt's words, "Let us turn +round; the Baron may else suppose that we wish to spy upon him." Then +through a chink in the curtains he watched the three men disappear +among the bushes, his heart beating violently the while from fear of +detection. After watching some minutes longer he crept softly to +Gervais's room, and having received the steward's assurance that the +young Uhlan officer with his two friends had returned from the garden, +and that all three were now locked in their rooms, he made a stealthy +round of the castle. All was quiet, and he once more returned to his +room to seek the forgetfulness that he so craved. + +But the poor man had scarcely drained a few glasses of his favourite +beverage when he was once more disturbed, this time by a low tap upon +the window, which he had closed. Could it be a belated officer? Hardly; +he would not announce his presence thus. It must be some friend, who +for certain reasons did not dare to seek an entrance to the castle more +boldly. + +Again the knocking came, quicker and more impatient; with uncertain +steps the Baron went to the window, and, as he looked through the +curtains, uttered an involuntary exclamation of horror, "Count Repuin!" +and in an instant the curtains were drawn aside and the window opened. +"Are you mad, Count? Do you not know that the castle swarms with +Germans?" he whispered, in dismay. + +"Then give me your hand and help me to get in at this cursed window," +whispered Repuin, who stood without in the disguise of a peasant. +"Quick! Am I to stay here until the guard discovers me?" + +"I implore you to fly, Count. You will ruin both yourself and me; we +shall be shot if you are found in the castle." + +"I will not be found. Do as I tell you, and give me your hand!" + +The Baron had no choice but to obey. He extended his hand to the Count, +who seized it, and with but little difficulty clambered in at the +window, which was but a few feet from the ground. + +Scarcely had he closed it and drawn the curtains behind him when he +turned with a look of scorn to the Baron, "What a coward you are, +Sorr!" he said; "your hand trembles like a woman's. Shame on you! +Why, I do believe the fellow is drunk again. There stands the empty +brandy-bottle. I wonder whether there is enough sense left in your +drugged brain to make it worth while to talk reason to you." + +Repuin's insulting words made no impression on Sorr; he was too well +used to such from the Russian. But the fright that the Count's visit +caused him, and the sense of the danger with which it threatened him, +helped to sober him. He drank several glasses of cold water, and then +bathed his head and face, after which he was sufficiently himself to +turn to the Count and say, "What evil star brought you to Assais? Are +you resolved upon my ruin?" + +"Bah! what is your ruin to me!" the Count rejoined, contemptuously. +"You run no greater danger than I do. Are you sufficiently collected +now to understand me?" + +"Yes; what do you want?" + +"I wish to convince myself by personal information how matters stand +here in Assais; there is no confidence to be placed in the reports +circulating everywhere; these French make mountains out of mole-hills. +You must give me exact intelligence with regard to the enemy." + +"How am I to do that? Do you suppose that Count Schlichting makes me +his confidant?" + +"Ah, Colonel Schlichting is here, then?" + +"Yes; with his whole regiment, and a squadron of Prussian Uhlans." + +"Hm! They are too many for us as yet, then,--we must wait a few days. +Is Count Styrum here? I suppose so from your disguise; you look like a +scarecrow." + +"Yes, he is here, and also Arno von Hohenwald." + +"Baron Arno, my rival with your lovely wife. Let him look to himself!" + +"What can you do? The Germans are too strong for you." + +"Just at present they are, but in a few days we shall outnumber them; +victory has made them over-bold; they are venturing too far northwest, +and they imagine that they have to do only with some scattering bands +of franctireurs. I have learned enough for to-day, but you must +contrive to keep me informed of all that is going on here. For a +messenger you must employ the village maire, Fournier; his boy Louis +was shot a few days ago by some of these very Germans, and the man is +thirsting for revenge; he will do all and venture all to bring +destruction upon these men." + +"But they have placed their sentinels so that it will be impossible to +elude them, and, besides, how could anything of importance reach my +ears?" + +"Leave the eluding of the sentinels to Fournier, and for important +information we must depend upon Gervais; let him listen well. These +officers can have no idea that he understands German perfectly?" + +"Not the least; the colonel always speaks to him in execrable French." + +"Then let him be constantly on the watch for news, and let me hear it +instantly through the maire. May I rely upon you?" + +"You are playing a dangerous game, Count! We shall be discovered; and +if we are, we are lost, for Count Schlichting knows no mercy." + +"Then none shall be shown him." + +"He will need none. I implore you, Count, to moderate your zeal; you +will only plunge into ruin if you attempt to attack an enemy that so +outnumbers you. We, the maire and I, shall both be shot if we are +suspected of holding any communication with you." + +The Count gazed sternly at Sorr. For a moment he seemed to bethink +himself; then he said, laying a sharp stress upon each word, "I am +almost tempted to believe you capable of playing the traitor, Herr von +Sorr. I would not advise you to contemplate such a course; one step in +that direction and Count Schlichting shall learn by a letter from me +whom your clumsy disguise conceals. Remember you are closely watched. +If you are true to me you shall have your reward; but if you are a +traitor, by Heaven! you shall meet a traitor's death. If you should +escape a German bullet, a French one shall find its way to your heart. +Now you know where you stand. One more piece of advice: for God's sake +avoid that cursed brandy-flask for the next week at least. Come, be a +man, Sorr; promise me that you will not drink a drop for the next eight +days." + +Sorr promised, and Repuin took his departure, leaving, as he had come, +by the window. Sorr closed it softly behind him and stood at it for a +long while, dreading to hear a shot in the shrubbery, but all remained +quiet. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + +The next few days were gloomy with misty, rainy weather, and Count +Schlichting grumbled incessantly at the enforced idleness of his +command. Arno and Kurt employed the time in improving their knowledge +of each other, and passed many a pleasant hour together with Count +Styrum in exploring the park and gardens of the castle, which were +remarkably fine and spacious. On returning from one of these walks +about a week after their arrival at Assais, they found the castle +court-yard a scene of much bustle and excitement, and learned that +orders had arrived recalling the Saxon regiment to Nontron and +Chalus,--orders that had been received with enthusiasm, since they +pointed to a general massing of forces preparatory to a move upon the +French army of the north. The colonel came into the dining-hall with a +very cheerful countenance, and, taking his seat with the Uhlan captain, +Von Säben, and several officers, drank a bumper to an energetic +continuance of the war, and to its speedy victorious termination. + +The Uhlan captain alone was depressed, and with good cause; for while +the Saxon regiment was to take up its march to Nontron on the following +morning, the squadron of Uhlans was to remain at Assais until further +orders, to prevent the formation of bands of franctireurs in the +surrounding country. Although this was an honourable service, it was +one that could be crowned by no laurels, and life in the castle, after +the departure of the Saxon officers, would be by no means attractive. +The captain's only hope was that the colonel might be right in +declaring that before many days the Uhlans also would be withdrawn from +so advanced a post. + +Kurt von Poseneck too was greatly disappointed at the prospect of +losing sight of Arno von Hohenwald. He had so rejoiced in the +new-formed friendship with his betrothed's brother, and now it was to +be thus nipped in the bud. As soon as was possible without +churlishness, Styrum, Arno, and Kurt withdrew from the circle of their +comrades on this last evening and passed together a farewell quiet +hour. When they separated Arno pressed Kurt's hand. "We shall perhaps +not see each other to-morrow," he said; "let us say farewell to-night; +only for a short time, I trust. When you send a letter to the Rhine +remember to send my greetings in it, and in return I will send yours to +Celia, and tell her that the greatest pleasure I have had during the +campaign has been to learn to know and to cordially like my future +brother-in-law. Farewell, Kurt!" + +The three had lingered longer together than they had intended, and when +they separated at the foot of the staircase leading to Styrum's and +Arno's apartments perfect quiet reigned throughout the castle. Kurt's +room was at the end of a long corridor on this second floor, and as he +walked along it his steps sounded so loud in the intense stillness that +he took care to make his tread as light as possible, lest he should +arouse his sleeping comrades. The corridor was very long, and his room +lay next to his captain's, the windows of both looking out upon the +court-yard. The night had grown cloudy, and the long window before him, +that would have given some light if the weather had been clear, was of +no use to illuminate the darkness around him, but Kurt cared little +since he could not possibly miss his door, the second from the end on +his right. He had reached about the middle of the passage when his +attention was roused by a noise upon his left; he thought he heard +approaching footsteps. He paused and listened; yes, he was right; a +door opened softly upon his left; he had a momentary glimpse of a +spacious, dimly-lighted apartment, and Monsieur Gervais stood before +him holding a lantern, the light of which fell full upon the young +officer. The man was evidently much startled, but quickly regaining his +self-possession, bowed with the courtesy he always displayed to the +Prussian officers, and offered to light the lieutenant to his room, +excusing himself for having, under the impression that every one in the +castle had retired to rest, extinguished the lights. + +He then preceded Kurt with his lantern, and only left him when he had +lighted the candle in the young man's room. + +Why had the Frenchman been so startled, so evidently frightened, at +first sight of a Prussian officer? and whence came Monsieur Gervais? +These were questions which Kurt asked himself as soon as he was left +alone,--questions which he could not answer. It occurred to him that, +confident in their numbers, the officers quartered in the castle had +neglected many precautions that prudence would have suggested. Not one +of them had hitherto thought it worth while to explore all the rooms +and passages of the huge old castle. All had been content with the +comfortable quarters assigned them by Monsieur Gervais, and had not +reflected upon the facilities that the other rooms might afford for +concealing spies and traitors. Kurt determined to use the first +unemployed hours of the following day in exploring the castle +thoroughly, and particularly in ascertaining whence the door led at +which Monsieur Gervais had appeared. As far as he could judge at +present, the large room, of which he had had a glimpse, must be +traversed to reach the wing built out into the park, at present +inhabited by the Baron de Nouart. + +With the determination to atone for a neglected duty he ceased to think +of Monsieur Gervais or of danger threatening him; he dwelt rather upon +Arno's last words to him; his heart beat at the thought that he had +accepted him as a brother-in-law, and Celia's lovely image accompanied +him to the land of dreams. + +He never suspected that Monsieur Gervais was standing outside his +bedroom-door listening with bated breath to every movement of the young +officer, and that his ear was not removed from the key-hole until the +long, regular breathing inside told him he had nothing to fear from the +Uhlan's wakefulness. The enemy slept. Monsieur Gervais could now pursue +his way unmolested, but he would guard against a second surprise. He +put the lantern on the floor, took off his boots, and in his stockings +glided swiftly to the grand staircase, which he mounted to the very +topmost story of the castle, then through a labyrinth of lumber-rooms +he reached the door of a retired apartment; here he knocked softly +three times; a bolt inside was drawn and the door opened. "Is all +secure?" was whispered in the steward's ear. + +"Yes; they are all asleep at last," was the whispered reply. "There is +no time to waste; take off your boots; you must go in your stockings as +I do." + +"Whither are you taking me?" the man asked. + +"Down-stairs and through the blue room to the Baron." + +"Why not down the back-stairs, as I came up?" + +"Because two sentinels were placed there this very after noon. Quick! +quick! we have no time to parley; the Baron has been expecting you for +more than an hour." + +The maire, for it was Fournier, of whom Repuin had spoken to Sorr, +obeyed. In his stockings he noiselessly followed his conductor, who +cautiously guided him down the grand staircase to the door of the blue +room, at which Gervais had appeared before Kurt. When it had admitted +them and was closed behind them, the steward gave a sigh of relief. No +officers were quartered in this wing; he paused and handed the lantern +to the maire, saying, in a low tone, "Now you can find your way to the +Baron without my help. I will slip back to my room in the darkness." + +"Are you not coming with me to the Baron?" + +"No; it is unnecessary; he knows all that I have been able to discover; +he will tell you what you ought to know. Farewell, Monsieur Fournier; I +will go and pray the saints to get you safely out of the castle." + +"I shall get off safely; at least these cursed Germans shall never +capture me alive, and woe to the man who attempts to detain me! I will +not die unavenged!" + +The two men separated, and the maire pursued his way to the door of the +Baron's room, where he found instant admittance. + +De Nouart was pacing restlessly to and fro; he had been awaiting +Fournier for more than an hour, and had begun to fear that some +accident had befallen him. "At last you are come!" he exclaimed. "I was +almost crazed with terror lest you had been discovered!" + +"No one suspects that I am in the castle." + +"Thank God! If I could but know you once in the forest and on the way +to our friends, I should indeed bless my lucky star! We have all taken +our lives in our hands, maire." + +"And what of that? To-day or to-morrow what matter? I would rather it +were to-day, but that I have some hope of vengeance upon these accursed +Germans." + +"You will have abundant opportunity for that," the Baron rejoined; "but +you have a long journey to make to-night." + +"Be quick, then; tell me my errand and let me be gone," the man said, +gloomily. + +"You can serve your desire for revenge upon your boy's murderers in no +way more surely than by carrying the important intelligence to Count +Repuin that the enemy is to depart to-morrow morning early for Nontron +and Chalus; the Uhlans only are to remain in Assais, and this probably +only for a few days. All this Gervais has learned from the colonel +himself. If Count Repuin has collected a sufficient force to make an +attack, he must be quick about it or he will find no foes in Assais." + +The thought that the hated Prussians might escape lent wings to the +maire's resolve; he leaped from the window, as Count Repuin had +formerly done, and vanished the next instant in the mist. Again, as +formerly, did the Baron listen, lest a shot should tell of the +discovery of the fugitive, whom in truth he cared for as little as for +that other, and yet for whose safety he trembled. His anxiety was +unnecessary, the deep silence of the forest was unbroken. + +He turned from the window and gave himself up to reflection upon the +dangers that encompassed him. Had he done right in apprising Repuin of +the intended departure of the Saxons? If the Count should make the +attack and be repulsed, would not Prussian vengeance first strike the +French inmates of the castle? It had been folly to incite the Count to +an attack! But no, whatever came of it he must keep his word to the +Russian. Prussian vengeance he might escape; the Russian's never. He +was bound body and soul to this man whom he hated; he could not free +himself from the chain. + +His head ached with the thoughts that crowded upon him; he was terribly +weary and exhausted. There was one way to cure this dull pain, one +means to scare away this terrible weakness; but he had promised not to +use it. A single glass of the fiery liquid in the flask on the +sideboard would send the blood dancing in his veins again; a single +glass! Repuin was far away, there was not the slightest danger +threatening for the moment; was he an utter slave to the Russian? No; +he would endure it no longer. He poured out a glass from the flask and +emptied it at a draught. Ah, this was strength and courage to face the +future! Another and another. He had not slept o'nights of late, now he +began to feel delightfully drowsy. By the time the flask was finished +he had slipped from his arm-chair to the floor, where he lay until the +following day. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV. + + +Early the next morning, immediately after sunrise, the Saxon regiment +fell back upon Nontron. The weather was superb, and had its effect upon +both officers and men, although Count von Schlichting felt it his duty +to warn Captain von Säben before his departure that he must be upon his +guard against treachery. The old colonel did not like to leave so small +a force in so hostile a country, infested on all sides by franctireurs, +and not even the brilliant sunshine and the relief from inaction could +altogether dispel his regret at leaving them thus. + +Kurt von Poseneck was at some distance from Assais when the Saxons left +it. He had, with a command of about a dozen Uhlans, been ordered to +make a reconnoissance in search of franctireurs, and he could not, of +course, take leave of his friends. When he returned in the afternoon +Arno and Styrum had both gone, and Kurt found only his captain, Von +Säben, and two comrades ready in the large dining-hall to partake of +the excellent dinner provided for them by Monsieur Gervais. + +Had the sun not shone so brilliantly the large hall would have seemed +gloomy enough, and even as it was the emptiness and quiet of the +apartment, where lately so much noisy gayety had held sway, had a +depressing effect upon the Uhlan officers, which Kurt's report was not +calculated to dissipate. Even Von Säben looked grave, and was reminded +of the colonel's parting words. + +Kurt had nowhere found an enemy; if there really were bands of +franctireurs in the vicinity they had withdrawn into the forest of +Assais, which afforded hiding-places from which cavalry were powerless +to drive them. This forest was a sort of continuation of the castle +park, and if danger there were, it lay in the probability of an attack +upon the castle from this direction. That such a danger existed Kurt +was convinced by the behaviour of the country-people in all directions. +They had shown no open hostility to the Uhlans, but their demeanour had +been that of men looking forward to a time near at hand when they might +take revenge upon their foes. At all events this had been the +impression produced upon Kurt's mind, and Captain von Säben so far +heeded it as to double the watch at various posts around the castle, +and to take other precautions to insure safety. + +Kurt withdrew early from the dinner-table, intending to write letters +in his room, and as he passed along the corridor towards it his resolve +of the previous night suddenly occurred to his mind. He was directly +opposite the door at which Gervais had appeared, and the steward was at +present busy in the dining-hall, which he could not leave for some time +to come. There could be no time more favourable than the present for +his exploration of this part of the castle. He tried the door at which +he stood: it opened easily; he entered, and closed it behind him. + +He found himself in a large room hung with blue, and somewhat dark, as +it was lighted by but one window; it was only a thoroughfare, as was +plain from the furniture, that consisted simply of cabinets placed +against the walls. Kurt went to the window, and found that he had been +correct in suspecting that the room led to the wing extending into the +park, in which were the Baron's apartments; before him was the lawn, in +front of the Baron's windows, and to the left was the park itself; he +could even see the path by which he, with his two friends, had on the +previous day visited the stables at the back of the gardener's house, +where the Baron kept a fine pair of riding-horses, belonging to his +cousin the Marquise. + +Which of the four doors that opened into this apartment should he +select? He tried the one nearest him; it was unlocked, and he entered a +room furnished with the greatest luxury, and leading by an open door to +a bedroom as gorgeously fitted up. A writing-table stood beside the +window, and an open portfolio, from between the leaves of which, as +Kurt took it up, fluttered a torn envelope, addressed in German to the +"Herr Count Repuin." Count Repuin! Kurt knew the name but too well. +Herr Ahlborn had at Lucie's request told him his daughter's sad story, +and this name was branded in his memory as that of Lucie's unprincipled +persecutor. And he found it here upon an empty envelope postmarked +Brussels. The connection was easy to divine, Repuin was the brother of +the Marquise de Lancy, and the former inmate of this room. But he had +not fled to Germany alone: Sorr had accompanied him. There suddenly +occurred to Kurt an explanation of the fact that Styrum, Arno, and the +colonel, to all of whom Sorr was personally known, had been puzzled by +the resemblance of the Baron de Nouart to some one whose name they +could not recall. If all this were as he suspected, if Repuin, the +proscribed French agent, were really the brother of the Marquise de +Lancy, if his tool, Sorr, were here in the castle in disguise, +certainly the greatest caution was necessary; there was danger of +treachery on every hand, danger that perhaps could be averted only by +the instant arrest of the Baron de Nouart. And yet, could mere +suspicion justify such an arrest? The man would have to be taken to +Nontron, and tried there by a court-martial, which, under the direction +of the pitiless Count Schlichting, could end but in one way,--death. + +Kurt thought of Celia's friend, of Frau von Sorr; the death of her +worthless husband would restore her to life. But in an instant he +spurned the unworthy thought. His friendship for Lucie should never +influence him where duty was concerned. This duty, however, bade him +reveal his discovery to his superior officer; it was for him to command +in this matter, Kurt's part was to obey. + +The light was dying in the west, he had not time to continue his +explorations thoroughly, and, after satisfying himself that this room +was connected with De Nouart's apartments by a winding staircase, which +led past servants' rooms, Kurt returned unmolested to the blue room, +whence he issued unobserved into the corridor leading to his own and +Von Säben's quarters. + +He found his captain just returned to his room from a tour of +inspection of the posts about the castle, and quite ready to listen to +all that he had to say. Of course Von Säben knew nothing of Repuin or +of Sorr. Kurt explained who they were, and their complicity in +treasonable plots in Germany, without in any way mentioning Frau von +Sorr. They were both proscribed French agents. + +"The address on the envelope is, after all, your only ground for +suspicion that the proscribed Count Repuin is one and the same person +with the brother of the Marquise de Lancy, and that the Baron de Nouart +is a German, and the Herr von Sorr of whom you speak," the captain +said, when Kurt had finished his narrative. + +"That and the resemblance observed by Count Schlichting, Count Styrum, +and the Baron von Hohenwald between the Baron de Nouart and some one +whom they had seen." + +"But neither of these gentlemen was reminded of Sorr. Count Schlichting +has told me that he has an excellent memory for faces, and should +recognize one that he had once seen, even after twenty years. Would he +not instantly have known Sorr?" + +"He probably never imagined that he should find him here in France +under the name of the Baron de Nouart. The Baron's avoidance of us, and +his pretended ignorance of the German language, seem to me very +suspicious circumstances." Kurt remarked. + +"And yet they are hardly sufficient to warrant my arresting him and +sending him to Nontron," the captain replied. "The colonel is an +excellent man, but he is fond of a short shrift, and apt to take +suspicion for certainty. If he should discover Sorr and the Baron to be +one and the same person, he would have the poor devil shot without more +ado; and it may be that, even although he wishes to avoid us, he does +not meditate treachery. I am not fond of courts-martial, Herr von +Poseneck, and I do without them when I can. Your discovery is certainly +of importance, and it behooves us to be more upon our guard than ever. +We have been imprudent in instituting no thorough search of the castle. +This shall be undertaken to-morrow, and if we find proof of the Baron's +guilt he shall be brought to justice." + + +All the officers, Kurt with the rest, retired early on this evening, +Kurt imagining that the fatigue and excitement of the day would insure +him instant repose. But this was not so; he lay awake hour after hour; +sleep fled his eyelids. In vain did he woo her by all familiar means, +counting slowly to one hundred, reciting mentally verses learned in +childhood; he could not banish from his mind his last conversation with +his captain. + +At last he sprang out of bed. Better to pace his room to and fro for an +hour than toss restlessly there. The moon was at the full. Kurt went to +the window, whence he had a clear view of the spacious court-yard of +the castle. Opposite lay the farm-buildings in which a part of the +Uhlans were quartered, the stalls being appropriated to their horses, +and back of those Kurt could in the brilliant moonlight get a view of a +portion of the broad road leading to the village. The court-yard was +empty; the two sentinels posted in front of the stables were slowly +pacing to and fro, their sabres resting negligently in their arms, and +one of them, as Kurt was looking, so far forgot his duty in his sense +of security as to lean against the house and rest. This was a culpable +want of the vigilance which the captain had enjoined upon the guards on +the previous evening. The lives of many might depend upon the +watchfulness of any one of the sentinels posted in the court-yard. + +Kurt left the window and dressed, not hastily, but quite leisurely; he +would himself go down to the court-yard and make an example of any +soldier not vigilant at his post. He needed no light; the moonlight was +all that he required. When quite dressed he sat for a moment, his head +resting on his hand, reflecting whether it were not perhaps best to +visit the sentries placed in the park, when he was suddenly startled by +a shot; another and another came in quick succession, and then followed +a sharp rattle of musketry, apparently in the very court-yard. + +Kurt rushed to the window. Where was the scene of repose and security +upon which he had looked out little more than a quarter of an hour +previously? A disorderly crowd of armed men, some hundreds strong, was +pouring in at the court-yard gates and rushing towards the farm +buildings and stables, while along the road from the village a dark +mass was moving quickly, the moonlight glinting here and there upon +polished rifle-barrels. In a few moments the assailants had attained +their end; the two sentinels were shot down, the doors of the farm +buildings and stables were forced; there were but a few scattered +carbine-shots in answer to the continuous rattle of musketry; victory +over the Uhlans quartered there was easy for such overpowering numbers. + +One glance sufficed to show Kurt the danger threatening the entire +squadron. All in the farm buildings were lost; it might still be +possible, however, to save the officers in the castle and the men in +the village, but not a moment must be wasted, for already about thirty +franctireurs had turned from the farm buildings and were advancing +towards the castle. Kurt's presence of mind stood him in stead now as +it had done formerly in America. He saw plainly that there was but one +course by which death or capture could be evaded,--flight. Resistance +to such an overwhelming force would be madness. He could not even rouse +his brother officers on the ground-floor of the castle; the +franctireurs would be there before him. The captain he could rouse, and +together they might escape into the side wing of the castle, through +the room explored so short a time since by Kurt, and thence into the +park. If they could succeed in reaching the stables behind the +gardener's house, where they had seen the horses, they might perhaps be +able to ride by roundabout ways to the village in time to save the +Uhlans quartered there. In an instant Kurt had girded on his sabre and +armed himself with a revolver; then opening the door of the captain's +room, he found Von Säben just about to step out of it. He had been +unwilling, after his conversation with Kurt, to go to bed, but had +determined to inspect the various posts after midnight, and had thrown +himself into an arm-chair, where, however, he had slept soundly until +awakened by the noise of the struggle in the court-yard. He, too, had +recognized from his window, as Kurt had done, the folly of resistance +to so numerous a foe, but he was nevertheless about to go down to the +court-yard when Kurt rushed into his room. "You were right, Herr von +Poseneck," he said; "that villain Sorr has betrayed us! All is lost! +There is nothing for us but to die with our brave fellows; our place is +down there among them." + +He spoke as quietly as though he were inviting Kurt to walk with him in +the park; he awaited no reply, but was striding on to the head of the +grand staircase when Karl detained him. "There is nothing to be done +down there captain," he said; "the castle is lost, but we may escape to +the village and muster our men." + +"How? In one minute the rogues will be in the castle; the maire of the +village and Gervais--I recognized them both--are leading the band that +is evidently resolved upon capturing us in our rooms." + +"Still there is no need to throw away our lives,--we must make an +attempt to save our fellows in the village; perhaps escape is possible +through the side-wing." + +"Go on; I will follow you!" + +Not another word was spoken; Kurt hurried on, revolver in hand, the +captain close upon his heels. When the two officers had reached the +blue room they could plainly hear the blows of the franctireurs upon +the doors of the rooms on the ground-floor; in another instant the two +men had entered the room, closed the door behind them, and hurried +through the other apartments towards the side-wing. + +"Saved," whispered Kurt; "no one is quartered in this wing, we shall +encounter no enemy here." He was right; neither the Baron de Nouart nor +Gervais had dreamed that the German officers could escape through this +unknown wing and no precautions had been taken to prevent their doing +so. The wing was deserted and silent; the din of the struggle in the +court-yard sounded indistinct and muffled. Kurt, followed by his +captain, rushed down the winding staircase to the passage on the +ground-floor. By this the captain would have gained the park; but Kurt +again detained him. "That door can be seen from the court-yard," he +said, "and if we are perceived we shall have the whole rabble about our +ears. We must find a way into the park through the window of some one +of these rooms." He tried the first door they came to; it opened and +admitted the two officers to a lighter apartment. Here an unexpected +sight met their eyes. In an arm-chair before a table, upon which stood +his beloved brandy-flask, sat the Baron de Nouart. He had had recourse +to his favourite stimulant to steady his nerves while he sat in +terrified expectation of the attack. A revolver lay upon the table +ready, if he should be forced to take any part in the fray. + +When the door was suddenly opened and he saw before him the two +Prussian officers, Kurt with a revolver, the captain with a drawn +sabre, the Baron sprang to his feet and glared at the intruders with +lack-lustre eyes. He was half intoxicated, he could hardly stand +upright, but he still had sense enough to clutch at his revolver to +defend himself. + +But his hand never touched the weapon; before he could grasp it the +captain stretched him on the floor with a tremendous blow, delivered +with all his force, of his drawn sabre. He fell without a sound. + +"Is he dead?" the captain asked. + +"We cannot wait to see," Kurt replied; "at all events he cannot betray +us!" And he hurried to the window. The lawn between the wing and the +forest lay quiet in the moon light; not a man was to be seen. He +listened,--only the distant noise in the court-yard fell upon his ear. + +He opened the window and lightly sprang out; the captain followed him, +confiding himself blindly to Kurt's guidance. They ran with lightning +speed across the lawn, and then in the shadow of the forest to the +gardener's house. All here was quiet,--every one had hurried to the +court-yard; the stable-door was open; there stood the two noble horses, +their saddles and bridles hanging upon the wall. + +In less time than it takes to tell it the two cavalry officers were in +the saddle and galloping furiously by a back-road to the village. + +A savage yell resounded from the castle. From one of the lighted +windows of the wing several shots were fired, but the bullets whistled +harmlessly past the riders' ears; the bewildering moonlight prevented +the marksmen from aiming truly. + +"Our flight is discovered. The forest is our only chance. This way!" +Kurt cried, as he drove the spurs into his horse's sides and turned +towards a narrow forest road that led by a longer roundabout way to the +village. + +The captain followed; but just as he entered the woods several shots +again flashed from the castle window; he wavered in his saddle: a +bullet had struck him in the side; he grasped his horse's mane with his +right hand, and managed to keep his seat and continue his furious +gallop after Kurt. + +The fugitives succeeded at last in gaining the open beyond the wood, +but here Kurt first noticed his companion's convulsive grip of his +horse's mane and his failing exertions to keep himself upright in the +saddle. "Are you wounded?" he asked, anxiously. + +There was no reply. Loss of blood had produced unconsciousness, and +Kurt caught his captain in his arms just in time to prevent him from +falling from his horse. He dismounted with his lifeless burden, and, +laying it upon the grass beneath a tree, looked about for help. He +remembered that a mounted sentinel had been stationed here, where the +forest road ended in the open; but there was no horseman to be seen. He +could not have deserted his post; a brief inspection of the surrounding +field in the moonlight showed him that the soldier had been true to his +duty; he was lying dead in a pool of blood at a little distance; his +horse was nowhere to be seen, probably his murderers had carried it +off. + +What was to be done? Every moment of delay was ruin. The enemy had +discovered the flight of the two officers, there were horses enough to +be had for pursuit, and, although Kurt's short experience of his steed +had convinced him that he need not dread this for himself, he could not +desert his captain; how was he to be carried to a place of safety? Duty +called Kurt to Assais, where, as a few straggling shots informed him, +the fray had already begun, and duty forbade his abandoning his wounded +captain to the pursuing franctireurs. He could not delay, the moments +were priceless. "To Assais!" he exclaimed to himself. The outnumbered +Uhlans there needed a leader, who might perhaps save some few from +captivity and death; the captain himself would never have hesitated to +sacrifice his life for his men; had he been conscious he would surely +have ordered his lieutenant to leave him to his fate. + +He swung himself into the saddle again and rode towards the village, +but reined in his horse as he reached the top of a small eminence, +whence he had a full moonlit view of Assais. A dark mass of combatants +was heaving to and fro between him and the nearest houses of the +village, whence came a sharp rattle of firearms; the crowd parted, and +a portion of it approached him rapidly. His heart beat high as he +recognized it to be a detachment of Uhlans that had escaped from the +village and was now galloping towards him. There were but a dozen of +them, and as he rode to meet them with a thundering "Halt!" they obeyed +instantly, and an old sergeant, who recognized the lieutenant, gave him +an account of an attack upon the village, which had taken place almost +simultaneously with that upon the castle. The outlying guard must have +been fallen upon unawares and murdered by the villagers, as not one +shot had been heard from them. The Uhlans had been surprised in their +quarters by an overwhelming force of franctireurs,--ten Frenchmen to +one Prussian,--but in the general confusion this little band had +managed to get to horse and cut their way through the enemy. "If the +cursed Frenchman had only known how to handle their chassepots better," +the old man added, "not an Uhlan would have escaped." He did not fear +pursuit, "for the bumpkins had no idea of managing an Uhlan horse." + +The sergeant's tale convinced Kurt of the tragic fate of the +squadron,--probably for the most part surprised in their beds, murdered +or taken prisoner; all thought of rescuing them was vain. And yet the +young officer was sorely tempted to make one dash into Assais at the +head of the fugitives to rescue any of their comrades who might be +prisoners there. It cost him a hard struggle to decide to leave Assais +without one blow struck at the foe; but he knew that duty called him to +Nontron. He ordered three men to ride on before as quickly as their +horses could carry them to announce the fate of the squadron, and with +the rest he rode back to where the captain was lying, that he also +might be safely transported thither. + + + + + CHAPTER XXV. + + +There was savage revelry in Assais. It was the first victory that these +men, but lately mustered into service, had gained over the dreaded +Prussians,--a victory all the more brilliant since it had been won at +so little loss. Only two franctireurs had fallen in the short +conflict,--five or six had been wounded, and the Baron de Nouart had +been found dead in his room with his skull cloven. + +This was the entire loss suffered by the fortunate victors, who had +almost annihilated an entire squadron of those Uhlans of whose ferocity +such fearful stories were told. + +The light-hearted conquerors paid no heed to the fact that a couple of +dozen of the enemy and several officers had escaped; they had no fear +of the fugitives, they had not even attempted to pursue them. + +Intoxicated with victory, the exultant franctireurs rushed through the +village; the slight bonds of discipline that had restrained them at the +beginning of the attack were rent asunder, and Count Repuin, their +commander, with two or three French officers, attempted in vain to stem +the torrent; all commands were unheeded. + +The franctireurs associated the villagers with them in a search for any +Prussians that might still be concealed in the village, murdering any +such when found, and dragging their corpses through the mud with savage +yells, that made night hideous. Even women, drunk with the desire for +revenge, aided their husbands and sons in this ferocious work, +mutilating the dead in their fury and inciting others to the same +horrors. But there were exceptions; here and there a wife or maiden of +Assais risked her life to conceal some Prussian fugitive from the fury +of husband or lover. + +Count Repuin looked on aghast at the savagery of the insane mob, who +had thus thrown aside all law and order. He hated the Prussians from +his soul, he was their implacable foe; but this wholesale murder, this +cowardly mutilation of the dead, aroused his indignation; he felt that +he had conjured up spirits that he lacked the power to control. + +Again and again he attempted to restore some degree of order, but his +commands were received with shouts of derision, and he owed it to the +interference of some of his officers that the rage of the franctireurs +was not turned against himself. There were scowling looks accompanying +muttered curses of the foreigner who dared to intercede for Prussians, +and he was obliged to look on inactive at the murderous work. + +He was perhaps the only one of the victors who felt no joy whatever in +the victory. His plan had been to inspire his raw troops with courage +and confidence by an easy conquest, and he had intended to withdraw in +good order with his prisoners as soon as the victory was won. He +now withdrew, after a last vain attempt to restore order, to the +dining-hall of the castle, where, with one of his young officers, he +paced restlessly to and fro. At each outburst of exultation that +reached his ears from without he vented savage curses upon the +canaille, who did not deserve that a man of honour should command them. +He knew only too well that each hour as it sped past increased the +danger that the easy-won victory would be converted into a disgraceful +defeat. + +The officers of the squadron had escaped; the two lieutenants on the +ground-floor had probably been awakened by the first shots and had fled +into the forest, leaving their uniforms behind them; from these there +was not much to fear, but the captain and his companion, who had slain +the Baron de Nouart when he had probably attempted to impede their +flight, had also escaped, and upon two fleet horses. The shots fired +after them had been unavailing; they could reach Nontron in a short +time and summon the colonel, Count Schlichting, to the rescue. + +And then? Repuin cast a glance at the stiffened corpse of the Baron de +Nouart, which had been brought into the dining-hall and lay there on +the floor in a corner half covered with a piece of carpet. He thought +of his last conversation with him, of how he had been warned by him not +to attempt an attack upon a foe so much the stronger. "Count +Schlichting knows no mercy!" had been Sorr's words. Then the Count had +received them with a sneer; now, as he thought of the near future, they +filled him with horror. The colonel had already heard of the struggle +in Assais; he was even now at the head of his regiment on the way +hither from Nontron to rescue and to avenge. + +Repuin was innately brave; he could laugh danger and death to scorn in +the heat of battle, but the idea of being taken prisoner and shot in +cold blood by the hated Germans drove the blood from his cheek. He +turned to the young officer at his side and confided his fears to him, +commissioning him to make one more attempt with a few experienced +soldiers to assemble the men in some degree of order. + +The officer promised to do his best, but his efforts were fruitless +until it was too late. + +The franctireurs, scattered through the village, refused to obey +the bugle-call; they were engaged in a wild orgie with some of the +country-people. Wine flowed in streams, and there were loud shouts of +"Vive la France! vive la victoire!" that never ceased until a +breathless messenger spread the news through the village with the speed +of lightning that a German host was marching upon Assais along the +roads from Nontron and Chalus, and that it would be upon them in less +than half an hour. This intelligence sobered in an instant those drunk +with wine and conquest. Now they hurried to obey the bugle-call, but it +was too late! An orderly retreat was no longer possible. This Repuin +perceived, as from the castle he marked the close ranks of the +approaching enemy, who, thanks to the mad neglect and want of +discipline of the franctireurs, was so near that he would reach the +village before the scattered Frenchmen could assemble together. Were +not fugitives already scouring the fields upon the horses of the slain +Uhlans? Should a panic ensue, rescue would be impossible; there might +be something, an honorable death at least, gained from a stubborn +defence of both castle and village. + +The bitter conflict lasted several hours; the Frenchmen, so lately +taken from the plough and work-bench, the franctireurs, so despised by +the Germans, defended every house in the village, and last of all the +castle itself, with a courage and heroism worthy of better success. + +The same franctireurs who, scorning all discipline, had been converted +into a mob of murderous savages by victory over defenceless Uhlans +surprised in sleep, returned instantly to their duty when a hard battle +was imminent. The example of a few cowards who escaped upon the Uhlan +horses found no followers. The young men with the villagers fought with +desperate courage; even the wounded refused to yield, and fell fighting +to the last in a hopeless struggle against the superior organization +and numbers of the Saxons, who, although at heavy loss, stormed every +house in the village, and finally gained possession of the castle +itself. + +Only a very few of the French succeeded in escaping to the forest, +where they scattered; the rest atoned with their lives for their brief +period of conquest, and the crimes committed in Assais. + + +The conflict had been terrible, crushing for the conquered, and tragic +enough for the victors, who had sustained heavy losses. If the +franctireurs had been better marksmen and had not suffered from the +death of their leader, Count Repuin, early in the fray, they would have +prolonged the struggle, and the German losses would have been greater +still, for the French had the advantage of a sheltered position. + +The village of Assais, when the battle was over, presented a ghastly +spectacle. Among the dead and dying that cumbered its streets the Saxon +soldiers were searching diligently for wounded comrades, who were +carried to the castle, where the regimental surgeons had their hands +full. + +The wounded officers, of whom there were not a few, were carried into +the dining-hall, where pallets had been arranged, upon which they might +rest for the brief space of time that the regiment could remain in +Assais. Its work of vengeance completed, it must immediately fall back +again upon Nontron. + +The colonel's face was grimly sad as he entered the hall for a personal +inspection of the wounded. "We have suffered heavily," he said to Count +Styrum, who, with his arm in a sling, approached him. "Much noble blood +has been shed, and I take blame to myself for it." + +"What possible blame can attach to you, colonel?" + +"I might have nipped the treachery here in the bud. From the first I +mistrusted that Baron de Nouart and his tool Gervais. But for my +weakness they would both have been brought to a court-martial, and then +all their villainous schemes would have come to light, your arm, +Styrum, would have been free from a sling, and your best friends, +Hohenwald and Poseneck, would not be lying there severely wounded. How +is it with Arno? What does the surgeon say?" + +"He gives us good hope. The wound is serious; he is still unconscious, +but the surgeon says that he thinks careful nursing will bring him +round." + +"Careful nursing!" said the colonel. "And where is he to get careful +nursing in this God-forgotten corner of France? In two hours at the +latest we must take up our march for Nontron, and even there our +wounded cannot rest. I must send them on farther. What nursing can they +have in the nearest hospital? They are all over-crowded. And can +Hohenwald bear the transportation to a hospital?" + +"He can bear a farther journey than that if taken carefully. I believe, +colonel, that I can save Hohenwald's life if you will allow of my +undertaking his transportation to the only place where he will find +health for both body and soul." + +"I do not understand you, Count." + +"Upon a charming estate on the Rhine, near S----, a lady has +established a private hospital; beneath her care Arno will, I am sure, +recover." + +"Aha! I see, an affair of the heart. Who would have suspected it of our +misogynist? But S---- on the Rhine is far from here." + +"I will undertake to deliver him there safely with your permission, +colonel. My wound makes me incapable of service for some weeks, but I +have strength enough to superintend the transportation of poor +Hohenwald and of my cousin, Kurt von Poseneck, to S----. Your +permission is all that is needed, colonel." + +"That you shall have. All that I can do for your friends shall be done. +How is Poseneck?" + +"Doing fairly well. He has recovered his consciousness and can answer +for himself. His bed is the last; Arno's is next to the last." + +The colonel walked down the row of beds, accompanied by Styrum, saying +a few kind words to each of the wounded officers. He paused for some +minutes beside Arno's couch, gazing sadly at the pale, unconscious +figure stretched there. "My poor old friend!" he murmured. "It will be +a hard blow for him to learn that his darling son is severely wounded. +I must write to him. Better hear it from me than from the papers. It +ought to console him to know how his son has distinguished himself +to-day." + +"It will console him still further, colonel," Styrum observed, "if you +will add in your letter that by your permission I have taken Arno and +my cousin Kurt to Kaltenborn, near S----. He will be quite satisfied +that Arno will be preserved to him if he knows that he is to be tended +and nursed by one whom the old Baron honours and loves as he does Frau +von Sorr." + +The colonel turned hastily and looked in surprise at Styrum. "What name +did you say?" he asked, eagerly. + +"Fran von Sorr is the lady who has instituted a private hospital on her +father's estate of Kaltenborn." + +"And you wish to take Arno to her; you would confide him to Frau von +Sorr's care?" + +"Yes, colonel; Frau von Sorr lived at Castle Hohenwald for some time as +governess to Arno's sister; she is warmly attached to the family, and I +know that the old Freiherr holds her in high esteem." + +"And Arno?" + +"Esteems her no less than does his father." + +"Hm! After a different fashion, perhaps," the colonel said, with a +smile. "Be assured I will do all that I can to further your wishes. +And, by the way, what has become of that scoundrel Sorr? Has Poseneck's +suspicion been confirmed? Is the Baron de Nouart, whom Captain von +Säben laid low with a sabre-stroke, found to be one and the same person +with Herr von Sorr?" + +"There he lies," Styrum gravely replied! "I have no doubt upon the +subject, although the features seem greatly altered. I saw Sorr only +once at a ball, but I remember him perfectly, and recognized the dead +man's face, although it is disguised by a huge false beard." + +The colonel turned and looked at the corpse of the supposed Baron. A +compassionate maid had washed the blood from the face, and in so doing +had loosened the false beard, which the colonel now tossed aside, and +all doubt as to the man's identity instantly vanished from the minds of +the two officers. + +"It is indeed he," said Schlichting; "he has reaped the reward of his +treachery, as has also Repuin, who was shot dead early in the +engagement. I think, Styrum, that both you and Herr von Poseneck will +agree with me that it is best so; we are spared the dealing out to them +the death of traitors." + +As he spoke he went up to Kurt's couch, and the young man was quite +able to express his thanks for the colonel's promised aid in +transporting him to Kaltenborn. The surgeon, however, at this moment +made his appearance and forbade further conversation, as Kurt's wound +was in the chest and he had suffered from loss of blood. Count +Schlichting therefore gave his hand a farewell pressure and left the +hall. + + +Several months have elapsed; how, during this time, those who have +played principal parts in our story have prospered may be gathered from +the following communications from the widowed Frau von Sorr to her +dearest friend: + + + "Kaltenborn, December 18, 1870. + +"Dearest Adèle,--What weeks of suspense have passed since I last wrote +you!--passed amid hopes and fears, terrible distress, and yet happiness +unspeakable. I could not write; every moment that was not spent in care +of him seemed wasted in disloyal neglect. + +"At last the staff surgeon came to me yesterday with a beaming face and +the delicious words, 'Out of all danger!' Since then I have been in a +dream of happiness, and my first thought is to make you the sharer of +my joy. + +"That Arno is spared to me I owe entirely to the self-devotion of your +Karl. He has, I know, written to you how he obtained permission to +bring Arno and Kurt von Poseneck across half France to be nursed here +by me. But he has not, I am sure, told you at what an expense of +trouble and strength he with his wound did this. I never shall forget +the moment, now just six weeks ago, when he came to meet me below in +the hall. A messenger on horseback, from S----, had brought word that +three wounded officers, among whom was Lieutenant Kurt von Poseneck, +had been by their desire transferred to Kaltenborn for lodgment and +nursing, and that they would arrive in an hour at the latest. I was +ready to receive them, too glad to take charge of Kurt, and little +dreaming how near the other two were to my heart. I never can tell you, +dear Adèle, of all that I suffered during those first few days. Count +Styrum's exertions in bringing his charge to this place had been +superhuman; his own wound, not serious at first, had been greatly +aggravated, and for a time he was utterly prostrated. But now the +dreadful days are all past when the angel of death lingered beside the +two so near to me, Arno and Kurt. As soon as your Karl recovered from +the disastrous effects of his journey he joined me in care of them, and +never shall I forget the consolation of his presence and his words. +When I gave up all hope of Arno's recovery, Count Styrum was always +ready to tell me how, in '66, he had recovered from a worse wound, and +to bid me rely upon his vigorous constitution. And during the long +hours when together we watched beside Arno's or Kurt's couch. Count +Styrum recounted to me the terrible events of which he was an +eye-witness at Assais. From him I learned the fate of my unhappy +husband,--that death had dissolved the tie that bound me to him. + +"It would be hypocrisy, dearest Adèle, to attempt to conceal from you +that this knowledge brought with it a sense of relief to which I had +long been an utter stranger, and that I breathed still more freely when +I learned that I need no longer dread the persecutions of Count Repuin, +who also fell fighting at Assais. As to Herr von Sorr, I forgive his +sins against me, and when I think of him in future I will recall the +time when he certainly did not inspire me with terror." + + + "December 26. + +"Arno is making rapid strides towards recovery. To-day he was able to +sit up for an hour; his voice is clear and strong, and when he looks at +me his eyes sparkle, as they did once at Castle Hohenwald." + + + "December 30. + +"You see, dear, I write oftener. Kurt is nearly well; he took a walk in +the garden yesterday, and the doctor says he will be able to return to +his regiment in two weeks, when your betrothed also leaves us. I am +glad to know them so far recovered, and yet how we shall miss them! + +"Arno will chafe at being obliged to take no share in the glorious +termination of the war, but he must submit; the doctor says he cannot +possibly be fit for service for some months yet. I will confess to you, +dear Adèle, that when the old doctor uttered this verdict I could have +kissed him. Arno had been so much pleased at his increasing strength +that he had entertained hopes of leaving Kaltenborn with your Karl and +Kurt, and of course he was disappointed at first. Then he looked at me; +I suppose my joy was evident in my face, for his brow cleared +instantly, and he said no more about leaving." + + + "Kaltenborn, January 15, 1871. + +"Adèle, my darling Adèle, I am the happiest woman in the world! I am +betrothed! Ah, how fair life is! You must hear all about it, although +no one else is to know of it for some time to come. Listen, I will tell +you all. Early this afternoon I was seated in my little drawing-room at +my writing-table, when I heard the door open behind me and some one +say, 'Excuse me, madame, I would not intrude. Modesty is a gift of +nature; I do not boast, but I possess it----' + +"Of course there was no need to turn round to recognize the good +Assessor von Hahn, my former admirer. Yes, there he was, and the oddest +figure imaginable. Had not the red cross on his left arm informed me in +what capacity he had come to the Rhine, I should have supposed him +dressed as a brigand for a masquerade; his costume, with a huge sabre +dragging at his heels, was so comical. + +"I could not but smile as I welcomed him to Kaltenborn, and told him +how glad I was to see by his red cross to what service he had devoted +himself. + +"'Yes, madame,' he said, twisting his moustache after his old familiar +fashion, 'I serve the fatherland; this very evening I must take up my +journey to France; duty demands it, and I am a slave to duty; I do not +boast, but I am so. I have stolen a moment on the way to assure you of +my devotion to you, and to bring you some news which will, I am sure, +surprise you. I have the honour of being in charge of supplies for some +of our hospitals in France. Early this morning, as my train was about +to leave the station at Minden, as I stood upon the platform, my +attention was attracted by an old gentleman who was berating a railway +official in no measured terms. The official had just informed him that +this was a train bearing supplies, and that no places could be procured +on it for passengers, and the old man's anger found vent in a good +round oath; he was ready to pay any price for places, and have them he +must and would. He was supported on the arm of an old servant in +livery, and beside him stood a young girl. I could not see her face, +but her figure was charming. I passed around her and recognized--but +surely, madame, you have guessed whom I recognized----' + +"I tried in vain to solve the riddle, mentioning the names of several +ladies known to each of us, but in vain. + +"'Wrong, madame; I am sure your astonishment will equal mine when I +tell you that I recognized in the young lady with the charming figure +my lovely cousin, Celia von Hohenwald.' + +"My astonishment was indeed great; the Assessor was delighted. 'Yes, +Celia von Hohenwald; she was with her father, my respected relative, +the Freiherr von Hohenwald. Fortunately, I met them upon the railway +platform at Minden, and was able to be of service to them.' + +"'The Freiherr von Hohenwald!' I exclaimed, now amazed indeed. I could +hardly believe that my dear old friend had left his forest castle, +where he had so long been confined to his rolling-chair, but the +Assessor eagerly went on to explain it all to me. + +"The Freiherr's health had improved wonderfully during the past summer, +as I knew from Celia's letters, but she had not told me that he had for +some time been able to walk in his beloved garden supported by old +Franz, and she herself had never dreamed that he would think of +undertaking a journey. He had heard first from Count Schlichting and +then from Kurt, as he told the Assessor, of his son's wound, and had +determined not to await his recovery, but to go himself to Kaltenborn, +that he might be near him. So, accompanied by Celia and old Franz, he +had set out, and felt better and stronger than he had done for years. +His desire to see his son again was intense, and hence his angry +outbreak when told that he could not leave Minden by this train. The +Assessor instantly offered both Celia and himself seats in his own +coupé, while old Franz was accommodated in a freight-wagon. The good +little man fairly glowed with enthusiasm as he described his delightful +journey and the charms of his fair cousin, to whom he has evidently +lost his too susceptible heart. + +"Arrived at S----, the Assessor instantly came by extra post to +Kaltenborn to announce the arrival of the Baron and his daughter, that +Arno might be prepared to meet them. They were, the Assessor concluded, +awaiting his return at S----, whither he was to carry intelligence of +Arno's condition and my father's permission to visit Kaltenborn. + +"You may imagine, dear, how happy the good Assessor's news made me. To +think of seeing once more my dear old friend and Celia! My heart beat +quickly as I went with the Assessor to Arno's room, where the little +man contrived with great tact to announce to him the arrival of such +dear friends. + +"My father was out walking, but I sent in his name a cordial invitation +to the Freiherr, and the Assessor took leave of all of us in a state of +the most amiable self-complacency. + +"After his departure I had too much to do in preparing for the +reception of my dear guests to leave time for reflection. I had just +finished arranging flowers in their rooms when their carriage stopped +at the hall-door. I really do not know how I got down-stairs, but I +found myself at the carriage-door. I felt Celia's ardent kisses, and +the next instant I was in the carriage and in the Freiherr's arms. He +kissed my forehead tenderly, and then, clasping both my hands in his, +held me off from him with a smile of perfect content on his dear old +face. 'You never thought, my dear child,' he said, 'that your old +adorer would leave his rolling-chair and come to look for you. I could +not help it; a longing for the sight of you and anxiety for my boy have +brought me here. No, not anxiety, for even when the Poseneck fellow +wrote me word that he was very ill I knew that my dear child's tender +nursing would preserve him to me; and so it was. I owe my Arno's life +to you.' + +"I would have disclaimed his praise, but he would not let me speak. 'I +know better about it than you do, child; his heart needed healing, and +I knew his body would follow suit. You alone could be his true +physician. But never blush about it; postpone that, dear child, until +you and I have had a private talk together. Thunder and lightning! The +will-o'-the-wisp has rushed directly into the Poseneck fellow's arms! +Here's a pretty business!' + +"The tone in which this outburst was uttered was far from grim, and the +words themselves were contradicted by the sparkle in the old man's eyes +as he looked out of the carriage. Kurt stood in the doorway with Celia +clinging to him. Clasped in each other's arms, for the moment the world +about the happy pair was forgotten; the Freiherr's exclamation recalled +Kurt to a sense of the present. He would have hurried out to the +carriage, but Celia only clasped him the closer, crying, amid tears and +laughter, 'No, no, Kurt, my dearest, I have you now, and you shall not +go; papa is not so angry as he pretends. Look how glad he is that we +are all happy together at last!' + +"'Let go the Poseneck fellow, you romp!' the Freiherr called from the +carriage. 'Let him come here, I want to look at him.' + +"Kurt sprang forward to offer his arm; before the Baron took it, +however, he scanned the young man with keen scrutiny. The result of it +must have been satisfactory, for he nodded complacently at Kurt, and +then, with his help and with Franz's support, descended heavily from +the carriage. + +"When I handed him his crutch-handled cane from the carriage, he +let go of Kurt's arm. 'You would, of course, rather conduct the +will-o'-the-wisp than the old father,' he said to Kurt, with a laugh. +'Give your arm to your Celia, then, for she is yours; I can't prevent +that. My child here will take me to Arno,' he added, nodding towards +me. + +"I was by his side in a moment; he put his arm in mine and, leaning +over me, whispered, 'Will you not promise, my darling, to support your +old father thus as long he lives?' + +"I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. I could not speak; but he needed +no reply, as he looked at me with a happy smile. + +"Thus we walked slowly through the hall, and were received at the door +of his room by Arno himself, leaning upon your Karl's arm, so strong +that he hardly needed its support. + +"As the old man embraced his darling son the tears rolled down his +withered cheeks; he held him clasped in his arms for a moment, and then +turning to me, said, with profound emotion, 'We owe this happy moment +to our Anna. She has been the guardian angel of those two,' pointing to +Kurt and Celia; 'softening my old heart until I gladly receive Kurt as +a son. She has restored you to life, Arno. The dark cloud that divided +you has vanished, serene skies smile above your future. Have you +nothing to ask at her hands, Arno?' + +"What Arno replied I cannot tell you. I felt his arm about me, his lips +upon mine, and heard the ecstasy in his whispered words, 'Mine,--mine +for all eternity!' + +"This was our betrothal. My dearest father joyfully gave us his +blessing, and Kurt and Celia, Arno and I have just passed the happiest +evening of our lives, in the circle of those dearest to us, where only +you, my own faithful Adèle, were wanting. Count Styrum recounted to the +Freiherr his adventures in the castle of Assais, and the old Baron told +in his turn of how the danger that had threatened the Finanzrath had +fortunately been averted by the kind interference of influential +friends. Upon Werner's promise, made in writing, never to return to +Germany, the warrants out against him on a charge of high treason have +been withdrawn, and he is living in Vienna in great seclusion. The +thought of Werner, so different from his father, brother, and sister in +his whole character and nature, disturbed my happiness for a moment, +but only for a moment. One glance at Arno was enough to dissipate any +cloud called up in my mind by the remembrance of his unworthy brother. + +"Darling Adèle, my heart is full. The shadows of the past lie behind +me, the future is brilliant with glorious sunshine. Farewell, my own +true friend; I know how you will rejoice with and for your Lucie." + + +Spring had again returned, and with it the blessings of peace to the +fatherland. In the latter days of May there was joy indeed at Castle +Hohenwald, where a double marriage was celebrated. Of course Lucie and +Arno, Celia and Kurt, were the happy pairs, and Count Styrum, with his +charming young wife, was present on the auspicious occasion. + + + + FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: Councillor of finance. It is best to give these titles in +German; they must always be awkward in English. A. L. W.] + +[Footnote 2: Forest-depths.] + + + + THE END. + + + + + + + SIGN OF THE CROSS + + By WILSON BARRETT + + _Player's Edition. Illustrated. Cloth, 75 cents_. + +A new edition, illustrated by scenes from the play. There is still a +live demand for this widely-known novel. + +"No romance of early Rome can equal it in any of the points of its +splendidly romantic conception, highly dramatic fervor, or its noble +and ignoble extremes of characterization. Religion, history, +literature, owe Wilson Barrett a great debt for his production of this +work, which is one that one may not hesitate to prophesy will endure so +long as literature itself may."--_Boston Courier_. + + * * * + + NEVER-NEVER LAND + + By WILSON BARRETT + + _12mo. Decorated Cloth, $1.50_. + +A dramatic and adventurous love-story of to-day, told by the author of +the famous "Sign of the Cross." + +The book is full of action and incident. Part of the scene is laid in +America and part in foreign countries. + + * * * + + J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA + + + + + AT THE MOORINGS + + By ROSA N. CAREY + + _12mo. Cloth, $1.50_. + +Another book in the series of Miss Carey's fine love-stories and +pictures of English life and character, which are noted for their +sweetness and wholesome charm. + + * * * + + ROSABEL + + By ESTHER MILLER + + _12mo. Decorated cloth, $1.25_. + +A love-story of English life which is bringing the author deserved +praise. The plot is natural, and the characters true to life. + + * * * + + AN ANGEL BY BREVET + + By HELEN PITKIN + + _12mo. Frontispiece. Cloth, $1.50_. + +Miss Pitkin's first book has met with instant and generous welcome. It +is a love-story of New Orleans. The picturesque setting, the glimpses +of the old aristocratic life there, the strange superstitions and rites +of voodooism are deftly and ably drawn. + + * * * + + J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA + + + + + BY E. F. BENSON + + * * * + + THE CHALLONERS + + 12mo. Cloth, $1.50 + +"Mr. Benson's latest novel, 'The Challoners,' is probably the best +thing he has done so far. In 'The Challoners' his happiest faculty, +that of putting smart society on paper, is shown to its best advantage. +He is at home with English people, and when he attempts to picture the +heights and depths of a father's despair when he sees his children +taking what is to him a plunge into moral perdition, his work is deft +and true and commendably sincere. An entertaining, well-written story, +with deep feeling in it."--_Chicago Record-Herald_. + +"'The Challoners' is conceived upon a plane that lifts it immediately +to the highest rank in fiction. One has to recall the works of Dickens, +Thackeray, and Reade to find a production of equal dignity and grasp. +Indeed, there is much in it that will bear comparison with George +Eliot's performances. It is impossible to read it without realizing the +great burden that oppresses the clergyman who sees his son and daughter +departing from the practices and rules he in his sufficiency has laid +down to govern them."--_The Index_. + + * * * + + THE IMAGE IN THE SAND + + 12mo. Cloth, $1.50 + +"The author of 'Dodo' has written a 'thriller.' It is a spiritualistic +story. Mr. Benson sets part of his story in the East, and part in +London, and tells it in a manner to keep the reader wide awake and +interested to the end."--_Globe_, New York. + +"Spiritualism, hypnotism, demoniac possession, white and black magic, +Oriental theosophy--all are found among the component parts of this +tale. The _denouement_ is decidedly original and highly imaginative. +Decidedly, 'The Image in the Sand' will not fail to make a strong +appeal to every one who has any love for the marvellous and the +unknown--or who appreciates a very well-written story."--_Brooklyn +Eagle_. + + * * * + + J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA + + + + + By "The Duchess." + + * * * + + The Coming of Chloe. Lovice. + 12mo. Cloth, $1.25. 12mo. Cloth, $1.25. + + * * * + + The Three Graces. + + With six full-page illustrations, 12mo. Cloth, $1.25. + + * * * + + Peter's Wife. A Little Irish Girl. + Lady Patty. The Hoyden. + A Lonely Maid. An Unsatisfactory Lover. + + 12mo. Paper, 50 cents; cloth, $1.00. + + * * * + + Phyllis. Mrs. Geoffrey. + Molly Bawn. Portia. + Airy Fairy Lilian. Löys, Lord Berresford, and + Beauty's Daughters. Other Stories. + Faith and Unfaith. Rossmoyne. + Doris. A Mental Struggle. + "O Tender Dolores." Lady Valworth's Diamonds. + A Maiden All Forlorn. Lady Branksmere. + In Durance Vile. A Modern Circe. + The Duchess. The Honourable Mrs. Vereker. + Marvel. Under-Currents. + Jerry, and Other Stories. A Life's Remorse. + + A Point of Conscience. + 12mo. Bound only in cloth, $1.00. + + * * * + +"'The Duchess' has well deserved the title of being one of the most +fascinating novelists of the day. The stories written by her are the +airiest, lightest, and brightest imaginable; full of wit, spirit, and +gayety, yet containing touches of the most exquisite pathos. There is +something good in all of them."--_London Academy_. + + * * * + + J. B. 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Lippincott Company"> +<meta name="Date" content="1906"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +body {margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF;} + + + +p.normal {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify;} +p.center {text-align:center; margin-top:9pt;} + + +p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:20%;} + +p.continue {text-indent: 0in; margin-top:9pt;} +.text10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} +.text20 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:20%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} + +.t0 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0em; margin-right:0px;} +.t1 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0px;} +.t2 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0px;} +.t3 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:3em; margin-right:0px;} +.t4 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4em; margin-right:0px;} +.t5 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:5em; margin-right:0px;} +.t6 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:6em; margin-right:0px;} +.t7 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:7em; margin-right:0px;} +.t8 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8em; margin-right:0px;} + +.quote {font-size:90%; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} +.dateline {text-align:right; font-size:90%; margin-right:10%; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} + +span.sc {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:100%; font-weight:normal} +span.sc2 {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:90%; font-weight:normal} + +hr.W10 {width:10%; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt; + color:black;} + +hr.W20 {width:20%; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt; + color:black;} + +hr.W50 {width:50%; margin-top:12pt; color:black;} +hr.W90 {width:90%; margin-top:12pt; color:black;} + +p.hang1 {margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em;} +p.hang2 {margin-left:1em; text-indent:0em;} + +.poem { + margin-top: 24pt; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt + } + .poem .stanza { + margin : 1em 0; + margin-top:24pt; + } + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Castle Hohenwald, by Adolph Streckfuss + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Castle Hohenwald + A Romance + +Author: Adolph Streckfuss + +Translator: A. L. Wister + +Release Date: January 9, 2011 [EBook #34892] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CASTLE HOHENWALD *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + +</pre> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + + +<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Note:<br> + + +1. Page scan source: +http://www.archive.org/details/3429917</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h1>CASTLE HOHENWALD</h1> +<br> + + +<h2>A ROMANCE</h2> +<br> + +<br> + +<h3>AFTER THE GERMAN</h3> +<h4>OF</h4> +<h3>ADOLPH STRECKFUSS</h3> +<h4>AUTHOR OF "TOO RICH," ETC.</h4> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h3>BY MRS. A. L. WISTER</h3> +<h4>TRANSLATOR OF "THE OLD MAM'SELLE'S SECRET," "THE SECOND WIFE,"<br> + +"TOO RICH," "MARGARETHE," "ONLY A GIRL," ETC.</h4> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h3><span class="sc">PHILADELPHIA</span><br> + +J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY<br> + +1906</h3> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<hr class="W20"> +<p class="center">Copyright, 1879, by <span class="sc">J. B. Lippincott & Co</span>.</p> +<hr class="W20"> +<p class="center">Copyright, 1906, by <span class="sc">A. L. Wister</span>.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h1>CASTLE HOHENWALD.</h1> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">The music ceased. The gentlemen led their partners to their various +chaperones, and then crowded out upon the balcony to enjoy the cool +spring breeze, giving no attention to the remonstrances of their host, +the President, who, when he found how little heed was paid to his +warning against imprudence, turned away, declaring to his friend the +colonel that there really was nothing to be done with the heedless +young people of the present day. "They trifle with their health as if +their nerves were of iron and illness impossible," he added, a little +out of humour, perhaps, at the neglect of his advice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why then, old friend, do you give a ball in April?" the colonel asked, +laughing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Could I help being born on the 20th of April? My son and daughter +insist upon my keeping up the old custom and celebrating the occasion +by a ball. This year it is perfect folly, but then no one could +foretell this early warm spring."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, never trouble yourself about those young people; my officers +have often braved more sudden changes of temperature in the field +without being any the worse."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the Assessor? His constitution is none of the strongest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And suppose he does take cold; 'twill do him no harm. Come, come, let +the young people alone. We were once not a whit more prudent +ourselves."</p> + +<p class="normal">And as he spoke the colonel took his old friend's arm and led him back +into the ball-room, while the young officers upon the balcony, who had +overheard all that had been said, laughingly grouped themselves about +the Assessor, rallying him upon the anxiety with regard to his health +manifested by the President.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The President is right," said a black-bearded cuirassier, inclining +his tall figure towards the slightly-built Assessor. "You ought to take +care of yourself, my dear Assessor; the sensitive nature of which you +so often tell us can never endure what our coarser constitutions brave +with impunity. Put an end to the anxiety of your future father-in-law +and leave the balcony, I beseech you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Saldern, I beg----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not make the fair Adèle a widow before she is a wife," chimed in +another officer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Arnim, such remarks are very much out of place. It is true +that I am peacefully disposed. I make no boast of it, for the gifts of +nature----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are variously distributed," Herr von Arnim interrupted the Assessor by +completing his sentence. "Do we not frequently hear from your own lips +how lavishly mother nature has endowed you, denying you the gift of a +robust constitution alone? Spare your precious health,--preserve +yourself for the fair Adèle, and for us, your tenderly attached +friends; follow the kind President's advice."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor gazed helplessly at the laughing faces about him; he was +the only civilian among these reckless young fellows, and he knew that +any serious remonstrance would but provoke anew Arnim's love of chaff. +The more prudent part was to laugh too and yield the field. This he +did, leaving the balcony and re-entering the ball-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">To his astonishment he here recognized an acquaintance whom he had not +met for a long time, and he hastened across the room to greet him, +doubly pleased, since, if Arnim should chance to rally him upon his +flight, he could now declare that he had left the balcony to welcome +the arrival of Count Styrum.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Count, a man of about the age of thirty years, was standing in the +background of the ball-room, in the doorway of one of the antechambers, +thoughtfully contemplating the brilliant scene. The élite of the large +provincial town was assembled in the President's rooms to-night, men +high in office, with their wives and daughters, the officers of the +garrison, and the most aristocratic of the county gentry.</p> + +<p class="normal">The President enjoyed giving splendid entertainments, and his wealth +and position entirely justified him in gratifying his taste in this +direction. The hospitalities of his house were quite famous,--his balls +had been mentioned with favour by royalty itself,--had not the Prince, +upon a visit to the town, accepted an invitation to one of these +birthday fêtes, and declared afterwards that he had never attended a +more brilliant entertainment or seen a more charming collection of +lovely women?</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Styrum, too, thought that he had rarely seen so many lovely faces +assembled in one room, and he gazed with delight at the charming groups +laughing and jesting on all sides, wondering while he gazed whom he +should pronounce fairest among so many that were fair. His doubt on +this head vanished, however, as his eye fell upon a young girl seated +upon a low divan near him.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was quite lost for a moment in admiration of her beauty; the +features might, it is true, have been more regular, but the face was +indescribably lovely and attractive. The slightly pouting lips could +surely smile charmingly, although now there were pensive lines about +the mouth which accorded well with the melancholy expression of the +large and eloquent brown eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Count felt an immediate and lively interest in this lovely girl; he +had never seen her before, and yet he longed to know why she, the +fairest among this gay throng, should look so sad and take apparently +so little interest in what was going on around her.</p> + +<p class="normal">She could hardly number twenty years; could she be preyed upon by any +secret grief? What was she thinking of at this moment? Scarcely of the +whispered words of the man on the low seat beside her, for she never +looked at him, and even turned away from him with a gesture betokening +that his conversation was anything but agreeable to her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see I am right! It is really yourself, my dear Count. I thought you +were in Rome or Naples, and am most heartily delighted to welcome you +here!"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was thus that the Assessor addressed the Count, who, in +contemplation of the beautiful girl on the divan, had not noticed his +approach. Now, however, he held out his hand, saying, not unkindly, and +with a smile, "You here in the provinces, my dear Hahn? I had not +expected to meet the lion of the metropolis here; how does it happen?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor, greatly flattered by the question, conceitedly twirled +his light moustache and tried to look as much as possible like a +flaxen-haired lion of the metropolis; not very successfully, however. +His face would look boyish in spite of the moustache, and his head +barely reached to his distinguished friend's shoulder, as he replied, +"I have been here two years. Just after your departure, when I had +passed my third examination, I was appointed to the post of assessor +here. It is true that we forego much in the provinces, where however +the heart finds truer contentment than amid the whirl of the capital, +and therefore I am abundantly satisfied with my present life, which, +unfortunately, I must shortly resign, for I am ordered to Altstadt. It +is difficult to tear one's self away from loved surroundings and +companionship. I am endowed with more than my share of sensibility, I +know; not that I would make a boast of it, for it is mine from the hand +of nature, and her gifts are variously bestowed."</p> + +<p class="normal">A smile hovered upon the Count's lips as he replied, "I am glad to find +you unchanged, my dear Hahn. Of course you are entirely at home in this +society, where I am a total stranger. Not a soul in the room do I know +except my uncle Guntram and my cousins Adèle and Heinrich. You will +tell me who all these delightful people are."</p> + +<p class="normal">"With pleasure. I know all your uncle's guests. You know the poetry of +my nature. I make no boast; nature's gifts are various, but as a poet +nothing interests me more than the study of human feeling and +aspiration. You have applied to the right quarter for information with +regard to the character and circumstances of all these people."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sure of it. I have always admired your obliging amiability no +less than your profound study of character."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do me honour. I am obliging by nature, but I make no boast of it. +Question me; I am quite at your service."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To put you instantly to the test, tell me who is the charming girl +dressed simply but elegantly in white, there, on the divan to my left, +with brown hair and the wreath of snow-drops; the beautiful creature +who evidently cares not one whit for all that the fellow with the black +beard, leaning over her, is pouring so eagerly into her ear."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor listened with a smile to this enthusiastic description. +"Evidently hit, my dear Count," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not at all; but the melancholy on that charming face interests me +excessively."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Poor Frau von Sorr! She may well be melancholy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frau? Impossible! You do not know whom I mean."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! yes I do. No one could fail to know from your description, and it +is not to be wondered at that you take Frau von Sorr for a young +girl: it is the same with every one who first sees her. She is just +twenty-two and looks much younger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the man talking to her is, I suppose, her husband."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not at all. That is Count Repuin, an enormously wealthy Russian, a +bosom-friend of Herr von Sorr, and a gambler and spendthrift, who +throws away his money by thousands. They say Herr von Sorr knows how to +pick it up, and that is the secret of the friendship between them, and +also why Sorr allows Repuin to pay such court to his wife."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And does she encourage it?" Count Styrum asked. "How deceived one may +be by a face! I thought hers so innocent and refined in expression."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the expression does not belie her," the Assessor rejoined. "Herr +von Sorr is a despicable fellow enough, and bears the worst possible +reputation; but scandal itself could not touch his charming wife. It is +only on her account that he is endured in society in spite of his +notorious past and his more than doubtful present. Your uncle would +never have invited him here to-night except for the sake of his wife, +who is the dearest friend of Fräulein Adèle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the Russian----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is desperately in love with her. He throws away incredible sums upon +her worthless husband, while she sternly refuses to accept any of his +attentions. My observation is naturally very keen. I make no boast of +it, but it is; and I am convinced that at this moment that poor woman +is suffering agonies because, without exciting observation, and for the +sake of her good-for-nothing husband, she cannot repulse that fellow +indignantly."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor's words increased the interest with which the beautiful +Frau von Sorr had inspired the Count, and it was still further +heightened by a little scene that passed unobserved by any eyes in the +ball-room except his own and the Assessor's.</p> + +<p class="normal">Frau von Sorr, who had hitherto endured, rather than heard, in perfect +silence what her neighbour was saying to her, never even varying by a +look the cold indifference of her bearing, suddenly turned upon him +eyes flashing with indignation. The delicate colour in her cheek +deepened to crimson, the beautiful lips unclosed as if to speak, when +suddenly second thoughts seemed to assert their sway, and rising, with +a look of inexpressible contempt at Repuin, she turned from him and +walked slowly across the ball-room to join a group of young girls +gathered about the daughter of the house, Adèle von Guntram.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What does that mean, do you think?" Count Styrum asked the Assessor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It means that the fellow went too far, and she turned her back upon +him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Poor young creature! she interests me, and I must hear more of her; +pray tell me, my dear Hahn, what you know of her husband."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly. What I know everybody knows, and there can be no +indiscretion in relating it; for the world I would not be indiscreet. +In fact, I am discretion itself. I make no boast of it, but I am. Of +course I may tell you what all the world knows. Well, then, Herr von +Sorr is utterly worthless. In the last few years he has squandered his +own considerable property and his wife's fortune upon all sorts of +follies, and worse, in the capital. What he now lives upon no one +knows. All sorts of strange stories are told about that. They may not +all be true, of course, but there must be some foundation for them, +since Lieutenant von Arnim lately declared that he would not play when +Herr von Sorr kept the bank, and that he did not like to have him for +next neighbour when he kept it himself, for it was so disagreeable to +have to keep a sharp eye upon the pile of money before him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rather strong, I should say."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was indeed; but no one expressed any surprise at Arnim's +declaration; indeed, I heard it whispered that one night when he sat +next Sorr at play a hundred-thaler note had unaccountably disappeared; +as I said, the man's character, or want of it, is such that were it not +for his lovely wife every respectable house in the town would be closed +against him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But how did the fellow come to have so lovely a wife?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Six years ago, when he married Fräulein Lucie Ahlborn, his reputation +was good; he was held to be a wealthy man of rank, and such he was, +although even then he had squandered a large part of his property. Herr +Ahlborn, his wife's father, was a rich manufacturer; he never thought +of saying 'no' when Sorr applied for his daughter's hand,--he was +probably flattered by the proposal,--and if he thought the young man +rather wild, supposed that marriage would cure all that. Fräulein +Ahlborn brought her husband a fine estate, which she had inherited from +her mother."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was she forced into the marriage by her father?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not at all. I do not know that she was very devoted to her bridegroom, +but possibly she was, for he was a handsome enough young fellow,--his +wild life has told upon him now,--but then he might easily have +captivated the fancy of a girl of sixteen. This I grant, although I was +a student then, visiting very frequently at Herr Ahlborn's, and a +little in love with the fair Lucie myself, which did not prepossess me +in favour of my fortunate rival. Neither I nor any one else dreamed +that Sorr would ever sink so low as he has done. Everybody thought the +match an excellent one, and regretted that the charming couple withdrew +to the retirement of Frau von Sorr's estate to enjoy their conjugal +felicity. Their seclusion, however, did not last longer than a few +months. They then returned to town, where Sorr played like a madman, +kept a costly racing stud, and spent huge sums upon a notorious +ballet-girl, scandalously neglecting his poor wife, who, however, bore +her sad fate with divine patience. Fortune dealt her its heaviest +blows, for she lost her father, with whom she might have sought a +refuge from her husband. Herr Ahlborn was ruined by the bankruptcy of a +large business firm, and failed. There might have been some composition +with his creditors, but being a man of an even exaggerated sense of +honour, he gave up everything. Not one of his creditors lost a penny, +but he forfeited his entire fortune. His business friends offered him +money and credit wherewith to re-open his manufactory, but he could not +endure the thought of beginning life again in a place where he had +occupied so high a position. He became gloomy and misanthropic, even +refusing to accept assistance from his daughter, who would gladly have +given it to him. Taking with him but a small sum of money, the remnant +of his large fortune, he left the scene of his former activity, +ostensibly to sail for America. They say he never took leave of one of +his old friends, but went, without even bidding good-bye to his +daughter. This was more than four years ago, and nothing has since been +heard of him; he has never written to his daughter, and she does not +even know the name of the vessel in which he sailed from Germany. +Shortly before his departure he declared that he would either return as +a wealthy man or not at all. If he really went to America, which is +doubtful, he may not have been successful; perhaps he is dead,--no one +knows anything about him. His daughter mourned him deeply; but she soon +needed to mourn still more deeply for herself for her miserable +husband, after spending all his own fortune, did the same by hers, +mortgaging her estate until it had to be sold. Since that took place, +how he lives is a mystery. I have told you some of the current +explanations of it, and I am sure you must now find it very natural +that there should be an expression of melancholy upon Frau von Sorr's +lovely face."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doors of the adjoining supper-room were here opened, and the +Assessor broke off his long narrative, saying, "Excuse me, my dear +Count, for leaving you, but duty calls. Your charming cousin, Fräulein +Adèle, has promised to allow me to take her to supper."</p> + +<p class="normal">And bowing, he hurried towards the group of ladies, of which Adèle was +the centre. He need not have been in any haste, however, for she +herself, accompanied by Frau von Sorr, advanced to meet him, saying, +with an enchanting smile that transported the little man to the seventh +heaven, "I have a request to make of you, Herr von Hahn, and I am sure +you will grant it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ask what you will, Fräulein Adèle. You cannot ask what I shall not be +proud to grant."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not put your amiability to any severe test," she rejoined; "the +fulfilment of my request brings with it its own reward. Pray take my +dear Lucie, instead of myself, in to supper."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor was not altogether charmed, since he had engaged his fair +partner for supper a week previously; but he was too courteous to allow +a shade of disappointment to appear in his countenance, and his +momentary annoyance vanished when Adèle continued, "We must be +neighbours at supper, however; keep two places for me at your table, +and I will follow you with my cousin, Count Styrum, who, not knowing +the customs of our house, has, I fear, engaged no one to go with him to +supper."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor was made supremely happy by her words and manner. Never +had this charming creature, to whom for the time he was devoted heart +and soul, treated him with such a degree of amiable confidence. He knew +better than any one else how far he was from the attainment of his +hopes, and therefore the badinage of his military friends had for him a +peculiar sting; but now on a sudden his fair one's manner was such as +seemed to him to justify his aspirations.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was the custom at the President's to have the supper-room arranged +with many small tables, accommodating each from four to eight persons, +at which the guests seated themselves in groups selected among +themselves beforehand. This obviated the necessity for caution lest the +rules of precedence should be infringed,--a very important +consideration in a provincial town,--and greatly promoted the ease and +comfort of the guests.</p> + +<p class="normal">With his head proudly erect, the Assessor conducted Frau von Sorr into +the adjoining room, into which other couples were thronging. He soon +found an unoccupied table, and was looking round for Count Styrum and +Adèle, when Count Repuin approached, and, without according him any +salute or attention, addressed Frau von Sorr. "Surely, madame, you +cannot have forgotten that you promised me the honour of your society +at supper?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Count uttered these words in a tone almost of menace, scarcely +consistent with the rules of polite society. He was, as was evident +from his flashing eyes and his dark frown, controlling himself with +difficulty, and the Assessor was very much embarrassed. He was +perfectly conscious of the obligation laid upon him to assert his right +to escort to supper Frau von Sorr, whose hand still rested upon his +arm, but such assertion was by no means easy,--the Russian's gleaming +black eyes were so wrathful, and just at the moment the Assessor could +not but remember the man's reputation as an unerring pistol-shot, and +his great readiness to send a challenge.</p> + +<p class="normal">Poor Herr von Hahn! He had a most uncomfortable sensation about the +throat, somewhat as if his cravat had been suddenly tightened. He +cleared it, but could scarcely utter a word; nevertheless something +must be ventured, else what would Fräulein Adèle, what would all his +acquaintances say? "Count Repuin, excuse me, but I have the honour of +being this lady's escort----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Repuin looked down upon him with undisguised contempt as he +rather stammered than uttered these words, and then haughtily replied, +with a coldness that was almost insulting, "I did not address you, sir. +It was not of your mistake that I spoke, but of Frau von Sorr's. Of +course you will yield me the right I desire as soon as madame accords +it to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which I shall not do," Frau von Sorr interposed.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had relinquished the support of the Assessor's arm, and stood tall +and stately before the Count, meeting his eye with calm resolve, +evidently ready to brave his anger.</p> + +<p class="normal">Repuin's face flushed crimson,--he bit his lip, and said, with forced +calmness, "Have you forgotten, madame, that by your husband's +permission I this morning requested to be allowed to conduct you to +supper to-night, and that you consented to my request?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have forgotten nothing. Count Repuin, not even the words you +addressed to me a few moments ago; let me beg you to leave me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I refuse to yield my right," the Count angrily retorted. "If you deny +me thus, I must appeal to Herr von Sorr to support my claim."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think not, Count Repuin. My friend Frau von Sorr is, I trust, secure +from all insult beneath my father's roof."</p> + +<p class="normal">The words were Adèle von Guntram's. She had arrived, leaning upon Count +Styrum's arm, just in time to hear Repuin's angry threat, and now, +stepping to her friend's side, she turned to Count Repuin with a degree +of dignity and resolution that added much to the Assessor's already +great astonishment at such a manifestation on the part of so gentle and +amiable a girl, and said, "You have permitted yourself to be carried +away by your annoyance, Count, to the extent of addressing a lady in +terms inconsistent with our German ideas of courtesy. I must beg you to +apologise to my friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Repuin angrily compressed his lips, but he perfectly understood +that he had gone too far, and that upon this antagonist he had not +reckoned. If he would not entirely lose the game he was playing he must +control himself, and, difficult although it might be, comply with +Adèle's demand. He therefore smothered his rage, and, taking Adèle's +hand and kissing it with respectful humility, he said, "You shame me, +Fräulein von Guntram, yet I cannot but be grateful to you for recalling +me to a sense of the duty which, according not only to German ideas, +but also to those entertained in Russia and throughout the world, every +gentleman owes to a lady whom he has been so unfortunate as to offend. +I beg Frau von Sorr's pardon from my soul, and venture to hope for her +forgiveness, the more confidently as my irritation was the consequence +of my great disappointment at losing a pleasure which she will admit I +had some right to anticipate."</p> + +<p class="normal">Frau von Sorr heeded his apology no more than his threat, but turned to +Adèle, who replied to his words and farewell bow by a cool and +dignified curtsey.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as he was out of hearing the young girl gave a sigh of relief +"Thank Heaven, he is gone! He actually terrifies me, and I had to +muster up all my courage to become my poor Lucie's defender. The man is +indescribably odious,--Russian from head to foot,--rough, coarse, and +brutally passionate one moment, courteous, smooth, and smiling the +next, but always false and untrustworthy. However, he has gone, and we +will not spoil our pleasure by thinking of him an instant longer. +Cousin Karl, let me present you to my dearest friend, Frau von Sorr. My +cousin, Count Karl Styrum, Lucie dear; and now let us enjoy our supper +together."</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Count Karl Styrum had never been very fond of large entertainment, and +had accepted his uncle the President's invitation on this evening only +because he did not wish to be rude to a relative whom he had not seen +for years. The ball had hitherto been rather a bore; he did not dance, +and, stranger as he was in this society, he took little interest in +watching others dance. The only figure that his eyes followed with any +pleasure in the waltz was his cousin Adèle's, and he had intended to +slip from the room unobserved, when her gracious and cousinly +invitation to him to conduct her to supper frustrated his unsocial +plan.</p> + +<p class="normal">He could not refuse so amiable a proposal, but he promised himself but +little entertainment in her society, since, although cousins, they were +now almost entire strangers to each other. He had last visited his +uncle, his mother's brother, ten years before, when Adèle was a pretty +little girl with fair curls, whom he had made a pet of and called his +little sweetheart. In the busy years that ensued he had almost +forgotten her; indeed, he had hardly remembered her name. Now he had +come to M---- to arrange a personal adjustment with his uncle of a +lawsuit between them concerning an inherited estate. It had been the +cause of a not quite friendly correspondence, and the Count had not +looked forward to a renewal of intercourse with his relatives without +some misgivings. He was all the more pleased, therefore, by the +cordiality with which his uncle received him, and begged him to forget +the odious lawsuit entirely, except when it absolutely demanded +attention as a matter of business.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think, my dear Karl," the President said, when the Count first +presented himself at his house a few days before the birthday ball, "we +can manage to leave all quarrelling over mine and thine to our lawyers; +let us do all we can to aid in the settlement of the question, but if +this settlement be delayed, do not, for Heaven's sake, let it disturb +the friendliness of our relations with each other any more than should +our difference in politics, which latter, most unfortunately, +embittered your father towards me during the last years of his life; to +the day of his death he could not forgive me because we Prussians were +victorious in 1866. I trust that you, Saxon soldier though you be, are +more placable, and will reflect, as I do, that your dear mother was my +favourite sister, and that we loved each other faithfully as long +as she lived. It was not our fault, as we both thought, that our +grand-uncle involved us in a lawsuit by an ambiguous will."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Styrum could not possibly fail to reciprocate so kind an +expression of good will on his uncle's part. He did not, it is true, +accept the pressing invitation extended to him to leave the hotel and +make the President's house his home while in M----, but he promised to +spend every spare hour beneath his roof. He did this the more readily +since his cousins welcomed him as cordially as their father had done. +On Adèle's part this amiability was certainly sincere, while Heinrich, +who was an assessor in his father's office, probably acted in mere +compliance with his father's wish in the matter. Adèle was thoroughly +pleased with her cousin,--she knew nothing of the lawsuit, and cared +nothing for politics,--Karl was to her simply the son of an aunt whom +she had dearly loved, and with whom she could remember passing happy +weeks, in Dresden, in her childhood, when "Cousin Karl" had always been +so kind to her. During all the long years of absence she had never +forgotten him, and she treated him now with a degree of sisterly +familiarity which greatly pleased him. He would gladly have availed +himself of his uncle's kindness to pay frequent visits to his +relatives, but his stay in M---- was very short, and most of his time +was occupied in interviews with his lawyers, who would not listen to a +friendly adjustment of the matter in hand, so that until this evening +he had scarcely done more than exchange a few cursory remarks with +Adèle. He had been favourably impressed by her frank and easy gayety of +manner, but she had not aroused in him any deeper interest, and he had +accepted with some reluctance her invitation to be her escort to +supper, since this would of necessity detain him longer than he had +proposed to stay at the ball. Suddenly, however, his feeling with +regard to her changed entirely, upon witnessing her spirited opposition +to Count Repuin. How beautiful she was as she confronted the Count with +indignation flashing from her eyes! and how lovely was the change in +her expression when she turned to her friend with such tender +affection! Involuntarily he compared the two young creatures before +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">A few minutes previously he would have pronounced Frau von Sorr the +more beautiful of the two,--the most beautiful woman, indeed, whom he +had ever seen; but now there was no doubt that the golden-haired Adèle, +with her earnest eyes sparkling with anger and then melting with +tenderness, was, if not the more beautiful, by far the more attractive. +It was strange that never until this instant had he been impressed by +this exquisite development of the pretty child into the lovely woman.</p> + +<p class="normal">And now, when, after Count Repuin's departure, she gayly entreated her +friends to forget the unpleasant scene they had witnessed, and when, +seated at the supper-table, she did all that she could to dissipate +Frau von Sort's melancholy and win a smile from her, she seemed to her +cousin more enchanting than ever. She so managed the conversation that +neither Frau von Sorr, who could not soon forget what had just +occurred, nor the Assessor, who was rather ashamed of the part he had +played, was obliged to talk much, while Count Styrum was drawn on to +speak of his travels, and this all the more willingly as he felt he was +seconding Adèle's efforts in so doing.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Count had resigned from the army at the close of the war, and, that +he might be prepared for the management of the large estates to which +he was heir, had spent a year in attending the lectures at Tharandt. +Then, in company with a former comrade in the army, who had been his +fellow-student also, Baron Arno von Hohenwald, he had travelled for a +year in Belgium, Holland, England, and Italy, being finally called home +by the death of his father.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Count was an admirable narrator as well as observer: no one could +throw more interest than he into the details of his travels, and on +this occasion he surpassed himself. Not only did Adèle listen with +sparkling eyes, now and then asking an eager question, but Frau von +Sorr was gradually aroused to attention and interest. The Assessor +alone was very silent and not at all comfortable. In addition to the +mortifying consciousness that he had failed entirely to undertake the +defence of Frau von Sorr against Count Repuin, he could not help +experiencing a decided envy of Count Styrum, who was thus monopolizing +the conversation, and evidently making a favourable impression upon +Adèle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although he enjoyed the proud consciousness that among the gifts with +which kind nature had endowed him, and of which he would not boast, a +talent for conversation which had frequently stood him in stead was +most conspicuous, here he was undeniably thrown into the background, +and this, too, in the presence of his adored Adèle. He several times +attempted to divert the talk from these overrated adventures of travel, +but without success, until at last, upon the frequent mention by the +Count of the name of his companion, Arno von Hohenwald, he broke into +the conversation with, "Do I understand you, Count? Are you really +speaking of Baron Arno von Hohenwald? I can scarcely credit that you +travelled for a year with that gloomy misanthrope, that inveterate +woman-hater. And yet it must be so, for to my knowledge there is but +one family of Hohenwalds in Saxony, and I ought to know, for I am +distantly connected with them myself. I never judge others with +severity,--it is not my nature,--but I cannot help pronouncing the +Hohenwalds, that is, the old Baron and his son Arno, haughty, +disagreeable, inaccessible people, who have very little intercourse +with any one, not even their nearest relatives. The best of them all is +Arno's brother Werner, the Finanzrath;<a name="div2Ref_01" href="#div2_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a> it is possible to get along +with him; but my cousin Arno?---- Really, I cannot understand how you +managed to travel with him for a whole year."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your judgment of my friend is very harsh and unjust," Count Styrum +replied, gravely. "And yet I cannot blame you for it, for there are few +who know how to value Arno von Hohenwald, or who, indeed, have any +knowledge at all of him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course; he is absolutely inaccessible. Can you deny that he is a +perfect misanthrope, refusing to mingle in any society, and repulsing +discourteously every advance made to him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Arno is no misanthrope, but the warmest-hearted fellow and the truest +and most loyal of friends. I grant that it is not easy to win his +confidence, and that to the superficial observer he may seem to shun +intercourse with others; he has no small change of conversation for +that society where you, my dear Assessor, are in your element. In the +army he had but few intimates, And took no part in our card-parties and +the like entertainments. Nevertheless he was a good comrade whom every +one liked, for all knew that when there was need of a friend's +assistance it was sure to be found at the hands of Arno von Hohenwald, +and we forgave his burying himself among his books while we pursued our +pleasures. I alone of all his comrades could boast of any real intimacy +with him, and I am proud to think that he considered me worthy of his +friendship--his confidence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, then he has certainly told you the story of his notorious +love-affair with the rope-maker's pretty daughter, which ended in his +being the furious woman-hater that he is! You must ask the Count to +tell you that story, madame. I assure you it made quite a noise at the +time at the Court of Saxony, where the Hohenwalds stood very high."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not curious," Frau von Sorr observed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I am!" Adèle interposed. "I confess, Karl, that I take great +interest in your friend. I have heard much of him. Madame von Kleist is +a cousin of the late Frau von Hohenwald, and the other day, at an +afternoon party, she had such wonderful things to tell of the +eccentricities of the old Baron and his son Arno, that the entire +conversation finally turned upon the Hohenwalds, their lives and their +peculiarities. Several of the ladies present were distantly connected +with them, and they not only confirmed all that Madame von Kleist said, +but contributed various anecdotes to show that the old Baron was no +better than an ogre, and that the son Arno was following worthily in +his father's footsteps. The old Baron, they said, lives in perfect +solitude in Castle Hohenwald, never seeing a visitor, nor indeed any +one beside his two sons and his daughter, except, perhaps, the village +priest, who is the young girl's tutor. All sorts of tales are told of +the way in which the old man has repelled his relatives' advances, as +well as of his quarrel with his son Arno, whom he threatened to +disinherit because he had betrothed himself to a pretty girl of the +bourgeoisie. When the engagement was broken off Arno was reconciled to +his father, having become a more terrible misanthrope and woman-hater +than the old man himself. So you may readily imagine, Cousin Karl, how +I should like, after all these stories, to hear as much of your friend +as you can tell us without indiscretion."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Styrum looked annoyed. The gossiping Assessor had given a turn to +the conversation that necessitated explanations which he would gladly +have avoided. Since this turn had been given, however, he felt it due +to his friend to disprove the false reports current with regard to the +Hohenwalds. "There can be no indiscretion," he said, "in relating facts +known to many, although I certainly would rather avoid doing so since I +know my friend Arno's dislike of any discussion of his private affairs. +However, the truth had better be told about them, that it may +counteract these silly rumours with regard to the family, rumours which +some of their connections, indeed, are not ashamed to circulate."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor turned red, feeling that the Count's words might well +apply to himself, but he judged it wisest to take no notice of the +reproof conveyed in them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Hohenwalds," Karl began, "have furnished food for gossip to the +Saxon aristocracy for many years. They are a singular race; their +peculiarities have been inherited for generations, but the haughty +Barons troubled themselves little as to what the world might say of +them, and lived out their convictions with unshaken fidelity. It was a +Hohenwald who, in Augustus the Strong's time, stood forth at the Saxon +Court as the champion of good old German morality in social life, +scourging with bitter words the wanton frivolity of the lovely court +dames, and denouncing the extravagant luxury that ruined poor Saxony. +All that saved him from persecution and perhaps imprisonment in +Königstein was Augustus the Strong's own declaration that the +Hohenwalds had always been fools--it was best to let them wag their +tongues and pay them no heed. So Werner von Hohenwald was not sent to +Königstein, but to his own castle, which he never left for many years, +leading much the same hermit-life there as is led by his great-grandson +to-day. Another Hohenwald, the father of the present Baron, +distinguished himself in the early part of this century as a warm +friend of Prussia and a bitter opponent of the Franco-Saxon alliance +and of the first Napoleon, who would have had him shot but for the +interposition of the king, who declared, as Augustus the Strong had +done, that the Hohenwalds were fools, not to be too severely dealt +with. He, too, was sent to live in undisturbed retirement in his own +castle. The present lord, Baron Werner, resembles his forbears; like +them he is unyielding, keen in word and in action, a steadfast, severe +man, living according to his own convictions, and holding himself aloof +from a world that does not share them. I do not know him personally, +but I have heard so much of him from my friend Arno and from my own +father, who was intimate with him many years ago, that I have a very +vivid idea of him, I can see him in my mind's eye,--a tall, stout old +man, his stern face framed in beard and hair of silver, from which the +black eyes can flash terribly when he is angry, although they beam +mildly enough when their gaze rests upon his darling, his daughter. It +is said that in his youth, departing from the traditions of his family, +he was a gay and genial man of fashion. As a wealthy landed proprietor, +he passed his summers at Hohenwald, his winters in Dresden. At that +time my father knew him well, and their friendship lasted for a number +of years after the Baron married a Countess Harrangow. He seemed to +live very happily with his beautiful wife, keeping open house, as well +in Dresden in the winter as in summer upon his estate of Hohenwald, +which is not far from the Prussian boundary. His wife's relatives +visited him frequently, and often spent weeks beneath his roof, where +they were upon the best of terms with the lord of the castle, although +they were Prussians, and he a bitter enemy of Prussia and a great +friend of Austria, never hesitating to declare his anti-Prussian +sentiments in the presence of his Prussian guests.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A few months after the birth of his youngest child--a daughter--there +was a sudden and complete transformation in the Baron's manner of life, +the cause of which was entirely unknown. He separated from his wife, +who returned to her paternal home, where she received from the Baron a +large yearly income, but whither she was not permitted to take her +children, two sons and the baby daughter, who remained in Hohenwald. No +one knows the reason for this separation; the Baron has never by so +much as a word alluded to it, and all the reports concerning it +circulated in Dresden society, where the affair of course made a great +deal of noise, are utterly without foundation. Even the Baroness, who +died within a year after the separation, without seeing either husband +or children again, never assigned to her parents any reason for her +expulsion--for that is the only term to be applied to it--from +Hohenwald. The relatives of the Baroness, who had hitherto always found +a welcome at the castle, did all they could to effect a reconciliation +between husband and wife, but they were repulsed by the Baron with such +harshness and severity that they never renewed their efforts. My +father, too, fared no better. Relying upon the claims of long +friendship, he complied with the wishes of the king, who regretted that +the Baron should have so treated his wife's relatives, and expressed a +wish that my father would use his influence with his friend, so that if +no thorough reconciliation could be brought about, at least the public +scandal of a separation without a divorce might be avoided. With some +reluctance my father undertook the task thus assigned him. He could +hardly refuse to do so, although he had but small hope of any good +result. He went to Castle Hohenwald, where the manner of his reception +showed him the hopelessness of his mission.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Baron met him with a dark frown. 'What is your business with me, +Count?' he asked, without offering his hand. My father, embarrassed by +a reception in such marked contrast to the terms of friendship upon +which he had felt himself with the Baron, could not, of course, +immediately explain the real cause of his appearance at Hohenwald, and +spoke courteously of his desire to see a friend from whom he had been +separated for some time; but the Baron interrupted him with, 'Pray take +no unnecessary pains, Count. I am not fond of idle phrases, and declare +to you once for all that I will suffer no one to meddle in my affairs. +If you have been sent hither, repeat this to whoever sent you; if you +are here of your own free will, take my words to heart. If in +consideration of our former friendship you are inclined to do me a +kindness, pray shield me from any further attempt to influence me. Say +in Dresden that the gates of Castle Hohenwald are in future closed to +all visitors; that I have irrevocably and forever broken with all my +former acquaintances and friends!'</p> + +<p class="normal">"It may easily be imagined that my father after this made no attempt to +speak with the Baron, but left Castle Hohenwald immediately, never to +return to it. From that day the gates of the castle have been closed to +every one. One or two attempts were made by near relatives to see the +Baron, but they were entirely unsuccessful,--the servants denied him to +every one. So completely did he isolate himself from his former world +that he answered no letters addressed to him except those relating +solely to business. From that time he has led the life of a hermit in +his castle, never leaving his estate, seeing no one except the pastor +and the doctor. In spite of all this, his servants and the labourers +employed upon the estate, as well as the poor of the neighbouring +villages, will stoutly deny that he is a misanthrope; they represent +him as the kindest of masters, the best of landlords. Therefore I would +advise you, Herr von Hahn, to lay stress upon this fact in your future +narratives with regard to the life of the Baron von Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall most assuredly do so, my dear Count," said the Assessor; +adding, "Justice demands it, and I could not do otherwise, for a love +of justice is one of my characteristics. I make no boast of it, for the +gifts of nature are various; but so it is, and I am indebted to you for +your information with regard to the old Baron von Hohenwald, while I +await with eagerness what you have to tell of the son, Baron Arno."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will have occasion to modify your judgment of him also, for, in +spite of some eccentricities, Arno is one of the best and noblest of +men. You have already laid perhaps more than sufficient stress upon the +faults which prevent mere acquaintances from rightly estimating his +excellence. There is nothing, therefore, for me to do but to explain +how he came to share his father's eccentricity and to withdraw himself +from society."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is a woman-hater, then?" Adèle asked, curiously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot exactly contradict you. He shuns the sex for the fault of an +individual, but I am sure you will judge him gently when you hear his +story. I told you just now that he was a silent and reserved officer. +One of our regiment who had been with him at school described him to me +as the merriest of lads, always ready for any school-boy prank. But the +separation of his parents seems to have made a profound impression upon +him, destroying in him all the joyousness and geniality of youth. After +his mother's return to her father, Baron von Hohenwald recalled Arno to +Hohenwald from school in Dresden, and engaged as tutor for him the +pastor of the village, a very earnest and learned man. Thus the boy +grew up sharing his father's solitude; perhaps his father confided to +him the cause of his lonely life; certain it is that never during our +years of intimacy has Arno mentioned to me his mother's name. His +relations with his father were most intimate and affectionate. Whatever +cause the old Baron had for repudiating his wife, his anger was never +visited upon her children. To them he has always been the most kind and +indulgent of parents,--even to Arno's elder brother, who was much more +of a stranger to him than the others, since he, Werner, was already a +student in the university when Arno was recalled from school. The +visits to Castle Hohenwald of the elder son, who embraced a diplomatic +career, have been of necessity infrequent, so that naturally his +father's heart does not cling to him as to the constant inmates of his +household.</p> + +<p class="normal">"His solitary life at Hohenwald fostered in Arno a love of retirement, +which was manifest during his military life in Dresden, whither he went +to join the army, by his father's desire, at the conclusion of his +studies. He would have preferred to embrace one of the learned +professions, but his father's wish was his law in this respect; and he +made a capital officer, gaining both the respect and the esteem of +his comrades and his superiors. He took lodgings in the house of a +rope-maker, and, as he spent all his evenings at home, only leaving it +to fulfil his military duties, he saw more of his hostess and her +pretty daughter than would otherwise have been the case. The daughter, +Rosalie, a young girl of sixteen, had been educated for a teacher, and +her associates at school had taught her the air and bearing of a higher +social rank than her own. How could a young man, who knew nothing of +society and the world, fail to be attracted by a girl of extraordinary +beauty and a fair degree of culture, and with manners far above those +of her class? How could he suspect the utter want of moral training +beneath so fair an exterior, or dream of the arts that were practised +to attract him? You spoke, Herr von Hahn, of a 'love-affair with the +pretty daughter of a rope-maker;' a very grave 'love-affair' it was for +Arno, for he asked the girl in marriage of her parents, and of course +received from them a glad consent to his wishes. Not only this, but, to +the extreme surprise of Rosalie's parents, the old Baron von Hohenwald +did not refuse to sanction the marriage. When Arno went to Hohenwald to +tell his father of his betrothal, the old man was naturally enough +dismayed at the prospect of such a misalliance. He represented to his +son all the consequences of so fatal a step, the disapproval it would +meet with in all quarters, the annihilation of all prospect of +advancement in his profession, the scandal it would cause in +aristocratic circles. But when Arno declared that his word was pledged, +and that nothing would induce him to recall it, his father withdrew all +opposition. He consented to the union, though he refused point-blank to +repair to Dresden to see his son's betrothed, declaring that he should +have time enough to make her acquaintance after the marriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In Dresden the betrothal made a most disagreeable talk; Arno's +comrades were beside themselves; they adjured him to resign all +thoughts of the girl, hinting that she was quite unworthy of the +sacrifice he was making for her. All that they said was to no purpose, +however; and in several cases Arno was with difficulty prevented from +calling to a bloody account those who dared to remonstrate with him. +The colonel of our regiment, by advice from very high quarters, called +upon Lieutenant von Hohenwald, but his representations availed nothing +against my friend's obstinacy. Arno professed himself ready to request +his dismissal from the army, but not to break his plighted faith. This +offer on his part would doubtless have been accepted but that war with +Prussia was imminent, and the services of so brave an officer as Arno +von Hohenwald could not be spared. It was therefore intimated that the +royal consent to his marriage would be accorded him provided he would +accede to the king's wish that it should be postponed for a year. To +this condition he consented, although the pretty Rosalie pouted and +sighed, and her father and mother were quite indignant at the delay.</p> + +<p class="normal">"During the short campaign that now took him from Dresden, Arno wrote +frequently to his betrothed, without, however, receiving a word in +reply, a circumstance for which his trusting nature found abundant +explanation in the irregularity of the Bohemian postal arrangements. At +Königgratz he was severely wounded; indeed, the newspapers reported him +killed, and as such they mourned him for weeks at Castle Hohenwald. +Meanwhile, he was lying unconscious in the hospital. I was in the same +ward with him, only slightly wounded, however; I was soon sufficiently +recovered to go to Dresden, on leave, to regain my strength there. When +I left Arno his condition was still very critical; in one of his +intervals of consciousness he sent a message by me to his betrothed, +which I of course made it my duty to deliver as soon as possible. I +found only the mother at home when I paid my visit to the rope-maker's, +and she shocked and disgusted me by the want of feeling she displayed +upon hearing that Arno was not dead, as had been supposed, but only +dangerously wounded. She even appeared glad to learn that, in the event +of his recovery, it must be months at least before he could come to +Dresden. On the same day, however, all that was strange in her +behaviour was fully explained to me by the physician whom I consulted +with regard to my wound, and who had been a fellow-lodger of Arno's and +his warm friend. As such he felt it his duty to acquaint me, the poor +fellow's most intimate friend, with the wretched story that so closely +concerned him, and that filled me with consternation and disgust. Arno +had been infamously deceived both by his betrothed and by her parents, +whose sole thought had been how to enrich themselves at whatever +expense of honour and honesty. Some time before her betrothal to Arno, +Rosalie had been secretly under the protection of a wealthy +manufacturer in Dresden, her connection with whom, when the report of +Arno's death seemed to her to free her from the necessity for +concealment, became a day's theme for public gossip. She flaunted her +disgrace abroad, meeting with no opposition from her parents in her +downward career. There is no need to dwell upon the details of this +miserable business; the investigations I felt it my duty to my friend +to prosecute fully confirmed the physician's story. This being the +case, what was I to do? Of course, I ought to acquaint Arno with the +facts I had learned, and yet the knowledge of them might kill him in +his present precarious state. I needed advice in the matter, and I +turned for it to my friend's father. I wrote to him telling him all, +begging him to come to Dresden to receive personal confirmation of the +truth of what I wrote, and offering, if he desired it, to go +immediately to Arno and inform him of his betrothed's worthlessness. I +supposed that the Baron would reply to my letter in person, but he did +not come to Dresden; by return of post I received a letter from him, +expressing heart-felt gratitude to me. 'I need,' he wrote, 'no further +confirmation: it is for my son to investigate this matter. Of course he +will not condemn his betrothed without hearing her in her own defence. +I suffer greatly from the gout, and cannot come to Dresden; besides, I +do not think myself justified in forestalling my son in this matter.' +He then begged me to fulfil my promise to go to Arno as soon as +possible and tell him all. 'Do not be afraid,' he said, in conclusion, +'that you will retard my son's recovery in thus performing your duty as +his friend. We Hohenwalds come of a tough stock, and know how to bear +pain; it may perhaps bend, but it will not break us. Believe me when I +tell you this.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"He was right, as I found when a few days later, sitting at Arno's +bedside, and finding him quite himself again, I tried to prepare him +gently for what I had to say. He perceived instantly that I was the +messenger of evil tidings, and briefly and firmly bade me speak out and +tell him all that was to be told. I did so, and he listened in gloomy +silence, with downcast eyes, asking no question, giving no sign, except +the convulsive clinching of the hand that lay on the coverlet, of the +storm of emotion raging within him. When I had finished, he looked up +with eyes that seemed to read my very soul. 'I do not thank you,' he +said. 'I cannot tell, before I have seen and learned for myself, +whether you have rendered me the greatest service that one friend can +render to another, or whether I must call you to account as my mortal +foe. Until then we must part. Leave me now. I shall soon seek you out +in Dresden, either to thank or----'</p> + +<p class="normal">"I tried to soothe him, but he repulsed me sternly, and I returned to +Dresden without seeing him again. His surgeon informed me that he +considered his condition very alarming, that he feared the worst, and +that at all events it must be months before he could leave the +hospital. So I left him, filled with remorse for having followed the +old Baron's advice; but scarcely four weeks had passed when one day +Arno entered my room in Dresden. He looked terribly,--his dark eyes +gleamed with unnatural brilliancy in his wasted countenance, his right +arm was in a sling, while, although he supported himself upon a stout +cane, he could scarcely stand. When I hurried towards him he sank, half +fainting, into my arms, and I carried rather than led him to a lounge. +He pressed my hand, and, as soon as he could speak, said, 'I thank you; +you told me nothing but the truth, and yet not all the truth. You have +saved me from a horrible fate, and I never will forget it. Add still +further to my obligations to you by granting me one request: I entreat +you never, never again to make the faintest allusion to that wretched +girl.' I promised, and since that day not one word with regard to her +has passed Arno's lips. How he parted from her I never knew. He had +spent two days in ascertaining the truth of the story I had told him, +and then came to my room, which it was long before he left again. His +strength of will had sustained him until his purpose was fulfilled, and +then he was utterly prostrated. For many a night I watched by his bed, +hopeless as to his recovery, but in the end his vigorous constitution +conquered. The old Baron was right.</p> + +<p class="normal">"During his convalescence we often discussed our plans for the future. +We both resolved to send in our resignations. I spare you our reasons +for this course of action, for I know that you, my dear Assessor, are +one of Prince Bismarck's most enthusiastic supporters, and that my +lovely cousin Adèle, as the daughter of a Prussian official high in +rank, could hardly appreciate the feeling that made it impossible for +us to continue in the army after peace was concluded. Arno's political +opinions so closely coincided with my own that our plans for the future +were the same. For him, as for me, it was simply impossible to accept +office under government, and so we determined to withdraw altogether +from public life, to study the management of estates and to find our +calling in the future in administering our own.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wrote to my father, and received his speedy approval of my +resolution. Arno, as soon as he was strong enough, set out for +Hohenwald. I proposed to accompany him, but to this he objected, +telling me frankly that he could not invite even his dearest friend to +Hohenwald; that his father's seclusion must be invaded by no stranger. +He attained his wish, however; his father had no objection to make to +his plans; and so we both went to Tharandt to study, and later +travelled through Europe together, until my father's death called me +home. Since then Arno has been living in Hohenwald, where, as he writes +me, he has undertaken the management of his estates. I have not seen +him, for Hohenwald is closed to every one; but we correspond +constantly, and he has promised to pay me a visit shortly."</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">The ladies had listened eagerly to Count Styrum's narrative. Frau von +Sorr, indeed, was so impressed and interested by all that she heard of +the Freiherr that she forgot for the moment the late disagreeable +encounter with Count Repuin.</p> + +<p class="normal">Adèle was no less interested. So absorbed was she in her cousin's +account that she did not notice a certain restlessness that had begun +to pervade the guests seated at the numerous small supper-tables. It +was the invariable custom at the President's balls for the daughter of +the house to give the signal for the renewal of dancing, by leaving the +supper-room escorted by her cavalier. This duty the young girl, usually +so attentive a hostess, had wellnigh forgotten, and she would have +continued to question her cousin upon the subject that so interested +her, had not her brother Heinrich reminded her that their guests were +awaiting with some impatience the return to the ball-room. He left the +table where he had been playing the part of host, and, standing behind +his sister's chair, whispered in her ear, "You seem to have forgotten, +Adèle, that it is high time the dancing began again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why are you in such a hurry? You are not used to be so eager to +dance," Adèle replied, in a tone of some annoyance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I speak for our guests, who have been looking impatiently for your +leaving the supper-room, as you would have seen yourself had not +interest in your conversation with our cousin made you blind and deaf +to everything else. Let me beg you now to bestow a little attention +upon others."</p> + +<p class="normal">Although her brother's reproof might have been more amiably +administered, Adèle felt the justice of what he said, and, rising +instantly, begged Count Styrum to conduct her to the ball-room. The +other couples followed her immediately, and the supper-room was soon +emptied of all the guests with the exception of the elderly gentlemen, +for whom the President now produced his choicest Havanas, and whose +enjoyment of the evening only rightly began when, supper finished, they +could linger over their wine with closed doors.</p> + +<p class="normal">For those younger men who were not enthusiastic dancers, but who were +fond of high play, Heinrich von Guntram had his own sanctum prepared. +The gaming-table was set out, the champagne duly iced, and he only +waited until the dancing should have begun to assemble there the chosen +few. His father discountenanced gaming, and therefore there had been no +mention of play before supper, but now that the President was occupied +with his special friends, Heinrich dutifully danced once with his +partner at supper, and then led the way to his room, followed by all +those for whom gaming always formed part of an evening's entertainment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you tired of dancing, Count Repuin?" he asked the Russian, who +stood in a doorway, gloomily watching Frau von Sorr as she was waltzing +with the Assessor. "Come to my room and you will find a cigar."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And cards?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you asked Sorr?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; you know----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I know; but you will do me a great favour if you will ask him to +join us."</p> + +<p class="normal">This request embarrassed Heinrich; he did not like to spare the Russian +from the card-table, for he always lost, when he did lose, with great +equanimity, but he was naturally disinclined to extend his invitation +to Sorr. "I have already asked Arnim," he said, hesitating, "and I am +afraid----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of his making a scene with Sorr," the Russian completed his sentence. +"You need not be afraid. Whatever Arnim might say at the club with +regard to Sorr, be sure that beneath your roof he will respect him as +your guest. Indeed, you will greatly oblige me, Herr von Guntram, by +asking Sorr."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you really wish it, of course I will do so," Heinrich replied; "but +I would far rather that the invitation should come from you than from +me. I could then excuse myself to Arnim, upon the plea that not I, but +you, introduced him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be it so," said the Count. "I will bring him with me, with your +permission. All that Herr von Arnim said was that he would not play +when Sorr kept the bank, and we can easily arrange that. I will not +follow you with Sorr until half an hour has elapsed, and your game will +have been begun when we arrive."</p> + +<p class="normal">Heinrich assented; he left the Russian, and, as he passed through the +ball-room, observed that Count Styrum was standing alone, looking on at +the dancers. "You are no dancer, Count," he said, addressing him. "I +think you did not dance before supper either."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I never dance much; and just now, as you know, I am in mourning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It must bore you to look on at all this spinning and whirling. If you +have not forsworn cards, cousin, you will find in my room a good cigar, +excellent champagne, and a few very clever fellows."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you play high?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not at all, not at all. Count Repuin stakes rather large sums +sometimes, but no one else among us does so, except perhaps Herr von +Sorr, when he has any money, which is not often. The rest of us stake +but little; we play merely to kill time."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Styrum cared very little for play. He had now and then won and +lost small sums at a public gaming-table, but it had been more out of +compliance with the wish of some friend who desired his companionship +than from any interest in the game. He would have refused his cousin's +invitation but that he was curious to know more of Herr von Sorr, and +thought that no better opportunity could offer for meeting the man who +was husband to the beautiful woman who had so interested him. He +therefore followed Heinrich, who led the way to the room which he +called his study, and presented him to the young men, mostly officers, +there assembled. Count Repuin and Herr von Sorr were not yet present.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is to keep the bank?" asked Herr von Saldern, who, impatient to +begin, was already shuffling the cards.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us take turns; each put in twenty-five thalers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Twenty-five thalers is too little. There are but ten of us, and that +would only make two hundred and fifty thalers,' Herr von Saldern +objected.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, come, Saldern, you shall not insist upon high play," said Herr +von Arnim. "Let us have a comfortable evening, and not dip too deep in +one another's pockets. I agree to Guntram's proposal, but upon +condition that the bank is kept only by one of those now present."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But why?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I suspect that Sorr will find his way here before long; he has +a wonderful scent for cards. I have declared that I will not play when +he keeps the bank, and I will run no risks."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You ought to be more careful in speaking of Herr von Sorr, my dear +Arnim," Heinrich von Guntram remonstrated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bah! I don't care that whether or not he hears what I say," said +Arnim, snapping his fingers. "Besides, he ought to feel flattered by my +fear of him. At all events, I am superstitious, and feel sure I shall +lose my money if Sorr keeps the bank; so I repeat my condition, and +will not take part in the game unless it be accepted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, well, it is accepted. Let us begin, and let Guntram be banker +first!" the rest cried, impatiently, as they seated themselves at the +table; and Guntram, after receiving twenty-five thalers from each of +the players, began the game as banker. He had hardly drawn the first +card when Count Repuin and Herr von Sorr made their appearance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I knew it!" Herr von Arnim whispered to Count Styrum. "Sorr scents +cards ten miles off; no vulture could be keener. Pray, Herr von Sorr," +he added, aloud, as the latter seemed inclined to take a seat between +Arnim and Count Styrum, "be good enough to find a place the other side +of the Count. I do not like to lose so agreeable a neighbour, and there +really is no room on this side."</p> + +<p class="normal">All eyes were turned upon Sorr, and every one looked for some hasty +reply to Arnim's words, which were almost insulting from their tone and +the manner in which they were uttered; but Sorr either did not or would +not perceive intentional offence in them, and, merely saying, "You are +right; there is more room here," placed a chair on the right of Count +Styrum and took his seat in it.</p> + +<p class="normal">This propinquity was not undesirable to the Count, who now had the best +possible opportunity for observing the man of whom he had heard so much +from the Assessor. As he did so he could not help saying to himself, +"How could this man ever have won the affection of that charming +woman?" Never had he been more disagreeably impressed by any one, and +yet he could hardly tell why this was so. Herr von Sorr's features were +regular; his fair full beard and curling light hair became him well; +his blue eyes were fine in form and colour; but the expression of both +features and eyes was to the Count most repulsive. An artificial smile +constantly played about his finely-chiselled lips. His eyes never +looked fairly into those of the man whom he addressed; there was an air +of utter weakness and want of character about him; defects which, +beyond all others, Count Styrum despised.</p> + +<p class="normal">The game began, and was very moderately conducted. Count Repuin, who +was seated opposite Sorr, beside Heinrich von Guntram, now and then +staked a large sum, which he usually lost. Sorr staked but little; +between him and Count Styrum on the table there was a little heap of +silver and paper money, from which he took his stakes and to which he +added his winnings; beside it lay the pocket-book of the Count, who, +for want of small notes, had one of larger amount changed by the +banker. The game interested him but slightly, and he had abundant +opportunity to watch the players, who, in spite of the small stakes, +gradually displayed an eagerness which was by no means allayed by the +champagne with which the servant in attendance plied them.</p> + +<p class="normal">The company began to grow noisy. Heinrich von Guntram, who had handed +over the bank to Herr von Arnim, and who began to stake larger sums, +cursed his luck loudly, and was laughed at by Arnim, who had a ready +word of ridicule for all, and bidden to imitate the composure of Herr +von Sorr, who won or lost with equal grace.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Sorr did not seem to hear Arnim's persiflage; his attention +all appeared to be given to the game, and he showed a moderation in +drinking which contrasted strikingly with the conduct of his friend +Count Repuin, who emptied glass after glass of the champagne, which +Sorr refused, confining himself to a few glasses of seltzer water. The +wine, however, appeared to produce no effect upon the Russian; he +seemed not at all excited and observant only of the game. But Styrum, +who watched him narrowly, perceived that this was only seeming; that in +reality Repuin's whole attention was given to Styrum's neighbour, Sorr.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus the game lasted for about an hour, when Repuin rose from the +table. "I have had enough for to-night," he said, gathering up his +money; "and you too, Count Styrum, seem but little interested. Shall we +not, without disturbing the others, take a quiet cigar together in the +next room and discuss--our Italian experiences, for example? I think we +were at Naples at the same time."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Styrum was greatly surprised at being thus addressed. He did not +know the Russian, to whom he had been but formally introduced. What +could be his reason for desiring to converse privately with an entire +stranger in the next room? He must have some special aim in view, +although what this was Styrum could not divine. He hesitated to accept +the invitation of the man whose behaviour towards Frau von Sorr had so +disgusted him, but curiosity to know what the Russian contemplated +conquered his reluctance, and, taking his offered arm, he accompanied +him into the adjoining room, the door of which Repuin closed behind +them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you for accepting my invitation, Count," said the Russian, +from whose face the courteous smile vanished as soon as they were +alone. "You guess, of course, that I have sought this interview with +you for a graver object than any discussion of Italian experiences. I +shall therefore, without circumlocution, come to the point at once with +a question which will doubtless strike you as very strange. Do you know +how much money there was in the pocket-book which lay before you on the +table, and which you have just put into your pocket?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your question is indeed a strange one!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will explain it immediately, if you will be so kind as to give me an +answer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot see what possible interest the amount of money that I carry +in my pocket-book can have for you, Count Repuin, but, since you wish +it, I can tell you about how much there was. When I sat down to +play I had five one-hundred-thaler notes in my pocket-book; one of +these I exchanged for two fifties; one of these again I put into my +pocket-book, using the other for the game, so that, besides some small +notes, the amount of which I cannot tell you, since I do not know how +much I won or lost, my pocket-book must contain four hundred-thaler +notes and one fifty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you. I pray your patience for a moment, and you shall understand +my apparently indiscreet question. Be so obliging as to take out your +pocket-book and see whether it contains the sum you have mentioned."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count Repuin, this is a most extraordinary request!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is; and if you insist, I will instantly explain it to you, but you +would greatly oblige me by first glancing at the contents of your +pocket-book; my demand can easily be complied with."</p> + +<p class="normal">Styrum could not avoid granting a request couched in terms so +courteous; he opened his pocket-book and counted his notes, finding, to +his great astonishment, that they numbered only three hundred-thaler +notes in addition to the fifty and the smaller sums.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, is your money all right?" asked Repuin, who was watching him +with eager interest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; a hundred-thaler note is missing. It must have dropped on the +floor when I changed the other. I will go look for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not trouble yourself, Count; you will find nothing," the Russian +calmly rejoined. "I will find it for you, and, in doing so, will +entirely explain my apparently unjustifiable curiosity."</p> + +<p class="normal">He awaited no reply from Styrum. Opening the door leading into the next +room, he called, in an imperious tone, "Herr von Sorr, one word with +you. Count Styrum wishes to speak to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">A livid pallor overspread Sorr's countenance. Did he suspect what was +coming? He started, and one hand sought his breast-pocket, but before +it could reach it it was seized by Count Repuin and held as if in a +vice. "Leave the contents of your pocket untouched," the Russian +whispered in his ear. "Follow me instantly,--I command you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Sorr obeyed, following the Russian like a trembling slave.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the matter?" was the question that hovered upon the lips of +all, and that was uttered aloud by one of the young men at the table. +Although Repuin's last words had been spoken in a tone so low as to +reach Sorr's ears alone, all had heard his first authoritative summons +and had seen Sorr's confusion as the Count had seized his hand, and all +wondered what was the matter, although only one uttered the question.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Something very disagreeable, most certainly," Heinrich von Guntram +made reply. "In my opinion, gentlemen, we had better finish the game +and go back to the ball-room as soon as possible. Let those three end +their business as seems to them best; the less we know of it the +better."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But our bank!" Herr von Saldern exclaimed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Arnim, who is banker, will attend to all that, and see that each one +receives his due proportion; will you not, Herr von Arnim?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Tis already done, my dear fellow. You will take charge of Count +Styrum's share," replied Arnim. "Be quick, gentlemen; here is your +money. I agree with Guntram that the less we hear of what is going on +in the next room the better. Let us go back to the ball-room. This +scandalous scene will at all events convince our friend Guntram how +unfit Sorr is to be admitted to the society of gentlemen, and we shall, +I hope, be spared any association with him in future."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Repuin closed the door of the next room after Sorr, and then, +turning to Count Styrum, said, "I will now give you the solution of the +riddle I have just read you, Count." As he spoke he leaned against the +closed door, and looked with disdainful contempt at the miserable +wretch before him, who would evidently have fled from the room had not +the Russian's tall form barred his egress.</p> + +<p class="normal">Styrum had already taken a thorough dislike to Count Repuin, from +witnessing his behaviour towards Fran von Sorr. Now, as he marked the +triumphant malice that mingled with the contempt expressed in his face, +this dislike deepened to what was almost a horror. He divined what +would be the solution of the riddle of the lost money; he remembered +all that the Assessor had said of Sorr, and, recalling the keen +scrutiny that Repuin had bestowed upon Sorr's movements at the +gaming-table, he could not doubt why the Russian had summoned the pale, +trembling wretch before him. Still, he could not understand the triumph +with which Repuin was regarding the detected thief. Was he not, +according to the Assessor's report, the man's intimate friend? What +reason could he have for sacrificing him merely to restore some lost +money to a stranger? This riddle Styrum could not solve, for it was +incredible that Repuin should act thus, simply from indignation at +Sorr's dishonesty.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a moment's pause the Russian turned to Styrum: "Do you now +guess, Count, where your hundred-thaler note will be found? You do not +reply? Well, I will tell you; it is at present in Herr von Sorr's +breast-pocket, whither it was conveyed from your pocket-book, with +immense dexterity it is true, but not dexterously enough to elude my +vigilance. He is the thief,--does he dare to deny it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He did not dare. Repuin's words seemed to annihilate him, all the more +that they were uttered by a man whom he had thought his friend. Pale +and trembling, unable to articulate a word in self-defence, he bowed +before the terrible fate that had thus overtaken him. All power of +resistance seemed crushed out of him. In silence he awaited his +sentence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give back the stolen note to Count Styrum," the Russian ordered.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again he obeyed; he was incapable of thought,--Repuin's iron will ruled +him irresistibly. Automatically be put his hand into his breast-pocket, +took out the note, and handed it to Count Styrum.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have kept my word," Repuin continued. "You are again in possession +of the missing note. We must now consider what is to be done with this +scoundrel. It is your part, as the sufferer by his theft, to decide +this. Shall we deliver him over to justice and a jail? He is ripe for +it; this is not his first crime of the kind, as his skill in committing +it testifies. Let us take the gentlemen in the next room into council, +and send for the police. What say you, Count?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For God's sake, have mercy upon me!" With this cry Sorr threw himself +at the Russian's feet. But Repuin thrust him from him. "Hands off, +scoundrel! To me you appeal in vain. There stands your judge!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He pointed as he spoke to Count Styrum, and to him the wretched Sorr +turned with clasped hands. "Spare me, Count!" he implored. "I have +given you back the note. Have pity!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pity for the worthless creature who crawled thus in the dust after his +detection Count Styrum could not feel. Why should he have any +compassion upon the miserable worldling who had squandered his means in +every kind of low dissipation and was now nothing more nor less than a +common thief? He deserved mercy less than did the criminal whom want +and misery had driven to steal. It was his duty to banish him from the +society of honest men and deliver him over to a just punishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">And yet, just at this moment, there presented itself to Count Styrum's +mind a vision of the lovely young creature who, without a suspicion of +the horrible fate impending over her, had but a short time before +listened to his words with such interest. Would not a just sentence +pronounced upon her husband crush her also? And Adèle,--Frau von Sorr +was her dearest friend. What a blow her misery would inflict upon +Adèle!</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus Styrum was still undecided between the consideration he felt for +Frau von Sorr and for his cousin's peace of mind and the evident duty +of delivering over a thief to justice, when suddenly an idea occurred +to him that caused him to waver no longer. What reason had Count Repuin +for convicting his friend of a theft? Was he weary of a friendship +which, as the Assessor reported, cost him so much money? Had the +disdainful repulse he had but now received from Frau von Sorr incited +him to revenge? Or did he hope by ruining the husband to plunge the +wife into such misery that she would in the end be accessible to his +degrading advances? He looked quite capable of so devilish a scheme.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Decide, Count!" Repuin said, hastily. "What is done must be done +quickly!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have decided," Count Styrum replied. "We owe it to the hospitality +extended to us beneath this roof to avoid a scandal which would be most +painful to my uncle and to my cousin Adèle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you will let the fellow go scot-free?" Repuin asked, gloomily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If we allow him to escape the legal penalty of his villainy, his sole +punishment must be the memory of this hour, which, I trust, may serve +him as a warning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Count Styrum, how shall I thank you!" exclaimed Sorr, to whose +cheeks the colour began to return, as he attempted, but vainly, to take +Styrum's hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Spare me your acknowledgments," said Styrum, turning from him with +disgust. "It is owing to no sympathy for you, but to consideration for +the society in which I find you, that you are spared the punishment you +deserve. Go,--take my advice, and leave my uncle's house on the +instant. I trust I shall never meet you again beneath his roof."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sorr would immediately have followed this counsel, but it was +impossible, for Repuin, who was still leaning with folded arms against +the closed door, did not stir. The Russian's eyes were gloomily fixed +on the ground; evidently he was dissatisfied with Styrum's decision, +and was considering whether or how he should combat it. As Sorr +approached him he looked up. "You are in too great a hurry," he said, +disdainfully. "You and I are not yet quits; we have a few points to +discuss that would hardly interest Count Styrum. I left the decision in +this matter to you, Count, since you were the injured party, and I bow +to it, but I cannot suffer this man longer to frequent a society in +which he is regarded as my friend, and where I must continually +encounter him. The means that I shall use to prevent this will depend +upon the result of a private conversation, which I must insist upon +having with Herr von Sorr."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was in these words so direct a request to be left alone with Sorr +that Count Styrum could not but comply; he had no right to remain, +although an imploring look from Sorr seemed to entreat him to do so. +With a slight inclination to Repuin, who instantly made way, and even +opened the door, he left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Scarcely was he gone when Sorr raised his head. The degradation of the +moment when his villainy had been unmasked in the presence of a +stranger had robbed him of all power of self-defence; now that he found +himself alone with the Russian he was once more able to speak; his +wrath he might hope to appease. Although Repuin's savagely passionate +nature had always impressed him with a kind of terror, he thought he +could devise a means to pacify him, difficult as it might be. Extreme +caution was necessary,--in Count Styrum's presence this means could not +be mentioned, but now, let him but soothe his antagonist with hopes of +the fulfilment of his wild desires and all might yet be well.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How could you--you of all men--act as you have just done, Count?" Sorr +began. "How have I deserved such treatment at your hands? You know how +devoted I am to your interests, how grateful for all you have done for +me,--that I should think no sacrifice too great to testify this +gratitude to you, and yet you--you it is who would ruin me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Repuin looked down with haughty contempt upon the cringing figure +before him. He had spent months in studying this man, and his servile, +degraded soul was as an open book before him; he knew the precise value +of all these asseverations.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Spare me your protestations, Herr von Sorr," he replied, "they will +avail you nothing. I did not detain you here to listen to your +assurances of friendship and gratitude, but to put a stop to any such. +I have lost my interest in the game which you and your beautiful wife +have been playing with me. I must be done with it. Understand me,--I +refuse to be any longer either your dupe or your wife's."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not understand you. I----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall learn to do so. I know you. I have scrutinized your every +action for months past; your very thoughts are laid bare to me; I knew, +when I brought you to Guntram's room to-night, that you would deliver +yourself into my hands, either by cheating or, as has been the case, by +theft. I knew when Count Styrum left his pocket-book open before you +how it would all end."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was an expression of absolute horror on Sorr's face as he +listened to these words. That Repuin's treatment of him was due to no +sudden impulse, no outbreak of passion, but was the result of a cool, +well-considered scheme, robbed him of all hope, and he stood before his +savage persecutor and judge an image of despairing guilt.</p> + +<p class="normal">A cruel smile hovered upon Repuin's lips; he was satisfied with the +effect his words had produced; without awaiting a reply, he continued: +"You thought to play with me, Herr von Sorr; you were but a tool in my +hands,--a tool to be thrown away whenever it pleased me. I should have +done so long since, but for certain considerations. I might have +unmasked the thief in the little affair with that other lost note of +Herr von Saldern's, which I see you remember, but the fruit was not +quite ripe, and I disdained to shake the tree. I am not fond of violent +measures. I prepare them for my use, but I use them only in cases of +absolute necessity. So long as I hoped to win your wife to listen to my +suit, and to purchase her husband's easy compliance with money and a +show of friendship, I allowed you to go your way. I thought you wise +enough to use your influence with your wife in my favour. I paid you +well for such service; but to-day she has shown me that it is vain to +attempt to proceed upon a friendly footing. She has offended, insulted +me; the consequences be upon her head. For what has happened to-night +you may thank your beautiful wife."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What--what has happened?" Sorr exclaimed, marking with terror the +savage gleam in the Russian's eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your wife repulsed me with scorn and left me, when, after the dance +to-night, I whispered a few passionate words in her ear; and although +by agreement with you she was engaged to me for supper, she refused my +escort, and took the arm of that fool, Von Hahn!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Impossible!" exclaimed Sorr. "When she promised me so faithfully! She +shall atone for it; she shall make you ample reparation!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If your influence with your wife is so powerful, you should have +exerted it earlier," Repuin said, with cruel scorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How was I to know that Lucie would break her word? But you shall have +satisfaction; I swear you shall. I do not deserve that you should +punish me thus for Lucie's actions. I am your most devoted friend; ask +of me what you will, and you shall be obeyed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I look for no less from you," Repuin replied, "though I certainly do +not reckon upon your friendship or gratitude, but upon your fear. That +you may know clearly what you have to expect, I will tell you plainly +what I meant, and still mean to do. Entire frankness is the best policy +between us. I love your wife passionately, madly; I have sworn that she +shall be mine at all hazards. Though I should commit murder in pursuit +of her, she shall be mine. You must separate from your wife. She must +be left to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sorr fairly staggered. He had, indeed, long known that Count Repuin +loved his beautiful wife; he had built upon this love his hopes of +mollifying the Count; but for this infamous demand he was not prepared. +He had often made shameful capital of his wife's exquisite beauty +when young men of fortune were to be decoyed to his house and to the +gaming-table; his dissipated life had long since destroyed in him all +ennobling affection for her; he felt no jealousy upon seeing her +surrounded by admirers; he had even exulted when the wealthy Russian +had been evidently conquered by her charms. And yet he was horrified by +Repuin's demand; to comply with it would banish him from the world in +which he had hitherto lived; who would take the slightest notice of him +if Lucie were no longer his wife?</p> + +<p class="normal">"What you ask is impossible!" he gasped, at last.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not dare to talk of 'impossible' to me!" the Russian angrily +exclaimed. "I require obedience of you, and if you refuse I will hand +you over to justice. Count Styrum, if summoned to court as a witness, +must tell what he knows, however unwilling he may be to do so. Your +fate in such a case is certain. Your only alternative would be to send +a bullet through your brains before you were arrested. If, however, you +consent to my will, I will not only be silent, and engage that Count +Styrum shall be silent, but I will also pay you ten thousand thalers +down. You shall receive the money on the day when your wife becomes +mine and we start for the Italian tour. You see I am magnanimous. +I buy your wife of you when I might force you to give her up to me. +Choose,--your fate is in your own hands!"</p> + +<p class="normal">As Sorr looked up at the Count's face filled with savage resolve, he +felt that all hope was lost. "My wife will never consent to it," he +said, with hesitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That would be unfortunate for you; but I am sure she will yield if you +tell her the true state of the case. Describe to her her future as the +wife of a convict. How will she live when her present support is +closely confined behind bolts and bars? Upon the other hand paint to +her the delights of a life by my side. There is no wish that she can +frame that it will not be my joy to gratify. If the fair Lucie is not +insane, I think that a just representation of the state of affairs--and +this must be your task--will soon convince her of what choice she had +best make."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not know my wife," Sorr said, still hesitatingly,--he was +afraid of arousing the Count's anger, and yet he dared not keep back +the truth: "her pride transcends belief; she would prefer the most +fearful fate, even death itself, to a life with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Exert all your eloquence, Herr von Sorr, and I am convinced you will +succeed. Remember the sword that is suspended above your head, and that +you alone can avert its fall. But enough for the present; you will now +return to the ball-room, only to leave it immediately with your wife +upon whatever pretext you may devise,--a sudden indisposition or +something of the kind. I owe it to Count Styrum that you spend not an +instant longer than is absolutely necessary beneath this roof. You will +inform your wife this very night of what has been agreed upon between +us. I will wait no longer than to-morrow morning for the result. Come +to me early and let me know what it is, and I will decide what is next +to be done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not another word! Your part is to obey; woe upon you if you fail! I +shall expect you to-morrow morning by eight o'clock at the latest!"</p> + +<p class="normal">With a haughty, scarcely perceptible nod, the Russian withdrew, +and finding Heinrich's room--whence the gamblers had long since +departed--empty, returned to the ball-room.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">After supper there had not been the amount of gayety that was wont +to distinguish the President's balls. The young people had begun to +dance, and the elderly folk to enjoy the delights of card-room and +smoking-room, when there was whispered through the assemblage a rumour +that interfered greatly with the merriment of the evening. It was first +heard in the ball-room; whence it originated no one could exactly tell, +but there it was, flying from lip to lip. The younger men were seen to +crowd around Guntram and the officers from Heinrich's room, whom they +plied with questions, and although it had been agreed that no mention +was to be made of the disagreeable circumstance that had occurred +there, the dark rumour was not long in taking shape.</p> + +<p class="normal">How it came about that first the elder ladies and then the younger +portion of the assemblage learned it no one could tell, but it +circulated everywhere in the ball-room, and finally penetrated to the +smoking-room, where the older men left their cigars and cards and +returned to the ball-room to ascertain what had happened.</p> + +<p class="normal">They found the greatest excitement prevailing there; the band was still +playing, it is true, but there were only a few couples on the floor, +and these danced without enthusiasm, and apparently merely for form's +sake.</p> + +<p class="normal">And what was it all about? No one could precisely say. Had Count Repuin +actually boxed Herr von Sorr's ears in Heinrich's room and called him a +cheat and thief? Oh, no! it was not Count Repuin. He had interfered +when Count Styrum, who had been robbed by Sorr, would have chastised +the thief, and high words had passed between the two Counts. It would +certainly end in a duel. This was the tale told to Adèle by the wife of +Major Gansauge; but Frau von Rose, who stood by, declared that she had +it from the best authority--her informant had begged that his name +might not be mentioned--that there was not a word of truth in the whole +story. It all came from Herr von Arnim's recklessly accusing Herr von +Sorr of playing unfairly. Poor Herr von Sorr was very likely not so +much to blame; he played high, to be sure, but, good heavens! plenty of +people did that nowadays, and Arnim was probably irritated because +Sorr's luck was better than his own. He had lost his temper, accused +Sorr of cheating; Sorr had naturally resented it; a duel was impending; +Count Styrum was to be Arnim's second, while Count Repuin was to act as +poor Herr von Sorr's friend. It was outrageous that such an affair +should disturb the gayety of one of the dear President's charming +balls. Poor dear Lucie von Sorr was most to be pitied, for every one +knew that Arnim was the best shot in the world and always killed his +man. But there was Count Styrum just come back to the ball-room; he +could tell all about it, if he only would.</p> + +<p class="normal">Adèle listened with impatience to the contradictory statements of the +two ladies. They were both noted gossips, and equally untrustworthy, +but there must be something wrong, else how could the report of some +kind of scene in Heinrich's room have circulated everywhere, even +reaching the ears of Frau von Sorr, who, in some agitation, had begged +her friend to discover the truth of the matter for her?</p> + +<p class="normal">Heinrich, to whom his sister had first turned for information, had +refused, somewhat roughly, to give her any satisfaction. "Old women's +gossip," was his only reply, as he turned his back upon her. His manner +only served to convince Adèle that there was some truth in the rumours +she had heard, and anxiety for her friend Lucie induced her to pay some +heed to the talk of the two old ladies in hopes of learning some fact +of consequence. Her only satisfaction had been in hearing that her +cousin, Count Styrum, could give her the information she desired. It +was not easy, however, to enter into conversation with him, for +immediately upon his return to the ball-room he was surrounded by eager +questioners, each curious to know all that he could tell. In her +friend's interest, however, Adèle was brave. She walked towards the +group of gentlemen, who instantly made way for the lovely daughter of +their host, and, accosting Styrum, said, "Cousin Karl, let me beg you +to conduct me to a seat."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Count instantly offered her his arm, and, while conducting her +through the room, quietly remarked, "I suspect why you have sought me. +You want to know the truth with regard to the occurrence in Heinrich's +room, concerning which such wild rumours have got abroad with +inconceivable rapidity. Am I not right?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, cousin; I implore you to tell me the whole truth. My poor Lucie +is quite beside herself with anxiety. Only see how pale she is! Never +was there a woman so self-controlled as she. Look, she is smiling now, +as she must so often when her heart is almost breaking; but she cannot +quite conceal her torturing fear that something terrible has occurred. +Take me to a seat beside her, that you may tell us both what has +happened."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I cannot do," the Count replied, gravely. "I will willingly tell +you all that I know, but I cannot describe to that most unfortunate +woman the disgraceful scene which I was forced to witness. You are her +most intimate friend, and yet I doubt if even you will be able to tell +her the whole truth. With this I can acquaint only yourself, your +father, and your brother."</p> + +<p class="normal">Adèle looked around; she noted the curious eyes fixed upon the Count +and herself; she knew that it would create gossip if she indulged in a +longer <i>tête-à-tête</i> with her cousin, if she withdrew with him from the +throng; but she would brave it all for the sake of her poor Lucie. "Let +us go out upon the balcony," she said; "there is no one there at +present; the gentlemen are all gathered about Heinrich and his +friends."</p> + +<p class="normal">It excited no little observation in the ball-room when Styrum led his +cousin out upon the balcony.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look, look!" the major's wife whispered to her crony, Frau von Rose. +"That is a little too strong. I know they are relatives and all that, +but it is possible to presume too much upon such relationships. Out +alone on the balcony with him! Who would ever have thought it of the +little prude!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are you thinking of, my dear?" Frau von Rose whispered in her +turn. "Adèle is as good as betrothed to the Assessor von Hahn. I have +it from a trustworthy source."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed! So much the more reason why she should not be out on the +balcony alone with her handsome cousin. It is scandalous! Who would +have thought of such things happening here at the President's! First +this terrible Sorr story, and then such conduct on Adèle's part."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, my dear, we advised her to ask information of the Count."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We?---- I beg pardon; I never should have advised any such thing; and +if I remember rightly, you only mentioned that the Count could tell all +about the matter if he would; you never hinted a word of advice. But of +course Fräulein Adèle will blame you if her father scolds her for such +behaviour, and very unseemly behaviour it is for a young girl to talk +to a gentleman alone in a dark night upon a balcony."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I myself do not think it exactly the thing, but there's no great harm +in it. The balcony is as light as day from the lights in this room. You +can see them both quite plainly. Look, Adèle is leaning against the +iron balustrade, and the Count is standing at a respectful distance +talking to her. He is telling her all about Herr von Sorr, it is plain +to be seen; and at any rate, my dear, what affair is it of ours if +Fräulein Adèle finds it convenient to talk more confidentially to her +cousin on the balcony than she could here in the ballroom? She will +know the particulars of the affair when she comes back, and we will +make her tell us all about it."</p> + +<p class="normal">While the elderly ladies in the ball-room were thus unfavourably +discussing the interview on the balcony, Adèle was listening with +painful interest to her cousin's story. She had long known of the evil +reports circulated with regard to Sorr; they had been matter of +discussion in the President's family circle, and her father had often +declared that he could not ask to his house a man whose reputation was +so bad. It was only in compliance with Adèle's entreaty that Sorr had +been invited to this birthday ball, and this only when Heinrich, upon +being consulted, had insisted that the silly stories concerning Sorr +were false, that they were all inventions of Lieutenant von Arnim, who +hated Sorr.</p> + +<p class="normal">Adèle, too, had hitherto given little credit to what was said of Sorr; +she knew that her friend led a very unhappy life with her husband, that +his habits were extremely dissipated, and that he neglected his wife +shamefully, but that he had ever been engaged in any dishonourable +transaction she did not believe. Nevertheless, at times, when Lucie +seemed oppressed with a sadness which no words of hers could relieve or +lighten, doubts had occurred to her; doubts which, however, since Lucie +never accused her husband, nor even alluded to him, the young girl had +resolutely banished, defending Sorr against her father's suspicions, +and treating all evil rumour concerning him as idle gossip.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now she knew the truth; and her heart seemed to stand still as she +learned that all that had been hitherto whispered of evil against Sorr +was exceeded by the facts,--her Lucie's husband was a detected thief!</p> + +<p class="normal">"My poor, poor Lucie!" she said, with infinite sadness, when Styrum had +finished his narrative. "What will be done now? What does that dreadful +Repuin mean to do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not sufficiently familiar with the relations which have existed +hitherto between Sorr and Count Repuin to answer that question," Styrum +replied, "but I must confess that my first thought was that Repuin had +brought about this catastrophe intentionally. I may do the Count +injustice, for he acted as any man of honour would have done in his +place. He could not suppress his knowledge of Sorr's theft, but he +acquainted me with it with great tact, leaving it to me to spare the +thief or to bring him to justice, and he acquiesced in my decision, +that out of consideration for your father the fellow must be let alone. +And no one can blame him for wishing to adjust without my assistance +his own relations with Sorr, who has hitherto passed in society for his +friend. He has only done his duty, and that in the most honourable +manner. All this I admit, and yet I cannot help suspecting that he +acted in accordance with a deep-laid scheme and in furtherance of his +own evil designs. I can never forget the look the man cast upon Frau +von Sorr when you took your friend's part so bravely, and the memory of +it fills me with distrust of him. Therefore I had intended to tell you +as soon as possible all that happened, and am especially grateful to +you for this opportunity to do so, since you are in a position to judge +whether any danger threatens your friend. She certainly must have told +you much that will enable you to know this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, if she only had!" said Adèle. "Unfortunately, it is not so. I love +Lucie like a sister. When we were at school together she confided +everything, even her very thoughts, to me: we had no secrets from each +other; but I no longer possess her confidence. I know she loves me as +well as ever, and if she could confide in any one, she would confide in +me and let me share and soothe her sorrow. Therefore I cannot but hope +for a return of the old intimacy. After her marriage I had not seen her +for a long time, and our correspondence had flagged, when something +more than a year ago she suddenly came here with her husband to live. +Her first visit was to me, and I was indescribably happy to see her +once more. She showed me all her old affection, but not her old +confidence. I soon perceived that she was very unhappy,--she could not +prevent my seeing that,--but to all my questions she returned evasive +answers, and I only judged from common report that her marriage was an +unhappy one, she has never spoken of it to me. And of her relations +with Count Repuin I know only what my own observation has taught me. He +has been for months Sorr's most intimate friend; they seemed +inseparable. Sorr lives very quietly, he never gives large parties, but +he frequently entertains a few friends, among whom, Heinrich has told +me, Repuin is always to be found. He has paid assiduous court to my +poor Lucie, never heeding the almost offensive coldness of her manner +to him. I know how abhorrent his attentions are to her, although she +has never mentioned him to me: I can read it in her eyes. This is all I +know; you were a witness of the odious scene at supper to-night, it +aroused in you the suspicion that troubles me also. My poor, dear +Lucie! I am in despair at not knowing how to advise or assist her. I +entreat you, dear Karl, to help me; my Lucie deserves to find faithful +friends in her terrible misery. Tell me, what will happen,--what can we +do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">As she spoke, Adèle looked up at her cousin, her large, dark eyes +glowing with entreaty and filled with tears. How beautiful her eyes +were!--almost more beautiful now when their brilliancy was dimmed by +those "kindly drops" than when sparkling with youthful gayety.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Styrum was wonderfully impressed,--Adèle's cordial confidence +enchanted him. Frau von Sorr had already interested him; he was now +resolved to do everything in his power to aid her in her misery. +Adèle's friend could not be the accomplice of her unworthy husband.</p> + +<p class="normal">But what could he do? He pondered this question in vain. "What will +happen?" To this he could make no reply; he could not imagine what +Repuin contemplated doing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not reply, Karl?" Adèle asked. "Will you not help me to protect +my poor Lucie from that horrible Count Repuin, to stand by her in her +misery?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"With all my heart I will, my dear Adèle," he replied, taking her hand +and kissing it so fervently that the girl withdrew it with a blush.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I accept your promise," she said; "we are now allies, and I am +convinced that you will be a help indeed. How we can aid my friend I do +not yet know, but I am sure that in her great need she will accord me +her full confidence, and appeal to me for help; then, Karl, I will +summon you and remind you of your promise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I will come. Ask of me what you will, you shall not ask in vain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you from my soul; you inspire me with courage and hope. But +look, cousin, there comes Repuin, followed by Sorr. Take me to Lucie +quickly,--I cannot leave her alone!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Repuin, as he entered the ball-room, looked around for Heinrich von +Guntram. To reach him he was obliged to traverse the entire length of +the room, and he waited several minutes to do this, since he did not +wish to disturb the dancers. He paused in the doorway and let Sorr pass +him, saying as he did so, "Good-night, my dear fellow," in a tone +evidently intended to be heard by all about him. "I hope," he added, +"that your terrible headache will be gone by tomorrow. Indeed, you +ought to consult a physician. Pray give my regards to your wife."</p> + +<p class="normal">He held out his hand to Sorr with a friendly nod, and then, turning to +Assessor von Hahn, he forestalled the question which that worthy was +about to address to him, by saying, "I am sorry for poor Sorr; he seems +to me in a very bad way. See, Herr von Hahn, how pale he is! He only +drank a couple of glasses of champagne, and they have given him a +racking headache."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is his present ghastly appearance entirely the effect of champagne?" +the Assessor asked, with a slight laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What else could it be? Do you think he can be seriously ill? I trust +not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It seems, Count, that your great kindness of heart prompts you to +endeavour to hush up this ugly story. I admire your amiability. I am +naturally kind-hearted myself. I make no boast of it,--the gifts of +nature are variously distributed; but it enables me to understand you, +Count, and it makes it all the more painful for me to tell you that you +never will succeed in crushing this scandal,--nothing else if talked of +throughout the room. See how every one looks at Sorr, how his most +intimate acquaintances avoid him, turning away as he passes them. Your +kindness can avail that man nothing, Count; he is lost, branded, and he +knows it; a guilty conscience speaks in every feature of his face."</p> + +<p class="normal">Repuin had observed the same thing, and exulted to see the contempt +with which Sorr was treated by those of his acquaintance whom he was +obliged to pass in gaining his wife's side. What had taken place in +Heinrich's room was already known here, then. The young officers had +blabbed; they could not have told all, for they did not know all, but +enough had been said to affect greatly Sorr's reputation.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was just what he had intended, that Heinrich and his companions +should suspect Sorr's guilt without being sure of it. He had hoped to +find the ball-room filled with dark rumours, and his wishes were +gratified. Sorr would now be convinced that it needed but a word from +Repuin to annihilate him, and that his only hope for the future lay in +implicit obedience to the Russian's commands.</p> + +<p class="normal">He, however, feigned to be greatly amazed. "I do not understand you, +Herr von Hahn," he said. "What ugly story is it that my discretion is +to crush? Why should poor Sorr have a guilty conscience in addition to +a bad headache? What has he done?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That you know best, Count."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am but a poor hand at guessing riddles, and must beg you not to +propound them to me, but to tell me plainly what has happened. I must +request an explanation in the interest of my friend Sorr."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor looked at the Count with a very puzzled air. He really did +not know what to think. Arnim had given him a succinct account of what +had taken place in Heinrich's study, and had added his opinion that +"Sorr was now done for," since Repuin had doubtless detected him in +cheating at the game. Arnim's trustworthiness was not to be questioned, +but how did his story tally with the Count's behaviour? Surely Repuin +would not call a detected cheat his friend?</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor did not know what to believe; he was in a very +disagreeable position. The only way out of it for him was to tell the +Count what reports were current in the ballroom, and thus justify his +over-hasty expressions.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A most annoying misunderstanding," was the Russian's comment upon his +communication. "I cannot, Herr von Hahn, explain the occurrence to you, +since it concerns a private matter of Count Styrum's, to whom I have +promised silence, but this rumour must be contradicted. Pray come with +me, we will make use of this pause in the dance to seek out Herr +Heinrich von Guntram, and I will explain matters as far as I may in his +presence."</p> + +<p class="normal">Repuin then walked directly across the room to Heinrich, the Assessor +following him, joined by several of the gentlemen, who guessed Repuin's +intention and were curious to know more of the scene in Heinrich's +study. Thus the Russian was surrounded by quite an audience when he +reached Heinrich, who was standing near the door of the balcony talking +earnestly with Arnim and Herr von Saldern.</p> + +<p class="normal">Heinrich replied but coldly to the Count's friendly address. He was +very indignant that Repuin should have been the cause of so unpleasant +a scandal beneath his father's roof upon this special evening; a +scandal that had called forth a decided rebuke from the President with +regard to the gaming in his son's apartment. He was also annoyed at the +indiscretion that had given rise to such disagreeable rumours, and he +visited this annoyance upon the Count, although he had but just entered +the room and could not possibly have originated any of them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Repuin took no notice of his cool reception. "I am sorry to disturb +you, Herr von Guntram," he said, in a loud voice, "but I am forced to +do so by a very unfortunate misunderstanding, which appears to be +wide-spread. It concerns a conversation which took place between your +cousin, Count Styrum, Herr von Sorr, and myself. May I beg you to ask +Count Styrum to step here for one moment, that I may have his +ratification of a declaration which I wish to make in your presence?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Heinrich was surprised at the conciliatory tone adopted by the Russian, +and he could not refuse to accede to his request. He beckoned to Count +Styrum, who had returned from conducting Adèle to Frau von Sorr, and +was standing near the balcony quietly surveying the assemblage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have to my regret learned from Herr von Hahn." Repuin began when +Count Styrum had drawn near, "that the aforesaid conversation between +the Count, Herr von Sorr, and myself has given rise to various +groundless reports, which I feel it my duty to contradict, in order +that the serenity of this charming entertainment may not be disturbed +by any silly gossip. I therefore declare, and beg all the gentlemen who +hear me to take notice of what I say, that the conversation between +Count Styrum, Herr von Sorr, and myself, which has given rise to all +this talk, related solely to private personal matters, and ended, I +trust, entirely to Count Styrum's satisfaction, so that we agreed to +forget the whole affair, and not to speak of it again. I beg Count +Styrum kindly to confirm this statement."</p> + +<p class="normal">Styrum did not immediately reply. Could he confirm Repuin's words? They +contained no falsehood, and yet they were calculated to deceive the +hearers, who would infer from them that the question was of a personal +disagreement, which, after a friendly adjustment, was to be forgotten. +Did they not imply a justification of Sorr which Styrum neither could +nor would ratify? What was Repuin's motive in thus gently treating the +thief whom so short a time before he had seemed unwilling to allow to +escape?</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I ask for the confirmation of my words, Count?" Repuin asked +again, on noticing Styrum's hesitation. "Have I not spoken truly?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What you have said is true," said Styrum, who could hesitate no +longer, "but it might give rise to a further misunderstanding, which is +under all circumstances to be avoided. I therefore add that there was +no question of any quarrel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not mean to imply that there was, and state expressly that there +was no talk of a quarrel between Count Styrum and Herr von Sorr. I +believe this affair may now be considered as dismissed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not quite, Count," Lieutenant von Arnim here interposed. "The affair +has unfortunately acquired such publicity that it must be pursued a +little farther. If you desire to re-establish as a man of honour Herr +von Sorr, whom in the presence of many witnesses you treated as no +gentleman should be treated by another, you must do it rather more +formally. Your conduct towards Herr von Sorr exposed him to suspicions +which nothing that either Count Styrum or you have said suffices to +allay. I have no desire, Count, to meddle in your private affairs; I do +not care to know what was the nature of the conversation to which you +summoned Herr von Sorr after so unceremonious a fashion. I shall be +quite content--so shall we all--if you and Count Styrum will simply +declare 'We consider Herr von Sorr a man of honour.' Let me beg you to +make this declaration, Count Styrum."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not feel justified in making such a declaration," Styrum replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nor do I," Repuin added, "since I do not admit that any one has a +right to demand of me a statement as to the honour of a gentleman."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your opinion is made sufficiently plain by your refusal," Arnim said, +very gravely. Then, turning to Heinrich von Guntram, he added, "I +think, Guntram, that you now owe it to yourself, to your family, and to +all of us to require this Herr von Sorr to leave a society where there +is no place for him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I protest against such a construction of my words!" exclaimed Repuin, +with a dark glance at the lieutenant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No quarrelling, gentlemen, let me entreat," Heinrich von Guntram +interposed. "We have had enough, and more than enough, annoyance for +to-night. Have some regard for my father and my sister, Arnim, and +recall your demand, compliance with which would only provoke a fresh +scandal."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is no occasion for farther discussion," said Repuin. "Herr and +Frau von Sorr are just leaving the room. I advised Sorr to go, he +complained of a headache."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A very prudent proceeding on Herr von Sorr's part," sneered Arnim. "He +relieves our friend Guntram of a disagreeable duty. For the present the +matter is settled. You must decide for yourself, Guntram, how to act in +future with regard to this precious Herr von Sorr. Do not, gentlemen, +allow this miserable affair to disturb our enjoyment any longer. The +music is just beginning; let us at least have one more dance."</p> + +<p class="normal">To this all were agreed, even Count Repuin, who was not sorry to be +relieved from duty as Sorr's champion. Everything was taking the course +he desired; his victim could no longer frequent this society; he was +delivered over into the hands of his enemy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr and Frau von Sorr had indeed left the ball-room before Arnim's +last words. Their suburban dwelling was not far from the President's, +it took scarcely a quarter of an hour to drive thither, but to Lucie +the time appeared an eternity.</p> + +<p class="normal">She leaned back among the cushions, whilst her husband looked out of +the carriage window. Not a word did he address to his wife during the +drive, nor did she once break the silence. She did not wish to question +him to provoke an explanation, she would fain have avoided any such +altogether. She knew nothing decided with regard to what had occurred +at the President's. A few remarks, not intended for her ear, had hinted +at a most disagreeable scene, in which her husband had been implicated, +and in her anxiety she had applied to Adèle for information. Her +friend, however, had no time to impart this, for scarcely had Count +Styrum conducted her to Lucie when Sorr made his appearance, stating +that he was not well, and that he wished to leave immediately, without +any formal adieux.</p> + +<p class="normal">A few words only Adèle had contrived to whisper into her friend's ear, +few but significant. "Courage, dearest Lucie; remember, I am your +devoted friend; trust me; whatever happens, I will stand by you."</p> + +<p class="normal">What did these words mean? Lucie ran over in her mind the events of the +evening, but found no explanation of them. Adèle could not know how +insulting had been Count Repuin's presumption, or how sharply he had +been reproved. But if she did not know, she perhaps suspected it, and +therefore had her championship of her friend been so eager.</p> + +<p class="normal">Had the Count perhaps had a quarrel with her husband? They had returned +to the ball-room together, the Count with his head carried haughtily, +Sorr, on the contrary, with an air that seemed to Lucie to express +profound despair. Just so pale and downcast had he looked on the day +when he told her that the last remnant of his property had been lost at +the gaming-table, and that not his money only, but also his honour +would be sacrificed if he could not quickly find means to pay his +gambling debts. He threatened to put a bullet through his head if Lucie +did not sign a power of attorney that placed her maternal inheritance, +her whole fortune, at his disposal. He had promised then never to play +again, and to alter his whole manner of life.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie had long known that he had broken his word, that he had played +away her property also, and she only called this scene to mind now +because he had the same air of utter despair that had characterized him +on this evening when he had followed Repuin into the ball-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">What had happened? Should she ask him? No! Whither could such questions +lead? He had long ceased to tell her the truth; and even were he to do +so, she might well wish it untold. Even to guess at the dark ways by +which he maintained his position in society was misery enough. Why +should she wish to know the terrible truth? He must have been playing +again; Repuin had probably lost, and some quarrel had ensued, +which---- No, she would pursue such thoughts no further. She trembled +to think that her husband might have revelations to make to her that +would rob her of the last remnant of her peace of mind.</p> + +<p class="normal">The carriage stopped; Sorr got out, and, without troubling himself +about his wife, unlocked the door and entered the house. She followed +him, and they ascended the stairs in silence. In the anteroom he +lighted the two candles left in readiness for them. When they returned +from an evening entertainment it was his custom, after lighting the +candles, to retire to his room with a curt "good-night," but this he +did not do. "I have something to say to you," he said, handing Lucie +one of the candles. "I will go with you into the drawing-room."</p> + +<p class="normal">She made no reply; her hand trembled as she took the light. She had a +foreboding that a crisis in her destiny was at hand; that the +communication which Sorr was about to make to her would be momentous +both for her and for him.</p> + +<p class="normal">He went first. In the drawing-room he placed the light upon the table, +and then sank upon the sofa as if exhausted. He sat for a long time in +silence, his head resting on his hand, his looks bent on the ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie did not disturb him, but remained standing by the table in front +of the sofa, silently watching him, marking the convulsive twitching of +his lips, the terrible change in his countenance. She saw the struggle +going on within him.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last he seemed to have come to a determination. He looked up, but +when he saw Lucie's dark eyes fixed searchingly upon him he instantly +averted his own. He sprang up from the sofa and paced the room with +hurried, irregular strides, pausing at last before his wife. He tried +to look at her, but he could not meet her eye. It was inexpressibly +difficult to speak the first word. He longed to have her question him, +that he might reply, but Lucie was silent. He felt her keen glance +watching his every movement, and at last he could endure it no longer.</p> + +<p class="normal">This must end,--this terrible silence was not to be borne; he must +break it by some word, no matter what. "I am ruined!" he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know it; we have been so for a long while," was Lucie's reply, given +with forced calmness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You deceive yourself. I am far worse off than you think. I have lost +all,--everything! More than we ever possessed! I am overwhelmed with +debt; we are on the brink of an abyss from which there is but one means +of escape."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We should have adopted it long since."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sorr looked up in astonishment. "What do you mean?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That we must at last resign the life we have led hitherto. I have +often, but always in vain, begged you to do so. Now necessity will +force you to it, and if you really see this at last I shall bless this +hour. By honest labour we can regain what we have lost. We have +influential friends, by whose aid we can easily begin life anew in +another city. You can procure some official position, and I will give +lessons in music and drawing, or in French and English. With courage +and determination we can easily achieve a secure independence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are mad!"</p> + +<p class="normal">This was all the reply that Sorr had for Lucie's words. Then he laughed +aloud. "It is incredible," he said, more to himself than to her, "the +wild ideas that will fill a woman's brain! An official post with a few +hundred thalers of salary--too much to starve upon, too little to +procure enough to eat! Tiresome work, from morning until night, and +hectored by a superior officer, to whom one must cringe. Regarded +askance by gentlemen. A pretty position! No, rather a bullet through my +brains and the whole mummery at an end. No need to waste a word upon +such nonsense. If I cannot live as I have been accustomed to live, I +had rather not live at all. This is not the means of escape which I +have to propose to you." He paused a moment; it was difficult to say +what he had to, but he could delay no longer, and he continued, "We +must separate, Lucie!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You forget that this is impossible," Lucie replied, forcing herself to +speak calmly; "a Catholic marriage cannot be dissolved, or ours would +have been so long ago."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nonsense! I am not talking of a divorce, which is of course +impossible, but of a separation. I have a proposal to make to you; I +know that at first it will seem odious to you; I do not like it myself, +but upon calm reflection you will see that in it lies our only means of +salvation. You must first know how matters stand with me, and this I +will tell you in as few words as possible. Our need is such that in +my despair I was induced to--to--it must out, there is no help for +it--Count Styrum's pocket-book lay open before me, and I took from it a +hundred-thaler note."</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie recoiled; incapable of uttering a word, she stared at her +husband. A thief! No; for this she had not been prepared; this exceeded +her worst forebodings,--a thief! And he could confess his shameful deed +thus with cynical frankness; he did not even repent it; he was not +crushed and despairing. Had he not just expressed his contempt for +honest labour? A thief! And to this man she was bound by an +indissoluble tie!</p> + +<p class="normal">Sorr expected no answer; he had now gained the courage to speak; after +the confession of the theft nothing was difficult, and he continued, +"Well, yes, I could not resist the temptation; the pocket-book lay open +before me; the opportunity was too tempting. I thought no one saw me, +but I was wrong; Repuin saw it all. Our fate lies in his hand; if he +speaks I shall be condemned as a thief, and you will share my +dishonour. The wife of the thief who has escaped punishment only by +voluntary death is an outcast from society. Your plan of honest labour +would prove futile, for none would intrust their children's instruction +to a woman at whom the world points the finger of scorn. You will sink +into utter misery; that will be your fate, as mine will be to die by my +own hand, if you refuse to accede to the proposal in which alone lies +safety for us. It is in your power," the wretch continued, speaking +rapidly and in a firmer tone, "to secure yourself a gay and joyous +existence, free from care, and provided with every luxury that wealth +can give, while you keep your conscience clear of the guilt of my +death, for it will be your act that drives me to suicide if you refuse +to accede to my proposal."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what do you ask of me?" Lucie inquired, in a low monotone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count Repuin," Sorr began again, "is madly in love with you. You have +hitherto treated him very badly, although you owed it to me to smile +upon him, as I have often begged you to do. His love, however, has been +only increased by your reserve. He is ready to make any sacrifice for +you now. But if he is again repulsed he is resolved upon revenge; he +will then be our deadly foe; he will ruin both you and me. You see what +is before us. If, however, you consent to our separation. Count Repuin +will take you to Italy, or whithersoever you wish to go. He will load +you with the costliest gifts, every wish that you can frame will be +fulfilled. You will insure yourself a most brilliant position and save +my life. It would be worse than madness to say 'no.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie's gaze was bent upon the ground. When her husband first began to +speak such shameful words, she thought she could not endure life until +he should have ended, but she summoned up all her strength of mind and +succeeded in conquering the terrible pain that tortured her; she +preserved an outward calm, while her heart seemed breaking with horror +and indignation.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sorr patiently awaited her answer. He thought she was considering his +proposal, and that was a good sign. He had feared that she would +indignantly reject it, give utterance to her detestation of the +Russian, and overwhelm him with reproaches for having dared to suggest +such a scheme, but nothing of all this had occurred; she had listened +quietly. He had prepared himself to overpower her resistance with +threats and entreaties, but there seemed to be no need for these. Since +she was so calmly considering the matter she would certainly be +reasonable in the end. He exulted in so easy and unlooked-for a +victory.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last she spoke: "You then desire that we should part? You yourself +would now declare me released for life from every obligation that a +wife owes to her husband? You distinctly consent to our separation, and +declare that you have no longer any claim upon either my life or my +fidelity. Answer me with a simple 'yes,' and I will consider whether to +accept your proposal, but before I decide I must be free."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you accept my plan, it follows as a matter of course that you are +entirely free by my desire," Sorr replied, who could not help thinking +her demand rather ambiguous.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I asked for a simple 'yes' or 'no,' without any 'if.' I must be free +before I decide. Unless you say 'yes' unconditionally, I swear to you I +will die before I yield to your wishes and part from you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, 'yes,'--you are free. But now be reasonable, Lucie; tell +me what to say to Repuin; he expects me tomorrow morning by eight +o'clock. I dare not go one minute later."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will consider; you shall have my reply before eight to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Lucie----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must wait. I will not decide to-night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, as you will. To-morrow morning early. Good-night, Lucie."</p> + +<p class="normal">He held out his hand, but she turned from him with loathing, and, +without even looking at him, took up a candle and left the room. Sorr +heard the door of her own room bolted behind her.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">The Hohenwalds by no means belong to the old German imperial nobility. +It is said that in the forest-depths of the domain of a Saxon Prince +his trusty huntsman saved the life of his lord from the furious +onslaught of a wild boar, and that in gratitude the Prince bestowed +upon him the hunting castle where he had previously been overseer, and +in memory of his bravery gave him the name of Hohenwald,<a name="div2Ref_02" href="#div2_02"><sup>[2]</sup></a> which +gradually came to belong to the castle and the neighbouring village on +the estate. The title of Freiherr, or Baron, was bestowed much later by +the Emperor. Baron Werner von Hohenwald, who distinguished himself as a +colonel during the Thirty Years' War, was probably the first thus +honoured, and the founder of the family of <i>von</i> Hohenwalds.</p> + +<p class="normal">This old colonel, who added much to the estate, not a large one +originally, was passionately devoted to the chase; he took up his abode +in the old castle, surrounded on all sides by the forest, and his +example was followed by all his successors, although such a residence +by no means lightened the cares of the management of the extended +estates of Hohenwald. The solitude of the forest had an irresistible +attraction for the Hohenwalds, and although they had erected a +comfortable grange near the village, they always occupied the castle. +Around the comparatively new grange were gathered the farm buildings +and the dwellings for inspectors and other officials. The Hohenwalds +thought nothing of the inconvenience of riding a couple of miles to +reach the grange; they thought themselves amply compensated by the +wonderful beauty of the site of the castle, buried in the depths of a +magnificent forest. The love of solitude seemed inherrent in the +Hohenwalds. If some among them had in their youth frequented the Court, +of Dresden, they were sure to return finally to Castle Hohenwald, and +none of them ever left it in summer. They had lavished so much money +and taste in fitting it up for a home, that it would indeed have been +difficult to find one more charming and desirable. The imperial colonel +had first begun to improve and add to the old hunting-nest, and each of +his successors had done his part in giving fresh beauty and grace to +castle, to gardens, and even to the forest, a portion of which had been +converted into a magnificent park. If they loved solitude, they were +all the more determined to surround themselves in their solitude with +every luxury that wealth could procure. Some of the rooms of the castle +were furnished with princely splendour, especially those on the lower +story, in which the present Freiherr Werner had been wont to assemble +frequent guests before his separation from his wife. The walls were +hung with paintings by illustrious masters;--the collection of pictures +at Hohenwald, although for years it had been seen by none save the +inmates of the castle, was accounted one of the best and largest in the +country,--and the castle library exceeded many a public one in its +treasures of literature.</p> + +<p class="normal">The ground-floor of the castle was less gorgeously fitted up than was +the first story. The present possessor, Freiherr Werner, had arranged +it for himself, and he thought more of solid comfort than of +superficial splendour. Nothing had been spared to make the rooms +pleasant and comfortable, but the hangings and furniture-covers were +not of silken damask, but of substantial woollen fabric, subdued in +colour, suiting well with the dark oak wainscoting and furniture.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr's favourite retreat was a large apartment, at one end of +which lofty folding-doors of glass opened upon a terrace, whence a +flight of steps led into the garden. As the castle crowned an eminence, +from this terrace almost all the garden could be overlooked, as well as +part of the road leading to the castle from the village of Hohenwald.</p> + +<p class="normal">The garden-room, as it was called, was the dwelling-room of Freiherr +Werner; he spent most of his time here, even in winter, and in summer, +when the tall doors were thrown wide open, the view from them partly +indemnified him for the loss of open-air exercise, from which he had +now been debarred for some years.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every morning he was pushed into this room in his rolling-chair from +his bedroom, for his right foot was so lame from the gout that he could +not walk. Here he assembled his family about him, here the daily meals +were eaten, and only late in the evening was he rolled back again to +his bedroom by his servant or by his son Arno. Every day he sat at the +open doors, gazing out into the garden. In former years he had devoted +much time to his garden; he was enthusiastically fond of flowers, but +since the gout had confined him to his rolling-chair he had been forced +to content himself with merely superintending the gardeners, to whom +from time to time he would shout down his orders. It was but seldom +that he could be taken out into the garden among his flowers, for the +slightest motion occasioned him great pain.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the afternoon of a lovely day in May the Freiherr was seated in his +favourite spot, looking abroad into the garden, where his beloved +flowers were budding gloriously, and delighting in their beauty and the +mild air of spring. He was in the most contented of moods; his book was +laid aside; he could read at any time; storms did not interfere with +that. His keen gaze wandered with intense enjoyment from shrub to +shrub; most of them he had planted himself, and his interest was +unflagging in watching their daily development from bud to blossom.</p> + +<p class="normal">If the Assessor von Hahn could have seen the Freiherr at this moment he +would hardly have recognized the gloomy misanthrope in this kindly old +man with genial smile and gentle eyes; but the next moment the +expression of the mobile features changed, the genial smile vanished, +the brow was contracted in a frown, the dark eyes sparkled with +irritation.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was the sound of a distant post-horn that caused this sudden change +in the Baron's expression. The old man listened. An extra post! He had +not heard the signal for a long time, but in former years his ears had +been familiar enough with it; he could not be deceived. A visit was +impending, for the road led only to Castle Hohenwald and ended there; +any traveller upon it must have the castle for his goal. Again the +signal sounded, rather nearer; the postilion was evidently determined +that the castle should be thoroughly apprised of the visitor at hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr picked up a bell from the table beside him and rang it +loudly. A servant instantly appeared at the door leading into the hall. +"Did you hear that, Franz?" his master angrily exclaimed. "Did you hear +that? An extra post!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It cannot be, sir," old Franz calmly replied. "Who is there to come to +us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's just it. Who can have the insolence? But there; hear it for +yourself. The cursed postilion is blowing with all the force of his +lungs just to vex me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can it be possible?" old Franz exclaimed, in the greatest +astonishment, as he hearkened to the postilion's horn now sounding much +nearer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No doubt of it! A visit! Such insolence is insufferable! Do they think +me old and childish? Whoever it may be will find himself mistaken. +Hurry, Franz, to the castle gate; you know what to say. I receive no +one; I'm sick,--I cannot see anybody. The carriage must turn round and +go back; whoever it may be, don't let them get out. Call the gardener +and old John to help you, if you need them. Go; be quick. In a few +minutes that carriage will be here."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man looked very angry as he shouted out these orders; his dark +eyes flashed from beneath the bushy snow-white eyebrows. With one hand +he stroked, as was his habit when vexed, his full silver beard, with +the other he rapped upon the small table beside him. "Well, what are +you waiting for?" he growled to the man, who still stood hesitating at +the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What if it should be the Herr Finanzrath?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Werner? I positively never thought of him," replied the Freiherr, +mollified on the instant. "Of course he is an exception; but now to +your post. Go!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Franz vanished, and the Freiherr leaned forward in his chair, +disregarding the pain the movement caused him, that he might better +overlook the road leading up the hill, for in a few moments the extra +post would emerge from the forest and be visible upon the road.</p> + +<p class="normal">On came the horses and the vehicle, a light chaise, in which sat an +elegantly-dressed man leaning back among the cushions, and talking to a +horseman who was riding beside the carriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course it is Werner!" muttered the Freiherr, relieved, sinking back +into his chair. And yet he did not seem particularly rejoiced at the +unexpected arrival of his eldest son, for the frown did not quite leave +his brow. He looked annoyed. "What does he want, coming thus without +letting us know? But perhaps he did announce his visit to Arno; he is +riding beside him. Well, well, we shall see."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man had not long to wait,--the post-chaise soon rattled +over the stones of the court-yard, and a few minutes later the +Finanzrath von Hohenwald, accompanied by his brother Arno, entered the +garden-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Finanzrath was a tall, handsome man, something over thirty years +old; he, as well as his brother Arno, bore a decided resemblance +to the old Baron,--they had the same dark, fiery eyes, and the same +finely-chiselled mouth, which, when tightly closed, lent an almost hard +expression to the face. And yet, despite their likeness to their +father, the brothers were so unlike that it was only after long +familiarity with them, and a careful comparison of their features, that +any resemblance between them could be detected. Both were handsome men, +tall and shapely, but their air and bearing were entirely dissimilar, +Arno having preserved the erect military carriage of the soldier, while +the Finanzrath was distinguished by an easy, negligent grace of +movement. Although he was the elder of the two, he looked much younger +than Arno; his fresh-coloured, smooth-shaven face had a very youthful +expression, while Arno's grave, earnest eyes made him appear older than +he really was.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old Baron's face cleared somewhat as the Finanzrath drew a chair up +beside his father's and greeted him most cordially. "I am delighted to +see you looking so well, father," he said, kindly. "I trust that +terrible gout will soon be so much better that you can get out among +your flowers. But where is Celia?" he asked suddenly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, where is she? Who can tell the whereabouts of that +will-o'-the-wisp? In the forest, in the park, in her boat on the lake, +in the village,--everywhere at once!" the old man answered, with a +smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">A slight shade flitted across the Finanzrath's countenance. "Just the +same as ever," he said. "I thought so; and perhaps it is as well that +Celia is not here at the moment, as it gives me an opportunity to speak +to you and Arno, father, of a matter that lies very near my heart, and +that I should like to have settled before I see her. I hope, sir, you +will not be angry with me if I speak frankly with you in regard to your +darling, whom you have just designated so justly a will-o'-the-wisp?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you want with the child? Have you any fault to find again with +Celia?" the Freiherr asked, crossly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, father; I feel it my fraternal duty towards Celia to speak very +seriously to you and to Arno in regard to her. You both spoil the girl +so completely that a stop must be put to it. Celia is now fifteen years +old, she is almost grown up."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is grown up," Arno interposed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So much the worse. Then it is certainly high time that something were +done about her education, if she is not to run quite wild. She is a +charming, sweet-tempered creature, and I can hardly blame you, living +with her here in this lonely forest, for being content with her as she +is, nor can I wonder that you, my dear father, can scarcely grasp the +idea of allowing her to leave you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean?" the Freiherr exclaimed, angrily. "What are you +thinking of? I let Celia leave me? Never!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I knew what you would say, father," the Finanzrath replied; "but I +hope, nevertheless, that after calm consideration you will agree to a +plan that I have to propose to you. Celia has grown up here in the +castle without feminine companionship, for you will hardly call our old +Kaselitz, who has always spoiled the child to her heart's content, a +fit associate for a Fräulein von Hohenwald. The only person of +education with whom Celia comes in contact, with the exception of +yourself and Arno, is her tutor our good old pastor, Quandt, who, as +Arno wrote me, has taught her well in various branches of science and +literature, but can of course teach her nothing of what a young girl of +rank should know when she goes out into the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She never shall go out into the world!" the Freiherr indignantly +exclaimed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you wish Celia to pass her entire life here in the solitude of +Castle Hohenwald? Will you run the risk of hearing her one day say to +you, 'You have robbed me of the joys of life, father! I might have been +a happy wife and mother, but since you chose to keep me by your side, I +am become a weary, unhappy old maid!' You cannot be so selfish as to +wish that your darling should sacrifice to you her entire youth?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nonsense! What would you have?" growled the Freiherr. "But go on. I +should like to know what you really want."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall soon learn. I spoke of Celia's education; she is well +grounded in science and literature; she rides like an Amazon,--not +badly perhaps; she handles a fowling-piece with the skill of a +gamekeeper. So far so good; but does she understand how to conduct +herself in society? does she possess the talent for social +intercourse,--a knowledge of those forms which, worthless in +themselves, are nevertheless indispensable accomplishments for a young +lady of rank?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have not brought her up to be a fine lady!" the Freiherr said, +peevishly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think, sir, if you will pardon me, that you have not brought her up +at all. I detest a fine lady and modern artificial culture, but a +Baroness von Hohenwald should not be utterly ignorant of the forms of +society. Celia must learn to conform to the rules that govern the +society of to-day, and it is high time that she began to do so. Arno +will admit that I am right."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot deny it," said Arno, who had been an attentive listener as he +paced the room to and fro, and who now paused before his brother and +nodded assent. "I, too, have pondered upon what was to be done for +Celia. Something must be arranged for her further culture, but I have +vainly tried to devise what it shall be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And yet the matter is simple enough. Two methods are open to you. Let +my father choose which he prefers. The first, which I myself think the +best and would therefore most strongly recommend, is perhaps the one +that will prove least pleasing to my father. Frau von Adelung's school +in Dresden has the best of reputations, and Frau von Adelung herself is +a woman of refinement and culture, who moves in the first society. I +made an excursion to Dresden before I came hither, saw Frau von Adelung +myself, and spoke with her regarding Celia, whom she is quite willing +to receive among her pupils."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Deuce take you for your pains!" cried the Freiherr, with a burst of +anger. "I know without being told that if I choose to pay for it the +best boarding-school in the country will be thankful to have my Celia, +but I tell you, once for all, I will not hear of it. I cannot part with +the child. Celia is my sunshine in this gloomy house. My heart rejoices +at the sight of her. The pain that tortures me is forgotten when I look +into her laughing eyes. I am a sick old man. You ought not to be so +cruel, Werner; leave me my jewel for the few years that I have to +live."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr's tone from one of angry reproach had become that of +almost humble entreaty.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Finanzrath nodded and smiled. "I hope you will rejoice for many +years in your jewel, and one day see her a happy wife and mother," he +said; and then continued: "If you will not part with Celia, she must +have the training here in Hohenwald which she could indeed procure more +easily at school; all that remains to be done is to engage a good +governess for her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno suddenly paused in his pacing to and fro in the room. +"Impossible!" he exclaimed. "What are you thinking of, Werner? A +governess here in the house! Live with the pedantic, insufferable +creature day after day, week after week, and always have her +interfering between our Celia and ourselves! Our entire life would have +to be changed. If so pretentious a person were to come here she would +require to be amused; we should have visitors, and would be forced to +pay visits in return. The peaceful repose that has hitherto reigned in +Hohenwald would be gone if a strange inmate were introduced among us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would you rather send Celia to school? I confess I should prefer it +myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I should not!" the old Freiherr exclaimed, with decision. "I do +not like womenfolk, but sooner than part with Celia I will endure a +governess in the house. After all, she will be only a superior sort of +servant. We get along with Frau Kaselitz, and we can get along with her +too!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frau Kaselitz does not pretend to sit at table with us, nor to join +our family circle," said Arno.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That would be insufferable," the Freiherr said, reflectively.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then let us have recourse to the school."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't say another word about that cursed school," growled the +Freiherr; "let us have the governess and be done with it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno would have made some further objection, but his father cut it +short by declaring that not a word more should be said upon the subject +until Celia was by; the girl was old enough to have an opinion +concerning her own affairs.</p> + +<p class="normal">To this decision the Finanzrath assented, rather unwillingly, to be +sure, since he would have preferred to have the matter settled on the +instant. He saw, however, that his father was coming round, and he +feared to injure his cause by any insistance. And Celia herself +prevented the possibility of continuing the conversation in her +absence.</p> + +<p class="normal">A shower of syringa blossoms suddenly rained down upon the Finanzrath, +who was seated near the open door leading to the garden, and a +charming young girl appeared upon the threshold. It was Celia,--the +will-o'-the-wisp, as her father loved to call her,--who always appeared +when least expected.</p> + +<p class="normal">With a merry laugh she flew to the Finanzrath, sealing her +flower-greeting with a light kiss upon his cheek, and then turning to +the old Baron, she threw her arms around his neck. "You are a dear, +darling old papa!" she cried, gayly. "You will not let your Celia be +sent to school like a little child; you will not let me be disposed of +without consulting me! Thank you, my own dear papa; but as for you, +Werner, I shall not forget that you would have banished me from +Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Finanzrath shook off the syringa blossoms, and, leaning back in his +chair, contemplated his sister with increasing satisfaction. He had not +seen her for nearly a year; he had not been at Hohenwald since the +Freiherr's last birthday, and during this time Celia had changed +wonderfully. He had left a child, he found a maiden; the tall, lithe +figure had gained a certain roundness and grace.</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia was developed physically far beyond her years; mentally, she was +still the gay, careless child; the happy spirit of childhood laughed in +her large brown eyes, was mirrored in the bright smile that lit up her +lovely features, and in the gay defiance with which, after having +fairly smothered her father with kisses, she confronted the Finanzrath +with folded arms. "Well, my sage brother," she said, laughing, "here I +am, in my own proper person, prepared to listen to your highly valuable +advice with regard to my future training."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you been listening, Celia?" the Finanzrath asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course I have. I saw you arrive, and by way of welcome plucked a +whole apronful of syringa flowers to surprise you after a sisterly +fashion, and then crept up to the door on tiptoe. There, to my horror, +I heard how the redoubtable Finanzrath had the impudence to tell my +darling old papa that he had not brought me up. Was it not my duty to +listen? You are a detestable monster, Werner! Look at me and tell me +what fault you have to find with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment the Finanzrath certainly had no fault whatever to find +with his charming sister; he thought her lovely, and owned to himself +that if no one had brought Celia up, mother Nature had done the best +that was possible for her. Her every movement was graceful, her bearing +that of a lady, and even in the stormy embrace she had bestowed upon +her father there had been nothing rude or unfeminine, but only an +impulsive warmth that became her admirably.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why do you not speak?" Celia went on, as the Finanzrath continued to +look at her with a smile but without replying. "You were ready enough +just now to prate about my want of social elegance, and Herr Arno, in +the character of a dignified echo, added his 'I cannot deny it.' Only +wait, Arno; you shall atone to me for that!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's right!" the Freiherr cried in high glee. "The little witch has +you both on the hip."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And, papa, I am a little angry with you, too. You were nearly talked +over by that odious Werner. Now let me tell you, if you ever send me to +boarding-school I will run away immediately. Even if I have to beg my +way back to Hohenwald I never will stay in Dresden with that horrid +Frau von Adelung, to whom Werner would sell me like a slave."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You would not talk so, child, if you had ever seen Frau von Adelung," +the Finanzrath observed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not a child, and I will not let you treat me as such. Remember +that, Werner. I will never consent to be sent to school."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Assure yourself on that point, little one. You heard me say that I +never will permit such an arrangement: that I cannot and will not be +parted from you," said the old man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I heard that, you dear old papa, and I could have shouted for joy +when you refused to listen to Werner's odious plan. You cannot live +without me, nor can I without you. So let Arno talk as he pleases. You +and I know that I am very well brought up. Neither you nor Arno has +ever found any fault with my manners, and as for what Werner has to say +about marriage, it is all nonsense. I shall never marry, but live here +with you two at Hohenwald. Upon that I am resolved."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, indeed?" the Finanzrath asked, smiling. "So elevated a resolve +adopted by a girl of fifteen of course alters the case."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are detestable! In two months I shall be sixteen."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A most venerable age, I admit; fortunately, however, not so advanced +but that you may still have something to learn. How, for example, does +your music come on?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia blushed, and replied, rather dejectedly, "I have not practised +much lately. Our good old pastor is so deaf that he never hears my +mistakes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And therefore you prefer not to practise at all, but to forget the +little you have learned, although you have considerable talent, and +might give my father a great deal of pleasure if you had a good +teacher. Think, father, how you would enjoy having Celia give you an +hour or so of delicious music every evening."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man looked fondly at his darling: "Yes, yes, I should like it +very well, but if it tires the child to practise, I can do very well +without it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no, papa; I will turn over a new leaf, and practise well, if it +really will please you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Practice is not enough," said the Finanzrath; "you never will improve +without a teacher. I consulted Frau von Adelung upon the subject, for I +foresaw that my plan of sending you to school would meet with +invincible opposition from you and my father. Therefore I asked Frau +von Adelung if she knew of any one whom she could recommend as a +governess for Celia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, now we are coming to the governess!" cried Celia, laughing. "You +are a born diplomatist, Werner. This is why you praised my 'talent' and +talked about my music. But no, my cunning brother, I am not to be +caught in your net. Am I, grown up as I am, to be ordered about by an +ugly old governess in green spectacles? I can hear her now: 'Fräulein +Celia, sit up; you are stooping again! Fräulein Celia, no young lady +should climb a chestnut-tree. Fräulein Celia here, Fräulein Celia +there! You must not do this, and you must not do that.' Oh, a governess +is always a horror! and I tell you, Werner, that if you send one here, +I will contrive that she is tired of her post in a week."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will see about that," the Finanzrath rejoined, coolly. "Frau von +Adelung has recommended to me very highly an accomplished young person, +who, so far as I know, neither wears green spectacles nor is a horror. +She is very musical, plays the piano charmingly, and speaks French as +well as English."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She must be a prodigy, indeed!" Arno said. "Is it possible that such a +combination of the arts and sciences can condescend to come to Castle +Hohenwald? Celia is right; the lady could not stay here a week. Our +lonely castle is no place for such a wonder, nor is Celia any pupil for +her. Neither my father nor I could alter our mode of life for a +governess. Women, in fact, are so little to my mind, that it is only by +an effort that I can bring myself to speak to them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray let me thank you in the name of the sex," Celia said, with a low +courtesy to her brother.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nonsense! you are an exception, you little will-o'-the-wisp. No need +to talk artificial nonsense to you; you are not greedy for admiration, +and do not expect to be flattered."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And how do you know that Fräulein Müller, the lady recommended by Frau +von Adelung, expects it?" asked the Finanzrath.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All these modern governesses expect it. Most of them are pedantic, and +all of them are greedy for admiration."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are certainly mistaken in this case. I described exactly to Frau +von Adelung the life that is led at Castle Hohenwald; I expressly told +her that no guest is admitted within its walls, that the governess +would have no companionship save Celia's, that my father was ill, and +therefore unfit for social intercourse, that Arno was a woman-hater, +who would never, probably, exchange three words with her, and that +therefore the position of governess here would not suit any one with +any social pretensions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what was Frau von Adelung's reply?" Arno asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That it was just the kind of situation that Fräulein Müller wanted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That seems to me a rather suspicious circumstance. Why should such a +woman as you describe, talented and accomplished, desire to bury +herself in the solitude of Castle Hohenwald?" Arno objected, and his +father, too, shook his head doubtfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the Finanzrath was prepared for this objection; he said, "Frau von +Adelung, in whose sincerity and truth I place perfect reliance, +explained what seemed to me, too, an anomaly. Fräulein Müller has had +much to endure in her life; her father was a wealthy merchant, and she +was brought up in the greatest luxury. But all the young girl's hopes +in life were disappointed: her father lost his entire fortune. Frau von +Adelung hinted that he had committed suicide, probably in despair at +his losses, and gave me to suppose, although for the young lady's sake +she did not say so directly, that the poor girl was betrothed, and that +the loss of her money broke her engagement. Alone, and dependent +entirely upon her own exertions, the unfortunate girl is anxious to +earn an honourable livelihood. The solitude of Castle Hohenwald, Frau +von Adelung maintains, would make the situation here peculiarly +desirable to Fräulein Müller. I expressly stated, also, that my father +would be quite ready to indemnify her by an unusually high salary for +the disadvantages of her position here; and I have so arranged matters +that it only needs a note from me to Frau von Adelung to secure +Fräulein Müller for Celia. She might be here in a few days. It is for +you to decide, father, whether we shall embrace the opportunity thus +offered us of procuring a suitable companion and teacher for Celia, or +whether we shall let it slip."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr was convinced by his son's representations. There was +still a conflict going on within him between his distaste for having +his quiet life disturbed by the intrusion of a stranger and his desire +that Celia's education might be complete. But he was so far won over to +the Finanzrath's views that he would not say 'no' to his plan. Celia +must decide. "Well, little one," he said, "what do you think now of +Werner's scheme? Shall he write to Frau von Adelung to send us this +Fräulein Müller, or do you still declare that you will not have her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia looked thoughtful. She must decide, then. She thought of the +delicious liberty she had hitherto enjoyed, of the restraint that would +be laid upon her in the future. But she thought also of her father's +pleasure in her progress in music, and more than all, it quite broke +her heart to think that her "no" would destroy the hopes of an +unfortunate girl who was seeking a position as governess.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her brother's account had excited her profound sympathy. She could not +say "no." "You are an odious fellow, Werner!" she said, after a short +pause for reflection. "You do just what you please with us; but you +shall have a kiss, and you may write to Fräulein Müller to come, and I +will try not to tease her."</p> + +<p class="normal">So the Finanzrath had his kiss, but he could not keep her by his side. +She had been serious long enough, and she ran laughing into the garden, +leaving her father and brothers to farther consultation.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">The Prussian-Saxon boundary defines also the bounds between the +Hohenwald estates, that lie entirely on Saxon territory, and the +Prussian domain of Grünhagen. The boundary-line here makes a great +curve into Saxony, so that the Grünhagen lands are almost shut in by +the Hohenwald forests and fields. The Grünhagen forest indeed forms a +continuation of the magnificent woods of beech and oak that surround +Castle Hohenwald, the boundary-line between them being only marked out +by a narrow path, so overgrown with moss and underbrush that only +careful observation can detect its course.</p> + +<p class="normal">The vicinity of the two estates has always been, since the memory of +man, a fruitful cause of quarrel between the respective proprietors of +Hohenwald and Grünhagen, each being strictly jealous lest his neighbour +should infringe upon his rights. At times some of the Hohenwald cattle, +when the herd-boy was not sufficiently on the alert, would stray into +the Grünhagen fields and be taken into custody by Herr von Poseneck's +people, and on one occasion the Hohenwald forester had actually +sequestrated the fowling-piece of Herr von Poseneck, when that +gentleman, who was devoted to the chase, had in his hunting attempted +to make a short cut through the Hohenwald forest. There had also been +various trespasses upon the rights of the chase which were hardly to be +distinguished from poaching committed on both sides of the boundary by +enthusiastic Posenecks and Hohenwalds.</p> + +<p class="normal">These innumerable quarrels had begotten a hostility between the Barons +of Hohenwald and Poseneck, which had been handed down from generation +to generation, and which was by no means lessened by the fact that, +since the annexation of Saxony with Prussia, the Posenecks had become +Prussian noblemen. No Hohenwald ever visited Grünhagen, and even in the +days when Hohenwald had been renowned for its brilliant entertainments, +at which were assembled all the country gentry and many families from +beyond the border, no Poseneck was ever invited within its gates.</p> + +<p class="normal">The hatred of the Hohenwalds for the Posenecks was so great that +Freiherr Werner, although he was not wanting in a certain amiability, +could not suppress a sentiment of exultation when, in 1849, Kurt von +Poseneck, who had allied himself with great enthusiasm to the +revolutionists, was forced to sell Grünhagen to his brother-in-law, the +Amtsrath Friese, and emigrate to America with his family to escape the +trial for high treason that threatened him as a member of the extreme +left of the Frankfort National Assembly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Since then, however, the animosity between Grünhagen and Poseneck had +slumbered, for the new possessor of Grünhagen was a man who detested +litigation, and who did all that he could to avoid giving cause for +offence to the Hohenwalds, while he overlooked any slight trespass on +their part. Thus open strife was avoided, but the old dislike only +smouldered. Freiherr Werner had transferred it to the Poseneck's near +relative, the Amtsrath, whom he detested for his Prussian extraction.</p> + +<p class="normal">Like master like man! All the inmates of the castle and the inhabitants +of the village of Hohenwald hated everything relating to Grünhagen. The +Hohenwald servants, from the steward and inspector to the commonest +stable-boy, held the "Grünhagen Prussians" for an odious race of men, +and, as they had received strict orders from the Freiherr not to be led +into any disputes, avoided all association with the Grünhagen people.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus the road from Grünhagen to the village of Hohenwald wellnigh +disappeared beneath weeds and grass, for there was not the slightest +intercourse between the two places. Was it to be wondered at, then, +that a Hohenwald plough boy, driving his team in the meadow bordering +upon the Grünhagen lands, stopped his horses and stared in surprise at +a young, well-dressed man sauntering slowly along the disused road, +crossing the boundary, and then, when near the village of Hohenwald, +striking into a by-path leading directly to the Hohenwald oak-forest? +The fellow looked after the stranger until he was lost to sight in the +forest, and then whipped up his horses, resolving to acquaint the +inspector that very evening with the remarkable occurrence.</p> + +<p class="normal">The stranger noticed the ploughboy's wonder, but it merely provoked a +smile as he slowly loitered along the meadow-path. Now and then he +paused and looked around, surveying with evident pleasure the lovely +landscape spread before him, the fertile fields and meadows, girdled by +the glorious oaken forest, now clothed in the delicious green of early +spring. As he reached its borders he paused again to look back at the +charming village of Hohenwald, nestled on the edge of the forest, and +at the stately mansion of Grünhagen, overtopping the farm-buildings, +granaries, stables, and cottages about it.</p> + +<p class="normal">How near the two estates were to each other and yet how wide apart! A +smile hovered upon the young man's handsome face as he called to mind +the strange hatred of the two proprietors for each other. He had +laughed aloud when the Amtsrath Friese had told him of it at Grünhagen, +and he could not now suppress a smile, for such an inherited aversion +was entirely inconceivable to him; it was a folly for which there was +no possible explanation.</p> + +<p class="normal">Entering the wood, he pursued the narrow path through the thick +underbrush, and gazed about him with intense admiration. Nowhere else +in Europe had he seen such magnificent old oaks; they belonged +exclusively to the Hohenwald domain, whose proprietor cared for them +most tenderly, and never allowed any of the giant trunks to be felled +except those which nature had decreed should yield to time. The Baron +could well afford to cultivate his love for his oaks; and whatever +might be done in distant parts of the forest, no axe was ever allowed +to work havoc near the castle among his old oaks and beeches in his +dear "forest depths." The narrow foot-path crossed a broad road through +the wood; here the stranger paused irresolute and looked about him +searchingly. To the right the road wound through the forest, in whose +depths it vanished; to the left it led through rows of trees up a +gentle incline to Castle Hohenwald, one of the wings of which the +stranger could discern in the distance. He had not thought himself so +near the castle; the foot-path must have led him astray. According to +the directions of the Grünhagen inspector, he should be upon the path +which, cutting off a corner, was a more direct road to the Grünhagen +woods than the one leading from the mansion; but if this were so, it +ought not to have brought him so near to Castle Hohenwald. He +hesitated, pondering whether to follow the path on the other side of +the road or to turn round, when his attention was arrested by a +charming sight. Galloping upon a magnificent and spirited horse, there +suddenly appeared upon the road from the castle a girl scarcely more +than a child. She managed her steed with wondrous case and security; +the mad gallop gave her no fear; she sat as firmly and even carelessly +in the saddle as though the horse were going at an ordinary pace; +indeed, she even incited him to greater speed with a light touch of her +riding-whip.</p> + +<p class="normal">How lovely she was! A young girl, judging by her slender, well-rounded +figure, and yet only a child. There was a bright smile upon her +charming face, her eyes beamed with happiness, and her dark curls, +blown backwards by the breeze, escaped from beneath her light straw +hat.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was very near the stranger when the horse suddenly started and +shied, probably frightened by the young man's light summer coat among +the trees.</p> + +<p class="normal">A practised horseman might well have lost his stirrup through such an +interruption of the swift gallop, but the young Amazon kept her seat +perfectly, punished her horse by a smart cut with her whip, as she +exclaimed, "What are you about, Pluto?" and then, as with a strong +steady hand she reined him in, looked to see what had caused his +terror.</p> + +<p class="normal">A stranger in the Hohenwald forest! Celia had reason enough for +astonishment, for she could scarcely remember ever having seen any save +the people of Hohenwald upon her father's estate. And this was an +elegantly-dressed stranger, no forester or peasant, but a young man +evidently from the higher walks of society. Now a well-educated young +lady would certainly have found it becoming in such an unexpected +encounter with a stranger in the lonely forest to display a certain +amount of embarrassment, perhaps of timidity. Not so Celia. She scanned +the intruder upon her father's domain with a long, searching look,--the +sensation of fear she knew only by name, and there was no cause for +embarrassment. She was at home here, upon her native soil. She had a +perfect right to ask the stranger bluntly, "How came you here? Who are +you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The stranger bowed very respectfully. "I think," he replied, "that I +have the honour of addressing Fräulein von Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was evidently a very polite and agreeable young man,--"the honour of +addressing Fräulein von Hohenwald." Celia suddenly felt very much grown +up. Hitherto she had been only Celia. Even the servants, who had known +her from infancy, called her nothing but Fräulein Celia. Fräulein von +Hohenwald sounded delightful. She quite forgot to pursue her inquiries, +and answered, "Yes, I am Cecilia von Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again the stranger bowed low, and taking a little card-case from his +breast-pocket, produced a visiting-card, which he handed to her, +saying, "I must pray your forgiveness for presenting myself in this +informal manner as your nearest neighbour."</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia read the card. "Kurt von Poseneck!" she exclaimed, and the tone +of her voice as well as the expression of her eyes manifested such +surprise and even terror, that for Kurt all the inherited hatred of the +Hohenwalds for the Posenecks found utterance in this brief mention of +his name.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the Amtsrath Friese, his uncle, had told him of the fierce hatred +between the Hohenwalds and the Posenecks that had been handed down +through generations, Kurt had laughed heartily, but now when he thought +he saw that this insensate hate had taken root in the heart of this +lovely child, he was filled with a sense of painful regret. "What have +I done to you, Fräulein von Hohenwald," he said, sadly, "that my name +should so startle you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It does not startle, it only surprises me," Celia replied, quickly, as +she looked with increased interest and a greater degree of attention at +this young man, who did not in the least resemble the picture she had +formed from the tales of Frau Kaselitz of a member of the evil-minded, +cross-grained quarrelsome Poseneck family.</p> + +<p class="normal">Certainly Kurt von Poseneck looked neither cross-grained nor +quarrelsome as his frank eyes met her own kindly and yet sadly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her first inspection had inclined her in the stranger's favour, and +Celia now decided that he was a very fine-looking man, almost as tall +as her brother Arno and far handsomer, for Arno looked stern and +gloomy, while Kurt smiled kindly. His full brown beard and moustache +became him admirably. Celia thought his expression exceedingly +pleasing; she had never supposed that a Poseneck could have so frank +and honest a smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">The girl was quite incapable of dissimulation,--her thoughts and +sentiments were mirrored in her eyes,--and Kurt perceived to his great +satisfaction the first startled expression vanish from her face as she +looked at him with a very friendly air.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, Fräulein von Hohenwald," he said, "for those simple +words. I was afraid you shared the melancholy prejudice that has been +the cause of so many terrible disputes between our families in former +times, and this would have specially pained me in you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why specially in me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The question was simple and natural, but yet not easy to answer. +"Because--because--well, then, honestly and frankly, Fräulein von +Hohenwald, because as soon as I saw you I said to myself, 'Let the +Hohenwalds and the Posenecks quarrel and hate one another as they +choose, Fräulein Cecilia von Hohenwald and Kurt von Poseneck never +shall be enemies!' Forget the mutual dislike that has divided our +families. Will you not promise me this? I know it is a strange request +to make of you, but you must forgive my bluntness. I returned to Europe +only a few months ago, and cannot forget the fashion learned upon our +Western farm in America. I hope you will not blame me for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no; on the contrary, I like frankness. Werner always scolds me for +having my heart upon my lips; he is odious, but papa and Arno take my +part."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is Werner?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My brother, the Finanzrath. I thought you knew; but indeed you cannot +know much about us if you are only lately come from America."</p> + +<p class="normal">"More than you think. My father used often to tell me of Grünhagen and +Hohenwald, and my uncle Friese has talked of you to me also. I knew and +admired you, Fräulein von Hohenwald, from his description, and I am +doubly rejoiced that chance has brought us together. But you have not +yet answered me. Will you grant my request and promise me that for us +the old family feud shall not exist?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"With all my heart!" said Celia; and in ratification of her promise she +held out her hand to Kurt, although her horse seemed to take the +stranger's approach very ill, and grew restless.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt took the little proffered hand. "Peace is formally concluded, +then," he said, gayly. "We are to be good friends, and I trust, +Fräulein von Hohenwald, that if you should meet me again in the +Hohenwald forest, bound for the Grünhagen wood by the shortest way, you +will permit me to exchange a few friendly words with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">This Celia promised readily; but at the same time she pointed out to +Kurt that he never would reach the Grünhagen wood by pursuing a path +leading directly to the lake in the Hohenwald park, and offering to +show him the path he was seeking, she walked her horse beside him.</p> + +<p class="normal">She never dreamed that there could be anything unbecoming in her +readiness to show him the right way through the lonely wood; she +thought it very natural that she who was at home here should direct a +stranger aright, and quite at her ease, she chatted on to Kurt as to an +old acquaintance.</p> + +<p class="normal">He told her of his life in America, and spoke with such affection of +his parents, who had been dead now for some years, and with such loving +tenderness of his sisters, who were married in America, that Celia +could not but be interested and attracted by him. He told her how he +had served in the Northern army in the war with the South, attaining +the rank of major before it was over. He had then resigned, and, after +his father's death, had disposed of the American property, and had now +returned to Germany to assist in the management of the Grünhagen +estates, which, as his uncle's declared heir, would one day be his. He +had spent a few months in travelling in England, France, and Italy, and +had arrived only three days before in Grünhagen, where his uncle had +given him the warmest of welcomes.</p> + +<p class="normal">All this Kurt detailed to his guide on their way through the forest, +and he also expressed to her his sincere regret that, as his uncle had +told him, there was no possibility of establishing friendly relations +between Hohenwald and Grünhagen, and that he himself could not even +venture to pay a visit to Hohenwald to show that he had inherited +nothing of the old family hatred.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no, it would never do," Celia said, sadly. "Papa would be terribly +angry; his orders are positive that no visitor shall ever be admitted +to the castle. Arno would have liked so much to ask his dearest friend, +a Count Styrum, to stay with us; but, although papa thinks very highly +of the Count, and says himself that he must be an excellent man and a +worthy son of his father, who was once papa's dear friend, he could not +be induced to let Arno send him an invitation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course, then, I cannot venture to come, but I hope at least to make +your brother Arno's acquaintance; this will surely be facilitated by +his being an intimate friend of my cousin, Karl Styrum."</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia shook her head dubiously. Arno was just as dear and good as papa, +but just as disinclined to come in contact with strangers. He never +left Castle Hohenwald except when some inspection of the estate was +necessary; he spent all his time in studying learned books.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you, then, quite alone in the lonely castle?" Kurt asked, +compassionately, but Celia laughed aloud at his question. "I alone and +lonely!" she cried. "What can you be thinking of? I have my own darling +papa, and Arno, who is so kind; you cannot conceive how kind he is. +Then I have my tutor, dear old Pastor Quandt, to whom I go every +morning from nine to eleven; that is, I always have gone to him until +now,--how I shall do in the future I cannot tell, for only think, now +in my old age I am to have a governess."</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt laughed, and Celia laughed too, but the laugh did not come from +her heart. "You must not laugh at me," she said, with some irritation. +"I am afraid I have said something that I ought not. Tell me frankly +and honestly, are my manners so odd that I really need a governess?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a very strange question, Fräulein von Hohenwald!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Answer it by a simple 'yes' or 'no.' Ought I to have a governess or +not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt looked at her, with a smile. "Do you really want a frank answer?" +he replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course I do; it would provoke me very much not to have it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am afraid you will be provoked with me for giving it, but I will do +as you ask. In truth, I think you might learn much of a really good +governess, and that she would do you no harm in spite of your 'old +age.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How odious of you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did I not say that I should provoke you by my frankness?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; I am not provoked with you, quite the contrary. I see now that +Werner was right. If you, who have only known me a quarter of an hour, +see that I need a governess, it must be so. But here we are on the +borders of Grünhagen, and there is the path that will lead you back to +the house."</p> + +<p class="normal">She stopped her horse, and pointed out to Kurt with her riding-whip a +narrow path, so grass-grown that it could have been detected only by +some one very familiar with the locality.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you really are not angry?" Kurt asked, unpleasantly surprised by +his abrupt dismissal.</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia looked thoughtful, and after an instant's pause held out her hand +to Kurt. "No, I am certainly not angry with you," she said, cordially. +"I was provoked, I do not deny it, that you should have thought Werner +right; but you meant no unkindness, I am sure, or you would not have +been so frank."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I assuredly meant nothing but kindness!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sure of it, and it makes me all the more sorry that you cannot +come to Hohenwald. It would be so pleasant to have you tell me more +about America and your adventures there. But that cannot be, and it +will be long before we see each other again, unless we should meet by +chance in the forest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I trust in my good fortune."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, we may possibly chance to meet again soon, since I take my ride +almost every afternoon about this hour, and am very fond of the broad +road leading towards the Grünhagen woods. Adieu, Herr Kurt von +Poseneck."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Au revoir, Fräulein von Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">She gave him a friendly little nod, touched her horse with the whip, +and vanished in a minute along the road leading to Castle Hohenwald.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt looked after her vanishing figure, and then resigned himself to +delightful reflections. Was it not something more than chance that had +decreed that he, who had found his way so often in American forests, +should lose it here, and thus make the acquaintance of this charming +girl?</p> + +<p class="normal">The next day about four o'clock Kurt was seized with an irresistible +desire to inspect the forests; he could not stay in the house; it drove +him forth, much to his uncle's surprise, who, however, ascribed it to +the love of nature engendered by his life in the open air in America. +Kurt did not this time, however, pursue the path he had taken on the +previous day; he remembered the ploughboy's gaping wonder, and did not +choose to become a theme for gossip to the Hohenwald servants; he +followed, instead, the more direct course across the Grünhagen fields +to the woods, but scarcely had he reached it, when chance guided him to +the very spot upon the broad road leading from Castle Hohenwald where +he had been so unfortunate as to frighten Celia's horse. The same +chance that led Kurt to this place arranged that Celia also, who had +hitherto been very careless about the time at which she took her +afternoon ride, suddenly required her horse to be saddled on the stroke +of four. Old John, the groom, could not imagine why Fräulein Celia +should all at once be "so very particular." She never had seemed to +care whether the horse were brought to the door a quarter of an hour +sooner or later, and now she insisted sharply upon punctuality, +although it was the Baron's birthday, and the old servant had had a +great deal to do, as Fräulein Celia knew. She could scarcely restrain +her impatience to be gone, and as she galloped off down the road, the +old man looked after her with a thoughtful shake of the head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We may possibly chance to meet again soon," Celia had said to Kurt as +she took leave of him, and chance conducted her to the very spot where +she had met him yesterday, and where she now met him again. From afar +she espied his light coat among the trees, and her lovely face was lit +up with a happy smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">Had she expected him? Impossible! She had made no appointment with him. +She knew enough of social rules to understand that a young lady could +not appoint a rendezvous with a young man whom she had seen but once, +and then only for a short time. Of course it was chance that had +brought them both to this spot at the same time, but she was very glad +of it, and greeted Kurt with a charming smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was quite natural that she should now walk her horse that Kurt might +walk beside her, although it cost her a struggle with Pluto to induce +him to agree to this new order of things. Kurt walked beside her, +looking up at her with admiration. How graceful was her every movement +as she reined in and controlled her impatient horse! She held the curb +in a firm grasp, but there was nothing unfeminine in the strength thus +put forth. For a while her whole attention was given to her horse, but +when she had reduced him to a state of obedient quiescence she replied +kindly to Kurt's greeting, and when he expressed his pleasure that a +fortunate chance had again brought them together, she answered, with +perfect freedom from embarrassment, that she also was much pleased. As +she spoke, her smile was so arch that he could not but laugh. And then +they laughed together like two children. They knew well what made them +laugh, although they said no more about it.</p> + +<p class="normal">It sounded almost like an excuse when Celia said that she had come from +home nearly a quarter of an hour later than usual this afternoon, old +John had been so long saddling Pluto, but that she could not scold him, +for he was very old now, almost seventy, and he had been up half the +night helping her to hang oaken garlands all about her father's beloved +garden-room, that he might be surprised by their beauty when Franz +rolled him in from his bedroom at five o'clock on his birthday morning. +And her father had been very much delighted,--he so loved his +oaks,--and he had been specially pleased with a tobacco-bag that she +had embroidered for him as a birthday gift. He was not very fond of +embroidery, but he knew how hard it was for her to sit still at any +kind of work, and he had been touched by the trouble she had taken for +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus Celia talked on, and Kurt listened with rapt attention, as if she +were imparting to him the most important secrets. Her delight in the +garlands of oak-leaves and in the completion of her gift for her father +charmed him. He thought her almost more lovely now than when, a few +moments before, her eyes had sparkled and flashed in her struggle with +her horse. He did not know which to admire more, the blooming girl or +the lovely child; he only knew that both were adorable.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the day previous, Kurt had told of his adventures in the war and his +life in America; to-day he begged Celia to describe to him her life in +Castle Hohenwald, and she did so willingly. She was glad that Kurt +should have in his mind a true picture of her dear old father, whom +strangers could never portray truly, for no one knew how dear and good +he was. Arno too, Frau Kaselitz and Pastor Quandt had often told her, +was just as little known or appreciated as his father. She had seen +yesterday, from the compassionate way in which Kurt had spoken of her +solitude at Castle Hohenwald, how false was his conception of the life +there; now, strangers might think what they pleased of it, but Kurt von +Poseneck must know what happy days she led there with her kind papa and +her dear Arno.</p> + +<p class="normal">And so she described it to him, beginning with her father, so truly +kind, although a little hasty perhaps now and then, bearing pain so +patiently, never requiring any sacrifice of his people, but always +ready to befriend them. All who knew him loved him. The old servants +declared that there never was a better master; even the Herr Pastor had +a great respect for him, and only regretted that he had withdrawn from +the world, and was in consequence so misjudged. Arno, too, was as +kind as he could be. He might look stern and gloomy, but he was not +so,--only very sad,--and for this he had good cause. He had been +betrothed, and had lost his love, of whom he was inexpressibly fond. +Celia did not know how it had happened. Frau Kaselitz would not tell +her anything about it, and she could not ask Arno, for when the +engagement had been broken some years before, her father had forbidden +her ever mentioning the subject to her brother. He had travelled for a +long time, but travel could not make him forget his grief; that was why +he seemed so stern and gloomy, although he was always gentle and kind +to his father, to her, and to the servants and villagers. If any of +them were in trouble they always came to Arno for help; and even when +it was impossible to help them he always had a kind word for them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia's praise of her eldest brother was by no means so enthusiastic. +He was a very good fellow, but then he was not Arno; still, he was very +wise, and could always persuade his father to do as he chose. She had +been told that in his boyhood Werner was very irritable and passionate, +but he had quite conquered this fault. Now he rarely allowed himself to +be carried away by anger; his self-control was so great that even when +he was deeply irritated he could preserve a perfect calmness of manner, +and this was why he had such influence with his father, that whatever +he wished to have done at Hohenwald was done. If he did not succeed in +one way he tried another. Thus he had contrived that in spite of his +father's dislike of having a stranger in the house he had consented to +the engagement of a governess.</p> + +<p class="normal">As she said this Celia could not suppress a little sigh, although she +instantly laughed, and added, "Well, it may be best,--you think so, and +I will do what I can, and receive Fräulein Müller as kindly as +possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner, she went on to say, came but seldom to Hohenwald, usually only +once a year, to be present on his father's birthday, when he stayed +only two, or at most three weeks. He was always very good and kind, but +she could not love him as she did papa and Arno; she could not tell +why, but so it was, and she could not deny that she was always a little +glad when he went away again. She was quite sure that papa and Arno +felt just as she did, although neither of them had ever said one word +to that effect, but she had observed that papa breathed more freely +after the carriage had rolled away with Werner.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then Celia described the few people, not her relatives, with whom she +had daily intercourse--Pastor Quandt, her tutor, an old bachelor nearly +eighty years of age, but still hale and hearty, and dear and good, and +Dr. Bruhn, the village physician, also an amiable old bachelor, and +Frau Kaselitz, the housekeeper, who could not do enough to show her +love for her darling Fräulein Celia. She, Frau Kaselitz, was the +childless widow of one of the former stewards of Hohenwald, and had +passed her entire life either in the village or at the castle. She was +as good as gold; far too kind; she, Celia, knew that Frau Kaselitz +spoiled her and made a governess so desirable--as he had thought it, +the girl added, with an arch glance at her companion. She could not +deny herself the pleasure of this little thrust.</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia's lively description soon made it possible for Kurt to have in +his mind a vivid picture of the simple life at Castle Hohenwald, and +his admiration for the lovely speaker was increased tenfold. What a +treasure of simple content she must possess, to preserve such a +cheerful gayety of mind with so little in her surroundings to induce +it!</p> + +<p class="normal">A long conversation followed upon Celia's narrative; she required, in +her turn, to be told of Grünhagen and its inmates. She asked about his +uncle Friese, and was amazed to learn that he was an amiable, kindly +old man, who only desired to live at peace with all men. According to +Frau Kaselitz and the Hohenwald servants, he was a cross, quarrelsome, +purse-proud old person.</p> + +<p class="normal">In such mutual explanations the time sped rapidly, and Celia, as well +as Kurt, was surprised to find that they had reached the Grünhagen +woods and the end of the broad road that led through the Hohenwald +estate.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is time for me to turn back," said Celia, with a slight sigh.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt did not venture to remonstrate, although he felt as if he should +have liked to talk on with her forever, and although in Celia's manner +there was an indirect appeal to him to ask for a prolongation of the +conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed I must turn round," Celia added, with an interrogatory glance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am afraid you must," Kurt replied, suppressing his desire, and +yielding to more prudent suggestions. Then, holding out his hand to +Celia, he continued: "Chance has been so kind to-day that I trust it +will prove no less so in the future, and so I do not say 'farewell' to +you, Fräulein von Hohenwald, but 'till we meet,' and may that be +speedily!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia smiled as she nodded her farewell to him, and rode back along the +forest road; and on the following day chance was again so amiable as to +bring about a meeting between the young people at the same spot in the +woods. Yes, chance here proved steadfast and true, and day after day +the pair passed slowly along the forest road to the Grünhagen woods, +deep in innocent but profoundly interesting conversation. Kurt was on +the spot with unfailing punctuality at four o'clock, and a few minutes +later Celia would appear on Pluto, who now greeted Kurt with a neigh, +and was no longer impatient at the slow walk along the road to the +Grünhagen woods. For ten days the skies smiled upon Kurt's forest +walks, but then May, which had hitherto shown him such favour, +justified the reputation for variability which she shares with April.</p> + +<p class="normal">At Grünhagen a cold rain pelted against the window-panes, through which +Kurt disconsolately watched the skies, covered with dull gray clouds +that gave no hope that the weather would clear that day, nor perhaps +for several days to come.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Amtsrath had just finished his after-dinner nap and lighted his +long pipe. Sitting in his arm-chair and comfortably sipping his coffee, +he was not in the least incommoded by the rain that so interfered with +Kurt's good humour; on the contrary, he thought it good growing +weather, for</p> +<div class="poem"> +<p class="t4" style="text-indent:-6px"> +"Whenever May is wet and cool,<br> + +The farmer's store-house will be full."</p> +</div> + +<p class="continue">He had often lately looked up to the sky in hopes of rain, and he was +glad that it had come at last to scatter abroad its blessings over +field and fell.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A fine soaking rain," the old man said, with a smile, to Kurt, who, he +felt sure, must agree with him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Soaking indeed," Kurt replied, not by any means so pleased as his +uncle had expected; but then the old man was thinking of his meadows +and Kurt of Celia, whom the soaking rain would surely prevent from +taking her daily ride.</p> + +<p class="normal">The clock in the Grünhagen church-tower struck four; Kurt took his hat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where are you going?" asked his uncle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To take a walk in the woods."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In such weather?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A few drops of rain will do me no harm."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Amtsrath shook his head, for the few drops of rain were, as Kurt +himself had admitted, a steady, soaking downpour. Still there is no +accounting for tastes, and if forest walks in a pelting rain were among +Kurt's American habits, his uncle had no objection to make.</p> + +<p class="normal">As Kurt stepped out into the open air, and the huge drops were driven +into his face by the wind, he hesitated a moment. There was no +possibility of meeting Celia in the forest in such a storm. Still, +suppose she should persist in taking her ride? It was possible; no, it +was impossible; nevertheless, Kurt would not fail to be upon the +appointed--no, it had never been appointed--spot in the forest; he +could then tell her the next day that he had been there in spite of the +storm and rain, that he had not, indeed, expected her, but that he had +thought of her. He knew that she would laugh at him and tease him about +his walk in the rain, but he so liked to hear her laugh, she was so +wonderfully charming in her gayety.</p> + +<p class="normal">In spite of the increasing rain that soon penetrated his light summer +dress, the way did not seem long; he thought of her, and perhaps +because he had no hope of seeing her that day her image was all the +more present to his mind. During the past ten days a very peculiar +relation had been developed between Kurt and Celia. While Kurt +sauntered along the forest road beside Pluto they talked together like +brother and sister. Celia was never tired of hearing all that Kurt +could tell her of America and the life he had led there, and his +conversation had opened to her an entire new world of thought and +emotion. Brought up in a narrow home-circle, whence all strangers were +excluded, the girl had had no idea that people of culture could +entertain any views and opinions save those shared by her father, by +Arno, and by the old pastor her tutor. It was, for example, one of her +articles of faith that across the boundary, just beyond that strip of +meadow in Prussia, evil reigned triumphant. Prussian! The word stood +for all that was contemptible,--rapacity, low ambition, greed of gain, +and arrogant conceit. Like a good Saxon, Celia hated the Prussians from +her very soul, and worst and most to be hated among them all was +Bismarck, whose name her father never uttered without coupling it with +some opprobrious epithet. Kurt was the first to present to her mind +other views with regard to the state of affairs in Germany, and she +listened to him with profound interest. It was exquisite enjoyment to +Kurt to talk with Celia, and to note her rapt attention to all that he +said, her quick espousal of any cause advocated by him. He loved her, +and he knew that he loved her, but not for the world would he have +addressed to her one word of love; it would have been a sin against her +childlike innocence. His experience of life, spite of his youth, had +been so wide and varied that he could not but be aware what risk there +was for Celia in these daily interviews with a young man in the +solitude of the forest; and could he have seen her anywhere else, could +he but have sought her at Hohenwald, he would have abstained from his +daily walks for Celia's sake. But they offered him his only opportunity +for meeting the girl, and he had not the strength to refuse to embrace +it. He could not but yield to the spell that lured him daily to the +forest road, but he pledged his honour to himself that he would be +nothing to Celia save a friend and brother, that he never would betray +the childlike trust she reposed in him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now first he felt what an absolute necessity for him the daily meeting +with Celia had become,--now, as he walked on in the wind and rain, +constantly repeating to himself that she certainly could not leave the +house to-day. In spite of this repetition, a yearning desire for a +sight of her spurred him on along the accustomed path. He never heeded +that in pushing through the trees and bushes he had become fairly +drenched with rain. He reached the broad castle road: the distant wing +of the castle, a glimpse of which could be had from here in fine +weather, was veiled in mist. Sadly he leaned against the trunk of a +giant oak, conscious that until this moment he had cherished a hope +that perhaps in spite of the rain Celia might take her afternoon ride; +she was no city-bred fine lady, but a strong, healthy child of nature, +who was not afraid of the rain. Now, however, as he looked forth into +the comfortless, white, impenetrable fog, his last hope vanished.</p> + +<p class="normal">But what sound was that? Surely something like the distant neighing of +a horse. And now--yes, there was no mistaking Pluto's loud neigh, close +at hand, as a tall figure emerged from the fog, and the next moment +Celia reined in her horse beside Kurt.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought so!" she cried, triumphantly. "I knew you would not mind the +rain!" Then, as she looked at him, she burst into a merry laugh. "Good +heavens! how you look, poor fellow! You could not be wetter if you had +fallen into the lake!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt laughed with her. How odd it was that the huge waterproof that she +wore detracted not a whit from her beauty and grace! A gray waterproof +can scarcely be called an elegant garment, but Celia looked lovely in +this one. Her fresh rosy face smiled enchantingly from out of the hood +that she had drawn over her head, and from beneath which tiny curls +were rebelliously fluttering out into the wind and rain.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It certainly is a 'fine, soaking rain,' as my uncle says," Kurt +rejoined, laughing. "It has drenched me, but I have many a time tramped +through a wood in worse weather than this, and even slept soundly on a +hill-side in just such a pour, with only a soldier's blanket over me. +The rain can do me no harm, but you, Fräulein von Hohenwald, are very +wrong to come abroad in such weather."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And yet you expected me to do it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; I was sure you would prudently stay at home. It is no weather for +you to ride in."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No? Still, here I am, you see. Neither Pluto nor I ever mind the rain; +but then we are neither of us at all prudent. And besides, you do not +tell the truth. Why are you here if you thought I should not come? I +had more confidence in you. I knew I should find you here, and I should +have been terribly angry if you had stayed away for the rain. For +indeed I had to see you to-day. I have so much to tell you. Only think, +the new governess is really coming this evening!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed? Then the Finanzrath has carried his point."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course; just as he always does. He wrote to Fräulein Müller, and +sent the letter to Frau von Adelung in Dresden. I could not help hoping +that the Fräulein would decline to come, for papa consented to Werner's +plan only upon condition that he should truthfully describe the life +she would have to lead at Castle Hohenwald. Werner did so. He read his +letter aloud to papa, Arno, and me, and I must confess he did not +flatter any one of us. If I had been Fräulein Müller I never would have +said 'yes' to such a letter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did he give so terrible a description of the castle and its inmates?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The castle and all of us. He made Arno out a gloomy woman-hater, and +called me a spoiled child. Was it not odious of him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He meant no wrong."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I know you agree with him! Now, confess honestly that you think me +a spoiled child, or rather do not confess it, or we shall be sure to +quarrel. Let me tell you more. Werner told Fräulein Müller that at +Castle Hohenwald she would be cut off from all social intercourse, that +she could neither receive nor pay visits, and that the family circle +there could not indemnify her for such seclusion, since neither papa +nor Arno was an agreeable companion. In short, he painted existence +here in such gloomy colours that papa said Fräulein Müller must be a +very extraordinary person if she accepted such a situation. But she has +accepted it. Her answer came to-day,--a very odd reply. Papa and Arno, +as well as Werner, shook their heads over it. They could not make it +out. So it is no wonder that I cannot comprehend it either. I have +brought it to you to read, that you may tell me what you think of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have brought me the letter?" Kurt asked, in surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, yes; I know you always tell me the truth when I ask you for it, +and when Werner gave me the letter I thought to myself, 'Herr Kurt von +Poseneck shall read it;' so I kept it and brought it with me. There, +read it; but be careful not to let it get wet. Wait a moment; I will +hold my waterproof out so as to shield it from the rain."</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia handed Kurt the letter and protected it with her cloak while he +read it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"An excellent hand," he said, as he opened it: "firm and clear. They +say that the handwriting shows the character of the writer; if that be +true, this letter should impress one greatly in Fräulein Müller's +favour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is just what Arno said; only he added, 'Only to be the more +bitterly undeceived afterwards.' But read, read, I beg you,--I am so +anxious to know what you think of the letter."</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt read the short note, which ran as follows:</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">"<span class="sc">Dear Sir</span>,--Your description of the life at Castle Hohenwald so +perfectly accords with my wishes and inclinations that I accept with +pleasure the honourable position offered me of companion and teacher +to Fräulein Cecilia von Hohenwald. I shall arrive at the station at +A---- by the afternoon train, at a quarter-past eight on the +seventeenth, hoping to meet the carriage which you tell me will be sent +for me from Hohenwald.</p> + +<p style="text-indent:40%">"With much respect,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:50%">"<span class="sc">Anna Müller</span>."</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">"Well, what do you think of it?" Cecilia asked, eagerly. "It does not +seem odd to me at all. I think it simple, clear, and decided."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what does she mean by saying that Werner's ugly description of the +life here accords with her views and inclinations? Arno says that must +be a falsehood; that no girl could like such a place, and that Fräulein +Müller must be a false, exaggerated person to say that she accepts such +a position with pleasure. Papa thought the same; and even Werner said +that the brevity of the note impressed him disagreeably, while Arno +insisted that its short, decided tone, its want of all conventional +courtesy, was the only thing in it to recommend it. What do you think?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think we should be overhasty in adopting a prejudice against the +lady upon reading her short note, which to my mind contains nothing to +inspire it. Why should we distrust her declaration that the life in +Castle Hohenwald is to her taste? If it were not so, could she not +decline the position offered her? It certainly speaks well for her that +she makes use of no stupid conventional phrases, and she shows a +correct appreciation of her duties towards you, Fräulein von Hohenwald, +in calling herself not your governess, but your companion and teacher. +I really cannot see any reason why you should form an unfavourable +opinion of Fräulein Müller. Take my advice and receive her after your +own frank, cordial fashion. Do not be swayed by your brother Arno's +(pardon me) unjustifiable prejudice, but see and judge for yourself, +and you will be sure to judge rightly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I will," Celia said, cheerfully. "I knew you would give me good +counsel, and I shall follow it. But now," she continued, with a sudden +gravity, "we must discuss one point which I have never ceased to think +of since the letter arrived to-day. What will become of my beloved +liberty? Is it not lost from the moment that Fräulein Müller arrives at +Castle Hohenwald?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It may be somewhat restricted, and is it not perhaps best that it +should be so, Fräulein von Hohenwald?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, you are thinking again that I need a governess. You will make me +seriously angry. I am not a child, and I will not have my liberty +restricted! I am willing to learn. I will sit still for hours and play +the piano every day, but I will not be put into leading-strings. It is +not kind of you to wish it for me, Herr von Poseneck. What will become +of my afternoon rides if Fräulein Müller thinks it unbecoming for a +young lady to roam about the forest alone?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia's words told a joint in Kurt's armour; had he not often reflected +that the propriety of these rides was questionable? It was hard for him +to carry out his resolve of always being frank and true towards Celia, +but he did it. With a sigh, he replied, "Fräulein Müller would not be +far wrong if she did think so."</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia suddenly reined in her horse, and looking down at Kurt with eyes +large with wonder, she said, in a tone expressing painful regret, "And +you tell me this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Fräulein Celia," and for the first time he avoided the formal Von +Hohenwald; "yes, I tell you so, because I always will be honest and +true to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia made no reply; she urged Pluto into a walk again, and rode beside +Kurt in silence. She had never reflected whether these meetings in the +forest were becoming. She had made no appointments with Kurt, but +chance--no, it had not been chance entirely after the first meeting; +she knew that she should meet him, but she could not reproach herself +with having made any appointments. She was quite blameless. Quite? Why, +then, had she never mentioned these daily meetings at home in Castle +Hohenwald? Why had she never uttered the name of Kurt von Poseneck to +her father or Arno, and never even said a word when Arno had casually +mentioned the fact that a son of the Poseneck who had emigrated to +America had returned, and was living at Grünhagen with the Amtsrath, +whose heir report said he was to be? Her father, Arno, and Werner had +discussed the Posenecks at some length; why had she never said a word, +although she could easily have set them right upon several points? +Hitherto she had simply followed her impulse to see Kurt, whom she +liked so much, daily; but now, suddenly, she became aware that +something about these meetings was not just as it should be.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a long pause, she said, dejectedly, "I think you are right, Herr +Kurt; I have acted very unbecomingly; but then we never made any +appointments, and it was so pleasant to meet by chance. You have told +me so much to interest me, I could always listen to you for hours; but +if you think it improper, I will not ride on the forest road again. It +will be hard, for lately I have looked forward all the forenoon to this +hour of talk with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The girl's childlike, innocent frankness enchanted Kurt; he yielded to +an irresistible impulse to seize and kiss the hand that hung down near +him. Then, startled at what he had done, he instantly dropped it, while +Celia, not in the least startled, looked at him with a happy smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it really so wrong for us to spend one short hour here every day +talking together?" she asked, looking down kindly into his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">He could not withstand the magic of her look; all the wise rules that +he had laid down for himself melted in the light of her eyes like snow +before the sun. "No, dearest Celia! A thousand times no!" he cried, +rapturously. "I swear to you by my honour that you never shall have any +cause to regret your confidence in me. I will not ask you to continue +your rides,--you shall not promise me to do so,--but I will be here +awaiting you every day; nothing shall prevent me. Although you should +stay away for weeks, you will find me here whenever you come at this +hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you shall not await me in vain," Celia replied; and as she leaned +down towards him their lips met for one instant in a fleeting kiss. +Then she suddenly wheeled her horse about and was gone.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt stood for a while motionless. Long after the lovely rider had +vanished in the gloom he still saw her in spirit, and felt her kiss +upon his lips. He hardly noticed that the rain, which had ceased for a +few minutes, was pouring down with renewed violence; that a sharp wind +was blowing, colder than before. He stood like one entranced in the +lonely forest, and, when unconsciously he turned towards home, he never +heard the howling of the tempest. Not until the bough of an oak-tree, +torn off by the wind, fell directly across his path did he waken from +his revery.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">"Station A----. One minute's stop!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The conductor hastily opened the door of a second-class carriage and +helped out a young lady, civilly handed her her travelling-bag and +railway wrap, clambered into his place again, and in a few moments the +train was out of sight.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young lady was the only passenger who had left the train; therefore +the gentleman who had been walking to and fro on the platform for a +quarter of an hour easily recognized her as the person for whom he had +been waiting. He approached her, and, raising his hat, said, +courteously, "Have I the honour of addressing Fräulein Anna Müller? I +am the Finanzrath von Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you come yourself, Herr Finanzrath, in spite of this terrible +weather? It is really too kind."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was surprise as well as great satisfaction in the smile with +which Werner looked at the young lady; he was in truth deeply impressed +by her striking beauty.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fräulein Müller was by no means equally pleased. She had supposed the +Finanzrath to be a much older man; his fresh, smooth-shaven face looked +to her very youthful, and she was not agreeably impressed by the +satisfied smile with which he contemplated her.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was but a moment that Werner devoted to his scrutiny of the lady; he +now bowed even lower and more respectfully than at first, and said, +with extreme politeness, "I was too much rejoiced, Fräulein Müller, +that I had been able to induce you to come to Hohenwald to allow +another than myself to be the first to welcome you here. Moreover, I +felt it my duty to meet you, since I was the cause of your accepting a +position for the difficulties of which you are perhaps not fully +prepared. Before you enter Castle Hohenwald you ought to have a more +vivid idea of those with whom your life there will be passed than it +was possible to give you in my short letter. I described as impartially +as I could the difficulties of your position, but there is much that +you should know, which I shall be able to tell you during our drive to +the castle, which in this weather, and from the consequent state of the +roads, must needs be a slow one. And now let me conduct you to the +carriage as quickly as possible; it will, I fear, be quite late and +very dark by the time we reach Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then taking her travelling-bag, and offering her his arm, which after a +moment's hesitation she accepted, he led her through the station-house +to where a close travelling carriage was awaiting them.</p> + +<p class="normal">The wind howled, and the rain poured in torrents. The Finanzrath was +assiduous in his attentions, holding his umbrella over his companion as +she got into the carriage, then hurrying to see that the porter +fastened her luggage securely in its place behind the carriage. Not +until all was arranged to his satisfaction did he take his seat beside +her in the well-cushioned vehicle. The rattling of the carriage over +the stones while the road led through the town of A---- prevented all +conversation, and enabled the Finanzrath to observe his companion +attentively without attempting any of his promised communications.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was impressed anew by the girl's extraordinary beauty; an expression +of melancholy that vanished when she spoke, but which characterized her +features in repose, made her still more attractive, while it afforded +the Finanzrath--who remembered all that Frau von Adelung had hinted to +him of Fräulein Müller's misfortunes--an explanation of her readiness +to accept the offer of a position at Castle Hohenwald. At length the +carriage left the paved streets and entered upon the country road +leading to the castle. Although the wind howled about the vehicle and +the rain pelted against its windows, conversation had become possible.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Finanzrath was a clever man; it was but natural that his lively +portrayal of the inmates of the castle should interest Fräulein Müller +extremely. She listened eagerly, only interrupting him now and then by +brief questions, which he answered readily. With an impartiality which +was surely worthy of all praise, Werner entered upon a detailed account +of the characteristics of his nearest relatives,--his father, his +brother, and his sister; he warmly extolled their good qualities--his +father's kindness of heart and simple truth, Arno's stern sense of +justice, his earnestness, his industry, his varied acquirements, +Celia's gay good humour and childlike simplicity; but at the same time +he concealed none of their faults. As he discoursed, the daylight had +vanished and darkness had succeeded the short twilight. The sky was +black with clouds, and within the carriage it was so dark that Anna +could scarcely see the outline of her companion's figure, although he +leaned towards her as he repeatedly assured her that in him she would +find a friend ready to aid her in any way during her life at the +castle, and begged her to confide frankly to him any wish with which he +could comply.</p> + +<p class="normal">He said not one word that circumstances did not fully warrant, and yet +Anna was excessively uncomfortable. The <i>tête-à-tête</i> with him in the +dark carriage seemed to her almost insufferable. She shrank away from +him at the very time when he was speaking so gently and kindly to her +that there could not be the slightest reasonable cause for her distaste +of his society.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly the carriage stopped. Anna drew a long breath of relief when +the Finanzrath broke off his discourse and, opening the window, asked, +anxiously, "What is the matter, John? Why do you not drive on?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know, Herr Finanzrath," a voice from the box replied, "but I +think something is wrong."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What can be wrong?" It seemed to Anna that the Finanzrath's voice +trembled as he asked the question. Was he, strong man as he was, so +fearful of an accident that his fear betrayed itself in his voice? The +sign of weakness instantly put an end to all Anna's dread of the +Finanzrath. She felt strong, indeed, in view of his timidity. No +possible danger of the road in the dark night had power to alarm her. +All she had dreaded had been the <i>tête-à-tête</i> with her companion.</p> + +<p class="normal">The coachman did not immediately answer; he slowly descended from the +box, and not until the Finanzrath asked in a tone of still greater +anxiety, "What has happened, John?" did he reply, sullenly, "Nothing +has happened, Herr Finanzrath, but the devil himself could not find the +way in this storm; you can't see your hand before your face. I thought +we had got off the road and were going towards the Grünhagen quarry, +but it is all right, and we can drive on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no, don't try, for Heaven's sake, John!" the Finanzrath exclaimed, +in evident terror.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, it's all right," the coachman said, with great composure. "We must +drive on; we can't spend the night here in this weather."</p> + +<p class="normal">He mounted the box again and whipped up his horses, but the next +instant there was a jolt, a crash! The wheels on one side of the +carriage rolled over a stone, while those on the other sank deeper and +deeper into the mud, the carriage leaned more and more to one side and +finally upset.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anna felt herself tossed to one side; her head struck against some hard +object. She experienced a burning pain in her temple, and was near +fainting, but the next moment recalled her to herself; she did not +choose to faint, and her will was victorious.</p> + +<p class="normal">The carriage had fallen upon the side where sat the Finanzrath. Anna +heard him groan as he struggled to rise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you hurt?" she asked, anxiously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My foot pains me terribly; I fear it is broken," he replied, in a +loud, distinct voice which soothed Anna's apprehensions that his +injuries might be mortal.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will try to open the door that is uppermost," she said; and this, +after several attempts, she succeeded in doing. The rain poured down +upon her, but she braved it, and exerting all her strength, she climbed +out upon the side of the carriage and thence got down to the ground. At +first she sank ankle-deep in the mud, but in a minute she found firm +footing. "Can you possibly get out, Herr Finanzrath?" she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will try," a voice from the carriage replied, and immediately +afterward the Finanzrath looked out of the open door. He gazed about +him, but in the gloom could see nothing. Anna's figure was hardly +distinguishable, although she was but a few paces off. "John! John! +Where are you?" Werner called loudly, but, although he repeated the +call several times, there was no reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am afraid the poor fellow has had a bad fall," said Anna.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So it seems, since he does not answer," rejoined the Finanzrath. There +was not much sympathy in the tone of his voice, and still less was +there in the remark that followed. "The clumsy scoundrel cannot even +hold the horses after upsetting us. This is horrible! Suppose the +horses should run off just as I am climbing out?"</p> + +<p class="normal">This fear was groundless. The horses had stopped the instant the +vehicle overturned. They did not stir, and the Finanzrath climbed out +upon the carriage, but did not attempt to descend from it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is your foot so painful that you cannot step upon it?" Anna asked, +compassionately. "Can I help you? Take my hand, I pray you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you," he replied; "but my foot will not permit me to climb +farther. What are we to do? We cannot sit here all night in the rain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will seek help," Anna replied, resolutely. "The road must lead to +some house or village. Wait for me here. I shall soon return with men, +who can right the carriage."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For Heaven's sake, do not go one step!" Werner cried, in great +agitation. "We are close upon the quarry; there must be a deep chasm +just at hand!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will be very careful. At all events help must be procured. Something +must be done for the poor coachman, who has given no sign of life yet; +and you too, Herr Finanzrath, need assistance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes; but you must not leave me. Let us both shout for help. We +shall perhaps be heard. There must be labourers' cottages near the +quarry. Help! help!" he thereupon shouted with all the force of his +powerful lungs. And in fact scarcely had the sound died away when a +distant "Halloo!" was heard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank Heaven, they have heard us!" Werner said, and then shouted +again, "Help! help!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The answering shout came nearer, and in a few moments a dark figure +approached. "What is the matter here?" a rough voice asked. "A carriage +upset, as I live! What the devil were you doing in the quarry at this +hour?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We lost the road, and are greatly in need of assistance," replied +Werner.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lost the road? Were you going to Grünhagen?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; to Castle Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To the castle? Then you belong to Hohenwald?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am the Finanzrath von Hohenwald; but this is not the time for +talking. I beg you, my friend, to help me to reach some place of +security."</p> + +<p class="normal">A burst of discordant laughter was the only reply vouchsafed to this +request. After indulging in his ill-timed merriment, the new-comer +inquired, "Have you ever heard of Carter Jock?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; but, my friend----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No friend of yours! I would rather eat my head than help a Hohenwald. +Any of the castle people can tell you about Carter Jock. Finely they +treated him indeed; and, by way of thanks, he wishes you a pleasant +night!" With another scornful laugh the man turned on his heel and +would have gone, when Anna approached him, and, laying her hand on his +shoulder, said, "You will not be so cruel as to desert us in our need?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The deuce! There's a woman in the scrape, and not the madcap Celia +either!" the man exclaimed, in amazement, after having lighted a couple +of matches, which the rain, to be sure, instantly extinguished, but not +before he had perceived that it was not Celia who addressed him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A lady! a stranger!" he muttered to himself. "She must not be left all +night in the quarry. The devil take the Hohenwalds; but I must let the +folks at Grünhagen know what has happened."</p> + +<p class="normal">For one moment he stood reflecting, and then, without heeding the +Finanzrath's entreaties, he turned away and vanished in the darkness.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a while Werner von Hohenwald sat silent as if in utter despair. At +last a red spark of light appeared in the distance; again he shouted as +loud as he could for help, and to his joy the voice that answered him +was Arno's.</p> + +<p class="normal">In a few minutes Arno, followed by several men with lighted torches, +reached the overturned carriage. "I was afraid," he said, "that John +would miss the road, and so came out to meet you with torches; not soon +enough, unfortunately, to prevent an accident. But why do you sit up +there on the carriage, Werner? Why don't you jump down?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The chasm must be close by, Arno."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nonsense! there is no chasm here. Give me your hand and spring down."</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner grasped the hand extended to him and sprang out upon the road. +His foot could not have been severely injured, since he accomplished +this with apparent ease.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is Fräulein Müller? I hope nothing has happened to her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing has happened to me, Herr von Hohenwald," said Anna, who was +standing in the shadow, "but I am afraid the coachman has received some +injury."</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno turned hastily, and stepped aside so that the torchlight fell full +upon Anna's face. Its great beauty astonished him also, but he was +shocked at the sight of a dark-red streak that extended from beneath +the chestnut curls on her temple to the white kerchief about her +throat, which was stained crimson. "You are bleeding?" he exclaimed, +"you are hurt?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is nothing. Never mind me; but let us search for the unfortunate +coachman. I fear he is terribly hurt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is he? John, where are you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no reply, and Arno became alarmed. He took one of the torches +from the men, and was not long in finding poor old John, who was lying +unconscious by the roadside, with a terrible wound on his forehead. +Arno kneeled beside him, and laid his hand upon his heart. "He is +alive," he instantly declared, "but I am afraid he is very badly hurt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, is he?" said Werner, who was seated on a stone, calmly watching +his brother's proceeding. "I thought it must be so when he did not +answer. But what are we to do, Arno? My foot is terribly painful."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed? It cannot be very bad, since you easily jumped from the +carriage."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nevertheless it pains me terribly. I never can walk to the castle. Can +the carriage not be righted?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will see." Arno examined the carriage, but found the axle broken. +"This is bad," he said. "We cannot, then, drive poor old John to +Hohenwald, but we can make a litter comfortable with the carriage +cushions, and you, my men, can carry him to the village."</p> + +<p class="normal">The men assented eagerly, but the Finanzrath was not satisfied. "I +should suppose," he said, peevishly, "that I might be attended to +before John. I cannot possibly walk. When the men have carried me to +Hohenwald they can return and fetch John."</p> + +<p class="normal">His brother greeted this speech with a glance of contempt. "If you +cannot walk," he said, coolly, "you can sit here! The old man's life, +perhaps, depends upon his having surgical aid speedily."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot stay here in the pouring rain; I shall catch my death of +cold!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Death is not easily caught of cold!" Arno rejoined, unsympathetically. +"Make haste," he said to the men, who were busy constructing the +litter. "Poor old John must be moved as quickly as possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How far are we from Hohenwald?" the Finanzrath asked, when the litter +was nearly completed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Three-quarters of a league from the castle and half a league from the +village."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then the manor-house of Grünhagen must be close at hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Grünhagen is not ten minutes' walk."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed? Then, Arno, I think it would be much wiser to carry John +there, and I could manage to hobble there myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You would go to Grünhagen?" Arno asked, and there was surprise as well +as disapproval in his tone. "What business has a Hohenwald in +Grünhagen? Am I to ask shelter for old John and for you of the Amtsrath +Friese or young Kurt von Poseneck, only to meet with a rude refusal, +or, what would be worse, with a condescending compliance, which would +burden me with an obligation to them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What folly!" Werner declared. "You ought to be above such prejudice, +Arno. It speaks ill for your humanity that you insist upon dragging +poor old John to Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here one of the men whom Arno had brought with him advanced, and, +taking off his hat, respectfully said, "No offence to the Herr +Finanzrath, but we cannot take old John to Grünhagen."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean?" the Finanzrath angrily inquired. "Would you disobey +orders?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly not," the man replied, exchanging a glance with his fellows. +"We are old soldiers, and know how to obey always, but indeed we could +not answer it to the master or to old John himself if we took him to +Grünhagen. If he had his senses he would be sure to say that he would +rather die than be carried to Grünhagen. And, besides, if we do take +him farther, we get the doctor sooner, for our Dr. Brühn in Hohenwald +would not go to Grünhagen for the world; when they want a doctor there +they have to send to A----, and that is too far."</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno nodded approvingly to the man. "You are right, Kunz; we will take +John to the Hohenwald village. Lift him carefully and lay him on the +cushions, and let us be off instantly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Arno, what is to become of me and of Fräulein Müller?" Werner +asked, plaintively.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anna had been no idle spectator during this time; she had helped the +men to arrange the cushions on the litter, and was holding a torch to +light them as they lifted the unconscious John upon it, listening the +while with surprise to the conversation between the brothers. She had +been disgusted with the Finanzrath's selfishness in desiring to be +carried when his foot was evidently not severely hurt; and Arno's stern +refusal to carry the wounded man to Grünhagen had also impressed her +disagreeably. She had no desire to take any part in the discussion, but +now, when the Finanzrath asked of Arno what was to become of her, she +hastily interposed with, "I shall carry one of the torches, since I +cannot, unfortunately, render any more important assistance; there is +no occasion to waste any thought upon me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno looked at her with a surprised but kindly air. "Brava!" he said. +"You are brave, and I trust can walk the half-league to the village; if +you are very tired I will assist you. You, Werner, must help yourself. +If you cannot walk with us, creep back into the carriage and shelter +yourself from the rain until I can send you assistance. And now on to +Hohenwald!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Herr von Hohenwald; to Grünhagen," a strong, manly voice was now +heard to say.</p> + +<p class="normal">The voice was Kurt von Poseneck's; he emerged from the darkness into +the torchlight, and, advancing towards Arno and the Finanzrath, +courteously informed them that he had just heard the news of the +accident in the quarry, and had instantly given orders to have a +carriage prepared, while he had hurried hither to entreat the gentlemen +to turn towards Grünhagen, where they would be cordially welcome, and +where apartments were already prepared for them. The injured coachman, +too, should have every care bestowed upon him, and a carriage should be +instantly sent to fetch Dr. Brühn to Grünhagen.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt spoke so kindly, so cordially, that even Arno could not help for a +moment forgetting his prejudice against the Posenecks as he thanked the +young man for his proffered hospitality, which, however, he declined. +In vain did Werner add his entreaties to Kurt's. Arno refused to yield, +and cut short all further discussion by ordering the men to proceed +with the litter.</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner was very indignant at his brother's obstinacy. "Such +unreasonableness is inconceivable!" he exclaimed; "but you shall not +force me, Arno, to share your folly. I accept your invitation +gratefully, Herr von Poseneck, for Fräulein Müller and myself; we will +return with you to Grünhagen and accept your hospitality."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must not speak for me, Herr Finanzrath," Anna protested. "I +promised to be at Hohenwald this evening, and I shall keep my word."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Fräulein Müller, you cannot surely persist in walking to +Hohenwald in this weather? I will engage to excuse your delay to my +father."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I need no excuse, Herr Finanzrath," Anna replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">In vain did Werner expend his eloquence in entreaties and +representations. She carried one of the torches and walked beside the +litter towards Hohenwald. She stoutly braved the storm; the wind +blowing in her face cooled her burning temples, and she experienced a +sense of strange satisfaction when, upon looking back, she found that +the quarry was already so far in the distance that the light of the +torch left with the Finanzrath gleamed like a faint spark in the black +darkness of the night. +<hr class="W20"> +<p class="normal">The castle clock had struck eleven, and the Freiherr von Hohenwald, who +was usually rolled into his bedroom at ten precisely, was still sitting +in the spacious garden-room. He was not in a good humour, as was +manifested by the frown upon his forehead, which even Celia's +cajoleries could not smooth. The girl was seated on a low chair beside +him, endeavouring in vain to win him to cheerfulness. Sure as she +usually was of an affectionate reply to her questions, to-night he +would not be amiable. She had been reading aloud to him; but even that +did not please him. He took the book from her, grumblingly declaring +that she was inattentive, that her emphasis was all wrong; she was +thinking, of course, of the new governess, on whose account the whole +house was turned upside down.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke, the Freiherr glanced angrily at the table in the centre of +the room spread for four people. "It capped the climax," he added, +peevishly, "for Werner to tell me it was not the thing to smoke in +ladies' society, I am not to be hectored after that fashion, however. +Bring me my meerschaum!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia sprang up and brought him his large meerschaum, with a lighted +match. He usually rewarded her for this service with a loving smile, +but to-night he sat puffing out clouds of smoke without a word, until +he drew out his huge gold watch and said, "Ten minutes after eleven! +This household is topsy-turvy. It was not enough that Werner should +insanely go to meet the woman at the station himself, but that fool +Arno must needs run after him. There stands the table waiting,--nine +o'clock is the supper-hour, and it is now nearly midnight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you had your supper at the right time, papa," said Celia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How would it have helped matters to have me kept waiting? It is enough +that all the rest of the household suffers because of you and this +governess. It was the stupidest thing I ever did to listen to Werner. +What's the use of your having a governess? Your manners are quite fine +enough for Castle Hohenwald, for Arno, and for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Still it was very wise in you, papa, to follow Werner's advice. I can +learn a great deal from a good governess, and some time, I suppose, I +shall meet those who demand more than Arno or you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oho! the wind has changed, then? So Werner has converted you too!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia blushed. Werner had not even attempted the conversion of +which his father accused him; but she did not say one word in his +defence,--she could not tell her father that it was Kurt von Poseneck +who had caused her change of opinion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where can they be?" the Freiherr exclaimed, impatiently; "they ought +to have been here by ten o'clock at the latest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope there has been no accident."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nonsense! The road is perfectly good, and since Arno chose to go and +meet them with torches an accident is impossible. There is just as much +pother about this governess as if she were a lady of distinction."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not be unjust, papa! If old John, who has not driven over that road +for so long, should have missed the way and got into the Grünhagen +quarry, and any accident had happened to Werner or the lady, you never +would forgive yourself for scolding Arno for going to meet them, Only +hear how the wind howls and the rain beats against the windows. For my +part, I am almost dead with anxiety lest an accident has happened. But, +thank Heaven, no--there they are; I hear the carriage rattling over the +stones of the court-yard."</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia started up, and would have hurried out to meet the arrivals, but +a peremptory word from her father detained her. "Stay here!" he +exclaimed. "There is such a thing as being too kind. It is more than +enough that Werner brings her from the station, that Arno goes to meet +her, and that the table and you all are kept waiting for her. As she +herself wrote, she is to be your paid companion and teacher. Remember +that, child. Any undue familiarity is very undesirable."</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia tossed her head and a reply was upon her tongue, but as she +looked at her father she thought it wiser not to provoke him further, +so she bit her lips and obeyed in silence. At the same time she +privately determined that neither her father's command nor her +brother's advice should influence her conduct towards the governess.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her patience was put to the proof, for several minutes elapsed before +the hall-doors were thrown open and Arno appeared, ushering in a lady, +whom he presented. "Fräulein Anna Müller. My father, my sister Celia." +This introduction he evidently considered quite sufficient, for he +instantly turned from her, and, taking his father's hand, said, "We +have kept you waiting a long while, father--you shall hear why when you +have welcomed Fräulein Müller. I have much to tell."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr made no reply; during the presentation he had not removed +his pipe from his mouth, but when Anna approached with a slight +courtesy, and, in a soft, rich voice, said, "Forgive me, Herr Baron, +for having been the involuntary cause of so much disturbance," he +instantly laid it aside and made an attempt to rise from his chair in +answer to her words. It was many years since he had exchanged a word +with a lady, but the memory of the time when he lived in society +stirred within him as he looked at Anna. He had supposed that a +negligent word of greeting would suffice for a governess, after all +only a kind of upper servant, but he saw before him a lady to whom he +involuntarily paid a mach greater degree of respect. It was not Anna's +extraordinary beauty that thus impressed him, although he found it +admirable, but a certain indescribable something which characterized +her, and which her unsuitable dress could not conceal. She had left her +drenched clothing at Inspector Hauk's, in the village of Hohenwald, and +had borrowed a dark woollen dress of his wife's, which, although much +too large for her slender figure, could not disguise its beautiful +proportions.</p> + +<p class="normal">A few minutes previously the Freiherr had not been by any means +inclined to receive kindly the disturber of his domestic peace, but as +he looked into Anna's pale face, and thought he saw an entreaty for +kindness in her fine eyes, the expression of irritation vanished from +his features, and he said, very kindly and simply, "You are heartily +welcome, Fräulein!"</p> + +<p class="normal">These were the first words that Anna heard from the dreaded +woman-hater, the stern Freiherr. Her future pupil's reception of her +was far more effusive; she had taken Celia's heart by storm. While Anna +was speaking to the old Baron, the girl stood rapt in admiration of the +stranger's exquisite smile and melodious voice, and when she turned +from the father to the daughter, the latter threw her arms around her +in a sudden burst of girlish enthusiasm, which conveyed a far more +cordial welcome than could have been given in words. Anna gently kissed +her brow and felt inexpressibly pleased by the manner of Celia's +greeting, founding upon it the brightest hopes for the future.</p> + +<p class="normal">And what did the Freiherr say to this infringement of the rule he had +laid down but a few short minutes before? He was not in the least +angry; he smiled benignantly, and watched with great satisfaction the +two charming girls, the governess, apparently but a few years the elder +of the two, and his darling, his will-o'-the-wisp. Paternal pride +whispered to him that, beautiful as the stranger was, she was no +lovelier than Celia.</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno by no means shared his father's satisfaction. His face grew dark +as he looked at Anna. What magical charm did this stranger, whom Werner +had introduced among them, possess, to enable her thus, by a single +word, to transform his father, prompting him to utter that "heartily +welcome," and now so completely winning over Celia, who had naturally +rebelled against the idea of a governess? Had she not even made a far +deeper impression upon himself than he was willing to admit? She must +be an adept in the art of pleasing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now you shall have supper," said the Freiherr; and Arno rang the bell +to have it served immediately, and then pushed his father's chair up to +the table. It was only when old Franz had placed the dishes on the +table that Celia observed that Werner's place was empty. Her father +noticed this at the same time, and they asked, simultaneously, "Where +is Werner?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where you would least suspect him to be, father," replied Arno. "The +Finanzrath is so far exalted above the traditional prejudices of his +family that he has accepted Herr Kurt von Poseneck's invitation, and is +at this moment either calmly supping with the Amtsrath Friese and Herr +von Poseneck, or comfortably tucked in bed at Grünhagen."</p> + +<p class="normal">This announcement produced very different effects upon Celia and her +father. Celia blushed crimson; but so far from seeming shocked at +Werner's transgression, she laughed merrily, and asked, "How did it +happen?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr, on the contrary, would have risen hastily from his chair +had not his gout prevented; he muttered an oath, and exclaimed, "What a +devil of a story is this? Werner at Grünhagen with those scoundrels of +Posenecks!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should you speak so harshly of Herr von Poseneck, papa?" Celia +asked, indignantly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Baron gazed at his child in amazement. "What is the child thinking +of?" he asked. "Actually taking me to task! Since when have you become +the champion of the Posenecks, little one?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It seems to me unjust to abuse the absent, who do not deserve it, and +cannot defend themselves!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How do you know what the Posenecks deserve? Would you send your old +father to school? Truly, it seems high time that your education were +looked after, child."</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia's cheek grew more crimson still, but she made no reply to her +father's reproof. Arno had listened to the brief war of words with a +smile. "Positively," he said, "I shall henceforth believe in signs and +wonders. A Hohenwald partakes of the hospitality of Grünhagen; Celia +appears as the champion of the Posenecks; my father scolds his darling, +and she makes no reply! Who can discredit miracles after all this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nonsense!" the Freiherr rejoined, peevishly. "Rather tell me how +Werner came to meet that Poseneck fellow."</p> + +<p class="normal">In answer Arno gave a narrative of the evening's adventures. He had +determined to state the simple facts to his father, alluding as little +as possible to Fräulein Anna Müller, but as he proceeded, his +remembrance of the scene at the quarry was so vivid that he went +farther than he had intended. He could not forbear, for mere justice' +sake, to enlarge somewhat upon the courage and unselfishness of Anna's +conduct, in contrast with Werner's weakness and egotism, when he told +how, although wounded herself, she had declined his aid and had begged +him instantly to bestow it upon old John. He did not utter one word of +praise, but in his description of what had occurred there was much +commendation implied, while he did not spare his sarcasm in speaking of +Werner's very slight injury.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anna was not a little embarrassed by his account; she would have liked +to disclaim Arno's praise, but what could she say while he confined +himself to a narrative of facts? When Celia, however, turned to her +with a warm caress, saying, "Good heavens, you are wounded, and have +said nothing to us about it!" she smilingly lifted the dark-brown curls +upon her forehead, and said, "You see it is a mere scratch; the village +doctor attended to it, and told me that it would be perfectly healed in +a few days. It really is nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno confirmed her words, and went on to reassure his father as to old +John's condition, which Dr. Brühn pronounced to be not at all +dangerous, although his injury had at first seemed grave. He then gave +a detailed account of Werner's desire from the first to go to +Grünhagen, and of how he was not to be dissuaded from accepting Kurt +von Poseneck's invitation, which, Arno admitted, was most amiably and +courteously tendered.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr nodded, well pleased, when he heard how the Hohenwald +people had refused to carry old John to Grünhagen, but he was all the +more irritated by the Finanzrath's acceptance of Kurt's invitation. "It +is disgraceful!" he exclaimed. "How could a Hohenwald forget himself so +far as to accept hospitality at the hands of a beggarly Poseneck!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not at all nice of you, papa!" Celia instantly declared, with +flaming cheeks and flashing eyes. "How can you, who are usually just +and good, speak so unkindly of Herr von Poseneck, who has never done +anything to you? It is poor thanks to him for hurrying out to the +quarry in the storm to help Werner. And Werner was perfectly right to +accept the invitation; what had he to do with an old worn-out feud? +Herr Kurt von Poseneck certainly had no share in it; he has only lately +arrived from America."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, what an eloquent advocate the Posenecks have in our little one!" +Arno rejoined, before his father, who was quite speechless with +astonishment, could frame a reply. "And in truth she is partly right, +for the young Herr von Poseneck certainly conducted himself excessively +well on this occasion; nevertheless, I did not wish to accept his +invitation, nor did Fräulein Müller; Werner, however, is superior to +all Hohenwald prejudice. The Finanzrath knows far better how to conduct +himself than we, who rust here in Castle Hohenwald, possibly can. His +father and brother ought to be banished to the lumber-garret,--eh, +Celia?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, come; have done with sneering, Arno. Go on with your story," the +girl replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right. Disputing cannot change matters; that neither my +father, nor Werner, nor I can do. You and I belong to the old order of +affairs, father; we must be content to find others leaving us; and it +is but natural that Celia should vow allegiance to modern ideas; so I +will not waste another word upon the Posenecks, although I confess I +practise self-denial in not doing so." And he finished his narrative, +describing Anna's courageous braving of the storm and rain on their way +to the Inspector's at the village of Hohenwald, where they found warmth +and shelter, and whence a messenger was despatched for Dr. Brühn, who +soon pronounced upon old John's case and dressed the cut upon Fräulein +Müller's forehead. Then, after Arno had exchanged his wet clothes for a +suit of the Inspector's, and Fräulein Müller had been provided with +garments from his wife's wardrobe, a village wagon had brought them +both to the castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old Baron was greatly interested in Arno's account; even Werner's +visit to Grünhagen was almost forgotten as he eagerly listened to his +son's narrative. The new governess was evidently no spoiled city lady. +He briefly expressed to her his admiration and gratitude, and it +pleased him still more that Anna quietly declined to accept any thanks +for what was merely a matter of course and of no consequence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile, it had grown late, and still, contrary to his custom, the +Freiherr leaned comfortably back in his rolling-chair and said not one +word of retiring, so interested was he in discussing the events of the +evening. Suddenly, however, he happened to glance at the clock, and +discovering that it was just about to strike one, he remembered how +fatigued Fräulein Müller must be. Directing Celia to show her to her +apartment, he had himself rolled into his bedroom by Arno, after +wishing the new governess a courteous good-night.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">"My dear Arno,--You have a right to scold. I can see you frown when you +learn that this letter would have reached you two weeks ago, if I had +fulfilled my promise of writing to you about my visit to my uncle +Guntram soon after my arrival in M----.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But man proposes, and a charming, smiling little blonde disposes. +Indeed she is charming enough to make a man forget even the sacred +claims of friendship, and so I confess my fault, and pray your +forgiveness. But I can see the frown deepen on your brow, you +incorrigible woman-hater, and you are less inclined than ever to +forgive upon such a plea. What will you say, then, when you know the +worst? Listen, and wonder, Arno. I am betrothed,--the happy lover of +the aforesaid lovely little blonde. I beg leave to present to you the +betrothed pair, Adèle von Guntram--Karl, Count Styrum. There! Do not +throw the letter angrily aside, or you will not learn how it has all +come about so quickly, and, besides, you must accustom yourself to the +idea of receiving, upon your promised visit to Altenheim, a welcome +from a charming little Countess Styrum. That your welcome from her will +be of the warmest I can assure you, for my betrothed takes the keenest +interest in Arno von Hohenwald, about whom she is never weary of +hearing. I might almost be jealous of him did I not know his views with +regard to women.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now let me tell you what is stranger than all, that it is owing to +this interest of Adèle's in you that I am now her accepted lover, or +rather that I am so much sooner than I could otherwise have been; and I +will tell you as briefly as I can, without breaking a promise I have +made, how this came about.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know I visited M---- on account of the vexatious lawsuit with my +uncle Guntram which I inherited from my father, and concerning which I +hoped to effect some sort of compromise. My uncle received me with the +greatest cordiality, and we should speedily have arranged matters had +it not been for my cousin Heinrich, who, being a newly-fledged lawyer, +would not hear of any adjustment of the affair. I believe I could not +have offended him more deeply than by voluntarily relinquishing my +claims. Now he must put up with this offence, although it is given in a +manner different from any that he could have foreseen. His zeal +for litigation was of the greatest service to me, for it kept me in +M---- when I thought my presence necessary at Altenheim. Thus weeks and +even months passed, and I was no nearer the goal than at first, that +is, so far as the lawsuit was concerned, otherwise my stay in M---- was +entirely delightful to me. My uncle Guntram was all that he could be in +the way of affectionate kindness, Heinrich extremely amiable in a +cousinly way, and Adèle--no, I will not write about Adèle, for you +would only laugh at me and call me a love-sick fool. Wait until you +come to M----, as friendship demands you should do, to be present at my +marriage, and you will understand how welcome any pretext was to me for +a protracted stay here, and how willingly I spent day after day beneath +my uncle's roof, passing the most of my time talking with Adèle. She +treated me in the kindest manner, but her innocent familiarity, which +was almost like that she might show to a brother, made me anxious. A +distant connection of yours, a certain Assessor von Hahn, frequents my +uncle's house, and was evidently suing for my cousin's favour. I heard +reports from all sides of a private betrothal between them, which was +not to be announced until the Assessor had obtained the position of +circuit judge, since my uncle greatly disapproved of long engagements.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I really could not perceive that Adèle favoured the pretensions of the +Assessor, who is a very well-disposed but rather ridiculous little man; +but as all the world declared that it was a settled affair, and as even +the Assessor himself let fall several hints to the same effect, I +thought I should be forced to accept my fate. I should never have dared +to tell my charming cousin how dear she was to me had not you, Arno, +without knowing it, lent me your aid.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I had often talked of you to Adèle, telling her of our delightful +travels, and even describing to her your father, your sister Cecilia, +and your surroundings at Castle Hohenwald, as I had learned to know +them from yourself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When I went to my uncle's this morning at the usual time, I found +Adèle alone; she received me more kindly than usual; she even owned +frankly that she had for an hour been longing for my coming. Flattering +as this reception was, I founded no hopes upon it, for I saw that my +cousin was desirous to acquaint me with some plan, in the execution of +which she looked to me for assistance. She was in a state of feverish +agitation; at times she would look at me with an expression of intense +entreaty, and then, just when I hoped she was about to speak frankly of +what was nearest her heart, she would introduce some indifferent topic +of conversation. At last she evidently summoned up courage sufficient +to enable her to bestow her confidence upon me. 'Cousin Karl,' she +said, in her sweet, gentle voice, 'I have a very, very great favour to +ask of you.' I need not tell you how fervently I assured her that she +could not ask what it would not be my delight to grant. She then +proceeded to tell me that her dearest friend, a Fraulein Anna Müller, +who had been her schoolmate at Frau Adelung's, in Dresden, was forced +by dire misfortune to seek a position as governess. Frau von Adelung +had recommended the young lady to your brother Werner for your sister +Celia, and Fraulein Müller was to start for Hohenwald this very day. +The mighty favour that Adèle asked of me was to write to you and exert +my influence with you to insure the young lady a favourable reception +at Castle Hohenwald. I never can tell so evil-minded a woman-hater as +yourself how exquisitely lovely Adèle was as she thus pleaded with me +for her friend, nor how it happened that I retained the hand I took in +mine and forgot all the silly stories about the Assessor von Hahn. +Indeed, I do not know where I found the courage to tell her how +inexpressibly dear she was to me, and how life had no greater joy for +me than the hope of keeping for my very own forever the hand I then +held. I was afraid she would instantly withdraw it, but she did not, +and--no, I will only tell you that I am the happiest fellow in the +world. Uncle Guntram, when he came from his study shortly afterwards, +found us betrothed, and gave us his blessing, assuring me that his +dearest wish was fulfilled in our betrothal, and adding that Adèle +should have the lawsuit for her dowry, so that if I wished to continue +it I could do so with my wife. Heinrich made a wry face at this, but +there was no help for it, and he offered us his brotherly +congratulations.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thus, you see, I owe my being the happy lover that I am to you, Arno, +for had it not been for Adèle's request I never should have had the +courage to confess to her that I loved her. The bugbear of her +betrothal to Herr von Hahn would have prevented my speaking frankly to +her. Adèle laughed at me when I told her this, and rallied me upon +lending an ear to such silly gossip.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now, Arno, that my confession is made, my next duty is to fulfil +my love's request, and cordially to recommend her friend to your +kindness. I do this with a good conscience; she is a cultivated, +highly-gifted person. I congratulate your sister that your brother +succeeded in inducing her to come to Castle Hohenwald. I as well as +Adèle am convinced that Fraulein Müller's talents and acquirements will +achieve for her an honoured position in your father's household, and +Adèle hopes for more yet; she trusts that her friend in the solitude of +Hohenwald, in a refined family circle, may in time forget the +misfortunes that have befallen her, and that your kindness may assist +her to do so. I know your magnanimity and delicacy of sentiment, and +that you only need be told that Fraulein Müller, owing to no fault of +her own, is very unhappy, and that any allusion to her past, any +question with regard to it, would be extremely painful to her. To +alleviate her sorrow she only needs cordial kindness, confidence which +she deserves in fullest measure, and considerate regard. All these I +know she will find at Castle Hohenwald, and among you she will not be +subjected to a curiosity to which she would be specially sensitive. You +will forgive me for communicating no further particulars to you with +regard to the lady's past when I tell you that I am bound by a promise. +I know that you will be content with my declaration that I vouch for +Fraulein Müller's blameless integrity and purity of character. When you +receive this she will already be beneath your roof; let me pray you not +to let her know that I have written to you, and my Adèle will thank you +for not doing so when you come to M---- to our marriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"One thing more before this long letter is concluded: with regard to +your nearest neighbor, my cousin, Kurt von Poseneck. I have heard +something of an hereditary feud between the Hohenwalds and the +Posenecks, but I know you too well to suspect you of giving heed to any +such folly, and therefore I cordially commend my cousin to your +kindness. Kurt's life in America has been the best of training for him; +he is a fine fellow. I learned to know him well when he paid me a visit +at Altenheim not long ago, and I assure you that I have rarely seen a +young man so greatly to my mind, as I know he will be to yours. +Although we are antagonistic in politics (he is a democrat, as was his +father before him), I enjoyed every moment of his stay with me at +Altenheim, for even in a political discussion Kurt never forgets that +he is a gentleman. He defends his views with spirit, but with such +calmness and moderation that he is never offensive. I am sure you will +soon be friends, if you will only consent to break the spell of your +solitude so far as to become acquainted with him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now adieu! God bless you! Woman-hater though you be, your +congratulations are confidently expected by</p> + +<p style="text-indent:50%">"Yours always,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:60%">"<span class="sc">Karl Styrum</span>."</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Arno laid the letter aside, after he had read it, with a sigh. He had +found it with his other letters by the day's post upon his table after +he had left the garden-room, as we have seen, long after midnight. "He, +too!" he muttered to himself, with another sigh, and then he read the +letter for the second and third time, his face darkening as he read. +After the third perusal he sat for a long time lost in thought, and +finally took up a pen and wrote:</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">"<span class="sc">My Dear Karl</span>,--You expect congratulations from your friend; it is +indeed an ancient custom to offer kind wishes to the newly betrothed, +and I follow it all the more readily as in my case I employ no empty, +idle phrase when I wish you happiness with all my heart. We have always +agreed to be frank and true in our dealings with each other, and never +to shun entire openness through fear of giving offence. I now fulfil my +share of our compact. Indeed, after reading your letter three times I +cannot but reply to you, my only intimate friend, as my heart dictates +upon the impulse of the moment, not as I might after long and cool +consideration. Therefore this is no formal letter of congratulation, +but the true and faithful reply of a friend. Yes, I wish you all +happiness, but I do so with a heavy heart, for I know how much I lose +by your betrothal,--I, who have hitherto held the foremost place in +your regard, must content myself with the second, and I shall shortly, +as mournful experience teaches, lose this also, for love is the mortal +foe of friendship. Both cannot exist together in the same heart. Thus I +know that I have already half lost you, and shall soon lose you +entirely, for I shall never be content with the cold modicum of regard +which is all that the bridegroom and husband has for an every-day +acquaintance. This pains me profoundly. You were the only man in whom I +could thoroughly confide,--the only one to whom I could look for entire +comprehension and sympathy. Nevertheless, I wish you happiness, and my +wish is all the more fervent since I dread its non-fulfilment. Yes, my +pain in losing you is augmented by my fears for your future. I know +you, and I know that you never can content yourself as can so many +unless your marriage brings you full sympathy of heart and mind. You +are in love, and I know from sad experience that love drugs the +intellect and bewilders the judgment. You will, therefore, doubtless +regard my doubts as to your future as a positive crime against your +betrothed, but I must be frank with you, my regard for you demands it. +I repeat, I wish you joy; you need all good wishes, and if I could I +would close this letter with mine, for my head and heart are so full of +your betrothal that there is hardly room in them for another thought, +but you have made a request of me to which I must reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fraulein Müller, your betrothed's friend, has been for several hours +in Castle Hohenwald, to which I myself introduced her after a most +extraordinary fashion. Of this I will write you shortly. I will only +tell you now that I have already had abundant opportunity to admire the +lady's rare courage. She has by her beauty and her frank attractive +bearing already taken Celia's heart by storm and conquered my father's +prejudice against her. I received your letter <i>after</i> her arrival here, +and therefore could not comply with your request as to her reception, +but rest assured that the lady herself insured its cordiality far +better than I could have done. I could not have believed it possible +that my father should treat a stranger with such urbanity, although a +few hours before Fraulein Müller's arrival he had scouted the idea of +any friendly familiar intercourse with the new governess, and had +declared that while Celia's companion and teacher was entitled to a +courteous and respectful reception in Castle Hohenwald, she could lay +no claim to admission within our family circle. Fraulein Müller can +have no cause to complain of any want of the cordiality you desire in +my father's or Celia's welcome, but the requirement of such from me is, +unfortunately, a demand with which I cannot comply. You know how I +value your opinion, how highly I rate your recommendation; it is a +warrant to me that the lady is deserving of all regard. I promise you +that she shall be annoyed by no curiosity as to her past, and that I +will do all that I can to conceal from her the discomfort that her stay +among us causes me. More I cannot promise. You would not ask me to be +false to my nature, and I tell you frankly that I have an invincible +repugnance to all intercourse with this young person, which is rather +increased by the fact that she is beautiful, cultured, and amiable, and +that I cannot refuse to accord her a certain degree of esteem in view +of the admirable courage she displayed this evening under exceedingly +trying circumstances.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To treat her with cordiality is impossible for me; I will keep out of +her way as far as I can. I will always observe every rule of +conventional courtesy in my unavoidable intercourse with her, and, in +deference to your request, will endeavour to make her position in the +household as pleasant as it can be under the circumstances; you will +not ask more of me. Enough for to-night. In a few days I will write you +a detailed account of my adventures in bringing Fraulein Müller to +Castle Hohenwald, and of my encounter with your cousin Kurt von +Poseneck, whom I saw for a moment upon the same occasion. Farewell, and +do not be angry with me for perhaps mingling one bitter drop in your +cup of happiness,--I could not help it. I must always be utterly frank +and true with you.</p> + +<p style="text-indent:10%">"Always and all ways your faithful friend,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:40%">"<span class="sc">Arno von Hohenwald</span>."</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">The letter was finished; but when Arno read it over he was not +satisfied with its contents. He had meant to tell his friend in +heartsome words how he feared for his future; but now that they were +there on the paper in black and white they seemed cold and insulting. +It was but a poor reply to Karl's warm-hearted letter. And he was no +better pleased either with what he had written about Fräulein Müller. +He had meant to be perfectly candid and true to his friend. Had he not +promised always to be so? and this surely justified all he had said. +But was what he had written quite true? Did he feel an invincible +repugnance to any familiar intercourse with Fräulein Müller? Had she +not, on the contrary, inspired him with an inexplicable interest which +he vainly tried to suppress? While he was writing she was perpetually +in his mind. He had been obliged once to lay down his pen because her +image so flitted before him; he saw her walking beside him through the +night and the tempest, braving the storm so boldly, and yet without +doing violence to a true feminine nature. Even on the road to the +village of Hohenwald he had tried to resist the impression that the +first sight of this charming girl had made upon him, but in vain, +although he conjured to his aid the ghosts of a vanished past. He would +gladly have detested this stranger thus thrust into his life; he heaped +her with all kinds of accusations, and yet confessed to himself that +they were all unjust. What reason had he for crediting her with a +desire for admiration? had she sought by look or by gesture to attract +him? Would Styrum have commended her so warmly if she had not been +worthy of all praise? Still, why should she alone of all women be +careless of admiration? No; Styrum was in love; he saw with his +betrothed's eyes. He was credulous, and had not purchased with his +heart's blood the sad experience that the most innocent of smiles upon +lovely lips is but a prearranged means to some desired end. Poor Karl! +he had not seen through the game they were playing with him, or he +would not have fallen into their toils so easily. The rich Count, +belonging as he did to the foremost of the Saxon nobility, would at any +time have been considered by the President Guntram as an excellent +parti for his daughter; but the prospect of a happy conclusion to the +lawsuit had doubtless made the match doubly desirable. Therefore it was +that the engagement between the fair Adèle and the Assessor had been +dissolved, and no means had been neglected to bring the Count to a +declaration. Interest for her friend had afforded Adèle an excellent +opportunity to treat her cousin with flattering confidence, and she had +won the game. Poor Karl! in his noble trust in innocence and purity he +had fallen a victim to an excellently-laid plan, and was now made use +of by Adèle to insure her friend a firm footing in Castle Hohenwald. +Arno could not but laugh at himself. Had he really been in danger of +proving false to his principles? He had seen through the game at the +right moment, however,--the suspicion that had been aroused on the road +to Hohenwald now became a certainty, and what he had written to his +friend was the truth. Yes, he now felt an invincible repugnance to any +closer intercourse with this intriguing stranger, who had selected +Castle Hohenwald as the theatre for her schemes. The letter should be +despatched just as it was. He folded and sealed it, and then betook +himself to rest. The day's exertions had wearied him, and he soon +slept, but the image of the lovely stranger mingled in his dreams.</p> + +<p class="normal">The stranger herself stood at the window of the room to which Celia had +shown her, and gazed out into the gloomy night; she heard the howling +of the wind and the beating of the rain against the panes, but she did +not heed them, for before her mind's eye rose a form that made her +oblivious of the present. She shuddered as she looked back to that last +terrible night spent beneath the same roof with the wretch who would +have bartered his wife's honour for a release from poverty and +detection. She had clung to him faithfully, had always conscientiously +fulfilled her duty to him, hoping that she might perhaps in the end +influence him for good. She had forgiven him for squandering her +property, for plunging her into poverty, although she no longer loved +him, and was bound to him only by a sense of duty; but that he could so +dishonour her as actually to wish to sell her to the Russian was a sin +never to be forgiven,--it separated her from him forever.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had spoken the decisive word himself, he had restored to her her +freedom, lured by false hopes perhaps, but he had done so +unconditionally, and she was now her own mistress; she no longer felt +the chains that had bound her to her wretched husband; they might exist +for the world, but no longer for herself, for her own conscience. When +on that dreadful night she had bolted herself into her bedroom, her +resolution was already taken. Without hesitation she proceeded to carry +it out. She exchanged her ball-dress for a simple stuff gown; she +packed a few necessary articles of clothing in a travelling-bag, and +hastily wrote these lines: "You have given back to me my freedom; I +accept it. It is your desire that we should part; it shall be +fulfilled: you will never see me again. Should you dare to persecute +me, you will force me to denounce you publicly and to give to the world +the reasons that justify my conduct. The detected thief, who would +barter his wife's honour, has forfeited the right to control her +destiny.--<span class="sc">Lucie</span>."</p> + +<p class="normal">Her hand did not tremble as she wrote these words. She folded the +sheet, sealed it and placed it where its address could be plainly seen +by any one entering the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was done! She was parted from him forever. A shudder ran through her +as she thought of his threat of suicide if she refused to accede to his +wishes, but the thought did not for an instant deter her. Only the +coward, whose courage is never equal to the commission of the deed, can +threaten suicide; if he could have preferred death to disgrace he never +would have been a detected thief.</p> + +<p class="normal">She cautiously unbolted her door and crept through the drawing-room to +the hall, upon which the door of Sorr's sleeping-room opened. Here she +paused and listened,--he was wont to breathe heavily in his sleep,--but +she could hear nothing: a proof that he was still awake. What if he +should hear her and come from his room to prevent her departure? What +then? The wonted gentleness of her look gave place to stern +determination; involuntarily she clinched her hand; the struggle had +begun, and should under all circumstances be carried on.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fortunately, however, she encountered no obstacle to her progress down +the stairs to the house-door, which she softly opened and as softly +closed behind her. The streets were deserted; she passed a watchman +asleep on a doorstep, and walked as quickly as possible towards the +President's mansion without being seen by a human being. The windows of +the house were still gleaming with light, and there was a long line of +carriages in the street before it. Lucie paused and hesitated for a +moment. The ball was not yet over. She had hoped this would be the +case; else it would have been difficult for her to obtain an entrance +to the house. But how was she to pass the line of carriages? So late a +wanderer would be sure to be noticed by the coachmen and lackeys, and +she might be the object of coarse jests. Perhaps the little gate +leading from the garden into a side street was open: it was seldom +locked; and even should it be so, she could easily climb the low +garden-fence. She was not to be stopped by such an obstacle; from the +garden, the wing in which was Adèle's room was easily entered by a +back-door, which was, of course, still open, and once in the house she +could soon make her way to Adèle's room.</p> + +<p class="normal">She hurried into the side street. The garden-gate was not locked, nor +was the back-door even closed. Fortune favoured her; not a servant did +she encounter as she hurried up a narrow staircase and along the +passage leading to her friend's room, which she reached without being +observed. Arrived here, she sank down upon the little lounge where she +had so often sat conversing gayly with Adèle, upon whose aid she now +relied in her plan of flight.</p> + +<p class="normal">An hour passed slowly; the music floated in from the ball-room; but at +last it ceased; there was a bustle of departing guests, servants ran to +and fro in the house, and the rattle of carriages told Lucie that the +ball was at an end. Another half-hour went by; the house grew quieter, +the bustle entirely subsided; there were steps in the passage, and +Heinrich von Guntram's voice said, "Good-night, Adèle. Shall I light +your candle for you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no; there are matches on the table Good-night, Heinrich."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-night."</p> + +<p class="normal">The door opened. Adèle entered, bolted it behind her, and then, going +to the table in front of the sofa, lighted a match, by the flickering +light of which she distinguished a dark figure sitting on the sofa. She +gasped with terror and ran towards the door, but was instantly arrested +in her flight by the gentle tones of a familiar voice, whispering, +"Don't be frightened, dearest Adèle; it is I,--Lucie!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You--you here at this hour?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I need your help, Adèle. In my extremest misery I seek refuge with +you, my dearest friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">In an instant Adèle's arms were about her, and the tenderest assurances +of sympathy and aid were poured into her friend's ear. Then she drew +the curtains close and lighted the candles, before seating herself +beside Lucie and entreating her to tell her all.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie complied; she told her of her wretched past with her worthless +husband, and of the incidents of the last few hours, remaining +perfectly calm amid the storm of indignation with which her friend +greeted her narrative. Anger was dead within her, slain by the thorough +contempt she now felt for Sorr.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now, dear Adèle," she concluded, "I come to claim your aid. Your +last words to me this evening when I left the ball-room were, 'Trust in +me; whatever happens, I will stand by you.' This has given me courage +to take this decided step to break the fetters that bound me to one so +unworthy. I knew I should not be quite alone, that you would not desert +me, and therefore I come to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never, Lucie dear, never; and not only I,--there is another whose aid +will be of more use to you than that of a poor weak girl. My cousin +Karl told me every detail of the miserable scene in Heinrich's room; he +suspected you would soon need protection and assistance, and is ready +to give it to you. You may trust him; he is a noble, true-hearted man, +and has promised me to befriend you at your need. Be sure he will keep +his promise. He will advise us what is best to be done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not need any advice," Lucie gravely rejoined; "my resolution is +taken, my plans for the future are arranged. I need the help of +faithful friends only in their execution. I shall be grateful for Count +Styrum's help; but later, when I am no longer here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you propose to do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Sorr has given me my freedom. I will employ it in beginning a +new life. For years I have foreseen that I should one day be obliged to +turn to account for my support the accomplishments acquired during my +girlhood, and I have continued to study with this end in view. I am +perfectly qualified to fill a position as governess. Such a position I +shall endeavour to find in some retired country-seat, but in order to +obtain it I need testimonials, with which so young a man as Count +Styrum cannot furnish me. I have therefore thought of writing to our +dear old teacher, Frau von Adelung, in Dresden. I remember that she was +constantly applied to for governesses. But I am afraid to confide +wholly in her. With the best intentions she is something of a gossip, +and would find it difficult to keep my secret, and yet her +recommendation I must obtain. When Herr von Sorr finds my letter +to-morrow and discovers that I am fled, he will, I know, together with +Count Repuin, leave no stone unturned to discover my retreat. He will +not be deterred even by the threat in my letter, and he must learn +nothing, and therefore I cannot confide in good Frau von Adelung. You +must write to her and bespeak her good offices for a friend of yours; +you were always one of her favourites, and she will not hesitate to +comply with your request. I am sure, dearest Adèle, you will do this +for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie's scheme seemed to her friend admirable, and she declared herself +ready to do all that she could to further it: but when Lucie went on to +state that she intended to leave M---- the next morning by the five +o'clock train, to await in some retired village the result of her +friend's action, Adèle reused to entertain any such idea. Nowhere, she +said, could Lucie be so safe from Sorr's persecution as in M----, where +he certainly would never expect to find her. The arrival of a lady +alone and unattended in any little village would surely excite remark, +while Lucie might stay for weeks in Adèle's room and her presence +beneath the President's roof never be suspected. Adèle never received +her friends in her bedroom or dressing-room, and neither her father nor +her brother ever came to her there. All that was to be done was to take +Lina, Adèle's special maid, into their confidence,--she had lived in +the house for years, and a more faithful, trustworthy creature there +could not be. Adèle's representations overcame her friend's scruples, +and it was agreed to admit the maid to a full knowledge of the state of +the case. And when the dawn was at hand the two friends retired to bed, +Adèle happier with regard to Lucie than she had been for a long while.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next morning when Lina came to call her young mistress her surprise +was great at finding a new inmate in the room, of whose coming no one +had been aware. Adèle told her the true reason for Frau von Sorr's +flight from her husband's roof, and Lina, flattered by the confidence +shown her, promised to keep such guard over the fugitive that no one +should dream of her whereabouts, while she should daily fare like an +honoured guest, without arousing the suspicions of the other servants.</p> + +<p class="normal">She kept her word, which she would have done out of her faithful +devotion to Adèle alone, even if Frau von Sorr's gentleness and +misfortunes had not excited her sympathy and spurred her on to +redoubled watchfulness. The scheme was eminently successful. Neither +the President nor Heinrich nor any of the other inmates of the house +ever suspected that Lucie von Sorr, whose sudden disappearance was the +town-talk of M----, was concealed in Adèle's room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The President, at the dinner-table, expressed his surprise that so +beautiful a woman could have contrived to vanish utterly without a +trace. He told how Herr von Sorr had applied to the police for +assistance in his search for his wife; that inquiry had been made of +all the hack-drivers of the town and the porters at the railway +stations. No one could remember having seen the fugitive; an +extraordinary fact in view of the lady's remarkable beauty. Herr von +Sorr was beside himself, and feared that his wife might have been +driven to suicide by the strange reports circulating in the town.</p> + +<p class="normal">Adèle listened to all this in silence, and reported it to her friend +afterwards.</p> + +<p class="normal">In a few days many visitors made their appearance at the President's, +in hopes of learning something satisfactory from Adèle, who was well +known to be Frau von Sorr's nearest friend. Among them were Madame +Gansauge and Frau von Rose, the Messrs. von Saldern and von Arnim, +Assessor von Hahn, and others, all craving information.</p> + +<p class="normal">Adèle listened to all that they had to say, but had nothing to tell +them. She could not imagine why her friend had left M---- so suddenly; +she could not look upon her disappearance as a flight, and she feigned +a fresh interest in every repetition of the reports circulating +in M----.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was positively certain, the wife of Major Gansauge asserted, that +Frau von Sorr had destroyed herself,--a peasant had seen her at five +o'clock in the morning near the Marble Gate, close by the large pond. +The body had not yet been found, but doubtless would be shortly. Count +Repuin was quite inconsolable, far more so than Herr von Sorr, who bore +his trial with more equanimity.</p> + +<p class="normal">Frau von Rose knew from the very best authority--she was not at liberty +to mention names--that Count Repuin and Herr von Sorr had a violent +quarrel. The Count would not believe that Sorr was ignorant of his +wife's whereabouts. The affair was certainly very odd, for the Count +behaved precisely as though his wife, and not Herr von Sorr's, had run +away, and had threatened the husband with some dire revenge if the +fugitive were not shortly discovered.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor von Hahn was more cautious in his expressions; he hinted +that Frau von Sorr had made a profound impression upon Count Styrum, +and that the Count had perhaps been willing to shield her from Count +Repuin's persecutions. The Assessor remarked that he was too discreet +to say more; he did not boast of it, for discretion was a gift of +nature, and her bounties were variously distributed; discretion was one +of his natural endowments, therefore he would be silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">All these contradictory reports which Adèle heard from the gossiping +friends of the family she faithfully recounted to Lucie, and the +friends congratulated themselves that no attempt had been made by Frau +von Sorr to leave M----.</p> + +<p class="normal">Adèle had written immediately to Frau von Adelung, telling her that one +of her dearest friends, a Fräulein Anna Müller, was very desirous to +procure a situation in the country as governess. She expatiated upon +the talents, acquirements, and culture of the young lady, who regretted +that, never having dreamed of being obliged to support herself, she +possessed no testimonials to her ability. Now, however, she was in +great distress; her father had died brokenhearted at the loss of his +large fortune, and Fräulein Müller had been very unfortunate also in +other ways, so that she craved retirement from the world, and would +prefer a situation in the solitude of the country.</p> + +<p class="normal">An answer to this letter arrived by return of mail. Frau von Adelung +expressed her pleasure at being able to do anything for her dear Adèle, +whose friendship for Fräulein Müller was a sufficient recommendation in +her eyes. At present she knew of no situation for her, although there +was no doubt that one could shortly be found, and she promised to write +again as soon as this was the case.</p> + +<p class="normal">More than a week elapsed before Frau von Adelung was again heard from. +Lucie continued to live in her concealment in her friend's room, +hearing from her all that was going on in M----. Count Repuin and Sorr +had both suddenly left town, the latter deeply in debt. Whither they +had gone no one knew. Count Repuin had left orders that his letters +should be sent to Berlin <i>poste restante</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last, when Lucie was beginning to chafe under her enforced idleness, +a second letter arrived from Frau von Adelung, asking whether Fräulein +Müller would be willing to accept the position of governess to the +Baroness Cecilia von Hohenwald, or rather, as the young lady was +sixteen years old, that of companion and teacher. Lucie and Adèle were +greatly surprised by this letter; they well remembered the description +given by Count Styrum on the evening of the ball of the secluded life +at Castle Hohenwald, and this remembrance decided Lucie at once to +accept the offered position. In the solitude of Castle Hohenwald, where +no guest ever found admission, surely she might look for the seclusion +she so earnestly desired.</p> + +<p class="normal">In a short time a third letter was received from Frau von Adelung, +enclosing the one addressed to Fräulein Müller by the Finanzrath, of +which we have already heard. His dreary picture of the castle and its +inmates, far from deterring Lucie from accepting the post offered her +there, only made her the more desirous to accept it, and she acceded +instantly to the Finanzrath's request that she would, if she could, +return a favourable reply and inform him of the day of her arrival at +the station A----.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus the die was cast. Two days more were all that she could spend with +the dear friend who had so aided and sheltered her. Adèle now wished to +intrust Lucie's secret to her cousin, that he might write and insure +her a friendly reception at Castle Hohenwald, but this Lucie permitted +her to do only upon condition that she should wait until she had +actually departed from M---- before she spoke to Count Styrum upon the +subject.</p> + +<p class="normal">The day of departure arrived,--an agitating day for Lucie. Hitherto +Lina's fidelity and caution had made concealment possible; not one of +the household even dreamed that the vanished Frau von Sorr was quietly +living in Adèle's apartments; but how could she steal away unobserved?</p> + +<p class="normal">The gossiping Assessor had reported that Count Repuin had bribed all +the railroad officials, who were to give him immediate notice of the +appearance at any one of the M---- stations of the well-known Frau von +Sorr. The police also were in his pay, and it seemed to Lucie almost +impossible to leave the President's house without discovery.</p> + +<p class="normal">Here, too, the faithful Lina rendered most efficient aid. She had come +to seek service in M---- years before from an Altenburg village, and +the ugly national dress of the Altenburg peasantry, although long since +discarded by her, was still reposing neatly folded in her trunk. She +was about Lucie's height, and, with a few alterations, the peasant's +dress was made to fit the lady perfectly, so that when, one morning +towards four o'clock, a neatly-dressed Altenburg peasant-girl walked +out from the President's garden into the side street, the most +experienced detective would hardly have suspected her of being the +admired Frau von Sorr.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the Marble Gate Lina was awaiting her in a covered wagon, driven by +one of her cousins, an Altenburg peasant lad, whom she had sent for to +take her to her native village, where she had received permission from +her master to spend a week's holiday. The peasant lad was rather +surprised that his cousin Lina should have stopped him, when they had +driven no farther than the Marble Grate, to wait for a young girl, who +shortly arrived and got into the vehicle. Still greater was his +surprise when, at a little wayside inn some miles from M----, Lina made +him wait much longer, while she went into the house with the young +girl, who must have remained there, for when Lina got into the wagon +again it was in company with a very fine lady, who paid him for driving +her to the nearest railroad station, where she took a kind leave of his +cousin.</p> + +<p class="normal">Once in the railway carriage bound for A---- Lucie had no farther fear +of discovery, and we have already heard of her safe arrival there, and +of her adventurous drive with the Finanzrath.</p> + +<p class="normal">How different her reception at the castle had been from any she had +anticipated! She had looked forward with a heavy heart to meeting the +old Baron; but he had welcomed her so kindly, so cordially, that she +felt sure that in him she should find a friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Arno? Even if Count Styrum had written to him beseeching his kind +offices for the new governess, this morning, after his visit at the +President's, he could not have received the letter; his conduct had +been characterized only by the coldest courtesy. Still, she was +prepared for this; she knew his sentiments with regard to women. He had +behaved precisely as she had expected him to do, and his manner was +certainly far preferable to the Finanzrath's. As she called him to mind +a burning blush overspread her cheek, and she leaned her forehead +against the cool glass window-pane. She could not tell what it was in +his behaviour to her that so aroused her repugnance. He had been all +that he should be, and no more, and yet his courtesy inspired her with +dread; this man was antipathetic to her. But why trouble herself about +him in any way? He was but a guest at the castle, where everything +seemed so much more encouraging than she had hoped to find it; he would +be gone in a few days, and Celia, this charming, lovely Celia, who had +evidently conceived a sudden affection for her new companion, would +still be with her. How entirely unnecessary had been Lucie's fear of +the "wayward, spoiled child"! Celia could not feign; in her clear, +honest eyes the genuine welcome she had given to her new governess +was plainly to be read. How happy she had seemed upon noting the +pleasant impression produced by the pretty and luxurious bedroom and +dressing-room to which she had shown Lucie! How cordially she as well +as Frau Kaselitz had begged to know if anything were wanting for the +comfort of the new inmate! and how caressing had been the kiss with +which she had said good-night!</p> + +<p class="normal">Yes, everything was far, far more pleasant than Lucie had expected; +surely she could find repose and forgetfulness amid these surroundings, +and in the fulfilment of a duty so interesting as the instruction of +this sweet young girl; and yet she could not look forward into the +future with any degree of buoyancy; the driving rain, the dark night, +the moaning wind, seemed to her to symbolize her destiny.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">The tempest had spent its fury in the night, and the sun shone warm and +bright into Lucie's bedroom when she awaked at a rather late hour the +next morning. She was habitually an early riser, but the fatigue of the +previous day and evening had prevented her from sleeping until towards +morning, and she did not awake until eight o'clock from her dreamless +and refreshing slumber. She gazed around her in some bewilderment, and +could not at first remember where she was; but in an instant all the +past, her parting from her dear Adèle, her journey hither, and last +night's adventures, flashed upon her mind, and brought with them the +consciousness that she was actually in Castle Hohenwald. If her room +had looked pretty and comfortable by candle-light on the previous +evening, it was positively charming now, with a bunch of fresh spring +flowers, which she had not seen the night before, upon a little table +between the windows, and the sunlight glorifying the landscape without. +Lucie hastily left her bed, and was proceeding to dress, when there +came a low knock at her door. "Who is there?" she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I,--Celia. I waited until I heard you stirring, to tell you that your +trunk has been brought over from Grünhagen, and is here in the next +room--our morning room--with your dry dress from the Inspector's. I +will come to take you to breakfast in half an hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">When Lucie opened the door into the next room Celia had vanished, but +her trunk stood near, and her travelling-dress, brushed and dry, hung +across a chair. She made haste to perform her simple toilet, and then +went again into the apartment which Celia had called "our morning +room." This room, then, she was to share with her pupil. It was a +delightful and luxurious retreat; its windows opening upon an +enchanting prospect of the garden, the mighty oaks in the park, and the +distant mountains; near one window was a table, upon which lay a +half-finished piece of embroidery, while another table, evidently new, +and prettily furnished with writing materials, was plainly destined for +the new governess. Upon it was a small vase filled with flowers +evidently plucked but an hour ago, the dew not yet dry upon the petals +of the roses. Flowers! So little, and yet so much! They made a welcome +where they stood. Lucie bent over them to inhale their cool fragrance, +and when she raised her head looked into Celia's laughing eyes. "How +can I thank you for placing these here, Fräulein von Hohenwald?" she +said, with emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"By never again calling me Fräulein, but Celia. Every one who cares for +me calls me Celia, and I want you to care for me very much."</p> + +<p class="normal">Such a request, accompanied as it was by a kiss and a caress, could not +be refused. The girl's frank tenderness was inexpressibly soothing to +Lucie.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now come with me to the garden-room," Celia went on, putting +Lucie's hand within her arm. "Papa is waiting for us; he drank his +morning cup of coffee long ago, but he wants us to take our breakfast +in the garden-room all the same."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr had indeed been awaiting the appearance of the ladies to +breakfast in the garden-room for more than an hour. Seated in his +rolling-chair in his favourite spot, he was rejoicing in the beauty of +the lovely morning and inhaling the mild air of spring, while, as he +sipped his coffee, he received his morning visit from his son.</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno seated himself beside his father's chair and began, as was his +wont in the early hour of talk, to discuss matters connected with the +estate, agricultural schemes, etc., which did not, however, appear to +have the power to interest him today as deeply as usual. It almost +seemed as if he were thinking of other things as he expatiated upon the +new ploughs and the building of fresh stables. He now and then paused +in his talk, and seemed to lose the thread of his discourse. The case +seemed the same with the Freiherr. He could think of nothing but what +had already occupied his mind since he arose,--the pleasant talk of the +previous evening. For years he had not conversed with a lady. Celia, +Frau Kaselitz, and the servant-maids were the only women with whom he +ever exchanged a word. His conversation with the governess had +therefore the added charm of novelty, and he had greatly enjoyed it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia's appearance to wish her father good-morning interrupted, to the +Baron's satisfaction, the agricultural discussion, and gave him an +opportunity to ask after Fräulein Müller. Celia announced that she had +listened several times at the door of her bedroom, but that she was not +yet stirring.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Evidently accustomed to late hours," Arno observed.</p> + +<p class="normal">His words sounded like sarcasm, and instantly aroused Celia's +combativeness. "Do you suppose," she said, indignantly, "that a +delicately-framed woman, not used like you to hunting all night long, +can endure without fatigue such a walk through the storm as Fräulein +Müller took last evening? It was almost three o'clock when we went to +bed, and it is now just seven. Four hours' sleep is not much after such +fatigue, although you may think it sufficient for yourself. Besides, +you are used to such early rising that you should not judge for +others."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't quarrel, children," the old Freiherr interposed; "although you +are quite right, child, to take up the cudgels for your governess; she +certainly has well earned a few hours of sleep. Even you, Arno, +expressed your wonder last evening at her quiet endurance of so much +fatigue."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, papa; is it not odious of Arno to be so unjust to Fräulein +Müller, when she is so charming, so divinely beautiful, and so +amiable?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The child is all fire and flame!" Arno remarked. "Well, well, it is +nothing to me; believe that your governess is an angel of light and a +miracle of amiability if you choose, only do not require me to agree +with you. Your enthusiasm lightens the duty with which my friend Styrum +has charged me. I found a letter from him among my papers last night +announcing his betrothal to his cousin, Adèle von Guntram, and telling +me that Fräulein Müller is his betrothed's most intimate friend. Here +is his letter; read aloud to my father what he says of Fräulein Müller, +Celia, if you like."</p> + +<p class="normal">This Celia did most willingly. As she returned it to Arno she said +reproachfully to her brother, "You do not deserve the confidence, Arno, +that Count Styrum reposes in your friendship. I cannot conceive how you +can judge Fräulein Müller so harshly and unjustly after such a +recommendation from your dearest friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bah! his recommendation is utterly worthless; he sees with the fair +Adèle's eyes, and would recommend the devil's grandmother to us if his +betrothed desired it. What I did promise him was that the lady shall be +annoyed by no inquiries or allusions to her past. In this respect +Karl's word is all-sufficient, for not even the entreaties of his +betrothed could induce him to vouch for Fräulein Müller's purity of +character if the slightest blame attached to her. I know my promise +will be kept by all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most certainly it shall," the old Freiherr rejoined. "Styrum's word is +quite enough for me; he is a man of honour, as was his father, once my +intimate friend. I respect the young fellow, although I do not know him +personally. You remember, Arno, how well he conducted himself upon a +former occasion, with what tact and delicacy----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let the past be forgotten, father!" Arno interrupted him; and, turning +to his sister, he added, "I hope you will be discreet, Celia, and not +ask any idle questions of Fräulein Müller."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not curious, and I certainly will be careful," Celia replied, as +she left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr called after her, "Beg Fräulein Müller, if she is up, to +take her breakfast here in the garden-room. I am expecting her."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was not long before his darling reappeared with the governess, whose +cheerful good-morning the old man returned after his most genial +fashion. Then, ringing the bell, he desired Franz to have Fräulein +Müller's breakfast served immediately, and to roll his chair nearer to +the table that he might take part in the conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">This he found exceedingly entertaining. Whatever was the subject under +discussion Fräulein Müller bore her part charmingly. The Baron found +her possessed of a far higher degree of culture than he had thought +possible in a woman, and he was specially pleased to find her at home +in his beloved classical literature.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the meal was ended she seated herself, at his request, at the fine +grand piano, which had been his last gift to Celia, and, after a lovely +prelude, sang a little national melody, in a rich, deep contralto, with +such pathos that Celia embraced her enthusiastically with eyes swimming +in tears, and the old Freiherr was inexpressibly delighted. It +certainly was a fact that Werner had found a treasure; his advice, +after all, had been worthy of all gratitude. The old man was in an +admirable humour, as was plainly shown when his sons unexpectedly +entered the room together. He had intended on the previous evening to +greet the elder upon his return from Grünhagen with a thunder-blast; +but he was now half inclined to condone his transgression of the family +traditions. "Why, here we have the Herr Finanzrath," he said, as Werner +approached him. "Have you had a comfortable night at Grünhagen with the +Posenecks? I am pleased to see that your broken leg is mended again. I +certainly should not imagine from your walk that anything had ailed +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner had expected a much harsher reception, therefore he quietly +accepted the raillery. "It was not so very bad," he replied, with a +smile, "although it certainly pained me so much last evening that I +could not have undertaken the long walk to the village."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which Fräulein Müller courageously accomplished, in spite of her +evident fatigue," Arno interposed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I admire Fräulein Müller's courage," the Finanzrath continued, with a +courteous bow to Lucie; "but she would hardly have been able to walk so +far had her injury been of the foot instead of the temple. I positively +could not, and, as Herr von Poseneck was polite enough to invite me to +Grünhagen, I saw no reason for declining his kindness; it might have +offended him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So you preferred to offend your father by accepting it," the old Baron +said, angrily, his good humour already disturbed by Werner's words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I knew of no reasonable grounds why you should be offended by my doing +so. Young Herr von Poseneck, who has only lately come to reside at +Grünhagen, has certainly never insulted you, nor had any desire to +insult you. He assured me that he had the highest respect for you, and +that only your express refusal to receive visits at Hohenwald had +prevented him from paying his respects to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let him try it! let him try it!" the old Baron said crossly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope, father, that calm reflection will induce you to change your +mind," the Finanzrath quietly rejoined. "I can assure you that young +Kurt von Poseneck in no wise deserves the dislike which you have +transferred to him from his late father, and that he really desires to +testify his respect for you. I cannot sufficiently extol the cordial +hospitality extended to me at Grünhagen, and which can be ascribed only +to the fact of my being your son."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nonsense!" growled the Freiherr.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Amtsrath Friese, as well as Herr Kurt von Poseneck, repeatedly +expressed his pleasure in being able to render any little service to a +Hohenwald. Both lamented your seclusion, and wished they might convince +you of their friendly regard. Both treated me with distinguished +hospitality, for which I am greatly obliged to them. Herr von Poseneck, +after he had conducted me to Grünhagen, went back with horses and men +to the quarry to extricate the carriage and horses and get them under +shelter; he sent over Fräulein Müller's trunk at daybreak this morning, +and when I expressed a wish to return home, the Amtsrath placed his own +carriage at my disposal. Common courtesy requires that I should drive +to Grünhagen to-morrow to call, and to tell Herr Kurt von Poseneck that +he will gratify me by visiting me in return at Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia's eyes sparkled as she heard the Finanzrath thus announce his +intentions, but her joy quickly fled as she looked at her father, upon +whose forehead the frown had deepened as Werner spoke, and whose rage +now burst forth with, "I'll have the dogs set on him if he dares to +enter the court-yard! No Poseneck shall show his face in Hohenwald so +long as I am master here!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Papa, that is very disagreeable of you," Celia ventured to say; "you +do yourself great injustice!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is the girl out of her senses?" the Freiherr asked, angrily. "What are +the Posenecks to you, that you should defend them against your own +father?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia flushed crimson; she could not answer this question.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fortunately, Werner came to her assistance, saying, "Celia's words, +although they are perhaps to be reprehended, are prompted by her innate +sense of justice. She could not help exclaiming against your threat of +requiting the courtesy of a visit by setting the dogs on the visitor. I +think, upon calmer consideration, you will find her conduct but +natural. I am very sorry, sir, that I should so have provoked you, and +will try to avoid doing so again. Of course I am not to be deterred by +the unfortunate prejudice entertained by you against the Posenecks from +fulfilling the duty enjoined upon me by common politeness. I must call +at Grünhagen, but I will not invite Herr von Poseneck to Hohenwald. I +will convey to him your thanks, and tell him you regret your inability +to receive him at Hohenwald, since your health does not admit of your +receiving visitors."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you will tell him a lie; my health admits of my receiving any +visitors whom I care to see."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think my conscience can endure the weight of a lie of that kind," +the Finanzrath rejoined, with a smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do as you please, but let me hear no more of the Posenecks!" growled +the old Baron. His relations with his eldest son were peculiar; he +constantly disputed with him, but in spite of his father's angry +vehemence Werner usually gained his end, because he never lost his +temper. The old Baron felt now that he had been wrong, and, although he +did not frankly admit this, he yielded.</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner seemed not to notice this; he was too wise to insist upon his +father's acknowledging himself in error. To change the conversation he +turned to Lucie, who, still seated at the piano, had been an +involuntary listener to the dispute between father and son. Approaching +her, the Finanzrath took her hand, and saying, with the air of +protection which had so annoyed her on the previous evening, "Permit +me, dear Fräulein Müller, to bid you cordially welcome to Castle +Hohenwald," would have carried it to his lips had she not hastily +withdrawn it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Why she did so she could not herself have told. She had frequently +allowed her hand to be kissed by way of greeting; it was a received +custom in the society to which she had belonged, and yet she could not +endure that this man should avail himself of it; it seemed to her an +unbecoming familiarity on his part. She acted upon an impulse, and she +did not observe the fleeting smile that passed over Arno's face as he +noticed the intentional withdrawal of her hand. She replied to the +Finanzrath's courtesy by a simple inclination of her head.</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia, too, had seen that Werner's salutation was not received with +favour, and with ready tact came to her new friend's aid. "You must +reserve all your fine speeches for another time, Werner," she said, +stepping to Lucie's side; "Fräulein Müller belongs entirely to me +to-day. I am burning with desire to take my first lessons of her, to +show her what a good scholar I can be."</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie's grateful glance as she arose and followed Celia from the room +showed the young girl that she had done right.</p> + +<p class="normal">From this time Celia devoted herself to her studies with ardour. +Lucie's hardest task was to induce her to moderate her zeal. The +"will-o'-the-wisp" quite forgot its errant nature; for hours the girl +would sit at the piano practising wearisome exercises, and at other +times she would bury herself in a book,--an entirely new experience for +Celia. It needed but a few weeks of intercourse with her new friend to +arouse within her a genuine literary taste. The old Baron and Arno were +astounded at the change; the former feared that his darling, whom he +saw thus tamed, might perhaps become too tame; he shook his head as he +reminded Celia that she must not study too hard, lest her health should +suffer; she ought to continue to take her daily exercise in the open +air.</p> + +<p class="normal">To such admonitions the girl was not at all deaf. True, she no longer +roamed about the garden as she had done: it took too much time; she +confined herself to a morning's walk there with Fräulein Müller to +visit the green-houses and the shrubberies; but her afternoon ride was +never omitted. When the hour for this arrived she could no longer fix +her attention upon her book: her thoughts flew forth to the forest. +Fräulein Müller smiled at her enthusiasm for her daily ride, ascribing +it in great part to the force of habit, since no weather was too stormy +to keep her at home.</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia always rode alone. Formerly, old John had sometimes accompanied +her, but, although he soon recovered from the effects of his fall, his +young mistress never now desired his attendance. She could not so +easily have declined Lucie's companionship, but Fräulein Müller had +never been a horsewoman, and did not care to learn to ride.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus, then, Celia rode alone. A happy smile illumined her features and +her dark eyes sparkled as she daily caught the first glimpse of the +light straw hat among the trees, and found Kurt at the appointed place +in the forest waiting to walk along the woodland road by her side. Then +the girl would drop the bridle on her horse's neck, and Pluto, who was +now on the best of terms with Kurt, knew perfectly well that before he +was urged to greater speed than a leisurely walk an hour would elapse. +An hour! How quickly it flew by! how much had both Celia and Kurt to +say in that brief space of time! Celia told of her studies, of the +delightful hours she now owed to her friend Anna, whose beauty and +loveliness, clearness of head and goodness of heart, she described in +such glowing terms that Kurt could not at times suppress a smile, for +which Celia would instantly reprove him as implying a doubt of the +accuracy of her descriptions.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt, on the other hand, would tell of his life at Grünhagen: how he +was becoming more at home in Germany, how his uncle's hospitality and +social qualities made his house delightful, a resort for the country +gentry and for the principal people in the neighbouring town of A----. +He often spoke also of the Finanzrath, who was now frequently at +Grünhagen. Kurt, who was always candid and unreserved towards Celia, +admitted to her that, although for her sake he should always treat her +brother with the utmost politeness, he had very little liking for the +exaggerated polish of his manners and bearing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus they talked in the most innocent manner. At parting Celia always +offered her hand to Kurt, and smilingly permitted him to imprint upon +it an ardent kiss, but not again did she bend over him as when she once +had yielded to an irresistible impulse. If he had uttered one tender +word she would hardly have refused him a second kiss, but this word was +not spoken; he withstood with manly determination the temptation to +utter it. He had registered a vow that never should this innocent girl +have cause to regret the frank confidence she had shown him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie had no suspicion of the attraction that took Celia to the forest, +nor that the simple-hearted girl could have a secret from her. She took +delight in her charming pupil's tender affection for her, which indeed +she reciprocated with all her heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old Freiherr had greatly changed since Lucie's coming to Castle +Hohenwald: he had grown social. True, his sociability was confined to a +desire for the society of his immediate family circle, among whom he +reckoned, of course, Fräulein Anna Müller; but with them he developed a +genial courtesy that astonished his sons.</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno, on the other hand, preserved the same attitude towards his +sister's governess that he had adopted upon her first arrival at the +castle; he was conscious of an involuntary thrill of delight when, in +the course of conversation, or upon an accidental encounter in their +walks, Fräulein Müller bestowed upon him one of her rare sweet smiles; +but the next moment he would rouse himself to renewed hatred of the +entire sex, bethinking himself that this very enchanting smile was bit +a trap set by overweening love of admiration, and could avail nothing +with him. And yet he could not avoid her. When Lucie, occupied with +some bit of feminine work, seated herself at the table beside the +Baron's rolling-chair and talked pleasantly with the old man and Celia, +Arno would join the circle, placing his chair where, unobserved, he +could watch every change of expression on the lovely face. He spoke but +little, but not a word of hers escaped him,--especially did he watch +and listen when, as was but rarely the case, she appealed to Werner.</p> + +<p class="normal">Why was he so pleased at the coldness and reserve of her usual manner +towards his brother? Why should he be so much annoyed when one day +Werner announced that he had just received a favourable reply from his +chief in office to his request for a prolongation of his leave of +absence? Wherefore should Werner have seemed to him absolutely +insufferable since he had taken to paying such marked court to Fräulein +Müller?</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno had never been upon terms of close intimacy with his +brother,--theirs were antagonistic natures; but now he felt an absolute +repugnance to him for which there was no accounting; surely it was +nothing to him if Werner chose to pay court to Celia's beautiful +governess.</p> + +<p class="normal">No; it was not "nothing to him." He excused himself for this by +reflecting that Werner's superficial, frivolous manner was unworthy a +Hohenwald. What views could he entertain with regard to Fräulein +Müller? Had he not often declared that in the choice of a wife he +should consult his head, and not his heart? Wealth was of no +consequence; but the future Freifrau von Hohenwald must belong to a +family through whose influence the Hohenwalds might recover the +importance they had lost with the government. Arno thought he knew well +that Werner, keenly devoted as he was to his own interests, never +carried away by sentiment, would not be false to these expressed +principles of his. It was inconceivable that he should sacrifice his +ambition to love for a poor bourgeoise girl, his sister's governess! He +could scarcely cherish honest intentions with regard to her, and Castle +Hohenwald should never be profaned by the reverse! And this was why, as +Arno tried to convince himself, he watched Werner and Fräulein Müller +so narrowly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Often when riding alone in field or forest it would suddenly occur to +him to wonder whether Werner were at the moment talking with Fräulein +Anna in the library, or walking with her in the garden. Then resistance +was useless; he was forced to succumb to the impulse that drove him to +plunge the spurs into his horse and gallop furiously to the castle, +where his calm was restored only when convinced of the groundlessness +of his alarm.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie found nothing to offend or displease her in his manner towards +her. When she had resolved, in defence of her honour, to undertake the +battle of life under a maiden name, she had not been unmindful of the +dangers that might beset her path, and she had gladly accepted the +position offered her at Castle Hohenwald, since she knew from Count +Styrum and Adèle that there she should have nothing to fear from +obtrusive admirers. She had reckoned upon Arno's hatred of her sex, and +she had not been deceived. From her first meeting with him his manner +had been not only indifferent, but even repellent. It was what she had +hoped for, and she was glad of it; but her gladness was not heartfelt. +Count Styrum's recital of his misfortunes had awakened Lucie's interest +in the misanthrope, and this interest had grown since she had known him +personally. His coldness and reserve did not irritate her; they were +but natural after the terrible experience that life had brought him. He +had--how could it be otherwise?--lost all faith in mankind; but still +he might have shown a trifle less animosity towards her. Sometimes a +severe remark of his would bring a warm flush to her cheek, and she was +tempted to as severe a retort; but if she yielded to the temptation she +always reproached herself afterward. He was so unhappy! What a blessed +task it would be to heal the wounds from which he was still bleeding! +But such ministry was forbidden in her sad case.</p> + +<p class="normal">Here was a dark spot in Lucie's otherwise contented life at Castle +Hohenwald, and there was one still darker in the anxiety she felt at +the Finanzrath's demeanour towards her. There was surely no sufficient +cause for this anxiety, for the cultured man of the world never +transcended conventional bounds. He was attentive and polite, but never +officious; his courtesy and kindness never degenerated into any +familiarity which Lucie could be justified in resenting. When he +extolled her beauty and amiability, her delightful singing, her +admirable instruction of Celia, and spoke of the excellent influence +she exerted over her pupil, it was all done after so refined a fashion +that she could not take exception to what was said. The old Freiherr +said precisely the same things, though far more bluntly. And yet Lucie +could not away with a feeling of uneasiness with which the Finanzrath's +manner always inspired her. The news of the prolongation of his leave +of absence was very unwelcome to her; it made her really unhappy.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">"There comes Werner again!" Arno said to his father, when an extra post +was again seen approaching Castle Hohenwald; and the announcement did +not seem particularly to delight the old Freiherr.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Finanzrath had spent a few days in Dresden about the end of May in +arranging for another prolongation of his leave of absence. He had been +successful, and upon his return had remained at the castle only a few +days when a letter arrived for him from Paris. He immediately declared +that he must go to Berlin, where a friend whom he had not seen for a +long while was awaiting him. He departed, remaining away but a few +days, when he returned, only to leave again after two days, this time +to see an old college friend in Hanover, and to take a trip to Cassel, +where another of his friends resided. Even after this journey he was +not content to stay quietly at home. He had scarcely been at the castle +for a week when he left it again for a somewhat longer tour; he wished +to visit the South German capitals, Stuttgart and Munich, passing +several days in Vienna, and returning by way of Dresden.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr received Werner's announcement that this time he should be +absent two weeks, and could not return to the castle before the +beginning of July, with a smile of satisfaction; he was not at all +displeased that his eldest son should break in upon his prolonged stay +at Castle Hohenwald with these frequent journeys. He as well as the +other inmates of the castle felt relieved when the carriage with the +Finanzrath inside rolled out of the court-yard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Werner makes the atmosphere dense; he kicks up a dust wherever he +goes," the old man was wont to say in excuse of his evident relief at +his son's departure; and was it therefore to be wondered at that he +greeted with a sigh Arno's exclamation, "There comes Werner again!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno, too, frowned when old Franz announced the Herr Finanzrath's +arrival a few moments before Werner himself entered the garden-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">He paid his respects to his father and greeted his brother with his +usual quiet courtesy, in which, however, there was never any genuine +cordiality, and then he dropped into a comfortable seat beside the old +Baron's rolling-chair. "Home again at last!" he said. "I travelled all +night to reach Hohenwald as quickly as possible, and I bring news of +vivid interest, especially for you, Arno. Not only for Arno, however, +but for every one who carries a good Saxon heart in his bosom. To arms, +Arno! It is time that you girded on your sabre again. I hope you will +write to the king this very day to ask for your appointment to your +former military rank, for I tell you beforehand in confidence that +France is about to humble the arrogance of Prussia, and I need not say +what side we Saxons should take in the fray; the time has come to +revenge ourselves for Königgratz and Sadowa!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you mad, Werner?" burst out the old Freiherr, who really thought +that his son had taken a little too much wine.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I mad? Do you think madness or the love of change has driven me away +upon these various journeys lately?" the Finanzrath exclaimed in his +turn. "I must tear the veil from your eyes and rouse you from your +fancied security; the time for action has come,--a time that calls upon +you, Arno, in especial. You must re-enter the army immediately, for it +is eminently advisable that the number of right-minded Saxon officers +should be as large as possible, that Saxony may not fail to do her duty +at the right moment. There is a wide-spread secret alliance in process +of formation against Prussia. War will immediately ensue upon its +completion. The question is not of months, perhaps not of weeks, but +only of days, for every preparation is concluded, and our action must +be prompt and sure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"From what source have you gathered this wondrous information?" Arno +asked, incredulously. "Since when have you linked yourself with those +who decide the destiny of nations?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Spare your sarcasm, Arno!" the Freiherr said, crossly; "and you, +Werner, come to the point. I should like to know something of this +wonderful mess you seem to have been helping to cook."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall be informed, father, in a very few words of the present +condition of political affairs." Werner began by ascribing the quarrel +between Prussia and France to the choice of a Hohenzollern prince for +king of Spain, and then continued, "Napoleon will compel William to +choose between a humiliating compliance, that will deprive him of all +prestige, and war. Now, relying upon the power of the North German +alliance, upon the military treaty with the South German states just +concluded, upon the friendship of the Emperor of Russia, and upon that +of England, Bismarck, who has no suspicion of the secret alliance +against Prussia, to which, in addition to the dispossessed princes, +Austria, Bavaria, Würtemberg, and the hereditary princes of Russia +belong,--Bismarck, I say, will undoubtedly choose war. This you will +see by next week, perhaps sooner. We can rely upon Russia absolutely; +this I have learned in conference lately with my friend Count Repuin. +The heir to the throne of Russia hates Bismarck, and the Emperor's +voice is powerless in the matter; the anti-Prussian party at the +Russian court is too large and too powerful. The French preparations +are all complete. Immediately after war is declared a French army will +invade the very heart of Germany, and will be received by the +acclamations of the liberated Hanoverians."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what part have you assigned to me in the struggle which you +describe as so near at hand?" asked Arno, who during the preceding glib +explanations had been pacing the apartment with eyes fixed upon the +ground, but who now paused and confronted his brother.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The one marked out for you by your duty as an enemy of Bismarck, as an +officer of the Saxon army which was so shamefully defeated in 1866, +and, above all, as a true Saxon patriot," the Finanzrath replied. "If +Saxony is to hold its own as the equal of Bavaria and Würtemberg after +the downfall of Prussia, if it is to have its full share in the +distribution of the Prussian provinces, this unnatural Prussian +alliance must be dissolved, and that speedily. Now our king will hardly +be in a condition to do this; at the beginning of the war he will be +deterred by considerations that have no weight, however, with Saxon +patriots. As in 1813, York, by his independent action, decided the +destiny of Prussia and earned the gratitude of his king--as Saxon +troops then, following the ignorant leading of the common people, went +over to the German army with flying colours, so must they now, in the +coming conflict, act independently for their fatherland. It will +produce a tremendous impression upon the entire German people, and +conduce essentially to the speedy overthrow of Prussia, if the Saxon +regiments sunder the Prussian alliance and turn their bayonets against +Prussians. The animus of our troops is good, but it will avail nothing +unless their officers take the initiative, and, unfortunately, many of +these are not to be relied on. Our corps of officers is tainted with a +Prussian mania; they must be recalled to their duty. Let this be your +task, Arno. You can easily influence your old comrades; you can arouse +their Saxon patriotism, inflame their slumbering hatred of Prussia. You +must instantly apply for reinstatement in your old rank. I have +provided that your application should receive immediate attention."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Treason, then! You would incite me to degrading perjury and treason?" +Arno exclaimed, looking at his brother with flashing eyes. "Matters +have gone far indeed when a Hohenwald can make such proposals to his +brother!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Finanzrath was quite unprepared for such a reply. He had never +imagined that Arno could refuse to undertake the task assigned to him, +and therefore had he explained his schemes and hopes with such reckless +frankness. He suddenly found himself exposed to a danger of which he +had not dreamed. What if Arno should misuse the knowledge thus gained! +He grew pale, but speedily recovered his composure. He must show no +sign of fear; the game might yet perhaps be won.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who talks of treason?" he rejoined, with forced calmness. "Is it +treason for a Saxon officer to obey his king's command? Is it treason +to break an alliance that was framed by mere brute force? Was York +guilty of treason in 1813? Has not posterity honoured him as the +saviour of his country? Do not judge too hastily, my dear Arno, do not +yield to a momentary emotion, but ask yourself, after calm reflection, +whether you are justified in refusing your services to your country at +her sorest need. Can you ever forget that you are a Saxon? Our king and +country are to be delivered from the Prussian yoke; remember that, +Arno, before you decide."</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno looked at his brother with profound contempt. "I will hear no +more!" he said, sternly. "What your share may be in the disgraceful +intrigue of which you speak I do not know, nor do I wish to know. Go +your own dark way, but do not think to mislead me by your sophistry. I +know my duty. You reckon upon my hatred of Prussia, upon my love for +our own little Saxon land; your reckoning is false from beginning to +end. Yes, I do hate the arrogant, ambitious Prussian, but I have a +fiercer hatred for the arch-enemy of all Germany, and it fills me with +shame and indignation that a Hohenwald should dream of inciting his +brother to a disgraceful league with France in a war with Germany. This +is the error in your prudent calculations: you reckon upon the hatred +of Prussia in South Germany, in Hanover and Saxony, but that hatred +will vanish like chaff before the wind when it comes to be a question +of defending Germany against French lust of conquest. Neither you nor +your noble Russian friend Count Repuin can use the German love of +country as a factor in your calculations, for you do not appreciate its +existence, nor that there are happily but few scoundrels in Germany so +ready as yourself to satisfy their own selfish ambition by giving over +their fatherland to French greed of territory."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Finanzrath sprang up in a rage, but his brother, without waiting +for a reply, left the room. "Insulting!" Werner exclaimed, quite beside +himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not one word against Arno!" the old Freiherr said, sternly. "Every +word that he uttered found its echo in my soul, and I thank God that +there is at least one Hohenwald who retains within him a sense of right +and honour and a genuine love of his country. Not a word, Werner! I +will hear no more of your disgraceful schemes; not now, at all events. +I must be more myself than I am now when I speak with you again. Now +leave me; I wish to be alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner hesitated for a moment, but judged it wisest to make no attempt +at present to recover the ground he had lost. "I obey your commands, +sir," he said; "I hope calm reflection will induce you to change your +mind, and that it will also have its effect upon Arno."</p> + +<p class="normal">After the angry dispute with his brother, Arno walked out into the +garden, and, feeling the need of quiet to collect himself, took his +seat upon a rustic bench nearly hidden in a clump of shrubbery. It was +a favourite retreat of his, and from its seclusion he could overlook +almost the entire garden. Here, then, he sat down, and resigned himself +to thought. So buried was he in reflection that, although he was aware +that Fräulein Müller and Celia came from the castle to take their +morning walk, and passed quite near him, he did not heed them: his mind +was filled with Werner's dark schemes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus he remained for he could not tell how long, when he was suddenly +roused from his reverie by the sound of the voice that never reached +his ear without thrilling him to the heart. He looked up. Walking along +a leafy side-path came Werner and Fräulein Müller; she was speaking, +and looking, not at Werner, but upon the ground. Arno thought he +perceived that her voice trembled, although he could not distinguish +what she was saying.</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner's reply was made in so low a tone that not a sound reached +Arno's ear; he could only perceive its effect upon Fräulein Müller, and +it aroused within him a feeling of indignation. There was pain that was +almost agony expressed in Anna's face as she listened eagerly to her +companion's whispered words. Werner spoke long and persistently, +bending above Fräulein Müller the while, and devouring with passionate +admiration the lovely downcast face. As the pair passed his retreat +Arno caught two words from his brother's lips, "Count Repuin," and +marked how colourless was Anna's cheek, down which a tear was trickling +from beneath the drooping eyelid.</p> + +<p class="normal">They passed, and at the end of the woodland path turned into a walk +leading to the castle. Celia here joined them. Near the castle gate +they paused. Fräulein Müller, with a slight inclination to Werner, left +him and entered the castle with Celia. The Finanzrath turned into a +side-path leading to the forest and disappeared from Arno's sight.</p> + +<p class="normal">What had passed between Werner and this girl? Was there a secret +understanding between them? Arno felt his blood boil at the thought. +Had Werner really induced Anna, who had hitherto treated him with cool +reserve, to grant him a private confidential interview? She had begun +her morning walk, accompanied by Celia, and had sent away her pupil +that she might speak alone with Werner. Arno sprang from his seat in +uncontrollable agitation; but he grew calm again as he remembered the +pained expression of Anna's features, the tear that had rolled down her +pale cheek. If there were some private relation between them, it +certainly was not a friendly one. Still the mere thought that Werner +by some fine-spun scheme had induced the girl to accord him this +<i>tête-à-tête</i>, and to listen with eager attention to his words, was +torture to Arno. If he had succeeded thus far, what might not be the +result? She must be warned, warned against the vile arts of the +betrayer! Thus much was certain. But who should warn her? To whom could +he confide his fears? To his father? Impossible! The Freiherr was not +overfond of Werner, but he would indignantly have rejected the idea +that his son, that a Hohenwald could be guilty of such infamy. Celia, +then? An innocent child of sixteen? No! Celia never must dream that her +eldest brother could harbour a thought that could wrong her dear +companion. And there was no one else in the castle who could speak one +word to Anna upon such a subject; he had held himself so aloof that he +never could advise her in so delicate a matter.</p> + +<p class="normal">To Styrum he would turn in this need; but first he would narrowly +observe Anna and Werner, that he might be able to give his friend a +clearer idea of the relations between them than he had yet been able to +gain for himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">The result of his observation during the next few days could scarcely +be called favourable,--it strengthened his suspicions as to Werner's +dishonourable intentions, but he arrived at no decided conclusion.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was evidently a change in the relations between Werner and Anna. +She no longer avoided casually meeting the Finanzrath; she did not cut +short her morning walks with Celia when he joined them, but Arno never +again saw them alone together.</p> + +<p class="normal">The political horizon darkened daily,--the newspapers were read with +avidity. None of the Hohenwald household could resist the conviction +that a political convulsion was at hand; there were constant +discussions at table and in the evenings in the domestic circle as to +public affairs. On these occasions Celia's governess, who took an eager +interest in the conversation, proved herself as enthusiastic an admirer +of Bismarck as was the Finanzrath his bitter opponent.</p> + +<p class="normal">One morning, in the library, Arno was eagerly discussing the news of +the day with Fräulein Müller. Celia's teacher was unusually interested; +she declared that her hopes for her country were centred on Bismarck. +"His enemies," she said, with ardour, "conspire in secret; in their +foolish conceit they believe him blind to their manœuvres, deaf to +their machinations, but I am convinced that he clearly sees through +their dark dealings. A Bismarck is not to be hoodwinked by such men as +the Herr Finanzrath."</p> + +<p class="normal">Scarcely were the words uttered when she seemed to regret them,--they +had evidently escaped her unawares.</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno listened surprised. "You know of my brother's schemes, then?" he +asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was nothing for it but to reply. "They are not difficult to +divine; he has made no secret of his desires and hopes; but he and all +his associates will find themselves deceived. Your brother in his +miserable plans reckons upon the pitiable jealousies of all petty +governments; but he is out in his reckoning,--the German people is not +yet so degraded as to lend itself to so frivolous a game. If war should +really be declared, Germans will, with a few disgraceful exceptions, +rally promptly around the banner that will wave in the front of the +battle to vindicate German honour and faith against all rude assaults. +The very attempt now made to retard Germany in its march towards +internal unity will but bear it more swiftly to its goal of unity and +freedom!"</p> + +<p class="normal">As she spoke her dark eyes sparkled, her cheeks glowed, and Arno +thought he had never seen her so enchantingly beautiful.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I trust from my soul that you are a true prophet!" he rejoined.</p> + +<p class="normal">She rewarded him for these words by a brilliant glance of appreciation. +"I knew that you must think thus," she said, with emotion; "you will be +among the first to forget an ancient grudge when the time comes to +stand forth for German honour and German right. The Freiherr Arno von +Hohenwald will be at hand when the German people is summoned to the +defence of the fatherland; of that I am convinced from my very soul." +She held out her hand to him: he seized it and pressed it to his lips: +for the moment he scarcely knew what he was doing; his past, his +prejudices, were all forgotten; it was as if a dark cloud which had +enveloped him were suddenly rent asunder, revealing to his mental +vision a bright, sunlit future. "Your trust shall not be deceived," he +said, with enthusiasm. "Be sure that when the battle begins I shall be +ready. And when I return from the field, will you not give me a kindly +welcome?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He had not released Anna's hand; he bent over it to kiss it once again, +when it was suddenly withdrawn. He looked up, and was shocked by her +altered looks. Her cheeks were deadly pale, the light of enthusiasm in +her dark eyes was gone: they were veiled in tears. "This must not be, +Herr Baron," she said, in a low monotone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have I offended you?" Arno asked, startled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No--but--I must leave you, Herr Baron; I must not and will not listen +any longer!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She would have turned and left the room, but Arno took her hand again +and held it fast. "But you must listen," he said, gravely; "there must +be truth between us. You will not yield to an over-sensitive delicacy +of feeling that is unworthy of you, you will not leave me without +letting me tell you that the light of your candid eyes has banished the +mists that hung about me; your words have broken the spell that parted +me from you. My heart is filled with sunshine; I know now that I love +you with my whole soul, that I have loved you from the first moment +that I saw you in the quarry. I have struggled with this love, I have +even tried to hate you; have in my blind folly often shocked and +offended you, because I would have it that the deception which so +blasted my first youthful passion had killed all power to love in my +heart. I know now how grossly I deceived myself. I am in your eyes a +gloomy, irritable misanthrope; you can accord no liking to one who has +so often wounded you by his severity; but it is my dearest hope that +one day your love may be mine, and in this hope I shall leave you when +duty calls me to the field. It will henceforth be the star of my life."</p> + +<p class="normal">Anna had listened in silence to this torrent of words; her hand still +rested in his: she did not withdraw it until he had ended; then first +she raised her eyes and looked him full in the face with an expression +of profound sadness. She did not reply at once; she could not for a few +moments sufficiently master her emotion to attain an external calm. +When she spoke at last, it was with an evident tremor in her voice. +"There must be truth between us," she said; "you require it, Herr +Baron, and I owe perfect truth both to you and to myself. Your sudden +and unlooked-for declaration has destroyed the hope in which I had +found peace. I hoped to regard Castle Hohenwald as my home; I hoped to +pass years here, sheltered from the sorrows which have poisoned my +life; but your words drive me forth into the world again!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anna! I conjure you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No more, Herr Baron! I must not listen to you; must not permit hopes +that can never be fulfilled. You say that the hope of one day winning +my love will be the guiding star of your life; banish the idle thought, +for never,--I swear it by Almighty God,--never may I return your love."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You love another, then?" Arno exclaimed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Herr Baron."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I will not resign the hope you call idle. I implore you not to +turn from me; I ask for so little, for no promise, only for permission +to love you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And this little I must not grant. I pray you leave me, Herr Baron; we +must part forever. I must not again expose myself to a danger from +which I thought myself safe with you; my duty as well as my honour +forbids me to listen to you. Once more I entreat you to leave me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You rob me of all hope?" Arno asked, gently.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She spoke so calmly, and with such absolute firmness, that Arno +despaired of moving her; he did not venture to add a single word of +entreaty; after so decided a rejection he could no longer refuse to +accede to her request. He took her hand once more, kissed it +passionately, and hurried from the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">He never looked back, and therefore could not see how, even before the +library door had closed upon him, Lucie's hardly-won composure utterly +forsook her. She sank into a seat, buried her face in her hands, and +burst into a passion of tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">Half an hour afterward she was seated at her desk in her room, writing +to her dearest, her only friend, Adèle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must leave here immediately,--every hour of my stay at Castle +Hohenwald is a period of unspeakable torment for me. I had feared and +hoped so much from this place; both fears and hopes are unfulfilled, +and I must leave Hohenwald, where I was so content. I love the old +Freiherr like a father, and I know he is fond of me; scarcely a day +passes that he does not tell me that the sun has shone more brightly in +Hohenwald since I came here. And I love my darling Celia, dear, +innocent child; with my whole heart do I return the tender affection +she lavishes upon me,--her progress delights me, but I must go.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not, dear Adèle, think me variable and fickle,--my heart bleeds at +the thought of leaving these dear people, but it must be; you will say +so yourself when you hear all. You know I have faithfully described my +life here to you. I have told you of the distaste with which the +Finanzrath's attentions inspired me. I did all that I could by the cold +reserve of my manner to impress him with this fact. I did not think he +would ever succeed in forcing me to grant him a private and +confidential interview, and yet this he has done. About a week ago he +came into the garden where Celia and I were taking our usual morning +walk. He had just returned from one of his frequent journeys, and I +could not avoid replying to his courteous greeting. He joined us and +entered into conversation with us. He talks extremely well, and even I +could not help being amused by his lively descriptions of his +travelling adventures, while Celia, who is not very fond of her eldest +brother, was much entertained. Suddenly he paused, and, turning +directly to me, said, 'But I have not told you the most interesting +experience of my trip, Fräulein Müller.' Then, with a searching glance, +he added, 'I have seen several friends of yours, and have talked of you +a great deal.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"I felt the blood mount into my face at these words. I could not +conceal the terror with which they inspired me; whereupon the +Finanzrath, with a satisfied smile, went on, 'I need only mention the +name of one of my friends, of Count Repuin, to convince you how +interesting was our conversation about you.' The detested name of that +terrible man produced upon me all the effect that the Finanzrath had +doubtless expected. It was only by a strong effort that I could keep +myself from fainting. Celia noticed my pallor; she had not heard her +brother's words,--he had chosen a moment for them in which she was +lagging behind to pluck a flower. 'What is the matter, dear Anna?' she +exclaimed, in terror; 'you are deadly pale.' In fact, had she not put +her arm about me I think I should have fallen, although I soon +recovered myself. The Finanzrath offered me his arm, and despatched his +sister to the castle for a vinaigrette. I did not dare to refuse his +proffered aid, lest I should offend him, and thus I found myself alone +with him, forced to continue my walk leaning upon his arm. 'I thank +you, Fräulein Müller,' he said, as soon as Celia had left us, 'for your +readiness to grant me this <i>tête-à-tête</i>. It gives me a precious proof +of your confidence in me,--a confidence which, I promise you, you never +shall regret. Chance has revealed to me your secret; but I give you my +word of honour it shall remain buried in my breast.' He then told me +how he had learned who I was. Repuin is his friend,--he had seen him in +Munich, and one day, while Repuin was engaged in writing letters, had +whiled away the time by looking over some photographs in a book upon +the Russian's table. Many of these he was familiar with; but his +astonishment was great when in one of them he recognized his sister's +governess. He waited until Repuin was at leisure, and then his first +thought, so he told me, was to ask the Count whether he was acquainted +with Fräulein Anna Müller, the original of the photograph; but, +reflecting that Count Styrum had made it a request that no curiosity +should be shown regarding my past, he suspected that I should prefer +the Count's remaining in ignorance as to my whereabouts, and therefore +he took up the book of photographs again, as if casually, and suddenly +exclaimed, 'A pretty face, Count; who is this girl?' showing my +likeness as he spoke.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Not a girl, but a married woman,' Repuin replied. 'Sorr's runaway +wife!'</p> + +<p class="normal">"'I could not so command my features,' the Finanzrath continued his +narrative, 'as not to show the surprise I felt at this information. +Fräulein Anna Müller the wife of that Herr von Sorr whom Repuin had +presented to me! It seemed impossible!</p> + +<p class="normal">"'And then the shameful words which Repuin had uttered, "Runaway wife." +I could not rest without some explanation. Can you wonder at it, +Fräulein Müller? "The picture reminds me of a lady whom I saw not long +ago," I said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Scarcely had I uttered these words when Repuin sprang up in great +agitation. "You have seen her?" he cried. "There is no other face that +resembles hers; tell me where you saw her. I have been searching for +her for months, but she has vanished utterly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"'What was I to tell him? I saw instantly that he must be put upon a +false track, and on the spur of the moment replied that I had shortly +before travelled in a railway carriage with a young lady who closely +resembled the picture.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'My answer was so prompt that Repuin was fortunately deceived. He +never suspected that I was misleading him, and questioned me further +with the greatest eagerness. I told him that the young lady had been my +travelling companion from Berlin to Cassel, but that of course I had +not exchanged a word with her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'"I will go to Cassel this very night!" Repuin exclaimed, in the +greatest excitement. "I must find her! I have sworn to do it though it +should cost me half my fortune. Now that I have traced her she shall +not escape me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"'He was completely deceived by my invention, and I could no longer +doubt that it was to destroy all trace of your existence that you had +taken refuge in Castle Hohenwald under a feigned name. I remembered +your enigmatical letter to me, and was convinced that I had found its +explanation. Let me assure you that it was entirely owing to my +profound sympathy for you that I now begged the Count for further +particulars concerning you. What I heard filled me with horror and +indignation. With cynical candour he informed me that he had spent +fabulous sums upon Sorr that he might be near his charming wife, who at +last, when he had actually purchased her of her wretch of a husband, +vanished without a trace.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"Such, dearest Adèle, was the Finanzrath's story, which he concluded +with assurances of his profound secrecy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot describe my sensations while he was speaking, of mingled fear +lest he should betray my secret and give Count Repuin some clue to my +retreat, and aversion for the man himself. I quivered with anger when +he called me, as he did repeatedly, 'dear Fräulein Müller,' and yet I +did not dare to show him that it offended me, lest I should provoke his +resentment. Celia, who came from the castle with the salts, at last +relieved me from my embarrassment. The Finanzrath left us. Then I +determined to leave Hohenwald, but, as the days slipped by and the +Finanzrath made no further allusions to my secret, I decided to remain, +since the noble old Freiherr would surely grant me his protection in +case of any disagreeable advances from his son. Each day the shadow +that the Finanzrath's revelations had thrown upon my peaceful life here +faded still more; my courage returned to me. I believed myself quite +safe in my beloved Hohenwald with my dear Celia, when one wretched +moment blasted all my hopes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must go; I cannot stay here, for Arno has just told me that he loves +me. I thought his heart was dead to all affection, and he has just +declared his passionate attachment for me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suffered indescribably when all that I could do in answer to his +frank avowal of affection was calmly and coldly to crush his hopes +forever. I wept bitter tears when he left me, and yet--yet the +consciousness of his love brought happiness with it as well as misery.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Strength was given me to fulfil my duty; not by look or word did I +betray what I felt in rejecting him, but could I resist him a second +time? I must flee from my own weakness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can write no more, dear Adèle, and must close. I am filled with but +one desire,--to go away from here as soon as may be. I rely upon your +aid again, my dear, kind friend; try to find me another asylum. I do +not care where it is or what it is, only let it be far, far away from +here and from all of you.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Help me, dear Adèle; protect your</p> + +<p style="text-indent:50%">"<span class="sc">Lucie</span>."</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden +from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be +unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post. She +listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the +rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.</p> + +<p class="normal">What could have happened? He had hitherto always been awaiting her at +their place of meeting. How could he allow anything to curtail, even by +a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so +eagerly? Although he could not be to blame, still she felt aggrieved. +Pluto, too, seemed to find his absence very unnatural. He pawed the +ground impatiently with his fore-foot and shook his black mane; then +pricked his delicate ears with a neigh as a distant crackling of the +underbrush was heard, and a minute afterwards Kurt made his appearance. +He was very warm and quite out of breath with the haste he had made to +atone for his want of punctuality.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now this I call scant courtesy!" exclaimed Celia, who had intended to +punish him by a cool reception for his tardiness. She was quickly +appeased, however, when she saw how warm he looked from his hasty walk. +She held out her hand to him, and when he took it leaned down towards +him. "You do not deserve a kiss for keeping me waiting so long, but I +will temper justice with mercy. Poor fellow! you are terribly warm; you +ought not to have walked so fast!"</p> + +<p class="normal">What had become of Kurt's good resolutions? They had shared the fate +that awaits such resolutions generally. How could he resist when Celia +smiled so bewitchingly upon him? The temptation was too great. Besides, +he had only resolved never by a single word to betray Celia's childlike +trust in him, to treat her as a brother would treat a tenderly-loved +sister, and is it not perfectly allowable for a brother to kiss a dear +sister? He was not wrong in kissing her. Had he been wrong several +weeks before, when Celia, after some slight dispute, offered him her +rosy lips in token of reconciliation, not to refuse the precious gift? +Celia, in her innocent purity, never could have comprehended such a +refusal, and would have been deeply grieved by it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Since then it had become a custom for the young girl to receive him +daily with a kiss, and to take leave of him with a kiss, and they +called each other by their first names. It would have been ridiculous +in Kurt, after becoming so intimate with Celia, to adhere to the formal +"Fräulein von Hohenwald" in addressing her. It had vanished; neither +Kurt or Celia could tell when or how; it had done so so naturally.</p> + +<p class="normal">Still, after that kiss of reconciliation Kurt had not felt perfectly +comfortable as he walked home to Grünhagen; he was dissatisfied with +himself. Cool reflection told him that he had been false to his +resolve,--he, a man to whom life and its perils were familiar, should +have conquered himself; he should have been a guide to Celia, who was +half a child, and who had no idea that there could be any danger in her +guileless familiarity. But his heart bore away the victory from his +understanding. Kurt quieted his conscience when it would have +reproached him. Was it his fault that he did not go directly to Celia's +father and declare his love for her, and that she loved him in return? +Ah, how gladly would he, if he could, have done this! But the miserable +family feud, the invincible prejudice of the old Freiherr, forbade all +approach. Should Kurt, then, sacrifice the happiness of his life, his +love for Celia, to such a phantom? Should he reject the dear girl's +confidence because the old Baron in his obstinacy had an unaccountable +hatred for the name of Poseneck? No; he could not and he would not. He +never had asked Celia whether she loved him and would be his; but there +was no need of such words between them. He knew that her heart belonged +to him, and his determination to win her hand was absolute, although he +vainly sought in his imagination for some means to attain this end.</p> + +<p class="normal">Castle Hohenwald was surrounded for him by an insurmountable wall; +there was no possible way by which he could approach Celia's father. +Did not the Finanzrath whenever he came to Grünhagen loudly lament that +it was impossible for him to invite Herr von Poseneck to return his +visit? The attempt, too, which Count Styrum had made to influence Arno +had been without result. Arno was as inaccessible as his father. Castle +Hohenwald was closed against Kurt.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yet he would not resign hope; he was resolved that his life should not +be ruined by a silly prejudice. Although Celia was now too young to +bestow her hand where she chose, perhaps, in direct opposition to her +father's will, it would not always be so. Thus Kurt hoped in the future +for some lucky chance that would make it possible for him to surmount +the barriers that kept him from Castle Hohenwald.</p> + +<p class="normal">With these hopes he soothed his conscience when it reproached him for +yielding to the spell that Celia's confidential familiarity cast around +him. He knew that no unholy thought stained his devoted love for the +dear girl, and knowing this, he believed himself justified in enjoying +the bliss of the present.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you were angry with me, Celia," he said, as, after her kiss, he +walked slowly along beside Pluto. "You were angry with me for keeping +you waiting. Confess it; your first words hardly sounded kind."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, yes; I will not deny," Celia replied, "that I was a little vexed +and hurt. I had been thinking of you all day long, and you were not +here; I did not know what to think. You never kept me waiting before; +indeed, you spoil me, Kurt, as does every one,--you, and my father, and +Arno, and my dear Anna. You all spoil me, and ought not to be surprised +when I am impatient."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am only surprised that you forgave me so quickly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I was so glad to have you here, although I ought to have scolded +you for walking so fast in this terrible heat. You look warm still."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could not help it. I was afraid you would think I was not coming and +would ride home again. In my heart I cursed that tiresome Assessor for +detaining me, and when at last I escaped from him, I walked straight +across the Hohenwald fields to meet you here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You need not have done that, you dear, kind Kurt. I should have waited +an hour here for you at least." Again she held out her hand to him, and +surely it was but natural that he should kiss it passionately.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you another visitor at Grünhagen?" Celia continued, without being +put at all out of countenance by the tender kiss imprinted upon her +hand. "You said something of a tiresome Assessor who had detained you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, an Assessor von Hahn, who has lately been transferred to the +courts at A----, saw fit to pay my uncle a visit this morning. With his +usual hospitality my uncle invited him to stay, and to my horror he +accepted the invitation. He is a commonplace, tiresome man, and +incredibly inquisitive. He has only one good quality, which is that he +is a distant relative of yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, the Hahns are remotely connected with my mother's family, but I +never heard anything of them, and did not even know of the existence of +an Assessor von Hahn."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I assure you it would mortify him excessively to hear you say so. He +has already told my uncle and myself much with regard to his +relationship to the Hohenwalds, and has deeply lamented that Castle +Hohenwald is closed even to near connections. When he heard that your +father had consented to have a governess for you he was overwhelmed +with astonishment, and asked every imaginable question concerning +Fräulein Müller, where she came from, who she was, how she looked; +whether she were ugly or pretty, young or old, learned or ignorant. He +wanted to know all about her, and I could see was greatly dissatisfied +with the scanty information he gathered from us. He tormented me with +questions about you and your brothers and your father, and I escaped +from him only by slipping off when he was engaged for a moment with the +newspaper. My uncle told him that I was in the habit of taking a +solitary walk in the forest every afternoon, upon which he offered to +accompany me, and was not at all dismayed by the terrible picture I +drew of the difficulties of the path through the underbrush. I could +not get away from him except by secret flight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My precious cousin seems to be a very agreeable man," said Celia, +laughing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is insufferable, and yet I ought to be glad of his visit. In his +loquacity he supplied my uncle and myself with some important +information which made it especially desirable that I should see you +this afternoon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Information that concerns me!----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That concerns your brother Werner," Kurt replied, very gravely. "I am +afraid he has allowed himself to be drawn into certain schemes which +may place your father and Arno in a very embarrassing situation, +although I do not believe that, as the Assessor hinted, they have any +share in them. I never regretted so deeply as to-day that your father's +and Arno's wretched prejudice against our family made it impossible for +me to hasten to Hohenwald to warn your father, and to entreat him to +turn a deaf ear to Werner's insidious whispers. I long to do this, but +how would he receive one of the hated Posenecks? He would not credit my +information, just because it came from me; he would repulse me as an +unauthorized intruder. My warning would probably do more harm than +good, and Arno is just as inaccessible as your father."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unfortunately, you are right," Celia said, sadly. "You would not be +kindly received at Hohenwald. But can you not tell me what you wish to +say to my father and Arno? I am afraid that neither of them would pay +me much heed, but I will induce Anna to help me, and my father at least +will be influenced by her. Arno, to be sure, is incorrigible; even Anna +has no effect upon him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has Fräulein Müller any influence with Werner?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know," Celia replied, thoughtfully. "I have sometimes thought +so; at all events, the relations between them seem to me very odd and +quite incomprehensible. She cannot endure him, and avoids him whenever +she can, and yet he pays her devoted attention. I cannot understand +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It might be dangerous, then, to trust Fräulein Müller?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now you are unkind, Kurt!" Celia exclaimed, indignantly. "You must not +speak so of my Anna."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you yourself said----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I never said or thought anything that could imply a want of confidence +in her. I trust her entirely. But you have told me nothing of these +mysterious schemes of Werner's. I know nothing as yet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall know all that I know myself, although it may be wrong for me +to acquaint a young girl of sixteen with political intrigues existing +perhaps only in the diseased fancy of this garrulous Assessor."</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia hastily withdrew the hand which Kurt had held in his own as he +slowly walked along beside Pluto. "You are very disagreeable, Kurt," +she said. "I am no longer a child; girls are far more precocious than +boys, and at sixteen I may surely be trusted. And I am very much +interested in politics: I read the papers daily; have we not often +discussed them together? I continually scold papa and Arno for abusing +Bismarck as they do."</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt could not but smile at her indignation. "Do not be angry with me, +dearest Celia," he said. "I will tell you all I know, which, +unfortunately, is not much; the Assessor's hints were rather vague and +confused. Since you read the daily papers you know well how imminent is +the danger of a war with France. At such a time it is the duty of every +German to be true to the fatherland, and yet there is a large party in +Germany who ignore this, and who, because they are opposed to the +Prussian government, wish for a war with France and the overthrow of +Germany and Prussia. To this party your brother Werner unfortunately +belongs."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unfortunately!" Celia said in confirmation of his words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Those belonging to it," Kurt continued, "know nothing of true +patriotism. Prompted by mean self-interest and by silly hatred of +Prussia, they are ready to ally themselves with the Frenchman, the +arch-enemy of Germany, who believes that when war is declared all the +enemies of Prussia in Southern Germany, in Saxony, and in Hanover will +flock to his banner. There are at present French agents scattered +through Germany employed in plotting and arranging for this disgraceful +treachery. These agents are of every nation; some of them are even +Germans of rank, who believe that their names shelter them from +suspicion, and that they can pursue their dark designs unobserved. But +they are mistaken; the leader of Prussian polities is not so easily +hoodwinked as they think; he knows his treacherous opponents, and will +know how to bring them to the punishment they deserve."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you are going to tell me that Werner is one of these treacherous +agents," Celia interrupted Kurt, "I suspected it; this is why he has +taken these frequent journeys. Werner is sufficiently unprincipled to +lend himself from vanity and ambition to such treachery, but Arno, I +assure you, Kurt, is incapable of it. He is stern and hard, but he +never would dream of aiding in treason against his country. You must +not suspect him for an instant."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not suspect him, but others do, and therefore I fear both for him +and for your father. The gossiping Assessor hinted to my uncle and +myself that Castle Hohenwald is the centre of various treasonable +intrigues, that Werner is in constant communication with the most +dangerous French agents, with a certain Count Repuin, for example; nay, +that he is himself such an agent, working in the French interest among +the Saxon nobility, and that he is probably assisted by your father and +Arno, whose hatred of Prussia is well known. The Assessor implied +further that Castle Hohenwald is under strict surveillance, and that it +is only a question of time when these treasonable intrigues are to be +crushed out by the arrest of all the Hohenwalds. Your father and Arno +must be put upon their guard against Werner, but how it is to be done I +do not know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will warn them!" Celia said, decidedly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will they believe you? Will not your father's first question be whence +came your information?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course it will, and I know he will be terribly angry when he knows +all; still, I must not mind that if he and Arno are in danger of +arrest. He will get over it in time. The worst is, that until he does +he will forbid my riding out, or will always send Arno with me, so that +we shall not see each other. But I must bear that too. It has perhaps +been wrong for us to have these meetings here every day. I have never +been able to look papa full in the face when the Posenecks were +mentioned, or any allusion made to my afternoon rides. I never before +had a secret from my dear old father, and he has a right to be angry +that I have concealed from him what he ought to have known long ago. +But if I should hesitate now from fear of his anger to tell him that +danger threatens him, and that you have informed me of it, how could I +ever forgive myself if anything should really happen to him? Tell me, +dear Kurt, am I not right?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, you are right, darling courageous child that you are. I do not +know how I can bear to lack the sight and sound of you every day; I +shall be wretched without this hour of delight; but you are right. We +must not think of ourselves, but of how to avert the danger that +threatens your father and Arno."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are the dearest and the best fellow in the world!"</p> + +<p class="normal">As she spoke, Celia allowed Kurt to lift her from her horse and conduct +her to a rustic bench, which he had himself constructed, just upon the +borders of the Grünhagen forest, where they usually parted from each +other. Many a time lately they had sat here side by side, but to-day +every moment seemed more precious than ever, the future was so +uncertain.</p> + +<p class="normal">They sat silent for a long while, his arm about her waist and her +lovely head reclined upon his shoulder, while her eyes were downcast; +she was reflecting upon the coming parting.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will your father believe you when he knows that your warning comes +from me?" Kurt asked, suddenly. "Will he not suspect me of giving it +with a view of arousing his gratitude, and thus obtaining an entrance +into Castle Hohenwald? If I did not fear that this would be so, I would +go to him myself, his commands to the contrary notwithstanding; but, as +I told you before, I dread his transferring his doubt of him who warns, +to the warning itself to the extent of rejecting it incredulously. The +same thing will happen if you tell him that it is I who warn him; he +will even be more suspicious and mistrustful in his anger at our +intimacy, which has become such without his knowledge and against his +will."</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia's eyes sparkled. Hard as she knew it would be to put a stop to +these meetings by a frank confession, she was still resolved to make +the sacrifice, but Kurt's words showed her that it would be useless; +she was quite ready in a moment to convince herself that for the +present it was best that her father should be ignorant of her meetings +with Kurt, lest he should regard the warning with suspicion.</p> + +<p class="normal">She raised her head, and looking at Kurt with a happy smile, said, +"Anna will help us; we will tell her all. If she puts my father upon +his guard and tells him that she cannot mention the source whence comes +her information, but that she knows it to be correct, he will pay heed +to her; he has the greatest confidence in her, and it never will occur +to him that she could deceive him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt had no objection to urge to this. He consented that Celia should +confide everything to her friend, both as regarded their daily +meetings, and as to what Kurt had heard from the Assessor von Hahn.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus conversing, the time flew by so quickly that the lovers did not +suspect the lateness of the hour. The outer world was forgotten, when +suddenly they were recalled to it by an unfamiliar voice, that gayly +interrupted their confidential talk with, "Found at last! I beg ten +thousand pardons for disturbing you; I never suspected that I should +find Herr von Poseneck in such charming society. Now I understand his +sudden disappearance; but pray don't let me disturb you; I am +thoroughly discreet; I will not boast of it, for discretion is a gift +of nature; I possess it, and would not for worlds interrupt a +delightful <i>tête-à-tête</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt and Celia, as soon as the voice fell upon their ears, started up +from the bench, Celia looking down blushing, greatly confused, while +Kurt, with anger flashing in his eyes, confronted the Assessor, who, in +the best of humours, did not seem to perceive how unwelcome was his +presence. This first appeared to occur to him when Kurt approached him, +saying sternly, "Sir, what do you mean? how dare you thus follow me +without my permission?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor retreated a step, taught by the angry gleam in Kurt's eyes +that his jesting remarks had been quite out of place. In much confusion +he stammered, "I beg pardon; indeed nothing was farther from my +intention than to intrude; I am inconsolable at having disturbed you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The poor little man, as he shrank from Kurt's indignant glance and +poured out his terrified excuses, cut so odd a figure that Celia could +not help smiling, although she was anything but pleased with the +present aspect of affairs. She could see that Kurt's indignation was +still further aroused by the intruder's apology, and she whispered to +him as gently as possible "Be calm, dearest Kurt, I pray you, for my +sake."</p> + +<p class="normal">Her words produced an instant effect. Kurt's brow grew smooth, the +angry look vanished from his eyes, which sparkled strangely as he +looked at Celia, and then turned with an air of sudden determination to +the Assessor, saying, in a much gentler tone, "It is not to me, Herr +von Hahn, that you should excuse yourself, but to my betrothed, +Fräulein Celia von Hohenwald." As he spoke he cast at Celia a quick +glance of inquiry, afraid lest his words might offend her; but no, she +did not even look surprised; an arch smile quivered about her lips for +a moment, and she nodded to him assentingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor's amazement, however, was unbounded; his large and rather +prominent blue eyes grew larger and more prominent as he looked from +Kurt to Celia. "Ah--really--indeed"--he stammered, bowing low--"I had +no idea--I humbly beg the lady's pardon--permit me to offer my cordial +congratulations--indeed--I am so surprised that I hardly know what to +say."</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia laughed; she could not help it: the flaxen little Assessor was +too comical; and Kurt smiled; he was no longer angry, but inexpressibly +happy. Celia's hand was in his and returned his pressure. How could he +be angry with the Assessor, who had been the cause of his sudden +resolve? "Never mind, Herr Assessor," he said, kindly. "We will credit +you with the most heartfelt good wishes. But"--and he suddenly changed +his tone to one of grave admonition--"since chance has willed that you +should be the recipient of our confidence, I must pray you not to +misuse it. You know that there exists an hereditary feud between the +Hohenwalds and the Posenecks, which some of the members of the families +have not yet agreed to forget, therefore we, my betrothed and myself, +do most earnestly enjoin upon you to be silent as to what you have +learned. Any allusion to it to others would be an indiscretion for +which I should be obliged to call you to account. I am sure we may rely +upon you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Absolutely. I swear it!" the Assessor eagerly replied. "Not a word +shall escape my lips. I am silent as the grave!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am quite sure that your promise will be kept. And now we will no +longer detain you from the enjoyment of your walk. This broad road +leads to Castle Hohenwald; by pursuing it until you reach three huge +oaks in a group you will find a by-path on the right, which will give +you a pleasant stroll through the forest and lead you out into the +open, whence you will perceive Grünhagen in the distance."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor bowed. Clearly he was dismissed. He would have liked to +exchange a few words with his relative Celia, whose voice even he had +not heard, but there was something in Kurt's manner that told him it +was hardly advisable to linger here longer. In a few choice phrases he +expressed to Celia his delight at this chance meeting with so charming +a cousin, and his sorrow that circumstances over which he had no +control would prevent him from calling upon her at the castle. Then +imagining that Herr von Poseneck was growing impatient, he took his +leave, turned in the direction that had been pointed out to him, and +was soon out of sight.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you angry with me, dearest Celia?" Kurt asked so soon as this was +the case.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should I be angry with you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could not help it; I had to decide on the instant what to do, and it +was only by presenting you as my betrothed to the Assessor that I could +prevent him from speaking of having seen us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And why should I be angry with you? It was perfectly natural; you only +said what we have both long known. I am glad you said it; I only wish I +could tell my dear kind father how very, very happy I am. But," she +added, with a little sigh, "it would not do,--it would not do at all; +he would be terribly angry, for he does not know you, Kurt, does not +know how dear and good you are, and if I should tell him we were +betrothed he never would give his consent. Anna must help us. I will +tell her everything to-day; she has more influence than any one else +over him, and she will contrive to have you come to Hohenwald,--she is +so good and so wise!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt shook his head doubtfully, but he could not shake Celia's +confidence in Anna's power over the old Baron. Meanwhile it had grown +late; they had been together much longer than usual. Pluto was +evidently impatient; still, Celia had more to say than ever before. +Kurt put her on her horse again, and, when she begged him to turn back +with her for a little way, walked slowly beside her along the broad +forest road.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Lucie's resolve was a hard one. Castle Hohenwald was to her as a home. +The thought of leaving Celia and the old Freiherr gave her intense +pain, but it must be done,--she could not stay. She had written her +letter to Adèle with feverish haste, almost immediately after Arno had +left her; but now that it lay before her sealed and addressed she +hesitated to despatch it. She shrank from so decisive a step.</p> + +<p class="normal">Did stern duty really require of her to leave this loved asylum and +brave the world again and the danger of Repuin's persecution? Here she +was safe both from the Russian and from Sorr; both the old Freiherr and +Arno would extend protection to her, and must she give it all up just +because Arno loved her? No; not for that. Had she been sure of her own +heart she might have remained. She had not felt the need of fleeing +from Werner's distasteful devotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Arno! She had summoned up strength to utter the words that +annihilated his hopes; but she felt that in so doing she had almost +exhausted her self-control. Could she have withstood his pleading a +moment longer? Even while writing to Adèle the thought would not be +banished from her mind that she was actually free, bound by no +obligation to the wretch who himself on that terrible night had +sundered the tie that had linked her to him!</p> + +<p class="normal">But could he sunder it? No; it must still remain a brazen fetter +chaining her to her unworthy husband, although she were forever parted +from him. As she had herself said, her marriage could not be dissolved; +she was free only in spirit,--only the death of the dishonoured thief +could make it possible for her to form another tie.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her heart rebelled against so unnatural a chain; but cool reason told +her that she could not disregard it without dishonour. Sorr's wife must +not listen to Arno's words of affection; if she could not slay within +her the love she now knew that he had awakened there, he must never +know it.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sealed letter trembled in her hand; if it were to be sent it must +go instantly. From her window Lucie saw already saddled and standing in +the court-yard the horse upon which the groom was to take the daily +mail from the castle to A----. Frau Kaselitz stood upon the steps just +about to close the post-bag. One minute more and it would be too late. +A day at least would be gained, a day for reflection, and a day, too, +of imminent peril, a day in which Arno might repeat his protestations, +his entreaties!</p> + +<p class="normal">She hastily threw open the window. "Wait one moment, Frau Kaselitz; I +have a letter to go!" she called out into the court-yard, and then +hurried down the great staircase to the hall-door. She could not trust +herself, and it was only when she had seen the groom gallop away +bearing her letter with him that she breathed freely again.</p> + +<p class="normal">The die was cast, and she could think clearly and calmly. Her strength +of will returned, and she knew that she could brave any struggle +which the next few days might bring her. She had regained the calm +self-control that would enable her to fulfil her duties towards the +Freiherr and Celia during the time she should yet remain in the castle, +and this fulfilment should instantly be put into action. Celia should +suspect nothing during lesson-hours of the mental agony that had so +tortured her teacher.</p> + +<p class="normal">But where was Celia? She had not made her appearance, although the time +had long passed at which she usually returned from her afternoon ride. +Lucie inquired of old John, who was on his way to the stables, and +learned that Fräulein Celia was still out in the forest. She never had +stayed so late before, the old man added; indeed, she had had time to +ride up and down the broad forest road to Grünhagen at least twenty +times. Of course that was where she was; she always rode there. John +could not see why she never tired of that road. Lucie was not ill +pleased to hear that the girl was still in the forest: she longed for +its cool depths; and since John assured her that she could not fail to +meet Fräulein Celia, she determined to go in search of her. She +declined John's attendance, for she felt perfectly secure in the +vicinity of the castle. Quickly tying on her hat she sallied forth.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her walks hitherto had never extended beyond the castle garden and the +park. This was her first flight into the "forest depths," from which +the castle took its name. She gazed in wonder at the mighty oaks and +beeches. Around her brooded the mystery of the primeval forest; in the +vicinity of the castle no axe had rung a discord in the poetry of +woodland life. The deep silence, broken only by the low notes of the +woodland birds, harmonized with Lucie's mood; she sauntered dreamily +along the path, passing in mental review the events of the day, and +particularly the struggle with herself, in which--and there was a +measure of content in the consciousness--she had come off conqueror.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lost in thought, she almost forgot that she had come out to look for +Celia; her gaze wandered unconsciously over the wealth of foliage on +every side of her. She did not observe, when she had reached the +loneliest part of the forest, a solitary stranger walking towards her, +and hastening his steps with every sign of amazement upon seeing her. +Not until he had approached her very nearly did she look up and start +in terror. Could she believe her eyes? The Assessor von Hahn, whose +element was fashionable society, here alone in the woodland solitude? +She could not be deceived; the Assessor stood before her as elegant as +if bound upon a round of morning visits, staring at her out of his wide +blue eyes, and twirling, as was his wont when startled or surprised, +his flaxen moustache; it was indeed Herr von Hahn as large as life.</p> + +<p class="normal">The good Assessor was no less startled than was Lucie. "Is it +possible?" he exclaimed; "am I awake or dreaming? Frau von Sorr here in +the forest! This is a surprise indeed,--a most agreeable surprise of +course. I am enchanted to meet you, madame."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke he held out his hand, and Lucie was obliged to place her +own within it and to allow him to kiss it; she could not show him how +unwelcome was his presence here. Of all her former acquaintances she +would have preferred to have almost any one invade her retirement +rather than the gossiping Assessor, but she could not let him perceive +this; she banished all surprise and terror from her face and said, not +unkindly, "A most unforeseen meeting. I never should have expected to +find you in this remote corner of Saxony, Herr von Hahn."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My presence here is easily explained, madame. I have been transferred +to A----, and, as there is scarcely any society in the tiresome little +town, I beguile my leisure by visits to the neighbouring gentry. I am +at present enjoying the Amtsrath Friese's hospitality, in Grünhagen, +and was just taking a woodland walk. But you, madame,--how happens it +that I meet you here? You must be living either at Grünhagen or in +Castle Hohenwald. Oh, I see, I see. My cousin, the old Freiherr, has +overcome his antipathy to your charming sex and has admitted into his +household a governess for my lovely cousin Celia. You are this +governess of course. This is why you vanished so suddenly from the face +of the earth. It must be so; my keen perception has penetrated the +mystery. I do not boast, for keenness of perception is one of the gifts +of nature, and her gifts are variously bestowed, but I possess it. +Confess, madame, that I am right."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor, who had now succeeded in twirling the ends of his +moustache into two long thin points, stayed the torrent of his words +for a moment to regard Lucie with a triumphant look of inquiry.</p> + +<p class="normal">What should she reply? Chance had revealed to him her retreat in Castle +Hohenwald; he now knew too much to admit of his not being told more. +She dreaded his loquacity, but perhaps he might be induced to curb it +if she appealed to his honour. And, besides, he need keep silence only +for a short time; in a few days she hoped her friend Adèle would have +provided another refuge for her, and then the good Assessor's love of +gossip could do no harm. "Your keen perception has not been at fault, +Herr Assessor," she replied. "I live in Castle Hohenwald as governess +to Fräulein Celia von Hohenwald, but I need hardly tell you that in +order to obtain such a situation I have been obliged to change my name. +The consequences would be disastrous to me if any one in Castle +Hohenwald should learn my real name, and still more so if any one save +yourself, Herr Assessor, whom I trust implicitly, should suspect that I +have taken refuge in Castle Hohenwald. Your perceptions are too keen to +make any explanations necessary as to the painful circumstances that +have driven me thus to change my name and to take refuge in the deepest +seclusion. I rely upon your honour, and am convinced that you will not +abuse the knowledge you have gained by accident, and that you will +mention to no one our meeting to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor bowed profoundly, feeling immensely flattered. He seized +Lucie's hand and kissed it with fervour, "Your gratifying confidence is +not misplaced. I swear it by my honour!" he exclaimed, his hand on his +heart. "I will be torn limb from limb sooner than that Herr von Sorr or +Count Repuin or any enemy of yours, dear madame, shall learn where you +have found an asylum. Rely upon me, madame, and if you should need +counsel or aid I am always at your service."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, Herr von Hahn. I knew I could trust you, and therefore I +have bestowed upon you my entire confidence. If I need your assistance +I shall certainly apply to you, but at present I ask only your silence +and your forgiveness for concluding this interview; I must not be seen +in your society."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand and respect your wishes, madame; I am discreet; I make no +boast of it, but----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know it, Herr Assessor, and I thank you for it. But before we part +let me ask one question. Have you encountered upon this road a young +lady on horseback?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, you mean my fair cousin, Celia von Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know Celia?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly; that is, I have seen her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you meet her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The question was a simple one, and yet it confused the Assessor. He +remembered Herr von Poseneck's words and felt very uncomfortable. True, +he had not been told not to mention meeting Celia. Kurt's prohibition +had borne reference only to his betrothal, but he had expressly +declared that he should call the Assessor personally to account for any +indiscretion, and Herr von Poseneck seemed to be a man very likely to +keep his word. Would he not consider it an indiscretion to direct Frau +von Sorr to where she would find the lovers together? He would not run +any risk, and so answered with some hesitation, "I really do not know, +madame; I hardly remember----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whether you have met Celia in the forest? You can hardly have +forgotten it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly not, but--some one is coming. You desire that we should not +be seen together; I hasten to comply with your wishes. Adieu, madame!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He bowed very low, glad to have any pretext for his flight, and walked +away so quickly that he was in danger of overlooking the group of +mighty oaks near which was the by-path to which Kurt had directed him. +Fortunately, he discovered it in time and was soon lost to sight.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie looked after him, at a loss to understand his conduct. Why should +he find such difficulty in answering her simple question with regard to +Celia, and hurry away in such confusion? He must have seen Celia; why +not say so? She quickened her pace and soon reached a turning-point in +the road that opened a long vista before her. Here her glance instantly +encountered Celia, who was riding slowly towards her, attended by Kurt, +whom Lucie instantly recognized, having seen him upon the evening of +her arrival at Castle Hohenwald. Celia held her bridle negligently in +her left hand; her right was clasped in that of Kurt, towards whom she +was leaning, talking so earnestly that at first she did not perceive +Lucie, who stood still transfixed with astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">This, then, was the reason of the Assessor's mysterious behaviour; this +was the explanation of Celia's devotion to her daily rides in the +forest.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pluto was the first to become aware of Lucie's presence; he tossed his +head and neighed; this attracted Celia's attention, and she perceived +her friend. "Anna!" she exclaimed in a tone of delighted surprise, in +which there was not the slightest trace of terror. She withdrew her +hand from Kurt's and urged her horse to where her friend stood. "Anna, +my darling Anna!" she said, tenderly. "I am so rejoiced to see you! Now +you shall learn all. Kurt himself can tell you all about it. Yes, Kurt, +tell Anna everything,--how we first came to know each other, that we +are betrothed, and that nothing now can separate us; tell her, too, +what you told me awhile ago of Werner. Ah, how glad I am that chance +has brought you two together! Now, Kurt, you will know my dearest Anna, +and will see how wise it is to confide in her absolutely. Adieu, my +darling Anna! Au revoir, dear Kurt!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She kissed her hand to Lucie and Kurt, then gathered up her reins and +galloped towards the castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie looked after her very gravely. She was inexpressibly pained by +the discovery she had so unexpectedly made. It had never occurred to +her that Celia, gay, innocent, frank child that she seemed, could be +engaged in any secret love-affair; she would have rejected any such +idea with indignation.</p> + +<p class="normal">And yet here was the proof. She felt grieved and ashamed; grieved +because she had believed herself possessed of Celia's entire +confidence, and ashamed that her care of her pupil had been so +negligent that the girl had been able to deceive her from the first day +of her arrival at Hohenwald.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her anger, however, was not for Celia, but for Kurt; Celia was an +inexperienced child, who did not and could not know the peril of such +secret entanglements; Kurt's was all the blame.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was therefore a very stern and forbidding look with which she +received Kurt, who approached her with some embarrassment in his +greeting. He knew that her judgment of him could hardly be a favourable +one. She had seen him but once, when his courtesy in proffering +assistance and his whole air and manner had made a very pleasant +impression upon her, an impression in which she had been strengthened +by what she had learned of him from the Finanzrath and from Adèle's +letters. Even now, as she looked at him with severe scrutiny, she could +not but admit to herself that his appearance was greatly in his favour. +He was not, strictly speaking, handsome, his features were not +perfectly regular; but his countenance was frank and manly in +expression, his fine eyes were honest and true, and about the firm +mouth there were lines that betokened great gentleness and kindliness +of nature. Lucie easily understood how a young man of so pleasing an +exterior could win the heart of the inexperienced Celia, who was +debarred all society, and her indignation was the deeper that Kurt +should have so unscrupulously used his power over an innocent child.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will have the goodness, Herr von Poseneck, to give me the +explanation to which Celia has just alluded," she said, gravely and +sternly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt bowed, and not without some confusion, for his conscience was not +quite clear, he replied: "You have a right, Fräulein Müller, to ask +this explanation of me, and I give it you the more readily, since my +betrothed was about to give you her entire confidence this very +evening. Even without this chance meeting you would have learned from +her what you are now to learn from me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your betrothed?" Lucie repeated the words with sharp emphasis. "Your +betrothed? Are you not aware, Herr von Poseneck, that a child of +sixteen cannot be betrothed without her father's consent? So far as I +know, the Freiherr von Hohenwald has not given his paternal consent to +your betrothal to his daughter, nor will he, for reasons with which you +doubtless are familiar, ever be likely to do so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You condemn me without hearing me!" Kurt said, sadly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have heard from Celia and from you that you are betrothed to my +pupil, although you know that the Freiherr is hostile to your family, +and that you can never hope for his consent. Was it right, was it +honorable, that you, a man of ripe knowledge of the world, should +induce a young, innocent girl, almost a child, to grant you private +meetings in the forest, and finally to betroth herself to you against +her father's will?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right, Fräulein Müller; I cannot deny it; I have often said +just the same thing to myself; but my heart was stronger than my head. +I hope, however, that you will judge me less severely when you have +heard that I came to know Celia by chance, and that my love for her +soon grew to a consuming passion that was beyond heeding the sage +suggestions of reason. Only grant me a short interview; I promise you +that I will be absolutely frank with you. Will you not hear me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie consented, and the short interview ended in a long conversation +between the two as they slowly paced to and fro in the woodland road.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt kept his promise to be entirely frank and candid; he began with +his first accidental meeting with Celia, who had won his heart at once, +although he had determined that he would entertain for her only +brotherly friendship. He described eloquently how this love had grown +within him, until he had been carried away by it so far as to reveal it +to Celia, and how he had been, as it were, forced by the Assessor's +intrusion to utter the decisive word that betrothed them on this very +day. He went on to tell Lucie how he had agreed with Celia that she was +to acquaint her dearest friend with their secret, and ask her for aid +and counsel; that he had at first been resolved to go to the old +Freiherr and confess everything to him, but that he had been deterred +from doing so by Celia's entreaties and representations. He informed +Lucie of all that he had heard with regard to Werner's schemes, and of +the danger threatening the Freiherr, adding that Celia looked to her to +aid in averting it. "And now," he said, in conclusion, "you know +everything. Judge for yourself whether I am as culpable as you thought +me at first. I confess that my only excuse is my passionate affection +for my darling Celia."</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie did not reply immediately,--she pondered well upon all that Kurt +had said; his candour and integrity she could not doubt,--truth shone +in his eyes; she could not help believing him. "I cannot approve your +conduct," she said, after a long silence, "but neither will I judge you +too harshly. What is done cannot be undone; we can do nothing with the +past, but I demand that you atone in the future, as far as in you lies, +for the wrong you have committed. There must be an end to these +meetings with Celia; this you must promise me,--this duty you must +fulfil, however hard it may seem to you. Do not answer me immediately, +but reflect. I know that at this moment you think it impossible to +comply with my demand; nevertheless it must be done. You must have +sufficient self-control to enable you to resign a fleeting moment of +happiness. If you love Celia truly and honestly, and would not separate +her from her father, you must sacrifice thus much for her sake. You +ought not to see Celia again unless by the Freiherr's consent. If you +promise me this, Herr von Poseneck, I will promise you to do all that I +can to influence the Freiherr in your favour. I will try to combat his +unjustifiable hatred of you; I will be silent with regard to what I +have seen to-day, although it is perhaps my duty to put him on his +guard. Will you make me the promise that I ask, Herr von Poseneck?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can I make it? Would not Celia doubt my faith and affection if she +should not find me in the forest at the accustomed hour?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Celia will never again, while I am at Castle Hohenwald, ride in the +forest alone, and she shall learn from me with what a heavy heart you +make the sacrifice to your love which I have asked of you. It is very +likely that she, too, will rebel against this sacrifice, and will blame +both you and me; but this consideration ought not to deter you from +doing your duty; thus only can you enable me to keep silence to the +Freiherr, who, if he should learn now, without any preparation, that +his daughter is secretly betrothed to a Poseneck, never would forgive +you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You demand an impossibility!" Kurt replied. "I cannot make a promise +which I may be forced to break. If Celia should call me, should need my +help, should I not hasten to her aid? And how easily this might happen! +Am I not Celia's natural protector? You know what danger threatens the +Freiherr through the Finanzrath's intrigues; if he, with his two sons, +should be placed under arrest, to whom could Celia turn for aid and +counsel? Ought I then, bound by a promise, to refuse her this aid? I +could not!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nor do I ask this. Your promise is not to be held binding in so +extreme a case. Give it me with this condition."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are very cruel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am only doing my duty, and requiring that you should do yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie's firmness conquered, and Kurt submitted after much hesitation. +He could not but admit to himself that Lucie was right, and that in her +influence with the Freiherr lay his only hope for the future. He gave +the required promise.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Away into the open air, to field or forest, wherever nature offers +solitude! This was Arno's thought; he longed to be alone, to collect +himself, after the fearful blow he had received. He crossed the +court-yard and hurried through garden and park into the depths of the +forest. Arrived there, where he felt sure of encountering no one, he +threw himself down upon the moss-carpet at the foot of a giant oak. The +quiet soothed him; he needed it to aid him to control the storm of +emotion within him. What had he just undergone? To his humiliation he +had been harshly rejected,--rejected in a manner that wounded his pride +as well as his heart. What folly his former suspicions of Anna had +proved to be! He had preserved towards her a cold and chilling +demeanour to convince her that her feminine arts to attract him were +vain. How she must have smiled at the silly vanity for which he was now +paying so dearly! And he had asked for so little, for only one ray of +hope, only for permission to love her, and even this she had coldly and +firmly denied him. He had thought his heart desolated by the deceit +from which he had suffered years before, but the contrary was proved in +the bitter pain that now tortured him. He loved, and she whom he loved +scorned his affection. Was her heart no longer free? Did she love +another? She had denied this; but could he believe her? He remembered +all that Werner had told of her, that she had been betrothed and +forsaken by her lover when her father's wealth had vanished. Could she +still cling to one so worthless? No; it was impossible. She must +despise such a man, and she was too noble to give affection where she +could not esteem. Had Werner's studied attentions produced any +impression upon her? No; her tone, in speaking of him, had been that of +contempt; she saw through him,--he never could touch her heart. And yet +how could "duty and honour," of which she had spoken, demand that she +should reject forever a genuine devotion, and that she should declare, +"We must part forever!" The claim of another upon her affection could +alone make it her duty to refuse to listen to his protestations. The +thought was torture. He could endure everything save that. He was a +prey to a savage jealousy of this unknown who robbed him of all that +could make life fair, and he had to force himself to reflect that he +had not an atom of foundation for this jealousy, which, nevertheless, +he could not crush out of his heart. There it was, and it would assert +itself, laughing to scorn the arguments of sober reason.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sun was low in the heavens when Arno was roused from his long +brooding reverie by the crackling of the underbrush, caused as he +thought by some animal making its way through the thicket. But no; in a +few moments there emerged upon the open space, in the midst of which +stood the giant oak at whose feet he was reclining, Hauk, the chief +inspector of the Hohenwald estate.</p> + +<p class="normal">The man was much surprised at encountering thus his young master, whom +he had never supposed to be addicted to daydreams in the depth of the +forest, and he evidently reflected that his presence here, instead of +in the fields superintending the labourers, might seem strange to Baron +Arno. He approached him, hat in hand, with an air of some +embarrassment. "I beg pardon for disturbing you, Herr Baron," he said, +"but I never dreamed of finding you here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, Herr Hauk," Arno replied, recalled to the actual world by the +Inspector's presence, "nor could I have expected to find you here +instead of in the fields."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Inspector's embarrassment was increased by the reproof conveyed in +the young Baron's words; and it suddenly seemed to him that the reasons +for which he had undertaken his walk through the forest were mere +folly. "I beg pardon, Herr Baron," he said, meekly, "I should not have +left my work with the men, but I saw Herr von Poseneck again, and I +wanted to know what the young gentleman is after on our land. Something +must be wrong when a Poseneck tramps about our forest!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are dreaming. Inspector!" Arno rejoined, harshly. "What could +bring Herr von Poseneck to Hohenwald? Go back to your men, and refrain +from woodland rambles while harvesting is going on."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Inspector had never before received so stern a rebuke from the +young Baron, and the faithful fellow felt aggrieved. "Of course, if the +Herr Baron orders it I will return immediately, but it is a pity that I +should not discover what Herr von Poseneck is continually after in our +forest. Still, it is no business of mine why he is sneaking here, if +the Herr Baron does not care about it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno's curiosity was aroused; he had thought at first that the man's +story was an invention to cover his neglect of duty, but he now saw +clearly that he had wronged Hauk, who had been a faithful servant for +many years. Therefore, in a much gentler tone, he asked, "What is it +you are saying about Herr von Poseneck? Explain your meaning, Hauk."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I mean only, if the Herr Baron will excuse me, what I say. Young Herr +von Poseneck, who lives at Grünhagen with the Amtsrath, has been for a +long time sauntering about in our forest every day; what he is after I +do not know, but since he is a Poseneck, it can be no good. He usually +takes the path along the Grünhagen boundary, and gets into the forest +that way; but to-day I saw him hurry directly across the Hohenwald +meadow. Early in the spring, Kunz, who was ploughing near the Grünhagen +boundary, saw him do just the same thing. I watched him enter the +forest to-day with my own eyes, and I came through it from the other +side, thinking to strike the very path he must have taken, and catch my +fine gentleman in the act, if, as I suspect, he is at any poaching +work."</p> + +<p class="normal">This was a strange piece of news. It was folly to suspect Kurt von +Poseneck of poaching; the idea was begotten in the Inspector's mind by +the universal mistrust of the Posenecks that was rife among the +Hohenwald tenantry and servants; still Arno wondered what could bring +the young gentleman daily to the Hohenwald forest, and he thought the +matter called for an explanation. "Are you sure, Hauk, that you are not +mistaken in the man?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perfectly sure, Herr Baron; besides, all the men at work saw him as +well as myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Strange! And you say that he has been in the habit for some time of +wandering about in our forest daily?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Herr Baron; he has often been seen, mostly by the women when they +were gathering sticks, but they said nothing about it, for they +themselves were on forbidden ground."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mere old women's gossip then!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Herr Baron; the forester has seen him too, but he did not speak to +him, because the Freiherr has ordered us to avoid all quarrels with the +Grünhageners; and Kunz saw him, as I said, long ago."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Long ago? That is very vague. How long ago?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot tell exactly, but it must have been about the time that +Fräulein Müller came to Hohenwald, for Kunz was with the Herr Baron +that night in the quarry, and he told me shortly afterwards that he had +seen young Herr von Poseneck cross our field to the forest; that he had +not been sure it was he until he saw him that night in the quarry; but +that then he was perfectly certain of him. So he must have been seen +first about that time, and since then scarcely a day has passed that he +has not been seen by some of the people in the wood."</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno's brow darkened. Kurt was no poacher, but he thought he had +discovered the reason for his walks in the Hohenwald forest. Following +the path by which he had been seen to enter it, he would reach the lake +in the park, upon the shore of which, hidden among the shrubbery, was a +bench, whence there was a lovely view of the little sheet of water. +This spot was a favourite one with Fräulein Anna Müller. Whenever, as +was, to be sure, but rarely the case, she walked in the park during +Celia's absence upon her afternoon ride, this bench was always her +goal, for she knew that even Werner would not venture to intrude upon +her there. Her reason for seeking this retreat was now plain, as was +also Kurt's attraction for the Hohenwald forest.</p> + +<p class="normal">And yet Anna had said that her heart was free! Could she lie? Why had +she not frankly confessed the truth? He would have had no right to +blame her; her avowal would, indeed, have pained him, but the pain +would have been easier to bear than distrust of her. He suffered in the +thought that she was no better than the rest, that she could descend to +a falsehood when the happiness of a man who loved her devotedly was at +stake.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it the Herr Baron's commands that I should return to the +harvesters?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Inspector's question aroused Arno from his confused imaginings. +"Yes, Herr Hauk," he said, with hardly-won composure. "You had best do +so." Then seeing the man's discontented expression, he added, "I will +myself endeavour to encounter Herr von Poseneck, but I do not desire +any one to spy upon his movements. Let him walk as much as he pleases +in the Hohenwald forest; I am sure that no ill will towards us brings +him here, and I will not have him interfered with. Tell this to the +people, Hauk, and bear in mind what I say. My father's desire that all +disputes with the Grünhageners shall be avoided must be strictly +complied with. Good-afternoon, Hauk."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you please, Herr Baron," the Inspector replied, with a bow, as he +took his departure.</p> + +<p class="normal">Long after he was gone Arno stood leaning against the trunk of the oak, +uncertain what to do. Was Kurt at this very moment perhaps seated +beside Anna on the bench near the lake? Jealousy impelled him to +discover whether his suspicions were correct. In vain did he represent +to himself that he had no right to spy upon Anna's actions. He strode +through the wood and soon reached the borders of the broad Hohenwald +forest road, which he was obliged to cross in order to reach the lake. +Here, as he was making his way through the bushes that lined it on +either side, he heard a voice that thrilled him; it was Anna's. He +could not distinguish what she said, nor the words of the reply, which +was given in clear, manly tones. He cautiously proceeded a few steps +farther, until, parting the bushes, he obtained a clear view of the +broad road. His worst fears were confirmed: Kurt and Anna were slowly +walking along it engaged in earnest conversation. They approached the +spot where Arno stood concealed; a few more steps and he should hear +every word that was said, for they did not suspect a listener near. For +a single instant a wild desire possessed Arno to penetrate Anna's +mystery; he leaned forward as far as was possible without discovering +himself, but the next moment he rose superior to the disgraceful +temptation. His cheek flushed at the thought that he had been deaf +though but for an instant to the dictates of honour. Silently and +hastily he withdrew, moderating his pace only when he could no longer +hear the sound of voices. As he returned to the castle he felt that +although he had heard nothing he had seen enough.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie parted from Kurt as his friend, and as she slowly walked back to +the castle she reflected upon the perils encompassing the people who +had become so dear to her. She pondered how to put the Freiherr upon +his guard without betraying Celia's secret, and how at the same time to +influence the old man to relinquish his foolish prejudice against Kurt. +She could hardly warn him directly, but could it not be done indirectly +through Werner, perhaps? If she should inform the Finanzrath that his +connection with Repuin and other French agents was no longer a secret, +that his movements were watched, that he was in danger of arrest, and +that his presence in Castle Hohenwald imperilled the safety of his +father and brother,--if she begged him to leave the castle, would he +not comply with her advice?</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia hastened to meet her friend; she had not been able to remain +within-doors. Arrived at the castle, the girl threw Pluto's bridle to +old John and hurried to her room to change her dress, thinking that she +would await Anna in their sitting-room; but, although the windows there +were all wide open, the confinement seemed to stifle her; she wanted +air,--not the air of park or garden, but that of the cool, fragrant +forest. As she issued from the gate of the court-yard and was just +about to turn into the broad forest road she encountered Arno, and was +hurrying past him, longing to see Anna and hear what she had said to +Kurt, when he detained her, saying sternly, "Where are you going?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is not your affair," she pertly answered her brother's harsh +question. "I might as well ask you, Where have you been?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have been in the forest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I am going to the forest."</p> + +<p class="normal">She would have passed him, but he still detained her. "Do you usually +select this road for your afternoon ride?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia blushed. What did he mean by the question? Did Arno know anything +of her meetings with Kurt? With feminine evasion she hastily rejoined, +"Why should I always choose this tiresome broad road?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, indeed? How long since you returned from your ride?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"About a quarter of an hour ago," she answered, frankly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And did you ride on the broad road to-day?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a foolish question! Let me go, Arno! How can it possibly interest +you when or whore I ride?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Arno still held her hand fast, seeming not to notice her +embarrassment. He gazed darkly down the forest road. If Celia pursued +it she would meet Kurt and Anna together. Such a discovery would be but +a merited punishment for Anna, but what impression would it produce +upon his innocent sister? A second glance along the road reassured +him,--Anna was slowly approaching the castle alone. He let go Celia's +hand, relieved of an ugly dread lest Anna should have confided to her +pupil her love-affair with Poseneck. That Celia knew nothing about it +was clear from her replies to him; the "will-o'-the-wisp" was so frank +a creature.</p> + +<p class="normal">So soon as she found herself free, Celia ran towards Anna, bestowing +not another thought upon Arno, who went his way. Throwing her arms +around her friend, she whispered, as she caressed her tenderly, "At +last you are come! My darling, darling Anna! Now all is well, and my +conscience is once more clear."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You ought to have had confidence in me," Anna said, in a tone of +gentle reproof.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I have often said that to myself. I have repeatedly determined to +tell you all, but I was so afraid lest you would be angry, and perhaps +forbid my meeting Kurt, and so--I cannot live without just saying a few +words to him every day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must try it, my dear Celia; you must not meet Herr von Poseneck in +the forest again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought you would say that!" Celia exclaimed. "I knew it, but you +are mistaken if you think I shall obey you. I am not a child; I know +what I am doing. Kurt is my betrothed, and I have a right to meet him. +But no, Anna dear, I will not be angry with you, only do not ask +that of me. If you think it wrong for me to see Kurt alone in the +forest,--and I have sometimes been afraid that it was,--then come with +me; we have no secret from you; only you must not ask me not to see him +again,--I cannot obey you: and if you will not go to the forest with me +I must go by myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will be of no use. Herr von Poseneck has promised me that he will +not meet you in the forest again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is detestable of you,--detestable!" Celia exclaimed, indignantly. +She had been so utterly unused to control that she was really angry, +and it was only after a long and grave explanation upon Lucie's part +that the girl was brought to see that her friend's counsel was dictated +by the truest motives and an earnest desire for her happiness. At last, +however, she agreed to be guided entirely by her "darling Anna," and +the compact was sealed with a kiss.</p> + +<p class="normal">Relieved to have been successful with Celia, Lucie now applied herself +to the second task she had undertaken, and, instead of entering the +castle, turned into the garden, where the Finanzrath was usually to be +found towards evening.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are we going to the garden?" Celia asked, surprised. "We cannot talk +together there, for Werner, as you know, will instantly join us, and we +shall not be able to get rid of him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am going purposely to meet him this afternoon," Lucie replied, "and +I beg you to leave me with him when he joins us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you more secrets with him?" Celia asked, fretfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must speak with him," was Lucie's calm reply. "I promised Herr von +Poseneck to warn your father of the danger that threatens him. I cannot +do this directly, since I cannot say whence comes my information."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you are going to warn him through Werner?" the girl asked, shaking +her head. "Don't attempt it, Anna dear; you do not know Werner,--he +will not believe you; he thinks he knows more than any one else. Do not +have any confidences with Werner; speak to Arno,--he is true and +trustworthy; he will find a means to put papa on his guard and to force +Werner to go away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must speak with the Finanzrath," Lucie insisted; "do not try to +dissuade me, dear child; I cannot help it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia said no more; she silently accompanied Lucie into the garden, and +walked beside her along the winding paths until, as had been foreseen, +Werner joined them, when she lingered behind to pluck a flower, and +then, turning into a side-path, left her brother and her friend to +themselves.</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner greeted Lucie after his usual smooth, courteous fashion; but she +interrupted the flow of his complimentary speeches by saying, in a very +grave tone, "Our meeting this afternoon, Herr Finanzrath, is owing to +no chance. I came into the garden expressly to find you, for I have an +important communication to make to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner's attention was aroused; Lucie frankly admitted that she had +come in search of him. What could she have to tell him? And Celia had +evidently left them together intentionally. She could have done so only +by Lucie's desire. A secret hope that his endeavours to obtain the +beautiful woman's favour were about to prove more successful flashed +across his vain soul, but vanished as he looked into his companion's +grave and even stern face. "I am extremely happy, madame, in receiving +this proof of your confidence," he said, "and await with eagerness what +you have to tell me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is of no agreeable nature," Lucie went on; "but I will go directly +to the point. You are in great peril, Herr Finanzrath; your connection +with Count Repuin has aroused suspicion that you are of the number of +French agents who are at work here, in the interest of the French +Emperor, endeavoring to effect the dissolution of the treaty that +unites the South German states and those of the North German alliance, +with Prussia, and who are plotting against Prussia among the people as +well as in the army."</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner stayed his steps and looked searchingly into Lucie's face. His +cheek grew a trifle paler, and his voice was not quite so firm and +clear as usual, as he replied, with forced composure, "Your information +is indeed startling, madame; I am excessively grateful to you for it, +but you must permit me one question. Whence comes your knowledge that +so foolish and ungrounded a suspicion attaches to me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are all-sufficient reasons, Herr Finanzrath, why I cannot answer +your question and reveal to you the source of my information, but I can +assure you that my warning is sent you by a sincere friend of yours and +of your family, who is well aware of the necessity for it. But let me +proceed, and then you can judge for yourself of the magnitude of the +peril menacing you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am all ear, madame."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a dash of contempt in his tone, and Lucie saw that her +refusal to mention the source of her information had shaken his belief +in its truth; but she went on quietly: "The suspicion of which I have +told you, whether it be well founded or not----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you doubt me, madame?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have no right to form an opinion, and there is no reason why, if +formed, I should express it. Of course, since you declare the suspicion +unfounded, I have no choice but to believe you; nevertheless, it +exists, and it attaches not only to you, but to your father and +brother. The authorities are convinced that your relatives know of your +schemes, and aid and abet them, and that Castle Hohenwald is a centre +for treasonable plots and conspiracies. The castle is already under +surveillance; how strict this is I cannot say, nor whether it extends +to the letters sent from here, but I know that it exists, and that the +authorities have it in mind to crush any treasonable scheming before it +becomes dangerous, by the arrest of the entire Hohenwald family. I +think, Herr Finanzrath, that under these circumstances you will see +that you owe it both to your family and to yourself to leave the castle +as soon as possible. Your presence here imperils your father's safety. +He will, on the other hand, be left undisturbed, though not unobserved, +if you, the cause of this <i>groundless</i> suspicion, absent yourself from +Castle Hohenwald for a while. Your father's age and infirmity, his +seclusion from the world, will shield him from all annoyance as soon as +you are away, since it certainly must be the aim of the authorities to +avoid exciting indignation in Saxony by any useless arrests. This +is all that I had to say to you, Herr Finanzrath. I hope that my +well-meant warning will effect its purpose, and that you will, by a +speedy departure from Castle Hohenwald, both protect your relatives +from the danger of arrest and insure your own safety."</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner had listened in silence, an evil sneer playing about his lips +the while. "Then my departure from Castle Hohenwald is the purpose of +your communication, madame?" he asked, watching Lucie with keen +scrutiny.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is; I confidently hope that your departure will remove all danger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed? You are extremely kind. I really cannot be sufficiently +grateful to you for your care, but I must pray you to fill the measure +of your kindness by telling me to what good friend you owe your +information, which has the air of proceeding directly from the +Chancellor himself, if, indeed, it be not the fabrication of an idle +fancy or of a well-laid scheme."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not understand you, Herr Finanzrath," Lucie asked, amazed. "Do +you really imagine I could wish to deceive you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me beg you again for the name of your informant."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me repeat that I cannot, or rather will not, give it to you; you +have no right to demand it of me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not demand it, madame; I do not even desire it, but perhaps you +will allow me to mention it to you myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You cannot know it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I can guess it. I see through the game that is playing with me. +Have a care, madame, that the bow is not too tensely bent; the string +might break."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not understand you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I must speak more clearly. You shall have your will and +understand perfectly. Yours be the consequences of allowing me a +glimpse into your heart,--of ruthlessly annihilating my fairest hopes. +You shall not escape unpunished from the intrigue which you have spun +to drive me from Castle Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner's eyes flashed fire and his cheek was crimson as he spoke. His +agitation Lucie could not understand, and it terrified her. She had +never seen the calm, easy Finanzrath thus moved. "You speak in riddles, +Herr Finanzrath," she said, looking frankly in his face. "I do not +understand your anger. What do you mean by your threat, and by accusing +me of intriguing to drive you from Castle Hohenwald?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Am I not yet sufficiently clear?" Werner continued, even more angrily. +"Do you still imagine you can deceive me? You are mistaken. I see +through your game. You choose that I should speak it out plainly? Well, +then, so be it! I am weary of the restraint that I have put upon myself +for months I will no longer be your plaything! I have loved you +passionately since the day when I brought you to the castle; to win +your love in return was my highest aim in life, my fondest hope----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must not listen to you. I must leave you!" Lucie exclaimed, +indignantly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must listen; I will force you to hear me!" Werner declared.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are mad!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have made me so. Thank yourself that my passion asserts itself, +that I cast aside the fetters that have bound me for months. As long as +I hoped to win your love I endured their restraint; now, since I see +through your schemes, I will do so no longer. I suspected it all long +since. I have often told myself that you were but playing with my love, +but never until now did I know it surely. Do you think I have been +blind,--that I have slumbered through these long weeks? No, jealousy +has spurred me on to constant watchfulness; not a look exchanged +between Arno and yourself has escaped me. I have been insane with +jealousy when you were alone with him in the library, but I would not +believe that you could prefer him to me, and so I deceived myself and +you deceived me. You may well desire my absence. I could by a single +word put a stop to all your loving dalliance. Arno is your informant; +he would thrust from his path the brother in whom he suspects a rival, +and he thinks to drive me away by the threat of an imaginary danger. +Fool! I see through his game."</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie listened in blank amazement to the accusations thus heaped upon +her, which, in their suddenness and strangeness, bewildered her +comprehension. Was this Werner, the polished, easy man of fashion, +confronting her now with angry eyes and laying bare before her the +inmost secrets of his soul? What should she reply to so disgraceful an +attack? A contemptuous silence was all that it deserved. And she was +silent, but this Werner regarded in the light of a confession; he +thought she was trembling at his anger and unable to reply. He laughed +scornfully, and continued, "Am I sufficiently clear now, madame? Now +you know, I imagine, that you can no longer deceive me. You are right +not to attempt it by any denial. One thing, however, you have +forgotten, that I know your past, and that one word from me can put an +end to your brief dream of love. My precious brother is an idealist who +might indeed bestow his heart upon Celia's poor governess, the lovely +Anna Müller, but who would turn with aversion and disgust from the +runaway wife of Herr von Sorr! Hitherto I have kept your secret +faithfully, but I might easily be tempted to forget to do so in future. +Herr von Sorr has not resigned his rights; he is still searching for +you, and it is owing to my silence alone that he is not now here +asserting those rights in defiance of which you would vainly seek +protection from Arno. Your safety here you owe only to the love which, +spite of all the offence it has received at your hands, still glows +within me, a consuming flame. Have a care that you do not convert it to +hatred, Frau von Sorr. Continue to reject my devotion, to play with my +jealousy, and you shall bitterly repent!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Not a word could Lucie utter. Amazement, shame, and indignation +overwhelmed her. Werner no longer awaited a reply; he left her not as +was his wont with a low bow, but with head proudly erect, hurrying +towards the castle, and not even looking back at her whom he had so +insulted. He did not see the intense scorn and disgust expressed in her +face as she gazed after him, nor hear the word "wretch!" that passed +her lips as she did so.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">For a few moments after leaving Lucie Werner's features wore a smile of +triumph; he thought the proud beauty subdued and terrified by his +threats; but when he reached his own apartment, and had time for +reflection, he felt by no means so sure of his victory. As his +excitement subsided he became greatly discontented with himself, and +bitterly regretted having yielded to one of the outbursts of passion +which had cost him dear in his boyish years, but which he had lately +learned to control. Pacing his room to and fro, he pondered upon the +occurrences of the past hour. While in Lucie's presence, rage at the +thought of his brother's successful rivalry had bewildered his +understanding; he could not think clearly. Reason had returned, and he +confessed to himself that he had played the part of a jealous fool. His +brother was no intriguer, his ways were never those of a schemer. But +whence, if not from Arno, could Fräulein Müller have received her +information? She saw no one but the inmates of the castle, and she had +lately received no letters, as no one knew better than Werner, who +distributed the letters from the post-bag every morning. He grew very +uncomfortable; Lucie had known of his acquaintance with Repuin, and she +had now learned of what nature this acquaintance was; she still +maintained a correspondence with influential people in Prussia, Adèle +von Guntram, President von Guntram's daughter, was her most intimate +friend, and any information forwarded to them would soon reach the +Chancellor's office.</p> + +<p class="normal">The longer the Finanzrath reflected the more grave did the situation +appear to him. Vague pictures of an examination of his papers, of an +arrest, and possible trial for high treason presented themselves to his +imagination. Finally, he seated himself at his writing-table, and +thought he would write to inform Repuin of what he had heard. This, +however, proved to be by no means an easy task; he could scarcely do it +without implicating Lucie, and should he mention her relations with +Adèle von Guntram the Russian's suspicions would surely be aroused; he +would make his appearance at the castle with Sorr, who would enforce +his marital rights. Should this occur, Lucie would be restrained by no +considerations from betraying him. At present she would feel obliged to +have some regard for the man who knew her secret and held her fate in +his hands. He tore up his letter to Repuin, and decided to attempt to +avert in another way the danger that menaced him. Lucie was not +implacable; she had no reason for bringing distress upon the Hohenwald +family by betraying him; only a desire for revenge or to defend herself +from attack could prompt her to do this; he would ask her pardon for +expressions used in the heat of passion, and would not allow his love +for the beautiful woman or his jealousy to carry him so far again. +Soothed by these reflections, Werner began to look to the future with +confidence.</p> + +<p class="normal">What now? Lucie had asked herself, when left alone in the castle +garden. To answer this question was not easy. Suppose that Werner, +impelled by anger and jealousy, should discover her retreat to Count +Repuin, would not her best course be to leave the castle immediately, +and await in some secluded village the result of Adèle's efforts to +procure her another situation? The thought of the consequences of +Werner's betrayal of her secret filled her with horror. What if Sorr, +summoned by the Finanzrath, should appear at the castle and require her +to return to him! She felt sure that the old Freiherr would grant her +his protection, but what would it avail her against her husband! And +Arno? Lucie's heart died within her as she thought of the pain that a +knowledge of her secret would cause him. Nothing was left her but a +hurried flight. But no, she would not leave Hohenwald; had she not +promised Kurt and Celia to use her influence with the old Freiherr to +induce him to forget the wretched feud with the Posenecks? Could she +disappoint Celia's confidence in her by forsaking her at her need, in +selfish care for her own safety? Would not Kurt in that case have a +right to recall the promise he had given her? And what mischief might +ensue! No, it was her sacred duty to watch over Celia; she would not +leave the castle for some time yet. But she had written to Adèle +begging her to procure another situation for her as soon as possible. +The letter had gone; should she not write another and revoke her +request?</p> + +<p class="normal">In the midst of her uncertainty, Celia, who had seen from her window +that Werner had returned to the castle, joined her again, eager to know +the result of the interview with her eldest brother. "Well?" she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You were right, I ought not to have spoken to your brother," Anna +replied; "he does not believe me. I cannot tell you more, Celia; it is +enough that my appeal to him was quite in vain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I knew how it would be," the girl said, sadly; "I wish you had taken +my advice, but it is not yet too late. Let me call Arno; he is in his +room, I saw him go to it; he will be here in a few minutes. Indeed, +dear Anna, Arno has the best heart in the world. He is not so amiable +and agreeable as Werner, he cannot pay compliments, but you can rely +upon him. I have often watched him when he thought no one was observing +him, and I am quite sure that he likes you very much. He will believe +you, and soon devise some way of shielding our dear old father from +danger. Do speak with Arno, dearest Anna. Let me call him. May I?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; I will await him here."</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia's gratitude was shown by a fervent kiss, and she flew towards the +castle, returning in a few moments with Arno, whose hand she held in +hers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here he is!" she exclaimed as she approached Anna. "Only think, the +miserable fellow refused to come at first. Scold him well, Anna dear; +although he does look so grim, he is really dear and good. There, he is +smiling; now you need not be afraid of him. Adieu!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And she was gone, tossing a kiss to her friend as she vanished in the +shrubbery.</p> + +<p class="normal">The smile which her merry talk had called forth faded from Arno's grave +face as he bowed formally to Lucie. "I await your commands, Fräulein +Müller," he said. "You must forgive my momentary hesitation to follow +my sister. I thought her jesting when she told me you wished to speak +with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Celia was not jesting, Herr Baron. I requested an interview with you, +and I thank you for complying with my wishes."</p> + +<p class="normal">A low bow was Arno's only reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie had thought it would be easier to begin a conversation with Arno. +As he now walked beside her, grave and serious, without smoothing the +way for the opening of their talk by a single word, she felt +exceedingly uncomfortable. Her last words to him in the library had +deeply offended him, as was evident from the formality of his manner. +She had determined to make no allusion to their previous interview; but +how could she help it? And she longed to say one kind word to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are angry with me, Herr Baron," she began, and her fair face +flushed slightly; she could not look up at him as she spoke,--her eyes +sought the ground. "I regret deeply if what I was forced to say to you +offended you. I did not mean that it should. It was my duty to tell you +the perfect truth; if I did this too harshly, I pray you not to be +angry with me. I told you to-day that your words would drive me from +Castle Hohenwald; I was overhasty. After calm consideration, I have +decided not to go away. I know that Baron Arno von Hohenwald is too +proud and too noble to repeat words that could pain me; I know that +although I was forced to offend him, he will still be my friend. May I +not cherish this conviction, Herr Baron?"</p> + +<p class="normal">As she spoke the last words Lucie looked up at Arno and held out her +hand, but he did not take it. He replied, coldly and with a low bow, +"You are very kind, Fräulein Müller. I am glad that you do me justice; +I am, indeed, too proud ever again to intrude upon you after the harsh +rejection I have experienced. I assure you that you shall never hear +from me a word that could cause you to leave Hohenwald sooner than you +would otherwise intend. May I hope that this assurance is satisfactory +to you, and that you will inform me to what I owe the honour of this +interview?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie slowly let fall her hand; Arno's cold refusal to take it, and his +measured politeness, convinced her that she had nothing to fear from +him, and yet she was not glad that he was thus able to command his +feelings; his cold words grieved her. But he must not suspect this; she +forced her composure to equal his own as she explained to him that she +had a duty to fulfil towards the Freiherr and himself in telling him of +the warning sent to them from a perfectly trustworthy source. His +brother's plots were discovered, Castle Hohenwald was under +surveillance, and such suspicion rested upon his father and himself of +sharing in the Finanzrath's schemes that they were threatened with +arrest. "I trust you, Herr Baron," Lucie concluded, "to devise means +for averting the threatened danger. I had hoped that the immediate +departure of the Finanzrath would effect this, and therefore I first +appealed to him, told him what I have told you, and begged him to leave +the castle, but he would not believe in my information, refused to be +guided by it, and thus forced me to turn to you, Herr Baron."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which you would not otherwise have done," Arno rejoined, bitterly. +"Nevertheless I am grateful to you for your warning; but you must +excuse me for putting one question to you. You tell me that Werner +refused to believe in your information. Did he tell you his reason for +doubting it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie hesitated to reply. She had not expected this question, and yet +it was a very natural one. How could Arno expect to induce his brother +to depart if he were not informed of the entire state of the case? He +must know that the Finanzrath mistrusted him, and this Lucie could tell +him only by letting him know of Werner's jealousy. It offended her +sense of delicacy to inform Arno of this; but it was her duty to +overcome her scruples and let him know what insane folly possessed +Werner.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not answer," Arno continued, after a short pause, "and yet my +question is a very simple one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It shall be answered, Herr Baron. The Herr Finanzrath thinks that I +have been induced by you to acquaint him with a fictitious tale of +danger, in hopes that terror may drive him from Castle Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed? The suspicion is like him!" Arno exclaimed, indignantly. "And +why should I wish to drive him from the castle, and why should you lend +yourself to second me by a falsehood? I do not perceive the connection +here."</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie's cheeks were crimson; but, hard as it was to reply, she did it +bravely. "The Herr Finanzrath explained this in a manner very insulting +to me. He thinks that it is my desire as well as yours to banish him +from Castle Hohenwald, that we may escape his observation. You will not +require me to explain further the disgraceful suspicions aroused in his +mind by an unfortunate passion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shameful!" Arno exclaimed. "I have long known of his passion for +you,--his cold, calculating nature is incapable of a genuine affection; +his love is an insult to you. I did not believe that he would dare to +offend you by such unworthy suspicions; he is more worthless than I +thought him. I thank you from my heart for bestowing your confidence +upon me; rest assured you shall not repent it."</p> + +<p class="normal">For a few minutes they walked on in silence, Arno thinking of Werner's +silly suspicion that he was the author of Anna's warning. Who was its +author? The answer that instantly occurred to him to this question +disturbed the satisfaction that Anna's frankness had afforded him. Her +information could proceed from but one person, from him with whom he +had so lately seen her in earnest conversation; from Kurt von Poseneck.</p> + +<p class="normal">But a moment ago he had regarded with profound contempt Werner's +groundless jealousy, and yet now he suddenly felt a like sensation with +regard to the rival who had robbed him of Anna's love. Her warning lost +all credibility in his eyes; he rebelled against receiving it from a +man whom he hated, and felt inclined, as Werner had done, to believe +that it had been given with some unworthy aim. He must have certainty +upon this point.</p> + +<p class="normal">All that was genial vanished from his manner as he turned to Lucie, and +with the same icy courtesy that had characterized his first address to +her, said, "I owe you a debt of gratitude, Fräulein Müller, but let me +pray you to complete your information. It is very important that I +should know the source of your warning. Tell me frankly, do I owe it to +Herr Kurt von Poseneck?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How did you know? What made you think of him?" Lucie asked, greatly +surprised.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, Fräulein Müller; I am answered. You do not deny, then, that +Herr von Poseneck has commissioned you to communicate with me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should I deny it? But I really cannot understand how----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How I arrived at the knowledge of your intimate relations with Herr +von Poseneck? Chance revealed to me your secret. I saw you to-day in +the forest engaged in confidential discourse with him. I now know why +you refused me all hope in the future."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Baron!----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Say no more! Why should you blush because I allude to your relations +with Herr von Poseneck and to our interview? You never gave me a right +to hope for your love; it was my fault if in my conceit I cherished +hopes which you crushed as they deserved. I reproach myself, not you. I +deserved the harsh repulse which I received, but I did not deserve that +you should deceive me at the very time when my heart was laid bare +before you. Had you but told me frankly that you loved another it would +have pained me deeply, it is true, but my confidence in you would have +been unshaken. At such a time you should not have told me a falsehood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Baron, I assure you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would you still deceive me? That first falsehood was enough, and more +than enough. Let us break off this conversation. Let me give you one +last piece of advice in return for your warning. You know the dislike +that my father entertains for the Posenecks. For this reason, perhaps, +you have refrained from any mention of your intimacy with thus +gentleman, and you certainly are right, for even your powerful +influence would hardly avail, I fear, to conquer the hereditary hatred +of a Hohenwald for a Poseneck; but if you would keep your secret, let +me advise both you and Herr von Poseneck to be more circumspect in +future. The people on this estate have noticed his daily visits to a +certain part of the Hohenwald forest, and will shortly discover to whom +these visits are paid unless you are more careful."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was positive torture to Lucie to hear Arno's icy tone as he gave her +this advice. She perceived how he suffered; he had betrayed his pain +when he showed her how deeply he felt the suspicion of her untruth. +This wretched mistake! But could she undeceive him without betraying +Celia? And if she did,--if she proved to him that it was solely upon +Celia's account that Kurt came daily to the Hohenwald forest, might +there not be danger of reviving hopes which he had resigned? Still, she +could not bear that he should leave her with a doubt in his mind of her +integrity.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he turned to go, with a formal bow, she lightly touched his arm. "We +must not part thus, Herr Baron," she said, gravely. "You owe it to me +at least to listen to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What can you have to say, Fräulein Müller?" Arno asked as he paused.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have brought a grave accusation against me," Lucie continued, "and +you have done so deceived by appearances."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was I deceived when I saw you scarcely an hour ago in the forest with +Herr von Poseneck?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; you saw correctly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it not true that Herr von Poseneck has, since your arrival at +Castle Hohenwald, daily sought a certain spot in the Hohenwald forest?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"This, too, is true."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it not true that in the forest he sought the seat hidden in +shrubbery near the lake, where you are so fond of dreaming away a +solitary hour?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is not true, at least so far as I know."</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno's face expressed doubt and amazement, but Lucie's eyes flashed. "I +have never given you cause to doubt my truth," she said, more sternly +than he had ever heard her speak. "My word must suffice; I assure you +that I have seen Herr von Poseneck but twice in my life, once upon the +night of my arrival here, and this afternoon for the second time. I +stand in no relation whatsoever with him, and our meeting to-day was +entirely accidental."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you were talking to him so earnestly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And about most important matters. I esteem Herr von Poseneck very +highly, I do not deny. He, inspired by the purest friendship for the +Hohenwalds, begged me to warn you as I have done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was this all you were talking of?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"This and something else no less important. What it was is my secret, +and I feel under no obligation to give you farther information, as you, +Herr Baron, have no right to doubt my truth. This is all I wished to +say; I will no longer detain you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno was dismissed; he bowed in some confusion as Lucie left him, and +yet, in spite of the severity of her words and manner, his heart felt +lighter than before, and hope began to stir within him. "She does not +love him," he repeated to himself. "There is no falsehood in those +eyes."</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie hurried to her room before joining the family circle, according +to daily custom, in the garden-room, where the old Freiherr was already +looking for her,--she wished to write a few lines to Adèle. This she +did hastily, delivering her letter herself to the Inspector when it was +sealed, and begging him to see that it was put into the bag for the +next morning's post.</p> + +<p class="normal">A few moments after Lucie had left the Inspector's room Werner entered +it. He had watched her from his window, had seen the letter in her +hand, and had been filled with vague misgivings. "That letter I must +see!" he had said to himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can a messenger be sent on horseback to A---- to catch the evening +mail?" he asked of the Inspector, who was just putting Lucie's letter +into the bag.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, Herr Finanzrath, very easily," Hauk replied. "Old John can +go on Fräulein Celia's Pluto; there is plenty of time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give me the post-bag then,--I have an important letter to send; and +tell John to saddle Pluto, and I will have it ready for him."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Inspector handed him the bag, which Werner instantly carried with +him to his room and opened. With a triumphant smile he took from it +Lucie's letter addressed to Fräulein Adèle von Guntram. "I thought so," +he muttered to himself. "I am just in time." Then tearing off the +envelope he read:</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">"What will you think of me, dear Adèle, if a few hours after writing my +last letter I tell you not to heed the request it contained? I hope +soon to be able to let you know why I do this, but I cannot tell you +to-day. I cannot leave Castle Hohenwald, and so you are relieved of the +burden of looking for another situation for me. Farewell, dear; you +will soon hear further from your <span style="letter-spacing:10px"> </span><span class="sc">Lucie</span>."</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Werner dropped the letter disappointed. "Nothing more?" he muttered. "I +need not have opened this letter, although I had better know what she +intends to do." He tried to put the letter in its envelope again, but +it could not be done, the latter was too much torn. There was nothing +for it but to destroy it. He tore it up therefore, and threw it into +his waste-paper basket. Then putting several unimportant letters into +the post-bag, he took it out to John, and despatched the old man upon +his useless errand.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">The time at which the old Freiherr expected his family to assemble +about him every evening in the garden-room had come. Werner on his way +thither encountered his brother, who was awaiting him at the foot of +the staircase. In a few indignant words Arno informed him that Fräulein +Müller had acquainted him with the manner in which her well-meant +warning had been received, and said all that was possible in so short a +time to induce his brother to leave Hohenwald as quickly as he could. +"In the castle," he added, "there are none who do not look upon your +fine-spun schemes as treasonable plotting, and it is unjust that peril +should threaten all on your account."</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner, however, who had now entirely recovered his usual self-control +and ease of manner, treated his brother's words with contemptuous +indifference, and thus the two men entered the garden-room together, +the elder dissembling his jealousy and rage beneath an easy amiability +of manner, the younger vexed and indignant at his failure to influence +the brother whose ambitious vanity and want of principle were abhorrent +to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Finanzrath evidently felt perfectly secure, and exerted himself +to prove to Fräulein Müller his sincere regret for his late want of +self-control. He begged her for one of her charming songs, and meeting +with a curt refusal, acquiesced in it without a word. He was all that a +courteous, high-bred cavalier should be; and yet, in spite of his +efforts to maintain the conversation, it flagged continually, for each +member of the little circle felt a secret oppression, which made it +impossible to join in it with any interest.</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno was unusually taciturn; he possessed none of the versatility +that enabled Werner so quickly to forget the serious matters that +had lately occupied him. Even Celia seemed to have lost all her +wonted sprightliness; she sat buried in thought beside her father's +chair,--her stool placed so that he could not see her face, for she +could not look him frankly in the eyes to-night, and her heart was too +full to allow her to take any part in the conversation. This would soon +have become monosyllabic in spite of Werner's exertions had he not +casually mentioned a visit that he had paid a few days before to +Grünhagen. So favourable an opportunity of turning the conversation +upon Kurt did not escape Lucie; she asked Werner, with evident +interest, how young Herr von Poseneck liked Grünhagen, and whether he +was readily adapting himself to the European mode of life. Werner could +not understand why Lucie should take so vivid an interest in Kurt, but +he was glad to have found a topic upon which he could command her +attention. He expatiated willingly upon Kurt's excellent capacity as a +landed proprietor, and upon the admirable understanding that seemed to +exist at Grünhagen between uncle and nephew.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr listened silently; that the topic was not an agreeable one +to him the frown gathering on his brow told plainly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno, too, said not a word, but sat glancing now and then at Lucie with +displeasure in his look. What could be Fräulein Müller's aim in this +show of interest in Kurt? If it were intended as a punishment for his +jealousy, it seemed but a petty revenge.</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia, however, sat quite still, with sparkling eyes and glowing +cheeks; she said nothing, but not a word that was spoken escaped her. +Werner suddenly appeared kind and amiable in her eyes as he thus +praised Kurt.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a while the Freiherr endured Lucie's continued inquiries about +Grünhagen and Kurt; but at last his patience was exhausted. "You seem +to take a remarkable degree of interest in this fellow Poseneck, +Fräulein Anna," he said, crossly; "for Heaven's sake leave him to +himself in Grünhagen,--the less I hear of him the better I am pleased!"</p> + +<p class="normal">This was the very outbreak for which Lucie had been hoping. She turned +to the Freiherr and, pushing her chair nearer to his, said, "What has +poor Herr von Poseneck done to you, Herr Baron, that you should be so +angry with him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has done nothing to me, but I hate the Posenecks one and all," was +the harsh reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am quite sure that you would like Kurt von Poseneck if you knew him, +Herr Baron," Lucie rejoined.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't want to know him!" the Freiherr exclaimed, discontentedly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nevertheless Lucie continued, boldly, "He is the very man to please +you. Honest and true, earnest in character, but with the enthusiasm of +youth, a thorough gentleman, but no fop, he has won golden opinions +from every one during the short time that has passed since his arrival +in Europe."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr stared at her in amazement; her unexpected praise of Herr +von Poseneck did not at all please him, but as she spoke she looked at +him with so charming an air of entreaty that he could not be angry with +her,--he even smiled as he shook his finger at her, saying, "Aha! +Fräulein Anna seems quite infatuated with the young man. I had no idea +that she knew him so intimately."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes, I know him very well, although I have really seen him but +once; my opinion of him is based upon that of a far more competent +judge than I am. Count Styrum, my friend Adèle's lover, is a relation +of Herr von Poseneck; his word is the best warrant for the young man's +excellence. A man to whom Count Styrum gives his friendship and esteem +is certainly deserving of them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Make your acknowledgments for the compliment, Arno! Count Styrum is +your friend too," the Freiherr said, with a laugh; and he then +continued, half in jest and half in earnest, "The friendship of the +Count, for whom I have a great regard, is certainly a recommendation +for the young man, but fortunately I am entirely indifferent as to +whether this Herr von Poseneck deserves your praise or not, for I have +nothing to do with any of the Poseneck crew. One thing strikes me, +however, and that is, that I must stop abusing them when Fräulein Anna +is by. Well, well, we shall not quarrel about them, only, if she +persist in singing this young fellow's praises, she will make her old +adorer jealous."</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie smiled in reply; she had done enough for to-day, and Celia's +grateful look thanked her. She arose, and going to the piano unasked, +sang one of the old man's favourite songs, which would have won him to +forgiveness even had he been angry.</p> + +<p class="normal">The tones of her voice had just died away when old Franz entered the +room with the post-bag, which he said had just been brought to the +castle by an extra messenger, and must contain news of importance.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr eagerly opened it, and seizing the newspapers, which, with +a few letters for the Finanzrath, were all that it contained, searched +them for the expected news of importance. This he found in the first +one that he opened; it contained the telegram reporting the abdication +of the Crown Prince of Hohenzollern. With eyes sparkling with joy the +Freiherr read it aloud. "Thank God!" he exclaimed. "I trust we have +done with this miserable war. Franz, bring a bottle of champagne in +honour of the good news!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must leave you this evening; my duty recalls me to Dresden, as I +learn from this letter," Werner said, after having eagerly looked over +his letters.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! this evening?" the Freiherr asked, and, although the question +expressed surprise, there was no regret in his tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must obey the call of duty," Werner replied. "While Franz orders the +carriage I will pack my portmanteau, and I hope I shall be in time to +catch the night train."</p> + +<p class="normal">He shook hands with his father, and then turned to Lucie, who was +standing near the window. "I comply with your wish, and leave you; +forgive me," he whispered; adding aloud, "Have you any commands for +Dresden, Fräulein Müller? No?" as she answered by a gentle shake of the +head. "I am sorry, but pray remember that you may always command me as +you please. Adieu, Celia; be diligent and good, you little romp. Adieu, +Arno; I trust you will forget, as I do, that there have lately been +some differences of opinion between us; upon reflection I see that you +were right in the last conversation we had together, this letter has +convinced me."</p> + +<p class="normal">He offered Arno his hand, but the latter refused to take it. "I have no +confidence in you," he said, in too low a tone to be heard by the +others. "I do not know your reason for this sudden departure, but I am +sure that it is not regard for the safety of your family."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you then implacable?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I refuse to reply to deceit with deceit."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the matter, boys? Do not quarrel when you are taking leave of +each other," the old Freiherr interposed; and Werner, with a shrug, let +fall the hand he had offered his brother, and, with another general +"adieu," left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">In his own apartment, he packed a few necessaries in his portmanteau, +devoting all the time he had to a careful disposition of his papers. It +was not until he was certain that not a scrap of writing was left +either in desk or writing-table that he locked his portmanteau and gave +it to old Franz, who came to announce that the carriage was waiting.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he drove off, just in time to catch the night train, those whom he +left behind him at Hohenwald by no means experienced the usual relief +felt in his absence. They did not believe in the reason assigned by him +for his hasty departure, and it aroused in his father's mind suspicions +that he was more deeply implicated in rebellious plots than he had +hinted. No one of the little circle could throw off the gloom that +oppressed all, and the old Freiherr was rolled into his bedroom much +earlier than usual.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the course of the next few days the political horizon again +darkened; all Germany keenly felt the insult offered to the King of +Prussia by the French Emperor, and was ready to resent it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Disgraceful!" Arno exclaimed, after reading the account of it aloud in +the newspapers, "This is enough to make every German forget all petty +jealousies and prejudices. We should be one nation in the struggle that +France thus forces upon us. I am quite sure, father, that you will +gladly see me leave you to take my part in the war that now seems +inevitable for the fatherland."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go, and God speed you, my son! Only cowards and traitors can hesitate +now!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr spoke with profound emotion, regarding with paternal pride +the while the son in whom he delighted. Celia threw her arms around her +brother's neck and kissed him tenderly. "You are my own darling Arno!" +she exclaimed; "the best and truest fellow in the world!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And Lucie? She bestowed upon Arno a smile that fairly intoxicated him +and impelled him to offer her his hand, in which for one fleeting +instant she placed her own.</p> + +<p class="normal">The small circle at Castle Hohenwald presented a picture in miniature +of the sentiments of the entire country at this time, and every day's +developments served but to increase the patriotic enthusiasm +everywhere. No sooner did the cry resound from Paris, "On to Berlin!" +than it was decided that as soon as war was formally declared Arno +should apply for re-admission to the army, and with a view to so doing +he set about arranging affairs on the estate so that his absence might +cause his invalid father as little annoyance as possible. Those cares +kept him from home almost every day,--it was only in the evenings that +he could make one in the family circle; but these evenings, when his +father's welcome was so affectionate, Celia's so enthusiastic, and +Lucie's so fall of gentleness and sympathy, more than indemnified him +for the hard labour of the day. Only one drawback marred the pleasure +they gave him, and this was the manner in which he was constantly +reminded by Lucie herself of his last <i>tête-à-tête</i> with her. What +reason could she have for perpetually dragging in Kurt von Poseneck as +a subject for conversation, when she could not but perceive that it was +distasteful both to the old Freiherr and to himself? This the Freiherr +frankly declared many times, but considerate as Lucie usually was of +his wishes, on this point she paid no regard to them. With persistent +obstinacy she made use of every available opportunity to refer to Kurt, +to extol his admirable qualities, to describe his adventures in +America, in short, to depict him as a young man of distinguished +qualities both of mind and of heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">Of course Arno never dreamed that Celia had supplied Fräulein Müller +with her accurate knowledge of Herr von Poseneck's life, and it seemed +to him excessively strange that she should be so well informed +concerning a man whom, according to her own declaration, she had seen +but twice. This contradiction struck the Freiherr also, and he +expressed his surprise at it, but Lucie only smiled and replied, "Oh, I +have a private source of information which I know just how far to +trust. I do not mean to describe Herr von Poseneck as an actual angel +in beard and moustache, but he certainly is a charming fellow, whom +you, Herr Baron, would especially like if you only knew him, as I +sincerely wish you did."</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia grew crimson at this reply, but, fortunately, no one save Lucie +noticed this. The old Freiherr shook his head and declared that he felt +"no desire to know any Poseneck," but, nevertheless, it was plain to be +seen that Lucie by her persistency had aroused in him a species of +interest, and finally one evening, when she had been recounting some of +Kurt's war adventures in America, he remarked that that Poseneck must +be a brave fellow since he had attained the rank of major so soon.</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno was not so easily cured of his prejudice against Kurt, Lucie's +constant reference to whom was utterly inexplicable, and at times +roused within him the bitterest jealousy. He was worried and anxious, +too, with regard to Werner, from whom nothing was heard after his +departure. Whether the Finanzrath were really in Dresden neither his +father nor his brother knew, and when Arno at times saw accounts in the +newspapers of the arrest of persons suspected of being agents of the +French government here and there in Germany, he could not but fear lest +a like fate might overtake Werner, and he knew that such a disgrace +would crush his father to the earth.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">On one of the last days in July an unusual crowd thronged the platform +of the railway station of A----, looking eagerly for the train, in +which, so crowded was it sure to be at this time with troops, it was +difficult for civilians to find places. On this particular occasion +there were only three passengers for A----, and these had been obliged +to content themselves with places in a baggage-wagon, every carriage +being crowded with troops in process of transportation. As soon as +these three stepped upon the platform they were besieged with questions +of all kinds from the throng of men waiting there,--questions which +seemed especially annoying to one of the three, an apparently choleric, +elderly gentleman, who elbowed his way right and left through the +crowd, now and then giving vent to his irritation in a good round oath, +as he declared, "I know nothing and care less!" and all the while +evidently on the lookout for some one whom at first he could not find.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length his face cleared. "Hollo, Assessor!" he called; and then, +with another struggle to clear himself of importunate questioners, +"Deuce take you all!" he exclaimed, "I have something better to do than +to answer every fool's questions!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The people about him grumbled, but perceiving that there was no +satisfaction to be gained from him, turned their attention to the other +two passengers, and the elderly man was left to pursue his way +successfully to where the Assessor von Hahn stood awaiting him. "Here I +am at last!" he said, holding out to him the hand unencumbered by his +travelling-bag. "I have been trying to get to you for the last three +days, but not even standing-room could I find in the railway-trains, +which are nothing but military transports. I had to pay an enormous +price to-day for a place in a baggage-wagon."</p> + +<p class="normal">The two men were now quite clear of the crowd, and the Assessor shook +the new-comer cordially by the hand. "I am rejoiced to see you!" he +said. "You know how entirely I am at your service, Herr----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fernheim!" the stranger interrupted him before he could pronounce the +name.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fernheim? Really, I do not know----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Call me Fernheim. It is as good a name as any other," the stranger +said, in a tone only to be heard by the Assessor. "I do not wish these +curious people to know who I am, or what I want. The news of my coming +might else reach Castle Hohenwald sooner than I desire that it should."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right, Herr Fernheim. I never thought of it; but you are +right, you were perhaps in more danger than you thought. Do you know by +sight the Finanzrath von Hohenwald or Count Repuin?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I have no knowledge of the scoundrels!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you do not know that they were your fellow-passengers in the +train?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not an idea of it. But thanks for the information. I shall know them +again when I see them. The bearded fellow is the Russian of course. +Pity that Sorr is not with them; the noble trio would then be +complete."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is not here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know that; I am familiar enough with the rascal's face. I suppose +those two precious rogues are bound for the castle, so the sooner we +are on our way there the better. You have kept your promise, Herr +Assessor, to prepare everything for a visit to Hohenwald?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course; I have awaited you at every train since I received your +despatch. The carriage is here to take you instantly to Grünhagen, +Herr----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fernheim. Do not forget the name. And no one in Hohenwald suspects my +arrival?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A thousand thanks, Herr Assessor. We will leave instantly, since so +much depends upon our arriving before those two worthy gentlemen." And +preceded by the Assessor, he passed through the station-house, and +getting into the carriage waiting for them, they were well on their way +before the Finanzrath and Count Repuin had extricated themselves from +the crowd of eager inquirers on the platform.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Finanzrath had good reasons for answering all questioners civilly, +here so near his home, where there was special need that he should +preserve a character for patriotism. During the last few days several +of his friends who had dared in Munich, Leipsic, and elsewhere to +express unpatriotic sentiments had been roughly handled by the enraged +populace. In fear, therefore, of a like fate, Werner judged it wisest +to answer all questions with the greatest amiability, re-echoing +bravely the curses of the French heard on all sides, and even his +companion, Count Repuin, thought it prudent to follow his example.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Finanzrath informed his hearers that war had been declared the day +before; that Bismarck had announced this officially in the Reichstag, +and that the enthusiasm in Berlin was boundless,--any amount of funds +for the prosecution of the war would be voted unanimously. Werner bore +his part admirably in the wild shouts of exultation that followed this +intelligence, waving his hat with the foremost, hurrahing for Bismarck, +and even adding his fine bass voice to the yelling rather than singing +of "Die Wacht am Rhein," in which the enthusiasm of the mob culminated.</p> + +<p class="normal">By degrees, however, the crowd dispersed, and the two men were left +alone on the platform. "Low-lived canaille!" the Russian exclaimed, +giving vent to his suppressed indignation. "I would have every +scoundrel of them well thrashed!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do them too much honour, my dear Count, in allowing them to ruffle +you!" Werner calmly rejoined. "Let them roar their 'Wacht am Rhein' as +they please. I am annoyed only by Sorr's non-appearance. He cannot have +arrived, as he is not awaiting us here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, I had forgotten the rascal in the midst of their shouts; but you +are right. Baron, he should have been here if he obeyed my commands and +left for A---- two days ago. What can have happened to him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing; we have seen the difficulty that exists now in getting from +one place to another. He will come by the next train,--but it is very +unfortunate for me to have to wait here at the station. I am so well +known in A---- that people will wonder why I do not go immediately to +Castle Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unfortunately, there is no help for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should not you await him here while I go on to Hohenwald alone?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Impossible; you know that I cannot appear at Hohenwald, and that Sorr +must accompany you thither, since, if introduced there by you, his wife +cannot refuse to give him a hearing. Then when he swears that he has +broken off all connection with me, she cannot refuse to follow him, and +should she, your father would refuse protection to a wife so false to +her duty. Sorr will do as I say, swear what I dictate to him, and the +result is certain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what, after all, Count, can the result avail you? You know Frau +von Sorr detests you. Will she not instantly return to Hohenwald when +she finds that she has been deceived?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is my affair, my dear friend," Count Repuin replied, with an ugly +smile. "There are means to tame the wildest bird, and of those means I +shall avail myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">What means, the Finanzrath asked himself, would the Russian use to bend +the young wife's will, to conquer her hatred of him? Brutal force spoke +in the Count's words and gleamed in his treacherous eyes. And to such +villainy he, Werner von Hohenwald, was lending himself!</p> + +<p class="normal">A few days previously, in a burst of indignation at hearing that he had +been denounced to the government, the Finanzrath, believing that Lucie +had caused this, had revealed to the Russian the place of her retreat; +now he bitterly repented having done so, and blushed for the part he +was playing. He would gladly have warned her of the danger threatening +her, but the ties that bound him to the Russian were of such a nature +that he dared not provoke the man's resentment, and every precaution +must be taken lest his suspicion should be aroused. With as easy an air +as he could assume he said, "I suppose you will find means to attain +your object, but I would advise you to take care. The lovely Frau von +Sorr would, I imagine, hesitate at nothing if driven to extremes, and +might appeal to the law. If I go on now to the castle I can prepare my +father's mind for Sorr's visit, and insure his refusal to grant her his +protection in case she should rebel against her husband's authority."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke Repuin eyed him with a contemptuous smile. "Counsel for +counsel, my dear Baron," he replied, with a composure equal to +Werner's. "Take care that I do not suspect your good faith towards me. +In your delay in informing me of Frau von Sorr's whereabouts there has +been quite enough to put me on my guard. I mistrust you. I will not +have you going to Castle Hohenwald alone, nor will I permit you one +word with Frau von Sorr, except in her husband's presence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your suspicion is insulting, Count Repuin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You can allay it by making no attempt to provoke it. I do not wish to +offend you; we are allies, and I desire that we may continue friends, +but I swear to you that any obstacle laid by you in the way of my plans +here, will transform me into your mortal foe. Candour for candour, +then; is it to be peace or war between us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">What could Werner reply? He had no choice. Lucie must be sacrificed to +save himself. He adopted an aggrieved tone and answered, "I shall +remain here until Sorr arrives, and upon your head be the consequences +of your imprudence."</p> + +<p class="normal">Several hours passed, and it was afternoon before Sorr arrived in a +crowded train, in which he was the only civilian. During the last +months he had greatly changed. There was in his appearance not a trace +of the elegance that had formerly characterized it. His dress was +neglected, his beard unshaven, his face bloated. He looked like a man +given over to drink and debauchery.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he emerged from the railway-carriage he looked eagerly about for +the Count, whom he did not immediately perceive, but who greeted him +upon his approach with the air of a master addressing his slave.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sorr, however, interrupted the imperious commands of the Russian with, +"One moment, Herr Count; I have most important news for both Baron von +Hohenwald and yourself, which will doubtless affect your plans. We are +betrayed! You as well as the Herr Finanzrath are not safe for a moment. +Your arrest is already ordered; your intention to visit Castle +Hohenwald is known, and it is there that you are to be arrested."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Finanzrath turned pale and his voice trembled as he exclaimed, "I +am warned from all sides; this news must be true!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It may still only be over-anxiety on the part of our friends," said +Repuin. "Where did you get your information, Sorr?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"From Herr von Waltershausen."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then we must indeed be upon our guard. By the infernal gods, this is +danger! What else did Waltershausen tell you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has received trustworthy intelligence that Castle Hohenwald is to +undergo a thorough search to-day. The Finanzrath von Hohenwald and +Count Repuin, if they are found there, are positively to be arrested, +the old Freiherr and his son Arno only in case circumstances require +it. The prisoners are to be taken to Königstein. That the matter is +considered of importance in Dresden and Berlin is shown by the fact +that the arrests are to be made under the command of Count von +Schlichting, colonel in the army, and formerly an intimate friend of +the old Freiherr von Hohenwald. The notorious Geheimrath Steuber is +associated with him in the search of the castle. When I went to the +railway depot this morning, Count Schlichting was standing on the +platform eagerly conversing with some officers. I was afraid that he +was to come down by the very train in which Waltershausen had procured +me a place, and he knows me. Waltershausen, who was with me, feared +this too. He is extremely well acquainted with the Count, and no one +suspects him of any connection with Count Repuin, so he did not +hesitate to address Schlichting, who spoke to him without reserve of +his plans.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It appears that the colonel has been waiting since yesterday evening +for the Berlin Chief of Police, the Geheimrath Steuber, and was +determined that if he did not arrive by this afternoon he would take +the train for A---- without him, and would make a requisition here for +the military force needed to carry out his orders. Herr von +Waltershausen enjoined it upon me to beg you both, gentlemen, not to +delay an instant in escaping the threatened arrest. He is convinced, +from matters being placed in charge of an officer so high in rank, that +a court-martial will immediately ensue, and he is further convinced +that there would be no hope for you under such circumstances at this +juncture. Life and death are at stake, he bade me tell you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is right," the Finanzrath said, eagerly. "Let me conjure you. +Count, to desist from your insane schemes, which may ruin us all. We +can still save ourselves by flight into Hanover, where we can be +concealed until we find means of getting to England. It would be +madness to persist in going to Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sorr's news had made Repuin anxious, but Werner's words enraged him. +"No power in the world," he exclaimed, "shall force me to turn back +when I have so nearly reached the goal of my desires! Yes, I will fly +with you, but only if Frau von Sorr accompany us. And if by word or +even by look you attempt to thwart me, look to yourself, Herr +Finanzrath. I will not spare you if you refuse to fulfil your promise +to me. I will not rest until you have reaped the harvest of your +treachery if you fail me now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But how can our putting our heads into the trap at Castle Hohenwald +aid you, Count?" Werner cried, in deep agitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not ignore the danger," Repuin replied; "but I am determined to +meet it, and have no doubt that we shall succeed in escaping it if you +will stand by me. We still have several hours in which to act. Follow +the plan that I will mark out for you, and to-night will see us in +safety. As quickly as possible have at our disposal two vehicles and a +trusty messenger on a good horse, and the rest is very simple. While +you drive in one of these vehicles to the castle with Sorr, I will wait +here at the station. I know Count Schlichting by sight, although he +does not know me; it therefore cannot excite his attention for me to +leave the platform as soon as he arrives and despatch the messenger to +you at Hohenwald, while I get into the other carriage and drive to +R----, where I will await you. Before Count Schlichting has obtained +the military aid he requires I shall be miles from here and in perfect +safety. You, in the mean time, will have time enough at the castle to +explain matters to your father and to employ every means to induce Frau +von Sorr to follow her husband, for not until you receive by my +messenger the empty envelope, which is all I shall send, addressed to +you, will there be any occasion for haste on your part, and even then +it will be several hours before Schlichting with his dragoons can reach +Hohenwald. Of course you will not return here with Sorr and the lady, +but drive directly from the castle to Baron Kronburg's at R----, whence +we will pursue our journey together. This is my plan; you must admit +that it is simple and deals with certainties only, not probabilities. +Are you agreed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner found some difficulty in replying. "It would be much more +prudent," he said, "to fly at once; but if Herr von Sorr consents----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Sorr must consent. His opinion is not asked; all I wish is to +know yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sorr seemed not to hear the insulting words. "I shall do just as you +please," he said, with the air of a slave before his master.</p> + +<p class="normal">Repuin hailed Werner's compliance with a triumphant smile. "You never +shall regret your amiable readiness to further my plan," he said; "but +now to action! We must be prompt!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Matters were soon arranged according to the Russian's directions. +Werner, with his companion, drove off towards Castle Hohenwald, leaving +a trusty messenger, who had formerly been an inspector on the Hohenwald +estate, and a second carriage at the disposal of the Russian, who took +his stand upon the railway platform to await the next train from L----.</p> + +<p class="normal">He supposed that several hours would elapse before its arrival; but +here he was mistaken,--it made its appearance much earlier than he had +expected, and as it rolled slowly into the station Repuin recognized in +one of the carriages Count Schlichting in earnest conversation with +Count Styrum. This startled the Russian, and he feared instant +recognition; but Styrum was so absorbed in what Schlichting was saying +that he did not look up until Repuin had left the platform. Before the +guards had opened the doors of the railway-carriages the Russian had +despatched his messenger to warn Werner at the castle, and was himself +seated in the carriage he had retained for his own use, driving rapidly +towards R----. An evil smile hovered about his lips as he reflected +that he should shortly see the lovely Fran von Sorr again. He never +doubted his power to bend her will to his, and, leaning back among the +carriage-cushions, he resigned himself to pleasing dreams of the +future.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Lucie had withdrawn after dinner to the library, to pore over the +newspapers, now so filled with exciting intelligence. She was alone, +for Celia was in the garden usually at this hour, and since her harsh +rejection of Arno he never sought the library when Fräulein Müller was +there. She sat for a while lost in thought. Arno had applied the day +before for re-admission into the army; he was to leave for Dresden on +the following day, and her heart told her that this would be a +separation forever. She was so absorbed in her revery that she did not +notice old Franz's entrance, and looked up startled when he held +towards her a note and announced, with a grim air of discontent, "For +Fräulein Müller."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For me, Franz?" she asked, in great surprise. "Who could have brought +it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Fräulein may well be surprised at the fellow's impudence. A +servant-man from Grünhagen brought it, and refuses to return without an +answer!" was the reply. After which Franz left the room with the air of +having made his protest, although vainly, against some crying sin.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie paid him but little heed; she opened her note and read:</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">"<span class="sc">Dear Fräulein Müller</span>,--I am to leave Grünhagen to-night for I cannot +say how long, perhaps forever. I am going to Berlin to obtain +permission to enter the Prussian army as a volunteer. Must I go without +seeing my dearest Celia once more? May I not bid her good-bye and tell +her how dear she is to me? I promised you not to see Celia again until +you consented to our meeting, and I will keep my promise if you refuse +to release me from it upon this one occasion; but I pray you to allow +us to see each other once more, perhaps for the last time in this +world.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not ask to see my darling alone. Pray come with her to the old +place of meeting in the forest, where I will await you. Let me hope +that you will grant my request. I need not tell you with what +impatience I look for your answer, a simple 'yes' or 'no,' by the +bearer of this.</p> + +<p style="text-indent:10%">"With the greatest regard, yours,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:30%">"<span class="sc">Kurt von Poseneck</span>."</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Lucie was profoundly touched by Kurt's note. Celia too, then, was to +suffer the pain of seeing her lover depart for the war. Poor, and yet +happy Celia! She might hope that if he whom she loved returned alive +the old Freiherr would relent, and her love be crowned with happiness; +while if Arno returned, if he should ever seek her again, what then? +For her hope did not exist.</p> + +<p class="normal">She took up a pen and wrote hurriedly:</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">"I will be at the appointed spot at the usual time; whether Celia will +accompany me or not depends upon the decision of the Freiherr von +Hohenwald. <span style="letter-spacing:10px"> </span><span class="sc">Anna Müller</span>."</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">She sealed her note, addressed it to Herr von Poseneck, and hurried +down to the court-yard to deliver it herself to the Grünhagen +messenger, upon whom she enjoined the utmost despatch. She did not +observe that as she spoke with the man Franz was watching her from the +hall, while Arno, who was crossing the court-yard, paused in +astonishment as he heard her words. Was she really so intimate with +young Poseneck that she corresponded with him? Perhaps the letter after +all might not have been for Kurt von Poseneck; but all doubts on this +head were set at rest by Franz, who, exercising his prerogative as a +privileged servant, said grumblingly, as his young master passed him in +the hall, "Fine doings in Hohenwald, when the Fräulein receives letters +from Herr von Poseneck, and even condescends to answer them!" This was +enough to arouse once more within Arno's heart the demon of jealousy, +which Lucie's words to him should have killed forever.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile, entirely unconscious of the suffering she had caused, Lucie +walked slowly towards the garden-room, to carry into effect the plan +she had hastily formed. The Freiherr greeted her with a smile of +welcome. "Why, here we have Fräulein Anna!" he said, in great +satisfaction. "Have you come to bestow your charming society upon an +old fellow at this unwonted hour? But what is that?" he added, pointing +to Kurt's letter, which she held in her hand. "I owe the pleasure of +your visit to business, I see, not to my own attractions. Never mind, I +am always delighted to see you, whatever brings you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed, Herr Baron? May I rely upon that?" Lucie asked, meaningly, as +she drew a chair to his side and sat down. "Are you sure that you will +not drive me away indignantly if I come to prefer a request that does +not please you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A request? 'Tis granted before 'tis asked; I know of nothing that I +could refuse you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I might take you at your word, Herr Baron, but that I will not do. You +shall not be bound by a promise to grant my request, you must do it of +your own free choice."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, this sounds quite solemn. I am curious; out with your request, +whatever it is. What do you ask?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing for myself, Herr Baron. My request concerns Herr von +Poseneck."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr was not made in the least angry, as would formerly have +been the case, by this mention of the name of Poseneck; on the +contrary, he laughed, saying, as if in badinage, "Always Poseneck! +Really, child, I believe you are in love with this infernal Poseneck, +who must be a tremendously fine fellow to excite such an interest in +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That he certainly is, Herr Baron, although I just as certainly am not +in love with him. He is a noble-hearted fellow, who now, after having +served with honour in America, is going off to Berlin to enter the army +there as a volunteer. His life in America never lessened his honest +love for his German fatherland."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is a fine fellow then, and I honour him. I never would have +believed it of a Poseneck," the Freiherr said, with a kindly nod at +Lucie.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You may believe anything that is good and true of him," Lucie +continued; "his self-devotion costs him more than it does most men. He +not only has to conquer his ambition as a former major in thus entering +the army as a common soldier, but he sacrifices his whole future +happiness. He passionately loves a young girl, whose father is a bitter +enemy to Prussia, and who never will give his daughter to a man who +fights for Prussia in this war."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is the scoundrel?" the Freiherr exclaimed, indignantly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do an excellent old man great injustice, Herr Baron," Lucie +replied, with a smile. "He is a man of honour, but the victim of a +prejudice which so possesses him that he cannot conquer it sufficiently +to call a Prussian his son-in-law."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then he does not love his child!" the Freiherr eagerly asserted, and +then suddenly paused and eyed Lucie suspiciously. "Stop! stop, child!" +he said. "I begin to suspect that you have been playing your own little +game with me. Honestly, what has all this to do with your request?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you really not be angry with me, Herr Baron, if I speak perfectly +frankly to you?" Lucie asked, laying her little hand on the old man's +brown, wrinkled fist, and bestowing upon him one of her charming +smiles.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Little flatterer, how can any one be angry with you? Oh, you have the +old bear fast in your toils, and now come, tell me all about it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall hear, Herr Baron. First read this note which I received not +an hour ago from Herr von Poseneck; it will tell you all, and when you +have finished I will tell you how it came to be written."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Baron read Kurt's note, while Lucie noted with keen anxiety every +change in his features as he read. She saw his face darken, and then a +smile dawned about his mouth; he was not very angry. She could have +shouted for joy at her victory.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A most interesting production!" the Freiherr said, he handed the note +back to her. "Really, this Herr von Poseneck----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wait until you hear all, Herr Baron, and then judge," Lucie +interrupted him.</p> + +<p class="normal">And she went on to tell the old Freiherr how Celia had accidentally +made the young man's acquaintance; how, in her childlike innocence and +trust, she had grown to love him, and how, at last, chance had betrayed +her secret. She told how Kurt had given his promise never to see Celia +without her governess's consent, and how faithfully he had kept his +word. "And now for my request, Herr Baron," she said, in conclusion. "I +know it will be hard for you to grant it, but I hope everything from +your magnanimity. Let me take Celia with me; she knows nothing of this +note, and if you refuse me she shall know nothing; but you will not be +so cruel. There must be a farewell,--a last farewell. May not Celia go +with me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are a white witch, and know how to wind the old ogre round your +finger," the Freiherr said, shaking his finger at Lucie. "In fact, I +ought to be excessively angry with you, but as this is impossible I may +as well take my pill without a wry face. The will-o'-the-wisp had +certainly better see the young man under your auspices than run off, +perhaps through the night and storm, to take leave of him; the child +might do it if she should hear that Poseneck was going away. But one +very serious word I must speak. Your Poseneck certainly is an honest, +honourable young fellow, his note and his whole conduct show that. +Celia in her unsuspicious innocence might have fallen into bad hands. +You cannot expect me to be quite content, but time will bring counsel. +Only there must be no more of it all for the present; no talk of a +betrothal as yet, no tender exchange of letters and such stuff. Celia +is as yet little more than a child. If the young man ever comes back +from the war he may come and see me here and we will talk it over +together. But before then I'll not listen to another word about it. Do +you agree, you white witch?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your will shall be my law in the matter, Herr Baron, and I thank you +from my very heart for conquering for your child's sake your dislike of +a Poseneck."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You may spare your thanks, child, or rather keep them for yourself, +who honestly deserve them for taking care that my dislike should +gradually subside. Have you not hammered away at my heart with your +Poseneck every evening, for weeks, until at last the tough old muscle +has grown quite tender?"</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr had caused his rolling-chair to be pushed near the open +glass doors of the garden-room, that he might inhale the fragrance +which now towards evening was borne in upon the delicious breeze from +the garden, already lying in shadow from the lofty forest. The papers +lay upon the table beside him. His thoughts were busy with the +occurrences of the day. "Where can Werner be?" he suddenly asked +himself. Several letters that had arrived at the castle for the +Finanzrath and had been forwarded to his address in Dresden had been +to-day returned, with the notice on the envelopes that he had left +Dresden. Hence the question that the father asked himself. He nearly +started from his chair when old Franz flung wide the folding-doors +leading into the hall and announced, "The Herr Finanzrath!"</p> + +<p class="normal">His visit was not welcome, and when Werner entered, not alone, but +daring to introduce a stranger without permission, the old man's +patience was too sorely tried. The look with which he regarded his son +was by no means amiable, but that with which he greeted his companion +was darker still. He was very unfavourably impressed by this man from +the first instant of his appearance. In spite of his long seclusion +from society the Freiherr had always retained the greatest neatness, +and withal an old-fashioned elegance, in his dress. Nothing was more +distasteful to him than a want of cleanliness or an air of neglect, and +both of these characterized the former fastidious Herr von Sorr, whom +Werner now presented to his father. And Sorr's countenance did not +belie his dress. The pale flabby cheeks, the watery eyes, the whole +expression indeed of the man, bore witness to his degraded, debauched +character and made him odious to the old Baron. For such a guest no +consideration was necessary.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What in thunder do you mean?" he said angrily to Werner. "How dare you +bring a stranger here? Don't you know that I receive no visitors? +Whoever you are, sir, learn that I permit no invasion of my seclusion! +There is the door!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Sorr, trained though he had been by Repuin to submit to all sorts of +contemptuous treatment, was nevertheless abashed by this reception, and +might perhaps scarcely have ventured to persist in his intrusion had +not Werner come to his aid.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Before you express yourself so angrily, sir," he said to his father, +"you should hear the reasons that exist for my transgression of your +commands and my introduction to you of Herr von Sorr. I appeal to your +sense of justice, sir, in informing you that Herr von Sorr has no +desire to intrude upon you, but has come hither because I have assured +him that no Freiherr von Hohenwald ever refused what another had a +right to claim, and that his just demand must be made directly to +yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What have I to do with this man?" the Freiherr asked, crossly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This you can only learn, sir, by granting a hearing to Herr von Sorr, +not by repulsing him in a manner that cannot but be offensive to a +gentleman who comes hither at the request of your eldest son."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again, as often before, the Finanzrath's imperturbable composure +asserted its sway over his father's passion. The old man gave his son a +dark look, but yielded, and turning to Sorr, said, with forced +calmness, "Approach, sir; I regret it if my hastiness offended +you,--such was not my intention. I can make no exception to the rule +which I have observed for years of denying myself to visitors, and +therefore I beg you to tell me as briefly as possible what you desire."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sorr complied with the invitation in spite of the ungracious manner in +which it was conveyed, and took a chair near the old man, but when he +met his dark, searching eye the words which he had committed to memory +that they might serve him in this need would not at first be uttered. +He cleared his throat in a vain endeavour to begin with some fitting +introductory phrase.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Baron's impatient tone admitted of no further delay, and Sorr +began, overcoming his first stammering hesitation as he proceeded. +"Herr Baron," he said, "you see in me a wretched man, who appeals to +you for aid in recovering his lost happiness. In the terrible +misfortunes that have overwhelmed me I have not been guiltless, but I +assure you on my honour that I repent the wrong I have done, and that I +am determined to begin a new life if through your aid I succeed in +attempting it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it that you want of me? What business have you to ask me for +your lost happiness?" the Freiherr interrupted Sorr's studied speech.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive me, Herr Baron, if, carried away by my emotion, I fail to use +the right words in which to convey my request. Bear with me for a +little while and you shall learn all. I will be as brief as possible, A +few years ago I was a happy man, my fortune was considerable, I enjoyed +the esteem of my friends, an exalted position in society, and I +possessed a charming wife, to whom I was ardently attached. I lacked +but one thing,--the strength to withstand temptation. One passion ruled +my life,--the love of gaming. Although I was usually fortunate, my +success in winning large sums destroyed in me all appreciation of the +value of money. I indulged in the wildest extravagances, and my income +was always exceeded by my expenses. Thus my property dwindled almost +without my knowledge. My wife, who loved me tenderly, warned me, +entreated me, but even her prayers, all-powerful in every other +direction, availed nothing to induce me to resist the fatal temptation +offered me by cards. It dragged me down into an abyss that engulfed my +fortune and that of my wife also. I found myself at last a beggar, my +fortune, friends, position in society, and, worse than all, the +affection of a wife whom I idolized, all gone. Meanwhile, one of my +friends had, with inconceivable cunning and treachery, abused my +confidence. The evenings that I spent at the gaming-table he passed +with my wife, representing himself as having been sent by me to beguile +her solitude. He was enormously wealthy, and no sacrifice being too +great in his eyes where the attainment of his vile ends was concerned, +he at times forced upon me large sums for the payment of my debts, and +I--with shame I confess it--was weak enough, when my wife complained to +me of the persistent attentions of this treacherous friend, to entreat +her not to offend him by any harsh rejection of them. I had utter +confidence in my wife, and never suspected to what depths of infamy my +false friend would descend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What the devil have I to do with all this?" the Freiherr burst out, +more and more disgusted with Sorr, who had hoped his theatrical pathos +was producing a very different impression. "For Heaven's sake, come to +the point!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am about to do so. My treacherous friend, Count Repuin----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay! What name was that? Count Repuin, the Russian, Werner's friend +and confidant,--was he the man?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The same, Herr Baron. I lost the greater part of my fortune to him; he +systematically contrived my ruin, believing that when I found myself a +beggar, my wife, with destitution staring her in the face, would lend +an ear to his vile proposals. When I had lost all, so that I knew not +where to turn for the barest necessaries of existence, he carried to my +wife the false report that I was dishonoured, that I had been detected +in cheating at cards, and that it was in his power to send me to a +jail. It was a bold falsehood, but it found credence with my wife, +whose esteem for me my passion for play had destroyed; and when he +further informed her that, in consideration of a large sum of money, I +had resigned to him all claim upon her duty, in short, that I had sold +her to him, in her despair the wretched woman believed this lie also."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Infamous! incredible!" the Freiherr indignantly exclaimed, +involuntarily interested at last in Sorr's recital.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the scoundrel failed in his schemes, although he has plunged me +into misery. Devilish though his cunning was, he failed to take into +account one thing,--in which, indeed, he had no faith,--that a woman +might be impregnably virtuous. He did not know my Lucie. What was his +wealth to her in comparison with her honour? She spurned his offers +with contempt, and yet she believed him, and driven by despair almost +to madness, she secretly left my house. When on the morning after +the fearful night in which I had sacrificed my last hope at the +gaming-table I sought my wife's apartment to pray for her forgiveness +and to make her the promise for which she had so often implored me, +that never again would I touch a card, I found upon her table this +terrible letter. Read it, Herr Baron; it will explain to you better +than any words of mine the depth of my misery." And Sorr handed to the +Freiherr the letter that Lucie had left behind her on the evening of +her flight. The old Baron read:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have given back to me my freedom; I accept it. It is your desire +that we should part; it shall be fulfilled: you will never see me +again. Should you dare to persecute me, you will force me to denounce +you publicly, and to give to the world the reasons that justify my +conduct. The detected thief, who would barter his wife's honour, has +forfeited the right to control her destiny.--LUCIE."</p> + +<p class="normal">An odious smile hovered upon Sorr's lips as he watched the Freiherr +while he read this letter aloud, and as he marked the impression that +it produced upon him. He exchanged a significant glance with Werner, +and then, when the reading was finished, continued: "I was beside +myself with grief and fury when I found that my adored Lucie had left +me. She had fled, that was clear, although I could understand neither +her threat nor her strange intimations that I had desired to part from +her, that I had sold her. She had vanished; no trace of her could I +find, although I even summoned the police to my aid. Surely, as a +forsaken husband, I had a right to do so. All was in vain. Again and +again I read her mysterious letter, and at last, upon a sudden impulse, +I hastened to Repuin, showed him Lucie's note, and demanded and +received its explanation. The wretch had the effrontery to tell me with +a smile, of the manner in which he had destroyed the happiness of my +life. We fought. I arose from the sick-bed, where a wound received in +the duel prostrated me for weeks, an altered man. I have taken a vow +never again to touch a card. I have since that day earned my daily +bread by honest toil, correcting proofs for publishers, and giving +lessons in French and English. I have now an assured although moderate +income. In this period of struggle one hope alone has sustained me, +that of finding my Lucie again. She is my wife by the indissoluble bond +of marriage, a marriage blest by the Church. I know that she will +gladly return to me and share my toil and my poverty when she knows of +my change of heart and life. And chance has befriended me, Herr Baron, +leading me to a knowledge of your son, the Herr Finanzrath, from whom I +have learned that, in order to secure herself from fancied persecution, +my wife has taken refuge in a feigned name, and that she dwells beneath +your roof as Anna Müller."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr stared at Sorr in blank amazement. "Good God, sir! what do +you mean? Are you mad?" he exclaimed. "Fräulein Müller a wife, and your +wife!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ask your son, Herr Baron," Sorr replied; "he will confirm my words."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Sorr speaks but the truth, father; it is my duty to attest +this. Frau von Sorr has seen fit to undertake to fill the position of +Celia's governess under a feigned name. I had, of course, no idea of +this when I engaged her through Frau von Adelung. I learned her true +name only lately and by chance, and I felt it my duty to acquaint Herr +von Sorr with her place of abode."</p> + +<p class="normal">When the first shock of his surprise had passed, the old Freiherr +looked from Werner to Sorr and from Sorr to Werner in a kind of fury. +He had no suspicion as to the truth of Sorr's story; he remembered +that, by Count Styrum's desire, no allusion was ever made to Fräulein +Müller's past; there could be no doubt that Anna was Sorr's unfortunate +wife, forced by a sad fate to fly from her husband. What the Freiherr +did doubt, what, indeed, utterly discredited, was the man's assertion +of an altered course of life. One glance at his bloated features, at +his watery, crimson-lidded eyes, proclaimed the fact that Sorr was +deeply plunged in debauchery and drunkenness. This man had never +aroused himself to a life of honest toil. It was no affection for his +wife that impelled him to seek her out.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr's mind was filled with vague suspicion as to the man's +motives, suspicion that attached in a degree also to Werner, to whose +last words he sharply rejoined, saying,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"So you have been playing the spy here that you might betray the poor +thing's confidence?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As Frau von Sorr never honoured me with her confidence I could not +possibly betray it," Werner replied coolly to his father's reproach. +"When I saw how great was her husband's misery, and how sincere his +resolution to amend, I judged it my duty to acquaint him with his +wife's retreat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I owe the Finanzrath an eternal debt of gratitude for bringing me +hither," Sorr interposed, "and for promising to set the crown upon his +kindness by doing all that lies in his power to induce my beloved Lucie +to fulfil the duty that she owes to an unfortunate husband."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Finanzrath bit his lip. Sorr's words reminded him, as they were +meant to do, of the promise he had made the Russian to do all that lay +in his power to further his schemes. The part assigned him here was +odious enough, but the fear inspired by the Russian's threats conquered +his distaste for it. He had gone too far to retrace his steps, and he +therefore replied to Sorr, "I will certainly keep my word, although I +think there will be little need of any influence of mine. Frau von +Sorr, I feel assured, will willingly follow you; but should she refuse +to do so, my father will surely not sustain her in such a departure +from her duty. Castle Hohenwald cannot possibly be an asylum for a wife +who has deserted her husband in misfortune and refuses to return to +him."</p> + +<p class="normal">As Werner spoke these words he did not look up; he did not dare to meet +his father's eyes, and therefore he did not see the contempt that shone +in them as the Freiherr turned from his son to Sorr and said, sharply, +"What you ask of me, then, Herr von Sorr, is that I shall force this +unhappy woman to return to you. Is this so? Speak out, sir; I want a +candid reply."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your words sound harsh, Herr Baron," was Sorr's humble reply. "I never +thought of force, but only that you would place no obstacle in the way +of an unfortunate man who only seeks to maintain his rights. I have +made an expensive journey hither from Munich in the confident hope that +it needed only an interview with my dear Lucie to induce her to take +her place once more beside me as my faithful wife whom I dearly love +and will never forsake. Surely the last sad months have atoned for my +wrong-doing. I have a right to demand that she should follow me when I +solemnly assure her that I have broken off all connection with Repuin. +She is my wife before God and man, and what God hath joined let not man +put asunder. You certainly, Herr Baron, would never protect a wife +against the claims of a husband."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr did not immediately reply. This Herr von Sorr inspired him +with a disgust which his evident and nauseous hypocrisy only served to +increase, and yet he could not but admit to himself that the man's +claim, as he represented it, was a just one.</p> + +<p class="normal">He rang the silver hand-bell upon his table and said to Franz, who +immediately made his appearance, "Beg Fräulein Müller kindly to come to +me as soon as she can."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then, turning to Sorr, he said, "I will not listen to another word from +you until I hear the other side of the question. I reserve my decision +until then. Not until I have spoken to Fräulein Anna,--I always call +her so, and I have grown very fond of her under this name,--and until +she has confirmed your statement, will I accord it full belief."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am convinced, Herr Baron----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not another word, Herr von Sorr! I will keep my judgment unbiassed. +You shall be confronted with the accused after I have first spoken with +her alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have accused no one but myself, Herr Baron."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I attach no importance to that; it shall be as I say. I will hear what +Fräulein Anna has to say; I will talk with her alone,--she shall not be +influenced by the presence of any one. I am sure that she will tell me +the whole truth."</p> + +<p class="normal">This arrangement was not at all satisfactory to Sorr. He feared that +Lucie might tell the Freiherr of his conversation with her on the +evening preceding her flight, and so destroy his web of specious +falsehood. He would at least make an attempt to prevent this. "I +entreat you, Herr Baron, to permit me to repeat in Lucie's presence +what I have told you. It wounds me that you should doubt my words. +Lucie's testimony shall prove to you that I----"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr harshly interrupted him, "I will not hear another word. It +shall be as I say! Werner, take Herr von Sorr out upon the terrace; you +can walk up and down there until I call you; I wish to be alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Herr Baron----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What the devil, sir,--will you do as I say or not? I am still master +in my own castle, I believe, and I will not be contradicted; I wish to +be alone. Your place for the present is out there on the terrace. If +you refuse to obey my orders, the servants will show you the shortest +way out of the castle."</p> + +<p class="normal">When the old Baron fell into a downright rage there was nothing to be +done with him, as Werner knew, and as Sorr perceived; he did not dare +further to gainsay his will, and, with a low bow, he followed the +Finanzrath out upon the terrace.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr sat alone, awaiting with the greatest impatience Anna's +appearance; but the minutes passed and she did not come, nor did old +Franz return to explain the reason why. The Freiherr rang his bell +again, and Werner and Sorr, who had been awaiting this summons, +instantly entered from the terrace.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr received them with a good round oath. "I was ringing for +that old ass Franz!" he roared out to Werner. "Stay outside on the +terrace with your Herr von Sorr until I call you by name!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The two men were obliged to withdraw. The Freiherr rang his bell a +second and a third time without any result, until at the end of a good +half-hour Franz appeared, with the intelligence that Fräulein Müller +was nowhere to be found. She was not in her room; Fräulein Celia said +that the Fräulein had gone for a walk in the garden or park; but he had +searched for her there in vain, and the gardener had helped him, and +was sure she could not be either in the park or in the garden.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">"Oh, my darling, darling Anna, how can I thank you?" Celia laughed and +cried and kissed her friend amid tears and smiles, dancing about her +room like some wild sprite.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, Celia; pray be reasonable, child!" Lucie at last admonished her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anything but that, dearest Anna, you must not ask that; I am half mad +with delight. My dear, good old father! How unjust I have been to him! +How could I keep anything from him? It was shameful! oh, if I only had +told him all about it the very first day when I met Kurt!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie said nothing; but she had her own opinion as to whether the +result would have been a very happy one for Celia if she had told her +father of her first meeting with Kurt. The girl went on pouring her +innocent delight into Lucie's ears, and repeating that she owed it all +to her darling Anna.</p> + +<p class="normal">The castle clock struck four.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At last!" Celia exclaimed, and begged Lucie to make the greatest +haste, lest Kurt should have to wait. Her friend complied; it would +have been cruel to detain the girl longer than was necessary to hasten +along the broad road, down which Celia had so often galloped upon Pluto +to the appointed spot.</p> + +<p class="normal">They soon espied the light straw hat, and an instant afterward Kurt +hurried towards them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have fulfilled your wish, Herr von Poseneck," Lucie said, offering +her hand to the young man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How can I thank you sufficiently for so doing! for relinquishing your +purpose of referring my request to the Freiherr von Hohenwald----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no, dearest Kurt!" exclaimed Celia. "She did not relinquish it. +Yes, you may well be surprised, you unprincipled fellow, who would have +persuaded me to meet you again without the knowledge of my darling, +kind old father. But, oh, Kurt, we are so happy, and Anna has done it +all!" And the girl, amid tears and laughter, told her amazed lover of +the success of Anna's exertions in his favour.</p> + +<p class="normal">In his joy that there was no longer an insurmountable barrier between +himself and his love, Kurt gladly promised to obey every condition +imposed upon him by the Freiherr, declaring that never would he write +so much as one word to his darling except under cover to her father.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Lucie had explained to him all that she had promised in this way +on his behalf she took no further part in the conversation, wandering +along the grassy path a little in advance of the lovers, anxious that +Celia should enjoy to the full every moment of this short hour of +bliss, and lost in sad reflections as to her own future.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg ten thousand pardons!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt and Celia, who had forgotten all the actual world, and Lucie, in +the midst of her sad dreaming, looked up startled. They had just +reached the spot where the footpath from Grünhagen crossed the broad +road, and confronting them stood the Assessor von Hahn. He took off his +hat with an exceedingly low bow to Celia in particular.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg ten thousand pardons, Fräulein von Hohenwald, for intruding +again, but I am discreet; I make no boast----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There you are quite right, Herr Assessor, for surely there is not much +discretion in appearing where you have once been told that your +presence is an intrusion."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor grew crimson at Kurt's words; he retreated a few steps and +said, in great confusion, "You wrong me deeply, Herr von Poseneck; you +will, I am sure, retract your hasty words when I tell you that my +presence here has nothing to do with you or with my respected cousin, +but with Madame--that is--I mean, I wish the honour of a few words with +Fräulein Müller. I learned in Grünhagen, where I arrived half an hour +ago, that Herr von Poseneck had gone to the forest, and I suspected +that the two ladies would take their afternoon walk in the same +direction. Therefore, as it was highly important that I should speak +with Madame--that is, Fräulein Müller, I ventured to come hither."</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie bestowed upon the Assessor a glance of anything but welcome, but +she could not refuse to respond to his look of appeal. "You have +attained your purpose, Herr Assessor," she said. "You probably bring me +a message from my friend Adèle. The Assessor is an old acquaintance of +mine," she added to Kurt and Celia, who looked rather surprised, "and +is a constant visitor at the President von Guntram's."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Assessor's courage returned upon hearing Lucie acknowledge his +acquaintance, and he went on with much more confidence than before: +"Certainly, Madame--that is, Fräulein Müller, I bring you a message +from Fräulein Adèle, and not merely a message. I am not alone; there is +a gentleman in the shrubbery who wishes to speak with you. I brought +him at Fräulein Adèle's express desire."</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie recoiled in terror. Had the gossiping Assessor betrayed her +secret? Had he brought hither either Repuin or Sorr? They were the only +persons who could have any interest in discovering her retreat. She +gazed towards the spot indicated by the Assessor, and, in dread of +encountering Repuin's detested form, moved closer to Kurt as if for +protection. "Whom have you brought here?" she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot mention any name, Fräulein Müller," the Assessor replied. "I +promised not to do so, and I am a man of my word. But I can assure you +that you will rejoice to see my honoured companion. He wishes to meet +you alone, therefore I pray you step aside to where he is awaiting you +in the forest only a few steps from here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not go!" Lucie declared. "Whoever your companion may be, he has +no right to require that I should go into the forest to meet him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not know of whom you speak, Fräulein Müller," the Assessor +said, with unusual earnestness. "I entreat you not to refuse. I assure +you you will rejoice to see my companion, who longs to clasp you to his +heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie shot at the little man a glance of flame. She turned in +indignation at such insolence to Kurt, saying, "I have nothing further +to say to this gentleman. May I beg you, Herr von Poseneck, to continue +our walk?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Madame--Fräulein Müller, I would say--you place me in the most +embarrassing position; there can be no reason why you should not see my +honoured companion. I give you my word of honour that he comes by +Fräulein Adèle's express desire; he is the only man in the world whom I +would have conducted hither. I was so glad to meet you here in the +forest, and not to be obliged to go to the castle to find you, and now +you refuse to go a few steps to meet him when he has come so many miles +to see you. Do you mistrust me? I do not deserve it of you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was so much of honesty and good will stamped upon the Assessor's +face, he was evidently so aggrieved by Lucie's distrust of him, that +his words produced some effect upon her. She hesitated, and wondered +whether she were right in her refusal; but before she could reply an +elderly gentleman, the same whom the Assessor had received at the +railway station, emerged from the forest and hastened towards her.</p> + +<p class="normal">She gazed at him for a moment, and then, with a shriek of joy, threw +herself into his arms, and, clasping her own about his neck, kissed him +again and again. "I have you again! Thank God! thank God!" she cried. +"This is too much joy! Now I will hold you fast. You must not leave +your child again."</p> + +<p class="normal">The gentleman was much moved, and the tears stood in his eyes as he +returned Lucie's kisses. "My child! my dear, good child!" he whispered, +tenderly. "You are mine once more, and I shall know how to protect you +from your dastardly persecutors."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are not alone, we must remember that," Lucie said, at length, +extricating herself from her father's embrace.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man turned, with his daughter's hand still in his, and extended +his right hand to Kurt. "Forgive me, Herr von Poseneck," he said, "for +presenting myself so unceremoniously to Fräulein Cecilia von Hohenwald +and yourself. I had hoped that my daughter would comply with our friend +the Assessor's request and come to me in the forest; but her natural +reluctance to do so is the cause why you are the witnesses of a meeting +between a father and daughter who have been separated for years."</p> + +<p class="normal">For a few moments the poor Assessor found himself upon a pinnacle of +glory. The modesty with which nature had endowed him was in danger of +great deterioration, so enthusiastic were Lucie's thanks to him for his +kind interest, so gratifying was the appreciation of his services by +his fair cousin and Herr von Poseneck. But alas, poor man! he soon +experienced the uncertainty of such a position, and felt himself no +better than the fifth wheel to a coach with the two couples, who +evidently desired to be left to themselves. Kurt and Celia paid him not +the least attention, and Lucie was so wrapped up in her newly-found +father that she soon seemed entirely to have forgotten Hahn's +existence. He was therefore fain to amuse himself by botanizing among +the forest flowers.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie clung to her father's arm as if fearful of losing him again +should she leave him for an instant. They walked on in advance of the +lovers, and as soon as they were out of hearing the daughter gave words +to her delight. "I am so happy, my darling father; I can scarcely +believe the evidence of my senses that I am looking into your dear eyes +and feeling your strong arm support me. Oh, father, how could you stay +so long away from your child? All would have been different if you had +been here!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could not have prevented Sorr from ruining himself and you," Ahlborn +gloomily replied. "Do not reproach me, my child. I did what I was +forced to do, and the result has crowned my work. When I left you +without even taking leave of you, I determined never to return unless +in possession of all, and more than all, I had lost. Even then I +suspected how bitterly we had been deceived in Sorr, and my only object +in life was to work for you, my darling, that your future might be +secure. With this one thought in my mind I went to America and plunged +into a life of toil, in which, when I might have faltered and fallen, +the thought of you sustained me. I added dollar to dollar with the +parsimony of a miser. I embarked, like a madman, in the boldest +speculations. All that I touched seemed to turn to profit. But why +dwell upon those wild years? I hate to think of them, for, although I +never stooped to what the world calls dishonesty, it galls me now to +remember how different was the system of mad speculation by which I +regained my lost fortune from the plodding industry by which I first +obtained it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Three months ago I arrived in Bremen, and hurried to Berlin, where my +worst fears with regard to Sorr were confirmed. His reputation was +gone, his property lost; and I was told that he had removed with you to +M----. When I reached M---- it was too late, you had vanished +unaccountably, and Sorr, too, was not to be found."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did not Adèle tell you where I was?" Lucie asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I never thought of going to her, so wide-spread was the report that in +your despair you had destroyed yourself. I left M---- a broken-hearted +man; of what use was my wealth? My aim in life was gone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I tried to divert my mind by travelling aimlessly hither and thither; +and at Frankfort-on-the-Main, seeing by the papers that a fine estate +on the banks of the Rhine was for sale, I purchased it, in hopes of +finding relief from my misery in the care of it. But the peaceful +solitude to which I had looked to soothe my pain only increased it, and +again I began my wanderings, which suddenly found their close in +Berlin. Last Friday I was sauntering aimlessly along the street there +when I met the Assessor von Hahn. Remembering that in former days he +was in the habit of frequenting our house, where he was one of your +adorers, I did not rebuff him when he recognized me and with a cordial +welcome on his lips walked along by my side. I soon wearied of him, +however, and paid no attention to the gossip he continued to retail to +me, until I was aroused from my absence of mind by the question, 'Have +you been to see your daughter yet?' If he were conscious that your +friends mourned you as dead, why ask so cruel a question? I begged him +instantly to tell me all that he knew of you, and this threw the little +man into the greatest confusion; my joy was unbounded when he assured +me positively that you were still alive, although he refused to reveal +to me your retreat, and referred me to your friend Adèle. An hour later +I was in the train bound for M----, and the next morning I had an early +interview with your friend, who was in raptures at recognizing me. But, +ah, my child, what a tale she told me! My poor darling, to what a fate +did I resign you! Now, however, I know all,--all, for Adèle even gave +me your last letter to her to read, entreating me to go instantly to +your aid, to carry you to my home on the Rhine, far away from Castle +Hohenwald, where, as you said, each moment was torture to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did Adèle say that?" Lucie asked, in surprise. "Did she not show you +my second letter, which she must have received almost simultaneously +with the first?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know nothing of any second letter; but your friend regretted deeply +that she had not yet been able to procure you the situation for which +you implored her, and added that she was upon the point of writing to +you, to insist that you should return to your old retreat beneath her +father's roof. We consulted together what was best to be done. We +agreed that you must leave the castle immediately, but in view of the +eccentricity of its lord, I judged it best to accept the friendly +offices, so frankly offered, of Herr von Hahn to procure an interview +with you, rather than to present myself in person to the Freiherr.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I telegraphed to the Assessor at A---- to meet me at the station +there, and as soon as I was able to procure a place in the crowded +trains came hither. He was waiting for me on the platform, and before +we left the station he pointed out to me two gentlemen who had arrived +by the same train as Count Repuin and the Finanzrath von Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good heavens!" Lucie exclaimed. "Werner and the Count! This is, +indeed, wretched news. I feared it, I feared it, although I could not +conceive that the Finanzrath could be so basely treacherous. But let +Count Repuin come,--I am no longer defenceless; I will confront him +boldly in the presence of the old Freiherr." Then as she reflected that +her kind old friend was absolutely ignorant of her past, now probably +to be so misrepresented to him, she went on, in feverish agitation: +"But, oh! my father, there is a danger which you cannot avert. What if +my kind friend should be led to doubt me by the falsehoods that will +doubtless be poured into his ears? I will not lose his esteem and +affection; we must see him before the Finanzrath and the Count reach +the castle. Perhaps it is already too late. Protect me from them, +father, if they should be there, and stand beside me while I tell the +Freiherr my wretched story."</p> + +<p class="normal">But to this her father was not inclined to agree. Had it not been for +the presence of Repuin he would gladly have allowed his child to +acquaint the Freiherr with all her past, but he could not doubt the +Russian's close association with Sorr, and from her husband even +Lucie's father could not protect her. Should Sorr require her to follow +him, nothing remained for her save to elude him by a secret flight from +the castle without even bidding the old Freiherr farewell. Only when +beneath her father's roof could she thank Baron von Hohenwald for all +his kindness and explain to him the grounds for her sudden and secret +flight.</p> + +<p class="normal">When, however, Herr Ahlborn explained his wishes on this head to his +daughter, he encountered a determined opposition on her part; she was +so unwilling to leave without one word of explanation what had been to +her a dear asylum, that at last, trusting in Sorr's absence, the father +yielded to Lucie's entreaties and consented to accompany her to the +castle.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">The time passed with incredible swiftness for all save for poor Herr +von Hahn. Celia had so much to say to her lover that when Lucie +reminded her that it was time to return she begged for "one more +quarter of an hour, dearest Anna!" and was only pacified by the +permission given to Kurt to accompany her to-day on the walk back to +the castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus all turned their faces towards home. Celia wished the road were +miles long. She went first with Kurt, and Lucie and her father with +the Assessor followed them. The lovers paused at the gate of the +court-yard; Kurt could go no farther. As Celia was looking back for +Anna, her attention was diverted by the noise of a vehicle, and through +an opposite entrance came a carriage that drew up before the steps +leading into the castle hall. Two gentlemen descended from it,--one was +Werner, the other an entire stranger to Celia "Anna," the girl said to +her friend, who was still too far off to look into the interior of the +court-yard, "Werner has come, and he is not alone,--there is a stranger +with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">The intelligence did not startle Lucie; she had feared that the +Finanzrath and Repuin would reach the castle before her, but in another +instant she stood by Celia's side, and recognized in the stranger not +Repuin, but her miserable husband.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sorr is there himself; you will not now return to the castle?" her +father, who instantly recognized his son-in-law, asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie did not reply; she was too much dismayed to appreciate at first +the result which a meeting with her husband in Castle Hohenwald might +bring about.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I yielded to your wish," said Herr Ahlborn, "when I supposed that +Count Repuin would be the Finanzrath's companion; but since Sorr +himself is here, doubtless with the intention of asserting a husband's +rights, you must not lose a moment, but must follow me instantly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only let me say one word of farewell, father."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, you must not expose yourself to such peril."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What will the Freiherr think of me if I fly thus without a word? Herr +von Sorr will not venture to malign me if I confront him in the Baron's +presence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But he will demand his rights, and, in spite of his baseness, he has +the law upon his side. You owe it to me, your father, as well as to +yourself, to come with me. Fräulein Cecilia will carry your farewell to +her father, and you can soon write to him and explain everything."</p> + +<p class="normal">All that Celia, standing by in utter amazement at the words exchanged +between father and daughter, could understand was, that the stranger +with Werner, whom they called Sorr, threatened Anna with great danger, +from which her father was entreating her to fly, and that her friend +was unwilling to leave the castle without a word of farewell. Celia had +often pondered the mystery of her friend's past, and was firmly +convinced that whatever it might be Anna never could have been to +blame.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are you saying?" the girl exclaimed, in great agitation. "Are you +talking of leaving Castle Hohenwald without one word of farewell to +dear papa and Arno? Oh, no, Anna! Indeed, you must not think of doing +so. Whatever may be the evil intent of Werner and his companion, papa +and Arno will know how to protect you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fräulein Cecilia, do you really love my daughter?" Ahlborn asked, +earnestly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do I love her?" the girl rejoined. "She is my dearest friend. I owe to +her all the happiness of my life." And her glance sought Kurt.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then, if you really love her, you will not try to persuade her to +enter the castle, when I assure you solemnly that she will by so doing +imperil the happiness of her life. Trust me, I implore you. You shall +soon hear from us and learn all that want of time now forces us to +conceal. Everything depends upon her leaving here with me without a +moment's delay. Would you yet persuade her to remain?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No! no! you shall not stay, my darling Anna!" the girl exclaimed, more +impressed by the old man's tone and manner than by his words. "If your +happiness is at stake never think of us. I do not know how I shall live +without you now that Kurt and Arno are both going to leave us, but not +for worlds would I keep you. Go with your father, and I will tell papa +how sorry you are not to say good-bye to him, and that you will soon +write and explain everything."</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie was deeply agitated. Her heart rebelled at the thought of leaving +the castle thus, but her reason told her that it was her only chance of +safety, and she yielded to Celia's unselfish entreaty. At Herr +Ahlborn's request the girl promised not to acquaint her father with +Fräulein Müller's secret departure until late in the evening, and to +state in answer to any inquiries concerning her that she had complained +of headache and had gone to take a solitary walk.</p> + +<p class="normal">The friends then took leave of each other with many tears, and Lucie, +with her father and the Assessor, struck into the foot-path leading +through the forest and village of Hohenwald to Grünhagen. Kurt lingered +for one moment for a last embrace of his darling, and then, joining +Lucie, walked silently by her side.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lost in thoughts of Hohenwald and of what Arno would say when he heard +of her flight, Lucie walked on swiftly. Suddenly she paused with a +thrill of delighted surprise, for he of whom she was thinking stood +before her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno was on his way from the village of Hohenwald, and owing to the +windings of the path was close beside the two gentlemen, who were in +front of Kurt and Lucie, before he saw them. His surprise was great on +beholding the Assessor, with whom he had formerly been slightly +acquainted, and who now bowed profoundly, while his elderly companion +accorded him a reluctant greeting by slightly raising his hat. Arno was +about to accost them when he perceived, to his still greater +astonishment, at some little distance, Fräulein Müller accompanied by +Herr von Poseneck.</p> + +<p class="normal">There had been another meeting in the forest, then. It had doubtless +been arranged in the letter that had aroused his jealousy. His soul was +filled with bitterness. How great had been his folly in trusting Anna's +words rather than his own eyes! How she must have smiled at his futile +irritation when she persisted in reiterating Poseneck's praises! What +did she mean now? She suddenly stood still as she perceived him, and on +her lovely face there dawned a brilliant smile as she held out to him +both her hands. "What an unexpected pleasure!" she exclaimed.</p> + +<p class="normal">He did not take her proffered hands, and would have passed on with a +bow, but this she prevented. She took his hand. "We must not part thus, +Herr Baron," she said, with so kindly a look that in a moment his +bitter mood was changed; he carried her hand tenderly to his lips, and +she did not withdraw it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are displeased with me, Herr Baron," Lucie continued; "but you do +me great injustice. Now that I see you I can in some measure explain +the grief that my hasty departure from the castle causes me. I told my +father--but you do not know my dearest father yet. This, father dear, +is the Baron Arno von Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Ahlborn was by no means pleased at this meeting in the forest; it +must lead to explanations which he would fain have avoided. He uttered +a few phrases of conventional courtesy, and regretted that the +necessity for reaching A---- that very evening would prevent any +prolongation of the interview. "I shall not fail," he added, "to +communicate shortly by letter the reasons which make my daughter's +sudden departure from Castle Hohenwald an imperative necessity."</p> + +<p class="normal">All that Arno gathered from this was the fact--and it filled him with +dismay--that Anna was to leave Hohenwald. "What!" he cried, "are you +going, going to desert my father and Celia at the hour of their sorest +need? No, Fräulein Müller, I cannot believe this. Tell me you will +remain. My infirm old father and Celia cannot do without you, and +I--but no, I will not speak of myself, of the wretchedness that the +thought of not finding you here upon my return from the war would cause +me. I will plead only for my father and Celia. Stay with us! do not +forsake us!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It must not be. I cannot!" Lucie replied, in much agitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Every moment is precious!" Ahlborn exclaimed, impatiently. "Farewell, +Herr Baron! Lucie, take my arm."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, father; you must grant me a few minutes of private conversation +with Baron von Hohenwald. I owe him some explanation of my conduct."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lucie, take care!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It must be, father; I cannot help it. I will follow you in a few +minutes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are your own mistress," Ahlborn rejoined, grumblingly. "You must +do as you please, only I implore you to remember the danger that lies +in delay."</p> + +<p class="normal">He touched his hat to Arno, and then taking the Assessor's arm and +accompanied by Kurt, he pursued the path until one of its windings +screened Lucie and the Baron from their sight, when they paused and +waited.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie left alone with Arno, resolved not to leave him until she had +justified herself in his eyes, and yet she was irresolute how to begin. +Her cheeks glowed with shame at the idea of imparting to him the sad +mystery of her life, and yet the precious minutes were flying; +something must be said immediately.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you are really going to leave us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">This simple question from Arno broke the silence and relieved Lucie's +hesitation. "I must, Herr Baron," she replied. "I had hoped to find a +home in Castle Hohenwald, but a sad fate has snatched it from me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Am I the cause of your flight?" Arno eagerly asked. "Do you so dread +the few hours that are all I can yet pass in the castle? I leave it +to-morrow. Do you hate me so bitterly?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not hate you," Lucie gently replied. And in her candid eyes, in +the pressure of the little hand that still rested in his, Arno saw that +she spoke the truth. "You are not the cause of my leaving Hohenwald. +Your brother, who is now at the castle, will tell you the reasons for +my flight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Werner? You have confided, then, in him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; an unfortunate chance betrayed to him my sad secret, and he has +made sad use of it. Even without his interference I should have +followed my father, who is restored to me after years of hopeless +separation, but I should not have been forced to steal away thus, like +a criminal, without one word of farewell to your father, who has +treated me with such paternal kindness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You speak in riddles. I do not comprehend you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will solve them for you," Lucie sadly replied. "You will comprehend +all when I tell you that the man whom your brother has just introduced +at Castle Hohenwald is the cause of my misfortunes, is my miserable +husband, Herr von Sorr!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno fairly staggered beneath the blow; he dropped Lucie's hand and +gazed at her in horror. "You are--you--you are----"</p> + +<p class="normal">He could not finish the sentence; hope seemed slain within him; his +future was a blank.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not be angry with me," Lucie said, taking his hand again. "I +implore you not to be angry with me. I am so wretchedly unhappy. I +could not part from you without telling you the whole truth. I have +longed to do this so often, and I have bitterly repented ever coming to +Hohenwald under a feigned name."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lucie, we are waiting!" Ahlborn called from the distance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Must I leave you without one word of forgiveness from you?" Lucie +continued. She still held Arno's hand in hers and gazed at him with +eyes of sad entreaty. Hitherto she had suppressed all expression of her +sentiments towards him. Never in the intercourse of daily life at +Hohenwald had she for an instant relaxed in the stern watch and ward +that she kept over every gesture, every look that might encourage any +hope in his mind. But this was a supreme moment; they were parting +forever, and her heart clamoured for its rights.</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno was profoundly agitated. Heart and mind were filled with tumult. +Anna the wife of a wretch from whom she was forced to flee! He suddenly +comprehended why she had denied him all hope; and now, as he looked +into her imploring eyes and felt the soft pressure of her hand, the +thought thrilled him with sudden ecstasy that she returned his love, +that her lips and not her heart had rejected his affection, that she +had but fulfilled a duty. He drew her closer to him, and for an +instant, with a burning blush, she yielded to his embrace.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lucie! Lucie!" came Ahlborn's warning voice, in more impatient tones +than before.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You love me!" Arno whispered, all else forgotten in the overwhelming +bliss of the moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lucie extricated herself from his embrace. "We must part!" she said, +sadly. "Fate divides us forever, but in this last sad moment let me +implore you never to lose confidence in me, whatever you may hear upon +your return to the castle!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lucie! it is time we were gone!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must go. We must part," she said. Once more Arno clasped her to his +heart and kissed her passionately. She did not resist, but in an +instant turned and hurried to her father. As she reached the winding in +the pathway she turned, waved her hand, and then vanished in the +forest.</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno gazed after her like one in a dream, conscious only that just at +the moment when the blissful certainty was his that she returned his +love, she was lost to him forever. She was the wife of another, and +Werner, his brother, had brought to Castle Hohenwald that other, her +unworthy husband, from whom she had been forced to flee under a feigned +name. In an instant he comprehended that it was his part to hasten to +his father and espouse Lucie's cause. As he entered the castle garden +he observed two persons walking to and fro on the terrace: one was his +brother, the other then was Sorr.</p> + +<p class="normal">The garden-walk wound among shrubbery, whence Arno could watch the man +for a while without being perceived, and disgust stirred within him at +the thought that a man so evidently steeped in low dissipation should +be Anna's husband. He felt that he hated both him and Werner, who had +brought him hither. Resolved to defend his love against them both, he +soon reached the terrace.</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner awaited his brother's approach, and intercepted his direct +entrance to the garden-room. A malicious smile played about his lips as +he laid his hand upon Arno's shoulder. "Are you in too great a hurry, +Arno, to spare me a word of greeting when we have not seen each other +for several days? I will only detain you for one moment, however, to +present to you in Herr von Sorr a guest whom you will doubtless be glad +to welcome when I tell you that he is so fortunate as to be the husband +of the beautiful Frau von Sorr whom we have learned to know by another +name. For reasons of which you shall be informed hereafter, Frau von +Sorr thought fit to select our house for her abode under a feigned +name. We know her as Fräulein Anna Müller."</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner had arranged his sentence so that its conclusion should be a +sudden revelation to his brother. He had exulted in the prospect of +Arno's amazement and horror at the intelligence that Anna Müller was +Sorr's wife, but to his astonishment his brother did not betray the +slightest surprise, bestowing only a slight glance at the "guest," who, +hat in hand, but in evident confusion, stammered various conventional +phrases suitable, as he thought, to the occasion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner could not understand Arno's unlooked-for composure, and when his +brother coldly rejoined, "Frau von Sorr has already informed me of your +bringing this gentleman to Hohenwald," he hastily exclaimed, "You have +spoken with Frau von Sorr?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not long ago."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And she told you that I was at the castle with her husband?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She must have seen us then as we drove hither."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very probably."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, then, does she not come to my father? She is evidently avoiding +us. Where did you see her? My father has been waiting impatiently for +her for more than half an hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed? Then it will gratify him to learn tidings of her."</p> + +<p class="normal">And with these words Arno passed on into the garden-room; but in the +doorway he observed that Werner and Sorr were following him; he paused +therefore, and, barring the way, said, gravely, "The tidings that I +bring of Fräulein Anna Müller are for my father's ear alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Sorr certainly has a right to know where his wife is and what +you have to say to my father with regard to her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The devil he has!" the Freiherr angrily exclaimed. "I told you before, +Werner, that you are to remain out upon the terrace with your Herr von +Sorr until I call you. No man in the world, and this Herr von Sorr +least of all, has a right to hear what my son wishes to tell me alone. +Understand that, Herr Finanzrath. Now go! I wish to be alone with +Arno!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner suppressed the angry retort that rose to his lips, and, +withdrawing once more, paced the terrace impatiently with Sorr. He knew +that when his father was as angry as at present there was nothing for +it but to obey.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What have you to tell me of Fräulein Anna? I will still call her by +the name I love. I can hardly believe that she is the wife of that +low-looking scoundrel," the Freiherr said, when Arno had taken his +accustomed seat beside his chair.</p> + +<p class="normal">His son as briefly and as simply as possible told of his interview with +her in the forest,--how she had presented her father to him and told +him that she was forced to flee from her unworthy husband. He also +delivered Anna's farewell to the Freiherr, and her entreaty that no one +would judge her harshly, but wait until a letter from her should +explain all.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old Baron interrupted his son frequently with exclamations of +surprise and with questions, and when he had concluded, declared "It is +a most extraordinary story, and I can make nothing of it; but I am glad +you said nothing about her to those fellows outside, for Werner is +evidently hand in glove with this precious Herr von Sorr. What they +want I cannot imagine; perhaps you may guess when you hear that +fellow's story." The Freiherr then related as briefly as he could the +tale told him by Sorr, adding, finally, "I must do the man the justice +to say that he acknowledged that he alone was to blame in his quarrel +with his wife; he never accused her, and I might have put some faith in +his protestations if it had not been for the scoundrelly hang-dog look +of him. I don't believe one word of his repentance and change of life. +There is a screw loose somewhere in his story about Count Repuin. If he +had fought a duel with the Russian is it likely that Werner would bring +his friend's mortal foe here? I had hoped to hear the truth from +Fräulein Anna, but now that she has gone, what's to be done I don't +know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Celia may tell us something."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, she may; that's an idea!" the Freiherr exclaimed. "She went with +Anna into the forest. Go, Arno, and bring the child here."</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno found Celia in her own room, and with difficulty persuaded her to +accompany him to her father's presence; where, until Arno finally told +her of his late interview with her dear Anna, she refused to give any +information with regard to Fräulein Müller's disappearance. Then, +however, she told the little that she knew; no more, indeed, than what +Arno had already learned, that Anna was forced against her will to +leave the castle instantly to escape a great peril, and that she would +shortly write and explain all.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are no wiser than we were before," the Freiherr declared, when +Celia had finished speaking. "We know that she has fled, but we do not +know why or whither; there is some comfort in the thought that she is +with her father, and the question now is, what is to be done with those +two fellows outside. I must give them some answer." As he spoke, the +Freiherr glanced towards Werner and Sorr, and observed to his surprise +that they were no longer alone. A man, hat in hand, was handing Werner +a letter. "Is that not Hesse, our old Inspector?" the Freiherr inquired +of Arno. "Look, Arno, how agitated Werner seems; he must have received +some important intelligence; yes, here he comes again, without waiting +for a summons."</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner, followed by Sorr, now hurriedly entered. "I can wait no longer, +father," he said, approaching the Freiherr. "I must beg you to decide +instantly. Important information which I have just received forces me +to leave here immediately with Herr von Sorr. I trust Frau von Sorr +will accompany us. Surely you will not deny a husband his rights,--will +not compel him to have recourse to the law."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr did not reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I entreat you, sir, to delay no longer,--every moment is precious," +Werner went on. "Any long stay here is fraught with peril for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not delay you; go when you please."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall I have come in vain? Will not Frau von Sorr accompany her +husband?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have no right to detain her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you allow her to reside in the castle, while duty calls her to +follow her husband. You sustain her in her disobedience to duty by +permitting her to remain beneath your roof."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a shameful accusation!" Arno cried, indignantly, but his father +interrupted him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hush, Arno!" he said, authoritatively. "I will have no disputing +between you brothers. My decision is made; I will not interfere between +Herr von Sorr and his wife!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will not shelter her, sir?" Werner asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you. I expected no less of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">A contemptuous smile played about the Freiherr's lips as he rejoined, +"I am greatly flattered. Thus the whole matter is ended. You can find +Frau von Sorr, and tell her from me that I can no longer permit her to +stay in Castle Hohenwald. The rest is your affair, or rather that of +Herr von Sorr, whom I must now beg to leave me. I am far from well, and +will hear nothing further; therefore adieu to both of you. Find Frau +von Sorr, compel her to go with her husband, or do what you please, +only leave me in peace. Success to you, Herr von Sorr; adieu, Werner!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man leaned back in his chair, and by an imperious wave of the +hand dismissed his son.</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner left the apartment, followed by Sorr, whose fulsome gratitude +the Freiherr cut short by another impatient wave of the hand. As soon +as they had left the room, Werner, still accompanied by Sorr, hurried +first to the library where he hoped to find Lucie, and then up-stairs, +where the maid informed them that Fräulein Müller had not been seen +since four o'clock, when she had gone for a walk with Fräulein Celia; +old Franz had searched both garden and park for her in vain.</p> + +<p class="normal">Werner burst into a rage at this information of the maid's. "Arno saw +her!" he exclaimed, when he was once more alone with Sorr in the castle +court-yard. "He knows where she is, and must tell us where to find +her." He then returned to the garden-room alone, leaving Sorr to await +him in the court-yard. The reception he met with was of the coldest; +his father swore he would not hear a word from him, Arno refused to +answer any questions, and Celia continued her performance of one of her +father's favourite sonatas without deigning even to look at him. He +dared not linger longer in the castle,--there was nothing for it but to +return to the court-yard, where the vehicle in which he had arrived +stood ready for departure.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We must go, Herr von Sorr," said Werner; "time flies. My father, +brother, and sister are evidently in league with your wife; they know +where she is, but utterly refuse to tell,--it would take hours to find +her, and every moment is priceless."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We cannot leave without my wife; I do not dare to confront Repuin +without her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then stay here; I am going," Werner resolutely declared. "I will not +imperil my freedom by a fruitless search, and besides we may chance to +meet her on our way. Will you come?" He opened the carriage-door and +sprang in. Sorr hesitated a moment, and then followed him; the coachman +whipped up his horses, and they galloped off at a rattling pace.</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Not more than a quarter of an hour had elapsed when there appeared, on +the road to the castle along which they had so lately passed, a mounted +gendarme, preceding, by another quarter of an hour, an open barouche, +in which sat three gentlemen, two officers and a civilian. Colonel von +Schlichting, with his adjutant, Lieutenant von Styrum, and the famous, +or, as some would have it, the notorious police official, the +Geheimrath Steuber, from Berlin; a second civilian, his assistant, sat +on the box beside the coachman.</p> + +<p class="normal">The gendarme, when in sight of the castle, awaited the barouche, behind +which came a detachment of mounted dragoons, and reported that he had +seen nothing suspicious, no carriage either going towards or coming +from the castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The birds are probably not yet flown," the Geheimrath said, rubbing +his hands and chuckling. "The castle can be approached only in this +direction. I was afraid upon learning at the station that immediately +after our arrival a carriage and a horseman had left it at full speed +that they might have got wind of our coming, but now I rather think we +shall find the entire band of conspirators, including Count Repuin, +together."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Geheimrath was evidently elated at the prospect of a good haul. +There was a smile upon his ugly face, which, to Count Styrum, made it +look uglier still, and his view was shared by Count Schlichting. Both +officers were fulfilling a disagreeable duty; they had received their +orders from the highest authority, and were instructed if the arrest of +the Freiherr von Hohenwald were really unavoidable, to proceed with the +greatest caution and delicacy. Count Schlichting and Count Styrum, the +latter of whom was but just re-admitted to military service, had +personally been informed by their august commander how painful it was +to him to issue orders for a search of Castle Hohenwald, which might +result in the arrest of the Freiherr and his son Arno in addition to +that of the Finanzrath and Count Repuin, which had already been +ordered. Stern necessity alone had overcome considerations which would +else have prevailed even with the highest authorities, and both search +and arrests were confided to the charge of the famous Geheimrath, who +was at the head of all investigations of the treasonable combinations +still existing after war had been declared. Thus the police official +was, in fact, the leader of this expedition to Hohenwald, although for +form's sake he appeared as the colonel's assistant, and this galled the +old soldier, for the Geheimrath's past was more than questionable; he +owed his lofty position entirely to his cunning. Schlichting would +gladly have replied harshly to the exultation of the man who, with his +old, wrinkled face and large, prominent eyes glaring through round +spectacle-glasses, looked like nothing so much as a malicious and +evil-minded kobold, but considerations of duty kept him silent. Styrum, +however, felt bound by no such considerations, and when the Geheimrath +went so far as to stigmatize all the inmates of the castle as +conspirators he indignantly repeated the obnoxious word, and added, in +a deeply offended tone, "You would do well, Herr Geheimrath, to be +better informed before you apply such an epithet to the old Freiherr +von Hohenwald or to my comrade and friend, the Freiherr Arno. As to the +latter, I can vouch for his patriotism and devotion to his country; he +is incapable of treason, and there is nothing but unfounded rumour, so +far as I can learn, that can cause you to regard the old Freiherr as a +conspirator."</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel nodded approvingly to the younger officer, while the +Geheimrath looked at him with a smile half of pity and half of contempt +as he replied, "It is the privilege of youth to trust and to hope; you +must not wonder, however, that with my experience I am readier to +believe in guilt than in innocence. This, however, shall not prevent me +from searching with equal vigilance for proof of the innocence as well +as of the guilt of those under suspicion. If your friend is, as you +believe, innocent, his fate is in good hands; I am terrible only for +the guilty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you believe that Baron Arno may be guilty?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe nothing, Herr Count. I only know that there are +incontestable proofs that the Finanzrath von Hohenwald has treasonable +relations with Count Repuin and other French agents; that he has +employed leave of absence granted him from official duty to make +various expeditions from Castle Hohenwald to the large South German +cities, always returning thither again, and that in his letters he has +expressed the hope of winning over his father and brother to what he +calls the 'good cause.' I know further that he has lately developed a +feverish activity, and that this very morning he arrived at Station +A---- in company with Count Repuin, the most dangerous of all the +French agents, doubtless intending to visit Castle Hohenwald in order +to mature with their associates those arrangements that cannot be +confided to paper. Therefore you must not be offended, Herr Count, if +an old police official makes use of the word 'conspirator' in +designating these associates. If your friend Baron Arno is no +conspirator so much the better, but at present his case has an ugly +look, and I must warn you both, gentlemen, not to allow your belief in +his innocence to betray you into any action detrimental to the success +of our expedition hither."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We know our duty, and need no reminder that it is to be fulfilled," +the colonel haughtily replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am convinced of it, and beg to assure you that no 'reminder' was +intended," Steuber rejoined, after which, leaning back in the carriage, +he made no further attempts at conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">Arrived in the castle court-yard, the Geheimrath sprang out of the +barouche with youthful agility, and after a few whispered words to his +assistant, requested the colonel, who followed him somewhat less +briskly, to place guards at every point of egress from the castle into +the garden, and then to present him to the Freiherr von Hohenwald. "The +sooner the search is begun," he added, "the more secure we are of +results."</p> + +<p class="normal">With the best grace he could muster the colonel ordered Styrum to place +guards as required.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile, old Franz, hearing the clatter of the horses upon the stones +of the court-yard, made his appearance, staring in dismay at the +strangers who dared, against his master's commands, thus to invade +Castle Hohenwald.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We wish to speak with the Herr Freiherr von Hohenwald. Conduct us to +your master!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Franz gazed open-mouthed at the man who uttered these words in an +imperious tone. What, show a stranger into his master's room +unannounced, and no permission asked! It was inconceivable.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Herr Baron cannot see any one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He will see us!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; the Herr Baron has expressly ordered that no strangers are to be +announced."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are not to announce us, but to conduct us to him!" And as he +spoke, the man with the spectacles had so threatening an air that old +Franz felt constrained to obey. "This way, then!" he said, sullenly, +leading the way to the garden-room, followed by the colonel and the +Geheimrath.</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Fatigued and agitated, after Werner's departure the old Freiherr lay +wearily back in his rolling-chair, his thoughts busy with Anna, who had +so often sung him the very song that Celia was now beginning to play on +the piano. Arno sat beside him silent and sad, listening to his +sister's charming rendering of the well-known melody.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is past; and all is so different from what I had hoped," the +Freiherr said, after a long pause, taking his son's hand and pressing +it. "She has left us, and all my hopes are crushed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What were your hopes, father?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is useless to speak of them." Another pause ensued; the old Baron +sadly gazing at his son, who was again lost in thought. Then he spoke +once more, "Tell me frankly, Arno, am I wrong in thinking that our Anna +had grown very dear to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">At this unexpected question Arno hastily started from his seat, and +paced the apartment to and fro, then paused and confronted his father. +"Why ask such a question?" he said, reproachfully. "What is to you, +father, or to any one, whether I loved or hated her? Our Anna, do you +call her? Have you forgotten that she is the wife of that wretch whom +Werner has chosen for his friend? She is Frau von Sorr! Do you know, +father, that at times I think the thought will drive me mad!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought so!" the old Baron rejoined, taking his son's hand as he +stood before him. "It has been so great a pleasure to me to watch you +during these last few weeks. My Arno will be happy after all, I +thought. I dreamed of her as the lovely mistress of Hohenwald, and +now--now it is all over."</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno did not reply. Again he paced the room restlessly to and fro, +never heeding the unusual bustle that had arisen in the court-yard.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr too was only aroused from his brooding reverie by the +sound of footsteps in the hall and the sudden flinging wide of the +doors to admit Count Schlichting, followed by the Geheimrath Steuber, +while almost at the same moment steps resounded upon the terrace, and +two dragoons with drawn sabres stationed themselves at the glass door +leading to the garden. At this sight the old Baron's sadness was +converted into violent anger. "Thunder and lightning, Franz! How dare +you introduce visitors unannounced!" he exclaimed, furiously, to the +old servant, who stood in the doorway quite uncertain which to fear +more, his master or the terrible man in spectacles.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't scold your servant, old friend," said Count Schlichting, +approaching the Freiherr's rolling-chair and taking his reluctant hand. +"He conducted myself and this gentleman hither only upon compulsion. +And we do not intrude voluntarily upon your seclusion, but in obedience +to an august command, which, I am sure, will be respected by the +Freiherr von Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Freiherr gazed at the colonel with flashing eyes. He had not seen +him for more than fifteen years, and had not at first recognized him. +Now he remembered his old friend well, but his anger was not diminished +thereby, and he had to put the greatest restraint upon himself to +suppress another outbreak. He looked from the colonel to the +Geheimrath, and then out upon the terrace at the two dragoons stationed +there, and the case suddenly became clear to him. He was not surprised +that suspicion should attach to him in consequence of Werner's +intrigues. True, he had never contemplated being arrested, but his +anger died away when he reflected that the colonel was merely +fulfilling his duty as a soldier, and he had no fear of consequences, +for he was conscious of his innocence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Quickly regaining his composure, he returned the pressure of the +colonel's hand and said, "Those two blue fellows out there explain the +'august command' which brings my old friend here. It is not your fault +that you must fulfil your duty, which, however, may perhaps allow you +to inform me why the Freiherr von Hohenwald is arrested in his own +castle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not quite that yet, old friend,--no fear of that," the colonel +replied, kindly. "My orders certainly are to arrest the Finanzrath, +your eldest son, and Count Repuin, your guest, and to assist this +gentleman, the Geheimrath Steuber, from Berlin, in the execution of his +orders, which are to search the castle for treasonable matter. Until +this is over I must indeed beg you not to leave this room."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A request with which I shall have no difficulty in complying, since I +am, as you see, confined to my rolling-chair," the Freiherr replied, +with a smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see it with regret; but this gentleman also,--Baron Arno von +Hohenwald, if I do not mistake,"--Arno bowed in silence,--"and the +young lady,"--the colonel greeted Celia with chivalrous courtesy,--"I +must entreat to remain here until my disagreeable duty is finished. The +first and hardest part of it, unfortunately, concerns your eldest son +and Count Repuin, for whom I am forced to make search."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will be fruitless," the Freiherr quietly replied. "My son Werner +was in the castle, but he left it more than half an hour ago. Count +Repuin I do not know. He has never been my guest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is not true!" the Geheimrath exclaimed. "The Count certainly +accompanied the Finanzrath to Hohenwald,--both must be concealed in the +castle!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir! how dare you accuse me of falsehood!" the Freiherr burst out; but +the colonel laid his hand upon the old man's shoulder and said, kindly, +"Be calm, old friend. The Herr Geheimrath has in his zeal for duty made +use of a wrong expression. He cannot mean to accuse of falsehood a +nobleman whom he has been ordered to treat with the greatest +consideration. He will apologize for his error."</p> + +<p class="normal">This the Geheimrath immediately did, conscious that he was in the +wrong, and never reluctant to make use of smooth words. Nevertheless he +maintained that both the Finanzrath and Repuin were probably still in +the castle, although without the Freiherr's knowledge. He chose his +apologetic phrases so well that the old Baron was entirely appeased, +and even condescended so far as to explain that a certain Herr von +Sorr, and not Count Repuin, had been his son's companion, and that they +had left the castle together about half an hour previously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For this you have my friend's word," the colonel remarked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The word of honour of the Herr Freiherr von Hohenwald will suffice +me," the police official rejoined.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My simple assertion must suffice you, sir," the old man burst forth +again.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Geheimrath looked keenly at him for a moment, and then said, with a +courteous bow, "It is the word of a man of honour, and therefore a word +of honour; it suffices entirely. May I now beg the Herr Baron to allow +me to proceed in my search of the castle?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have nothing to say; do your duty!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For the present, then, Herr Baron, I take my leave, only requesting +that the colonel will accord me the assistance of his adjutant in my +search, if he would himself prefer remaining here with his old friend, +I hope shortly to be able to report to you the result of what I feel +convinced will be a fruitless investigation."</p> + +<p class="normal">This proposal was most welcome to the colonel, who rejoiced to pass the +time with his friend instead of assisting in searching the castle, a +duty that would have been extremely repugnant to the old soldier. He +therefore acceded to all the Geheimrath said, and Steuber left the +room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Outside, his first care was to despatch his assistant upon a fleet +horse, taken from one of the dragoons, to intercept the flight of the +Finanzrath and Repuin, giving the man the most minute directions as to +how this was to be done, and how he should procure the assistance +necessary to his success in so doing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he turned to old Franz, over whom two dragoons had mounted guard, +and demanded his guidance over the castle. Poor Franz was so completely +subdued by the martial array about him, and above all so terrified by +the glance of the eyes behind the spectacles, that he obeyed with +submissive promptitude. Encountering in the hall Count Styrum, who had +just concluded the posting of his dragoons, Steuber detained him as he +was about to pass on to the garden-room, and said, "May I pray you to +follow me, Herr Count? The colonel has permitted me to demand your +assistance in the search I am about to begin."</p> + +<p class="normal">Styrum would gladly have refused to fulfil so disagreeable a duty; his +pride rebelled against assisting in a search in his friend's house, but +the Geheimrath, who suspected what was in his mind, soothed his wounded +sense of honour by adding, "I do not ask you, Count, to take any part +in this search, which indeed I now believe will be entirely fruitless. +The aid I need, and which your superior officer permits me to require +at your hands, consists simply in your presence as a witness during my +search. Thus you are a substitute, as it were, for your friend Baron +Arno von Hohenwald, to whom you may be able to render essential +service. May I look for your kind compliance with my wish?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am ready," Styrum replied, and, with old Franz for a guide, they +betook themselves to Werner's apartment.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">The Finanzrath, when he stayed at the castle, occupied a spacious room +in a retired wing, where, between the windows, stood his writing-table +with its many drawers and compartments. This immediately attracted the +Geheimrath's attention. Upon it lay an unopened letter, which Steuber +at once took possession of and coolly opened. Looking up as he did so, +he smiled at the expression of an outraged sense of honour on Styrum's +face, and then read the letter aloud. "Make no further attempt to win +over your father and brother,--it might be dangerous. Unfortunately, +some of our friends have been very imprudent. I have received +trustworthy information that many of us are under strict surveillance. +The greatest caution is necessary; a new associate could avail us +little,--one traitor might ruin us. Your brother's friend, Count +Styrum, has already applied for re-admission to the army; if your +brother should do likewise, he will rank among our foes, not our +friends. Therefore I must entreat you to acquaint neither your father +nor your brother with any of our plans. More when we meet; until then +be upon your guard!" "And this precious epistle is signed 'A,'" the +Geheimrath added. "It tells me nothing new of the Finanzrath or his +friends, but it hints strongly that neither the old Freiherr nor his +younger son knows anything of the Herr Finanzrath's schemes. Do you +still think I did wrong to open the letter, Count?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Without waiting for a reply the Geheimrath went on to search in the +most careful manner every drawer and pigeonhole of Werner's desk, but +his trouble was vain. The drawers were all unlocked, but not one piece +of written paper was to be found anywhere. "Hm! the Herr Finanzrath has +been expecting me," Steuber muttered, impatiently. "There is nothing +here, and I have searched everything except the waste-paper basket." +Thereupon he proceeded to examine all the papers it contained, +worthless scraps, one and all, until nothing remained except some small +fragments at the very bottom of the basket. Then, while the Count +looked on in impatient wonder, he carefully assorted these, perceiving +that they consisted of two kinds of paper, one bluish and stiff, the +other creamy and delicate, murmuring, as he did so, "There can hardly +be more than two notes here, or the number of scraps would be greater."</p> + +<p class="normal">Styrum's interest began to be aroused. Since the Geheimrath now seemed +inclined to believe in the innocence of Arno and his father he was no +longer so distasteful to the Count, who testified his awakening +interest by drawing a chair up to the table and closely watching the +arrangement of the fragments of paper. His attention flattered the +Geheimrath, who showed himself in the most amiable humour. "We will +first undertake the strong, bluish paper," he said; "there are fewer of +the scraps, and our work will be comparatively easy. I fear, however, +that we are very indiscreet; the writing here is a lady's, and I +suspect we have to do with a love-affair." In a short time the sheet +lay completely fitted together before the official, who rubbed his +hands with his peculiar chuckle and said, "It is no love-letter; I was +mistaken; but it is from a lady, and not even addressed to the Herr +Finanzrath, but to Fräulein Adèle von Guntram, in M----."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A letter to Adèle!" Styrum exclaimed. "Do you know Fräulein von +Guntram, Count?" "Certainly; the letter is addressed to my betrothed." +"Then the contents, which are quite incomprehensible to me, will +interest you all the more; perhaps you may divine from them how the +note came to be torn up in the Finanzrath's waste-paper basket." And he +read:</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">"What will you think of me, dear Adèle, if a few hours after writing my +last letter I tell you not to heed the request it contained? I hope +soon to be able to let you know why I do this, but I cannot tell you +to-day. I cannot leave Castle Hohenwald, and so you are relieved of the +burden of looking for another situation for me. Farewell, dear; you +will soon hear farther from your</p> + +<p class="right">"<span class="sc">Lucie</span>"</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Styrum listened with the greatest attention, but, although his +betrothed had told him of the letter from Lucie in which she had +entreated that another position might be found for her, he could give +the Geheimrath no information as to why this letter, which had +evidently been written since, should be found in the Finanzrath's +waste-paper basket.</p> + +<p class="normal">Steuber tossed it aside and began upon the creamy-coloured scraps, over +which he worked diligently for nearly an hour. When the letter lay +complete before him he uttered an involuntary exclamation of delight. +"This," he said, "is a very important document; it puts me upon a fresh +scent. It is addressed to Count Repuin, care of Colonel von Berngberg, +in Cassel. Colonel von Berngberg has never before been suspected of +hostility to the government; this is a reward for all the trouble we +have had." Again the malicious twinkle of his eyes, the joy he +evidently felt at the implication in treasonable schemes of a man +hitherto thought loyal, disgusted Count Styrum, who, on the spur of the +moment, said haughtily "I must pray you, Herr Geheimrath, to spare me +the contents of this letter; any prying into official secrets is of +course extremely distasteful to me as a soldier and officer."</p> + +<p class="normal">Steuber looked up from his work for a moment and nodded kindly. "I +understand you, Count, but, unfortunately, I cannot relieve you from +the duty of listening. I am working under orders, and in the service +for the time of your superior officer, whom you now represent. Besides, +I will wager that you will not regret listening to the letter that now +lies before me. It was written by the Finanzrath, and afterwards, for +some unknown reason, destroyed by him; and it runs thus:</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">"I write in the greatest haste, my dear Count, to tell you that I have +received intimations, whether from a trustworthy source or not I cannot +say, that our correspondence is known and watched. It is better to be +careful: therefore do not intrust your letters to the post again. Send +them in the way you know of; it is more secure, although less speedy, +than the post. I will make one more attempt to win over my father and +my brother, but I tell you frankly that I fear it will be fruitless. My +father is no politician, and Arno is an idealist whose heart is set +upon a united Germany. If he should re-enter the service he will +probably fight against our friends. Indeed, he is so enthusiastic a +'patriot' that it is questionable whether it would be wise to attempt +to influence him. <span style="letter-spacing:10px"> </span>Always yours,</p> + +<p class="right">"'W. Von H.'"</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">As he finished it the Geheimrath looked up to his companion with a +smile of triumph. "Are you satisfied now with my work, Count?" he +asked. "We may inform Count Schlichting that there can be no possible +pretext for arresting the Freiherr or his son Arno; not a shadow of +suspicion rests upon them. What do you think? For my part I consider +our search ended; there is nothing more to be found here. Let us go and +report to the colonel. My task at Castle Hohenwald is over."</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Count Schlichting felt a sense of relief when the Geheimrath left the +garden-room and he found himself alone with his old friend and his +children.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is but a sorry errand of mine here, Hohenwald," he said, seating +himself beside the Freiherr's rolling-chair; "but you must not take it +ill of me, since I accepted the part assigned me in hopes that you +would rather see a friend than a stranger, odious although his duties +might make him in your eyes. I am rejoiced that Werner got wind of our +coming and has vanished; now my hope is that that cursed Geheimrath may +poke his infernal nose wherever he chooses in the castle without raking +up any evidence against you and Arno."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you any doubts on that head?" the Freiherr asked, bitterly.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a degree of embarrassment in the colonel's air as he replied, +"No, not that; but politics nowadays are puzzling. I have the greatest +confidence in you; but who can judge for others? Here's the Finanzrath +doubtless an excellent fellow in other respects, has dabbled in plots +and schemes which are now thought treasonable, but which may, at +another turn of the wheel, lead him to a ribbon and star. To-day a +warrant of arrest is out against him, but who knows whether in another +month he may not be held in high honour in Saxony and Southern Germany? +I should be very sorry if you, old friend, and your son, who fought the +Prussians bravely four years ago, had been led into any indiscretions; +but indeed I could not blame you, for, God knows, it is hard enough for +us Saxons to fight shoulder to shoulder with our former foes, against +those to whom we owe it that we are not to-day in the position of the +poor Hanoverians and Hessians. I am an old soldier, and go wherever my +king sends me; but I cannot say that this time I unsheathe my sword +with any enthusiasm."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I never rejoiced more to draw mine!" said Arno, whom the colonel's +expressions had evidently pained. "In 1866 I fought with bitterness, a +German against Germans, and I left the service with a savage hatred for +Prussia smouldering within me; to-day it is forgotten in love of +country, of the German fatherland, of which Prussia is now the +representative, standing foremost in the conflict with the arch-enemy +of German freedom, and as the defender of our German Rhine against +French greed of territory. If my brother can have forgotten the duty he +owes to his country, it is all the more incumbent upon me to do what I +can to wash away all stain of treason from the Hohenwald name."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That you will surely do, my dearest brother!" Celia cried, with +glowing cheeks. "Your fidelity will atone for Werner's treachery, and +our father will bless you for vindicating the honour of his name."</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel looked at them with a smile as he stroked his gray +moustache, and said, "Aha, I see clearly that Steuber's long nose will +soon forsake Castle Hohenwald! You have cause to be proud of your +pretty daughter and your son, old friend; still, we will not judge +Werner; let every man be true to his own convictions. I hear with +pleasure, Herr von Hohenwald, that you wish to re-enter the army. I am +at your service in this matter; nothing would give me greater +satisfaction than to have so brave an officer in my regiment, and I +will, if you authorize me to do so, apprise the king of this when I +take him the news to-morrow of our fruitless errand to Castle +Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">This offer Arno gladly accepted, and it was thereupon agreed that he +should accompany the colonel to Dresden that he might immediately join +his regiment. All of the little party in the garden-room, in the +interesting conversation that ensued, quite forgot the object of the +colonel's visit, and were only reminded of it after a long hour by the +entrance of Count Styrum with the Geheimrath.</p> + +<p class="normal">While Arno was greeting his friend with cordial delight, Steuber set +the colonel's mind entirely at rest by his report, and by the request +that the dragoons might be sent back to A---- and himself relieved of +all further duty, since no possible suspicion could attach to any of +the present inmates of the castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">A quarter of an hour later the obnoxious official took his departure, +while the colonel and Styrum, upon the Freiherr's earnest invitation, +remained in the castle a few hours longer, that Arno might conclude his +preparations for leaving, and accompany them to A----, there to take +the night train to Dresden.</p> + +<p class="normal">The time for parting came. The colonel and Styrum took leave of the old +Baron and went down into the court-yard, where the carriage was in +waiting. Arno was left alone for a moment with his father and sister. +The old man was deeply moved. It evidently caused him an effort to +release his son's hand from the firm clasp in which he held it, while a +tear rolled down his wrinkled cheek upon his silver beard. "Farewell, +Arno! farewell, my dear son, pride and delight of my age," he said, +drawing his son gently down to him and, for the first time since that +son had grown to manhood, pressing his lips to his brow. "Farewell, +Arno!" he repeated. "Make me one promise before you go. If, when you +return, I am no longer here, be a father to my Celia. I place her +happiness in your hands. You must not sacrifice it to an hereditary +prejudice, but make good a promise I gave our Anna, and if you ever +meet Kurt von Poseneck in the war forget the family feud, and treat him +kindly. For Celia's sake look upon him as a brother, for I have +promised our Anna that when he comes back he shall be Celia's husband."</p> + +<p class="normal">Celia threw her arms around her father's neck and burst into tears, but +the old man gently put her away from him, and, paying no heed to Arno's +look of startled inquiry, lay back in his chair. "Go, children!" he +said, in a feeble voice. "You must leave me. This parting is almost +more than I can bear. Celia, go with Arno to the carriage. Farewell, my +dearest son! Your father's blessing be upon you in the coming struggle +for the fatherland!"</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Months had passed since the beginning of the war; the German hosts had +overrun France, and were girdling Paris with an iron ring, making its +surrender but a question of time, while upon the ruins of the empire +that had crumbled to decay at Sedan the young republic had been born to +pursue with the energy of despair the strife that had been bequeathed +to it by imperial policy.</p> + +<p class="normal">The pretty village of Assais was among the foremost to declare itself +devoted to the republic, following the lead of the Marquise de Lancy, +the widowed châtelaine of the castle of Assais, who, although a Russian +by birth, was an enthusiastic supporter of the new government. Towards +the end of September, however, the Marquise had departed for England, +leaving the castle in the charge of a cousin, the Baron de Nouart, who +had arrived at Assais only a short time previously in company with the +brother of the Marquise, a Russian count. The Baron was reported to +have been so busy in Germany in the French interest that an asylum in +the castle of Assais was exceedingly welcome to him. His reputation in +this respect stood him in good stead with the villagers, who otherwise +were by no means favourably impressed by the appearance and manner of +the substitute of their fair châtelaine, which were those of a man of +dissipated life given over to the vice of drinking.</p> + +<p class="normal">Assais had hitherto escaped any visit from the Prussian soldiery, but +its time of immunity had passed. One morning in October an officer of +Uhlans, with a small detachment of Prussians, spread terror in the +village by galloping through its principal street towards the castle, +where he demanded to speak with the Baron de Nouart. The Baron, who had +been apprised of the approach of the Prussians, had prepared to receive +them after rather a singular fashion. Retiring to his apartment, he had +donned a fiery-red wig, with a false beard and moustache of the same +colour, while a pair of dark-blue glass spectacles made the colour of +his eyes entirely undistinguishable. Thus disguised he appeared before +the young officer of Uhlans in the court-yard of the castle. The +officer scanned the strange figure before him rather curiously as he +asked whether he had the honour of addressing the Baron de Nouart, and +whether he could speak German. Upon being assured of the Baron's +identity, as well as of his inability to speak German, although he +understood it perfectly, the young man continued the conversation in +French, informing the Baron that a regiment of infantry and a squadron +of Uhlans were about to occupy Assais; that quarters must be provided +in the castle for the colonel, officers, and part of the men,--the rest +could be accommodated in the village. The more willing the inhabitants +showed themselves to receive the Prussian soldiers the less cause +should they have for complaint. Having delivered himself thus, and +having been assured by the Baron that the castle should be at the +disposal of the colonel when he arrived, the Uhlan departed with his +men to inspect the village accommodations.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Baron was as good as his word. Towards evening, when Colonel von +Schlichting, with his officers, arrived, the preparations for their +reception were far more complete than was required by the rules of war. +The Baron kept himself in the background, and was visible only to the +Uhlan commander and the colonel, who was by no means favourably +impressed with the man who, hat in hand, received him in the castle +court-yard and in execrable German declared that he would gladly do all +in his power for the comfort of the German officers, but must request +to be allowed to retire, as he was a very sick man, most of the time +keeping his bed by the physician's orders. His servile demeanour +disgusted Count Von Schlichting; but he was obliged to admit that he +did not promise too much, so admirable was every arrangement for his +comfort.</p> + +<p class="normal">At dinner, several of the officers expressed their surprise at finding +such luxurious quarters and such excellent wines in so secluded a spot, +and loudest in his praise was the Uhlan captain of horse, who had been +ordered with his squadron to the support of the Saxon regiment in the +work of ridding the surrounding country of the bands of franctireurs by +which it was infested. "There are no such quarters in all France!" the +captain cried, with enthusiasm; "such rooms, such a kitchen, and such a +cellar! Indeed, gentlemen, the Baron de Nouart deserves a toast for his +hospitality. He is not handsome, that there is no denying; but here's +to his health!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Saxon officers joined, laughing, in the Prussian captain's toast, +and even the colonel did not refuse it, although he drank it with no +genuine cordiality. He turned to Count Styrum, beside whom he was +sitting at the large round table in the dining-hall. "Are you as much +pleased with our host, Count, as are our Prussian comrades?" he asked, +in a tone too low to be heard by the others; "although I must confess +that our reception here has exceeded my expectations, I am most +unpleasantly impressed by our host; he reminds me of some one whom I +have seen, I cannot remember whom."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's odd," Count Styrum replied; "my own experience is the same. I +only saw the man for a moment, and at a distance, and yet it seems to +me that I have seen him somewhere formerly, though where I cannot for +the life of me remember."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you sure?" the colonel asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, colonel; such fancies are very little to be relied upon. It struck +me, however, that the Baron beat a hasty retreat as soon as he espied +me, although I may have been mistaken there, too."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a singular coincidence, however, and I begin to think that +Monsieur may have some reason for requesting that we will in future +communicate with him through his factotum Gervais."</p> + +<p class="normal">The conversation was interrupted by Captain von Hohenwald, who came to +report that the men had been peacefully distributed among the +inhabitants both of Assais and of the neighbouring villages. Arno had +scarcely taken the place at table indicated to him by the colonel, with +whom he was a favourite officer, when the young Uhlan lieutenant, who +had brought the news of the approach of the regiment to Assais in the +morning, entered the dining-hall, and was presented by his superior +officer, Von Säben, to Count Schlichting as Lieutenant von Poseneck.</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno's attention was at once arrested upon hearing the familiar name. +He had never yet encountered Kurt von Poseneck,--Von Säben's squadron +had joined Count Schlichting's regiment only two days previously, Kurt +reported that he had made a reconnoissance in all directions and had +found no traces of the enemy. This information convinced the colonel +that, for the present at least, there was no risk in enjoying to the +full the repose and hospitality offered at Assais.</p> + +<p class="normal">And this the young officers certainly did. The best possible +understanding seemed to exist between the Prussians and Saxons, and the +hall resounded with mirth and laughter from the various groups into +which the large assembly soon divided.</p> + +<p class="normal">One of these consisted but of three, Count Styrum, Arno von Hohenwald, +and Kurt von Poseneck. They had withdrawn to a corner of the hall and +were engaged in earnest conversation. How much there was to hear and to +tell! Arno felt every trace of the foolish hereditary prejudice fade +within him as he looked at the handsome young fellow, who showed in +every word and glance his pleasure in thus meeting his Celia's brother. +Only from Celia's letters had Arno heard of Kurt, who had written of +his advancement to the old Freiherr. Now Kurt was not only begged for +the story of his experience since the beginning of the war, but Arno +drew from him the account of his first meeting with Celia, and of how +Frau von Sorr--Arno felt the blood mount to his cheek at the name--had +learned by accident of the intimacy between them.</p> + +<p class="normal">To that noble woman, Frau von Sorr, Kurt declared, glad indeed to make +a confidant of Celia's brother, did he owe it that his love for Celia +was no longer a secret. He had faithfully kept his promise never to +write to Celia, but he had written to Frau von Sorr two letters to be +forwarded to the Freiherr. One of these he feared had miscarried, as +Frau von Sorr had not alluded to it in her last letter to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Arno's heart beat furiously as he asked, with all the indifference he +could assume, "You correspond, then, with Frau von Sorr?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. Frau von Sorr permitted me to write to her, and promised to +forward my letters to your father when there were any tidings of me to +be transmitted to Castle Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you know where Frau von Sorr is at present, and how she has been +since leaving the castle?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt, all unmindful of the suppressed eagerness with which this +question was put, replied by giving a detailed account of Frau von +Sorr's departure from Grünhagen for Berlin, whence she had retired with +her father to his beautiful estate, Kaltenborn, on the Rhine, not far +from S----, where she had found a secure retreat from her husband's +persecutions. On this score Herr Ahlborn was now quite easy, since Sorr +and the Finanzrath had both been obliged to flee the country as +proscribed traitors, and any return to Germany for them was impossible +until the war should be ended. In her last letter Frau von Sorr had +described her life with her father as all that she could desire, +telling Kurt that she, with various other women of S----, had +established a lazaretto for wounded soldiers, and that she had also +prepared accommodations at Kaltenborn for some few, for whom pure +country air might be specially desirable. She expressed a hope that +Kurt never might be wounded, but prayed him if he were and could +contrive it to be sure and be brought to her at Kaltenborn.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And this," Kurt concluded, "I shall certainly do, if an unlucky bullet +should chance to lay me up for a time. I honour that woman from my very +soul; she is an angel!"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was with difficulty that Arno restrained himself from chiming in +with Kurt's enthusiastic admiration; his respect for his sister rose on +the instant. What penetration and judgment she had shown in bestowing +her heart upon this excellent young fellow! As a reward he allowed Kurt +to read Celia's last letter,--a letter that transported the lover in +thought to the Hohenwald forest, so vividly did it bring his love +before him in all that makes girlhood bewitching.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus the hours flew by unheeded until the three friends found +themselves alone in the spacious hall, when, as they were not weary, +Kurt proposed a short walk before retiring to rest, and they all +sauntered out into the autumn moonlight that was flooding the garden +and park. They walked on aimlessly until, emerging from a thicket of +shrubbery, they saw before them one of the wings of the castle. All the +windows here were darkened except two upon the ground-floor directly +opposite them. The friends paused and gazed involuntarily into the +apartment thus revealed to them. It was a large room, luxuriously +furnished. In a cushioned arm-chair, beside a round table in the centre +of the apartment, sat the Baron de Nouart, and on the table, at his +elbow, stood a glass and a half-empty bottle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just as the officers emerged from the bushes some slight noise probably +attracted the Baron's attention. He raised his head, seemed to be +listening for an instant, and then arose hastily and drew close the +heavy curtains that had been open to admit the air.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us turn round," Kurt said, in a low tone; "the Baron may else +suppose that we wish to spy upon him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which would be a poor reward for the hospitality he has shown us," +said Arno.</p> + +<p class="normal">Styrum said nothing, but followed his companions, and not until they +had reached the open lawn before the balcony of the dining-hall did he +remark, "The Baron seemed in a great hurry to screen himself from +observation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Naturally," Arno rejoined; "he had good reasons for so doing. Unless I +am much mistaken, that was no wine-bottle at his elbow; it held good +cognac. A fellow at such night-work hardly likes to be seen."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They told me in Nontron that he was an incorrigible drunkard; never +sober after noon," Kurt added.</p> + +<p class="normal">Styrum shook his head; natural as was this explanation of the Baron's +conduct, it did not satisfy him. "He may be a drunkard," he said, "but +I am convinced that he had other reasons for drawing those curtains so +quickly,--the same probably that made him turn away this afternoon when +he saw me. I have surely seen that man somewhere; he knows me and fears +my recognition. What else did you hear about him in Nontron, Kurt?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not much, but quite enough to justify any suspicion of his honesty. He +is said to be a distant relative of the widowed Marquise de Lancy, the +owner of the castle, where he made his appearance only a few weeks ago; +and although he is a zealous patriot, he is not, they say, a Frenchman, +but a Russian. They say, too, that he can speak German extremely well, +and yet this morning, when I addressed him in German, he could scarcely +reply in the same tongue, although he said that he understood it +perfectly. He is a suspicious character."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not see any reason thus far for your distrust of him," Arno +observed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nevertheless, the colonel shall learn what Kurt has told us," said +Styrum. "It is best to be upon our guard."</p> + +<p class="normal">The friends then separated and betook themselves to repose.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">It had been a weary day for the Baron François de Nouart; he had not +even been able to have recourse to his usual stimulant, so impressed +was he with the necessity of keeping every faculty upon the alert in +the trying position in which he found himself. That this Saxon regiment +of all others should have been ordered to Assais was a stroke of +terrible ill luck! Not until Gervais reported to him that all was quiet +in the castle for the night did he venture to seat himself comfortably +at the table in his room with the brandy-flask at his elbow. And even +then five minutes had scarcely elapsed when a slight noise causing him +to turn his head, he plainly saw through the open window the three +officers on the moonlit lawn, and that one of them was the man whom he +so dreaded, Count Styrum. He started up and closed the hangings +instantly, hearing distinctly as he did so Kurt's words, "Let us turn +round; the Baron may else suppose that we wish to spy upon him." Then +through a chink in the curtains he watched the three men disappear +among the bushes, his heart beating violently the while from fear of +detection. After watching some minutes longer he crept softly to +Gervais's room, and having received the steward's assurance that the +young Uhlan officer with his two friends had returned from the garden, +and that all three were now locked in their rooms, he made a stealthy +round of the castle. All was quiet, and he once more returned to his +room to seek the forgetfulness that he so craved.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the poor man had scarcely drained a few glasses of his favourite +beverage when he was once more disturbed, this time by a low tap upon +the window, which he had closed. Could it be a belated officer? Hardly; +he would not announce his presence thus. It must be some friend, who +for certain reasons did not dare to seek an entrance to the castle more +boldly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again the knocking came, quicker and more impatient; with uncertain +steps the Baron went to the window, and, as he looked through the +curtains, uttered an involuntary exclamation of horror, "Count Repuin!" +and in an instant the curtains were drawn aside and the window opened. +"Are you mad, Count? Do you not know that the castle swarms with +Germans?" he whispered, in dismay.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then give me your hand and help me to get in at this cursed window," +whispered Repuin, who stood without in the disguise of a peasant. +"Quick! Am I to stay here until the guard discovers me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I implore you to fly, Count. You will ruin both yourself and me; we +shall be shot if you are found in the castle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not be found. Do as I tell you, and give me your hand!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Baron had no choice but to obey. He extended his hand to the Count, +who seized it, and with but little difficulty clambered in at the +window, which was but a few feet from the ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">Scarcely had he closed it and drawn the curtains behind him when he +turned with a look of scorn to the Baron, "What a coward you are, +Sorr!" he said; "your hand trembles like a woman's. Shame on you! +Why, I do believe the fellow is drunk again. There stands the empty +brandy-bottle. I wonder whether there is enough sense left in your +drugged brain to make it worth while to talk reason to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Repuin's insulting words made no impression on Sorr; he was too well +used to such from the Russian. But the fright that the Count's visit +caused him, and the sense of the danger with which it threatened him, +helped to sober him. He drank several glasses of cold water, and then +bathed his head and face, after which he was sufficiently himself to +turn to the Count and say, "What evil star brought you to Assais? Are +you resolved upon my ruin?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bah! what is your ruin to me!" the Count rejoined, contemptuously. +"You run no greater danger than I do. Are you sufficiently collected +now to understand me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; what do you want?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wish to convince myself by personal information how matters stand +here in Assais; there is no confidence to be placed in the reports +circulating everywhere; these French make mountains out of mole-hills. +You must give me exact intelligence with regard to the enemy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How am I to do that? Do you suppose that Count Schlichting makes me +his confidant?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, Colonel Schlichting is here, then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; with his whole regiment, and a squadron of Prussian Uhlans."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hm! They are too many for us as yet, then,--we must wait a few days. +Is Count Styrum here? I suppose so from your disguise; you look like a +scarecrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, he is here, and also Arno von Hohenwald."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Baron Arno, my rival with your lovely wife. Let him look to himself!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What can you do? The Germans are too strong for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just at present they are, but in a few days we shall outnumber them; +victory has made them over-bold; they are venturing too far northwest, +and they imagine that they have to do only with some scattering bands +of franctireurs. I have learned enough for to-day, but you must +contrive to keep me informed of all that is going on here. For a +messenger you must employ the village maire, Fournier; his boy Louis +was shot a few days ago by some of these very Germans, and the man is +thirsting for revenge; he will do all and venture all to bring +destruction upon these men."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But they have placed their sentinels so that it will be impossible to +elude them, and, besides, how could anything of importance reach my +ears?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Leave the eluding of the sentinels to Fournier, and for important +information we must depend upon Gervais; let him listen well. These +officers can have no idea that he understands German perfectly?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not the least; the colonel always speaks to him in execrable French."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then let him be constantly on the watch for news, and let me hear it +instantly through the maire. May I rely upon you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are playing a dangerous game, Count! We shall be discovered; and +if we are, we are lost, for Count Schlichting knows no mercy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then none shall be shown him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He will need none. I implore you, Count, to moderate your zeal; you +will only plunge into ruin if you attempt to attack an enemy that so +outnumbers you. We, the maire and I, shall both be shot if we are +suspected of holding any communication with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Count gazed sternly at Sorr. For a moment he seemed to bethink +himself; then he said, laying a sharp stress upon each word, "I am +almost tempted to believe you capable of playing the traitor, Herr von +Sorr. I would not advise you to contemplate such a course; one step in +that direction and Count Schlichting shall learn by a letter from me +whom your clumsy disguise conceals. Remember you are closely watched. +If you are true to me you shall have your reward; but if you are a +traitor, by Heaven! you shall meet a traitor's death. If you should +escape a German bullet, a French one shall find its way to your heart. +Now you know where you stand. One more piece of advice: for God's sake +avoid that cursed brandy-flask for the next week at least. Come, be a +man, Sorr; promise me that you will not drink a drop for the next eight +days."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sorr promised, and Repuin took his departure, leaving, as he had come, +by the window. Sorr closed it softly behind him and stood at it for a +long while, dreading to hear a shot in the shrubbery, but all remained +quiet.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The next few days were gloomy with misty, rainy weather, and Count +Schlichting grumbled incessantly at the enforced idleness of his +command. Arno and Kurt employed the time in improving their knowledge +of each other, and passed many a pleasant hour together with Count +Styrum in exploring the park and gardens of the castle, which were +remarkably fine and spacious. On returning from one of these walks +about a week after their arrival at Assais, they found the castle +court-yard a scene of much bustle and excitement, and learned that +orders had arrived recalling the Saxon regiment to Nontron and +Chalus,--orders that had been received with enthusiasm, since they +pointed to a general massing of forces preparatory to a move upon the +French army of the north. The colonel came into the dining-hall with a +very cheerful countenance, and, taking his seat with the Uhlan captain, +Von Säben, and several officers, drank a bumper to an energetic +continuance of the war, and to its speedy victorious termination.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Uhlan captain alone was depressed, and with good cause; for while +the Saxon regiment was to take up its march to Nontron on the following +morning, the squadron of Uhlans was to remain at Assais until further +orders, to prevent the formation of bands of franctireurs in the +surrounding country. Although this was an honourable service, it was +one that could be crowned by no laurels, and life in the castle, after +the departure of the Saxon officers, would be by no means attractive. +The captain's only hope was that the colonel might be right in +declaring that before many days the Uhlans also would be withdrawn from +so advanced a post.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt von Poseneck too was greatly disappointed at the prospect of +losing sight of Arno von Hohenwald. He had so rejoiced in the +new-formed friendship with his betrothed's brother, and now it was to +be thus nipped in the bud. As soon as was possible without +churlishness, Styrum, Arno, and Kurt withdrew from the circle of their +comrades on this last evening and passed together a farewell quiet +hour. When they separated Arno pressed Kurt's hand. "We shall perhaps +not see each other to-morrow," he said; "let us say farewell to-night; +only for a short time, I trust. When you send a letter to the Rhine +remember to send my greetings in it, and in return I will send yours to +Celia, and tell her that the greatest pleasure I have had during the +campaign has been to learn to know and to cordially like my future +brother-in-law. Farewell, Kurt!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The three had lingered longer together than they had intended, and when +they separated at the foot of the staircase leading to Styrum's and +Arno's apartments perfect quiet reigned throughout the castle. Kurt's +room was at the end of a long corridor on this second floor, and as he +walked along it his steps sounded so loud in the intense stillness that +he took care to make his tread as light as possible, lest he should +arouse his sleeping comrades. The corridor was very long, and his room +lay next to his captain's, the windows of both looking out upon the +court-yard. The night had grown cloudy, and the long window before him, +that would have given some light if the weather had been clear, was of +no use to illuminate the darkness around him, but Kurt cared little +since he could not possibly miss his door, the second from the end on +his right. He had reached about the middle of the passage when his +attention was roused by a noise upon his left; he thought he heard +approaching footsteps. He paused and listened; yes, he was right; a +door opened softly upon his left; he had a momentary glimpse of a +spacious, dimly-lighted apartment, and Monsieur Gervais stood before +him holding a lantern, the light of which fell full upon the young +officer. The man was evidently much startled, but quickly regaining his +self-possession, bowed with the courtesy he always displayed to the +Prussian officers, and offered to light the lieutenant to his room, +excusing himself for having, under the impression that every one in the +castle had retired to rest, extinguished the lights.</p> + +<p class="normal">He then preceded Kurt with his lantern, and only left him when he had +lighted the candle in the young man's room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Why had the Frenchman been so startled, so evidently frightened, at +first sight of a Prussian officer? and whence came Monsieur Gervais? +These were questions which Kurt asked himself as soon as he was left +alone,--questions which he could not answer. It occurred to him that, +confident in their numbers, the officers quartered in the castle had +neglected many precautions that prudence would have suggested. Not one +of them had hitherto thought it worth while to explore all the rooms +and passages of the huge old castle. All had been content with the +comfortable quarters assigned them by Monsieur Gervais, and had not +reflected upon the facilities that the other rooms might afford for +concealing spies and traitors. Kurt determined to use the first +unemployed hours of the following day in exploring the castle +thoroughly, and particularly in ascertaining whence the door led at +which Monsieur Gervais had appeared. As far as he could judge at +present, the large room, of which he had had a glimpse, must be +traversed to reach the wing built out into the park, at present +inhabited by the Baron de Nouart.</p> + +<p class="normal">With the determination to atone for a neglected duty he ceased to think +of Monsieur Gervais or of danger threatening him; he dwelt rather upon +Arno's last words to him; his heart beat at the thought that he had +accepted him as a brother-in-law, and Celia's lovely image accompanied +him to the land of dreams.</p> + +<p class="normal">He never suspected that Monsieur Gervais was standing outside his +bedroom-door listening with bated breath to every movement of the young +officer, and that his ear was not removed from the key-hole until the +long, regular breathing inside told him he had nothing to fear from the +Uhlan's wakefulness. The enemy slept. Monsieur Gervais could now pursue +his way unmolested, but he would guard against a second surprise. He +put the lantern on the floor, took off his boots, and in his stockings +glided swiftly to the grand staircase, which he mounted to the very +topmost story of the castle, then through a labyrinth of lumber-rooms +he reached the door of a retired apartment; here he knocked softly +three times; a bolt inside was drawn and the door opened. "Is all +secure?" was whispered in the steward's ear.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; they are all asleep at last," was the whispered reply. "There is +no time to waste; take off your boots; you must go in your stockings as +I do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whither are you taking me?" the man asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Down-stairs and through the blue room to the Baron."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why not down the back-stairs, as I came up?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because two sentinels were placed there this very after noon. Quick! +quick! we have no time to parley; the Baron has been expecting you for +more than an hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">The maire, for it was Fournier, of whom Repuin had spoken to Sorr, +obeyed. In his stockings he noiselessly followed his conductor, who +cautiously guided him down the grand staircase to the door of the blue +room, at which Gervais had appeared before Kurt. When it had admitted +them and was closed behind them, the steward gave a sigh of relief. No +officers were quartered in this wing; he paused and handed the lantern +to the maire, saying, in a low tone, "Now you can find your way to the +Baron without my help. I will slip back to my room in the darkness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you not coming with me to the Baron?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; it is unnecessary; he knows all that I have been able to discover; +he will tell you what you ought to know. Farewell, Monsieur Fournier; I +will go and pray the saints to get you safely out of the castle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall get off safely; at least these cursed Germans shall never +capture me alive, and woe to the man who attempts to detain me! I will +not die unavenged!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The two men separated, and the maire pursued his way to the door of the +Baron's room, where he found instant admittance.</p> + +<p class="normal">De Nouart was pacing restlessly to and fro; he had been awaiting +Fournier for more than an hour, and had begun to fear that some +accident had befallen him. "At last you are come!" he exclaimed. "I was +almost crazed with terror lest you had been discovered!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No one suspects that I am in the castle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank God! If I could but know you once in the forest and on the way +to our friends, I should indeed bless my lucky star! We have all taken +our lives in our hands, maire."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what of that? To-day or to-morrow what matter? I would rather it +were to-day, but that I have some hope of vengeance upon these accursed +Germans."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will have abundant opportunity for that," the Baron rejoined; "but +you have a long journey to make to-night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be quick, then; tell me my errand and let me be gone," the man said, +gloomily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You can serve your desire for revenge upon your boy's murderers in no +way more surely than by carrying the important intelligence to Count +Repuin that the enemy is to depart to-morrow morning early for Nontron +and Chalus; the Uhlans only are to remain in Assais, and this probably +only for a few days. All this Gervais has learned from the colonel +himself. If Count Repuin has collected a sufficient force to make an +attack, he must be quick about it or he will find no foes in Assais."</p> + +<p class="normal">The thought that the hated Prussians might escape lent wings to the +maire's resolve; he leaped from the window, as Count Repuin had +formerly done, and vanished the next instant in the mist. Again, as +formerly, did the Baron listen, lest a shot should tell of the +discovery of the fugitive, whom in truth he cared for as little as for +that other, and yet for whose safety he trembled. His anxiety was +unnecessary, the deep silence of the forest was unbroken.</p> + +<p class="normal">He turned from the window and gave himself up to reflection upon the +dangers that encompassed him. Had he done right in apprising Repuin of +the intended departure of the Saxons? If the Count should make the +attack and be repulsed, would not Prussian vengeance first strike the +French inmates of the castle? It had been folly to incite the Count to +an attack! But no, whatever came of it he must keep his word to the +Russian. Prussian vengeance he might escape; the Russian's never. He +was bound body and soul to this man whom he hated; he could not free +himself from the chain.</p> + +<p class="normal">His head ached with the thoughts that crowded upon him; he was terribly +weary and exhausted. There was one way to cure this dull pain, one +means to scare away this terrible weakness; but he had promised not to +use it. A single glass of the fiery liquid in the flask on the +sideboard would send the blood dancing in his veins again; a single +glass! Repuin was far away, there was not the slightest danger +threatening for the moment; was he an utter slave to the Russian? No; +he would endure it no longer. He poured out a glass from the flask and +emptied it at a draught. Ah, this was strength and courage to face the +future! Another and another. He had not slept o'nights of late, now he +began to feel delightfully drowsy. By the time the flask was finished +he had slipped from his arm-chair to the floor, where he lay until the +following day.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Early the next morning, immediately after sunrise, the Saxon regiment +fell back upon Nontron. The weather was superb, and had its effect upon +both officers and men, although Count von Schlichting felt it his duty +to warn Captain von Säben before his departure that he must be upon his +guard against treachery. The old colonel did not like to leave so small +a force in so hostile a country, infested on all sides by franctireurs, +and not even the brilliant sunshine and the relief from inaction could +altogether dispel his regret at leaving them thus.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt von Poseneck was at some distance from Assais when the Saxons left +it. He had, with a command of about a dozen Uhlans, been ordered to +make a reconnoissance in search of franctireurs, and he could not, of +course, take leave of his friends. When he returned in the afternoon +Arno and Styrum had both gone, and Kurt found only his captain, Von +Säben, and two comrades ready in the large dining-hall to partake of +the excellent dinner provided for them by Monsieur Gervais.</p> + +<p class="normal">Had the sun not shone so brilliantly the large hall would have seemed +gloomy enough, and even as it was the emptiness and quiet of the +apartment, where lately so much noisy gayety had held sway, had a +depressing effect upon the Uhlan officers, which Kurt's report was not +calculated to dissipate. Even Von Säben looked grave, and was reminded +of the colonel's parting words.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt had nowhere found an enemy; if there really were bands of +franctireurs in the vicinity they had withdrawn into the forest of +Assais, which afforded hiding-places from which cavalry were powerless +to drive them. This forest was a sort of continuation of the castle +park, and if danger there were, it lay in the probability of an attack +upon the castle from this direction. That such a danger existed Kurt +was convinced by the behaviour of the country-people in all directions. +They had shown no open hostility to the Uhlans, but their demeanour had +been that of men looking forward to a time near at hand when they might +take revenge upon their foes. At all events this had been the +impression produced upon Kurt's mind, and Captain von Säben so far +heeded it as to double the watch at various posts around the castle, +and to take other precautions to insure safety.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt withdrew early from the dinner-table, intending to write letters +in his room, and as he passed along the corridor towards it his resolve +of the previous night suddenly occurred to his mind. He was directly +opposite the door at which Gervais had appeared, and the steward was at +present busy in the dining-hall, which he could not leave for some time +to come. There could be no time more favourable than the present for +his exploration of this part of the castle. He tried the door at which +he stood: it opened easily; he entered, and closed it behind him.</p> + +<p class="normal">He found himself in a large room hung with blue, and somewhat dark, as +it was lighted by but one window; it was only a thoroughfare, as was +plain from the furniture, that consisted simply of cabinets placed +against the walls. Kurt went to the window, and found that he had been +correct in suspecting that the room led to the wing extending into the +park, in which were the Baron's apartments; before him was the lawn, in +front of the Baron's windows, and to the left was the park itself; he +could even see the path by which he, with his two friends, had on the +previous day visited the stables at the back of the gardener's house, +where the Baron kept a fine pair of riding-horses, belonging to his +cousin the Marquise.</p> + +<p class="normal">Which of the four doors that opened into this apartment should he +select? He tried the one nearest him; it was unlocked, and he entered a +room furnished with the greatest luxury, and leading by an open door to +a bedroom as gorgeously fitted up. A writing-table stood beside the +window, and an open portfolio, from between the leaves of which, as +Kurt took it up, fluttered a torn envelope, addressed in German to the +"Herr Count Repuin." Count Repuin! Kurt knew the name but too well. +Herr Ahlborn had at Lucie's request told him his daughter's sad story, +and this name was branded in his memory as that of Lucie's unprincipled +persecutor. And he found it here upon an empty envelope postmarked +Brussels. The connection was easy to divine, Repuin was the brother of +the Marquise de Lancy, and the former inmate of this room. But he had +not fled to Germany alone: Sorr had accompanied him. There suddenly +occurred to Kurt an explanation of the fact that Styrum, Arno, and the +colonel, to all of whom Sorr was personally known, had been puzzled by +the resemblance of the Baron de Nouart to some one whose name they +could not recall. If all this were as he suspected, if Repuin, the +proscribed French agent, were really the brother of the Marquise de +Lancy, if his tool, Sorr, were here in the castle in disguise, +certainly the greatest caution was necessary; there was danger of +treachery on every hand, danger that perhaps could be averted only by +the instant arrest of the Baron de Nouart. And yet, could mere +suspicion justify such an arrest? The man would have to be taken to +Nontron, and tried there by a court-martial, which, under the direction +of the pitiless Count Schlichting, could end but in one way,--death.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt thought of Celia's friend, of Frau von Sorr; the death of her +worthless husband would restore her to life. But in an instant he +spurned the unworthy thought. His friendship for Lucie should never +influence him where duty was concerned. This duty, however, bade him +reveal his discovery to his superior officer; it was for him to command +in this matter, Kurt's part was to obey.</p> + +<p class="normal">The light was dying in the west, he had not time to continue his +explorations thoroughly, and, after satisfying himself that this room +was connected with De Nouart's apartments by a winding staircase, which +led past servants' rooms, Kurt returned unmolested to the blue room, +whence he issued unobserved into the corridor leading to his own and +Von Säben's quarters.</p> + +<p class="normal">He found his captain just returned to his room from a tour of +inspection of the posts about the castle, and quite ready to listen to +all that he had to say. Of course Von Säben knew nothing of Repuin or +of Sorr. Kurt explained who they were, and their complicity in +treasonable plots in Germany, without in any way mentioning Frau von +Sorr. They were both proscribed French agents.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The address on the envelope is, after all, your only ground for +suspicion that the proscribed Count Repuin is one and the same person +with the brother of the Marquise de Lancy, and that the Baron de Nouart +is a German, and the Herr von Sorr of whom you speak," the captain +said, when Kurt had finished his narrative.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That and the resemblance observed by Count Schlichting, Count Styrum, +and the Baron von Hohenwald between the Baron de Nouart and some one +whom they had seen."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But neither of these gentlemen was reminded of Sorr. Count Schlichting +has told me that he has an excellent memory for faces, and should +recognize one that he had once seen, even after twenty years. Would he +not instantly have known Sorr?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He probably never imagined that he should find him here in France +under the name of the Baron de Nouart. The Baron's avoidance of us, and +his pretended ignorance of the German language, seem to me very +suspicious circumstances." Kurt remarked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And yet they are hardly sufficient to warrant my arresting him and +sending him to Nontron," the captain replied. "The colonel is an +excellent man, but he is fond of a short shrift, and apt to take +suspicion for certainty. If he should discover Sorr and the Baron to be +one and the same person, he would have the poor devil shot without more +ado; and it may be that, even although he wishes to avoid us, he does +not meditate treachery. I am not fond of courts-martial, Herr von +Poseneck, and I do without them when I can. Your discovery is certainly +of importance, and it behooves us to be more upon our guard than ever. +We have been imprudent in instituting no thorough search of the castle. +This shall be undertaken to-morrow, and if we find proof of the Baron's +guilt he shall be brought to justice."</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">All the officers, Kurt with the rest, retired early on this evening, +Kurt imagining that the fatigue and excitement of the day would insure +him instant repose. But this was not so; he lay awake hour after hour; +sleep fled his eyelids. In vain did he woo her by all familiar means, +counting slowly to one hundred, reciting mentally verses learned in +childhood; he could not banish from his mind his last conversation with +his captain.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last he sprang out of bed. Better to pace his room to and fro for an +hour than toss restlessly there. The moon was at the full. Kurt went to +the window, whence he had a clear view of the spacious court-yard of +the castle. Opposite lay the farm-buildings in which a part of the +Uhlans were quartered, the stalls being appropriated to their horses, +and back of those Kurt could in the brilliant moonlight get a view of a +portion of the broad road leading to the village. The court-yard was +empty; the two sentinels posted in front of the stables were slowly +pacing to and fro, their sabres resting negligently in their arms, and +one of them, as Kurt was looking, so far forgot his duty in his sense +of security as to lean against the house and rest. This was a culpable +want of the vigilance which the captain had enjoined upon the guards on +the previous evening. The lives of many might depend upon the +watchfulness of any one of the sentinels posted in the court-yard.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt left the window and dressed, not hastily, but quite leisurely; he +would himself go down to the court-yard and make an example of any +soldier not vigilant at his post. He needed no light; the moonlight was +all that he required. When quite dressed he sat for a moment, his head +resting on his hand, reflecting whether it were not perhaps best to +visit the sentries placed in the park, when he was suddenly startled by +a shot; another and another came in quick succession, and then followed +a sharp rattle of musketry, apparently in the very court-yard.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kurt rushed to the window. Where was the scene of repose and security +upon which he had looked out little more than a quarter of an hour +previously? A disorderly crowd of armed men, some hundreds strong, was +pouring in at the court-yard gates and rushing towards the farm +buildings and stables, while along the road from the village a dark +mass was moving quickly, the moonlight glinting here and there upon +polished rifle-barrels. In a few moments the assailants had attained +their end; the two sentinels were shot down, the doors of the farm +buildings and stables were forced; there were but a few scattered +carbine-shots in answer to the continuous rattle of musketry; victory +over the Uhlans quartered there was easy for such overpowering numbers.</p> + +<p class="normal">One glance sufficed to show Kurt the danger threatening the entire +squadron. All in the farm buildings were lost; it might still be +possible, however, to save the officers in the castle and the men in +the village, but not a moment must be wasted, for already about thirty +franctireurs had turned from the farm buildings and were advancing +towards the castle. Kurt's presence of mind stood him in stead now as +it had done formerly in America. He saw plainly that there was but one +course by which death or capture could be evaded,--flight. Resistance +to such an overwhelming force would be madness. He could not even rouse +his brother officers on the ground-floor of the castle; the +franctireurs would be there before him. The captain he could rouse, and +together they might escape into the side wing of the castle, through +the room explored so short a time since by Kurt, and thence into the +park. If they could succeed in reaching the stables behind the +gardener's house, where they had seen the horses, they might perhaps be +able to ride by roundabout ways to the village in time to save the +Uhlans quartered there. In an instant Kurt had girded on his sabre and +armed himself with a revolver; then opening the door of the captain's +room, he found Von Säben just about to step out of it. He had been +unwilling, after his conversation with Kurt, to go to bed, but had +determined to inspect the various posts after midnight, and had thrown +himself into an arm-chair, where, however, he had slept soundly until +awakened by the noise of the struggle in the court-yard. He, too, had +recognized from his window, as Kurt had done, the folly of resistance +to so numerous a foe, but he was nevertheless about to go down to the +court-yard when Kurt rushed into his room. "You were right, Herr von +Poseneck," he said; "that villain Sorr has betrayed us! All is lost! +There is nothing for us but to die with our brave fellows; our place is +down there among them."</p> + +<p class="normal">He spoke as quietly as though he were inviting Kurt to walk with him in +the park; he awaited no reply, but was striding on to the head of the +grand staircase when Karl detained him. "There is nothing to be done +down there captain," he said; "the castle is lost, but we may escape to +the village and muster our men."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How? In one minute the rogues will be in the castle; the maire of the +village and Gervais--I recognized them both--are leading the band that +is evidently resolved upon capturing us in our rooms."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Still there is no need to throw away our lives,--we must make an +attempt to save our fellows in the village; perhaps escape is possible +through the side-wing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go on; I will follow you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Not another word was spoken; Kurt hurried on, revolver in hand, the +captain close upon his heels. When the two officers had reached the +blue room they could plainly hear the blows of the franctireurs upon +the doors of the rooms on the ground-floor; in another instant the two +men had entered the room, closed the door behind them, and hurried +through the other apartments towards the side-wing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Saved," whispered Kurt; "no one is quartered in this wing, we shall +encounter no enemy here." He was right; neither the Baron de Nouart nor +Gervais had dreamed that the German officers could escape through this +unknown wing and no precautions had been taken to prevent their doing +so. The wing was deserted and silent; the din of the struggle in the +court-yard sounded indistinct and muffled. Kurt, followed by his +captain, rushed down the winding staircase to the passage on the +ground-floor. By this the captain would have gained the park; but Kurt +again detained him. "That door can be seen from the court-yard," he +said, "and if we are perceived we shall have the whole rabble about our +ears. We must find a way into the park through the window of some one +of these rooms." He tried the first door they came to; it opened and +admitted the two officers to a lighter apartment. Here an unexpected +sight met their eyes. In an arm-chair before a table, upon which stood +his beloved brandy-flask, sat the Baron de Nouart. He had had recourse +to his favourite stimulant to steady his nerves while he sat in +terrified expectation of the attack. A revolver lay upon the table +ready, if he should be forced to take any part in the fray.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the door was suddenly opened and he saw before him the two +Prussian officers, Kurt with a revolver, the captain with a drawn +sabre, the Baron sprang to his feet and glared at the intruders with +lack-lustre eyes. He was half intoxicated, he could hardly stand +upright, but he still had sense enough to clutch at his revolver to +defend himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">But his hand never touched the weapon; before he could grasp it the +captain stretched him on the floor with a tremendous blow, delivered +with all his force, of his drawn sabre. He fell without a sound.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is he dead?" the captain asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We cannot wait to see," Kurt replied; "at all events he cannot betray +us!" And he hurried to the window. The lawn between the wing and the +forest lay quiet in the moon light; not a man was to be seen. He +listened,--only the distant noise in the court-yard fell upon his ear.</p> + +<p class="normal">He opened the window and lightly sprang out; the captain followed him, +confiding himself blindly to Kurt's guidance. They ran with lightning +speed across the lawn, and then in the shadow of the forest to the +gardener's house. All here was quiet,--every one had hurried to the +court-yard; the stable-door was open; there stood the two noble horses, +their saddles and bridles hanging upon the wall.</p> + +<p class="normal">In less time than it takes to tell it the two cavalry officers were in +the saddle and galloping furiously by a back-road to the village.</p> + +<p class="normal">A savage yell resounded from the castle. From one of the lighted +windows of the wing several shots were fired, but the bullets whistled +harmlessly past the riders' ears; the bewildering moonlight prevented +the marksmen from aiming truly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our flight is discovered. The forest is our only chance. This way!" +Kurt cried, as he drove the spurs into his horse's sides and turned +towards a narrow forest road that led by a longer roundabout way to the +village.</p> + +<p class="normal">The captain followed; but just as he entered the woods several shots +again flashed from the castle window; he wavered in his saddle: a +bullet had struck him in the side; he grasped his horse's mane with his +right hand, and managed to keep his seat and continue his furious +gallop after Kurt.</p> + +<p class="normal">The fugitives succeeded at last in gaining the open beyond the wood, +but here Kurt first noticed his companion's convulsive grip of his +horse's mane and his failing exertions to keep himself upright in the +saddle. "Are you wounded?" he asked, anxiously.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no reply. Loss of blood had produced unconsciousness, and +Kurt caught his captain in his arms just in time to prevent him from +falling from his horse. He dismounted with his lifeless burden, and, +laying it upon the grass beneath a tree, looked about for help. He +remembered that a mounted sentinel had been stationed here, where the +forest road ended in the open; but there was no horseman to be seen. He +could not have deserted his post; a brief inspection of the surrounding +field in the moonlight showed him that the soldier had been true to his +duty; he was lying dead in a pool of blood at a little distance; his +horse was nowhere to be seen, probably his murderers had carried it +off.</p> + +<p class="normal">What was to be done? Every moment of delay was ruin. The enemy had +discovered the flight of the two officers, there were horses enough to +be had for pursuit, and, although Kurt's short experience of his steed +had convinced him that he need not dread this for himself, he could not +desert his captain; how was he to be carried to a place of safety? Duty +called Kurt to Assais, where, as a few straggling shots informed him, +the fray had already begun, and duty forbade his abandoning his wounded +captain to the pursuing franctireurs. He could not delay, the moments +were priceless. "To Assais!" he exclaimed to himself. The outnumbered +Uhlans there needed a leader, who might perhaps save some few from +captivity and death; the captain himself would never have hesitated to +sacrifice his life for his men; had he been conscious he would surely +have ordered his lieutenant to leave him to his fate.</p> + +<p class="normal">He swung himself into the saddle again and rode towards the village, +but reined in his horse as he reached the top of a small eminence, +whence he had a full moonlit view of Assais. A dark mass of combatants +was heaving to and fro between him and the nearest houses of the +village, whence came a sharp rattle of firearms; the crowd parted, and +a portion of it approached him rapidly. His heart beat high as he +recognized it to be a detachment of Uhlans that had escaped from the +village and was now galloping towards him. There were but a dozen of +them, and as he rode to meet them with a thundering "Halt!" they obeyed +instantly, and an old sergeant, who recognized the lieutenant, gave him +an account of an attack upon the village, which had taken place almost +simultaneously with that upon the castle. The outlying guard must have +been fallen upon unawares and murdered by the villagers, as not one +shot had been heard from them. The Uhlans had been surprised in their +quarters by an overwhelming force of franctireurs,--ten Frenchmen to +one Prussian,--but in the general confusion this little band had +managed to get to horse and cut their way through the enemy. "If the +cursed Frenchman had only known how to handle their chassepots better," +the old man added, "not an Uhlan would have escaped." He did not fear +pursuit, "for the bumpkins had no idea of managing an Uhlan horse."</p> + +<p class="normal">The sergeant's tale convinced Kurt of the tragic fate of the +squadron,--probably for the most part surprised in their beds, murdered +or taken prisoner; all thought of rescuing them was vain. And yet the +young officer was sorely tempted to make one dash into Assais at the +head of the fugitives to rescue any of their comrades who might be +prisoners there. It cost him a hard struggle to decide to leave Assais +without one blow struck at the foe; but he knew that duty called him to +Nontron. He ordered three men to ride on before as quickly as their +horses could carry them to announce the fate of the squadron, and with +the rest he rode back to where the captain was lying, that he also +might be safely transported thither.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">There was savage revelry in Assais. It was the first victory that these +men, but lately mustered into service, had gained over the dreaded +Prussians,--a victory all the more brilliant since it had been won at +so little loss. Only two franctireurs had fallen in the short +conflict,--five or six had been wounded, and the Baron de Nouart had +been found dead in his room with his skull cloven.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was the entire loss suffered by the fortunate victors, who had +almost annihilated an entire squadron of those Uhlans of whose ferocity +such fearful stories were told.</p> + +<p class="normal">The light-hearted conquerors paid no heed to the fact that a couple of +dozen of the enemy and several officers had escaped; they had no fear +of the fugitives, they had not even attempted to pursue them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Intoxicated with victory, the exultant franctireurs rushed through the +village; the slight bonds of discipline that had restrained them at the +beginning of the attack were rent asunder, and Count Repuin, their +commander, with two or three French officers, attempted in vain to stem +the torrent; all commands were unheeded.</p> + +<p class="normal">The franctireurs associated the villagers with them in a search for any +Prussians that might still be concealed in the village, murdering any +such when found, and dragging their corpses through the mud with savage +yells, that made night hideous. Even women, drunk with the desire for +revenge, aided their husbands and sons in this ferocious work, +mutilating the dead in their fury and inciting others to the same +horrors. But there were exceptions; here and there a wife or maiden of +Assais risked her life to conceal some Prussian fugitive from the fury +of husband or lover.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Repuin looked on aghast at the savagery of the insane mob, who +had thus thrown aside all law and order. He hated the Prussians from +his soul, he was their implacable foe; but this wholesale murder, this +cowardly mutilation of the dead, aroused his indignation; he felt that +he had conjured up spirits that he lacked the power to control.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again and again he attempted to restore some degree of order, but his +commands were received with shouts of derision, and he owed it to the +interference of some of his officers that the rage of the franctireurs +was not turned against himself. There were scowling looks accompanying +muttered curses of the foreigner who dared to intercede for Prussians, +and he was obliged to look on inactive at the murderous work.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was perhaps the only one of the victors who felt no joy whatever in +the victory. His plan had been to inspire his raw troops with courage +and confidence by an easy conquest, and he had intended to withdraw in +good order with his prisoners as soon as the victory was won. He +now withdrew, after a last vain attempt to restore order, to the +dining-hall of the castle, where, with one of his young officers, he +paced restlessly to and fro. At each outburst of exultation that +reached his ears from without he vented savage curses upon the +canaille, who did not deserve that a man of honour should command them. +He knew only too well that each hour as it sped past increased the +danger that the easy-won victory would be converted into a disgraceful +defeat.</p> + +<p class="normal">The officers of the squadron had escaped; the two lieutenants on the +ground-floor had probably been awakened by the first shots and had fled +into the forest, leaving their uniforms behind them; from these there +was not much to fear, but the captain and his companion, who had slain +the Baron de Nouart when he had probably attempted to impede their +flight, had also escaped, and upon two fleet horses. The shots fired +after them had been unavailing; they could reach Nontron in a short +time and summon the colonel, Count Schlichting, to the rescue.</p> + +<p class="normal">And then? Repuin cast a glance at the stiffened corpse of the Baron de +Nouart, which had been brought into the dining-hall and lay there on +the floor in a corner half covered with a piece of carpet. He thought +of his last conversation with him, of how he had been warned by him not +to attempt an attack upon a foe so much the stronger. "Count +Schlichting knows no mercy!" had been Sorr's words. Then the Count had +received them with a sneer; now, as he thought of the near future, they +filled him with horror. The colonel had already heard of the struggle +in Assais; he was even now at the head of his regiment on the way +hither from Nontron to rescue and to avenge.</p> + +<p class="normal">Repuin was innately brave; he could laugh danger and death to scorn in +the heat of battle, but the idea of being taken prisoner and shot in +cold blood by the hated Germans drove the blood from his cheek. He +turned to the young officer at his side and confided his fears to him, +commissioning him to make one more attempt with a few experienced +soldiers to assemble the men in some degree of order.</p> + +<p class="normal">The officer promised to do his best, but his efforts were fruitless +until it was too late.</p> + +<p class="normal">The franctireurs, scattered through the village, refused to obey +the bugle-call; they were engaged in a wild orgie with some of the +country-people. Wine flowed in streams, and there were loud shouts of +"Vive la France! vive la victoire!" that never ceased until a +breathless messenger spread the news through the village with the speed +of lightning that a German host was marching upon Assais along the +roads from Nontron and Chalus, and that it would be upon them in less +than half an hour. This intelligence sobered in an instant those drunk +with wine and conquest. Now they hurried to obey the bugle-call, but it +was too late! An orderly retreat was no longer possible. This Repuin +perceived, as from the castle he marked the close ranks of the +approaching enemy, who, thanks to the mad neglect and want of +discipline of the franctireurs, was so near that he would reach the +village before the scattered Frenchmen could assemble together. Were +not fugitives already scouring the fields upon the horses of the slain +Uhlans? Should a panic ensue, rescue would be impossible; there might +be something, an honorable death at least, gained from a stubborn +defence of both castle and village.</p> + +<p class="normal">The bitter conflict lasted several hours; the Frenchmen, so lately +taken from the plough and work-bench, the franctireurs, so despised by +the Germans, defended every house in the village, and last of all the +castle itself, with a courage and heroism worthy of better success.</p> + +<p class="normal">The same franctireurs who, scorning all discipline, had been converted +into a mob of murderous savages by victory over defenceless Uhlans +surprised in sleep, returned instantly to their duty when a hard battle +was imminent. The example of a few cowards who escaped upon the Uhlan +horses found no followers. The young men with the villagers fought with +desperate courage; even the wounded refused to yield, and fell fighting +to the last in a hopeless struggle against the superior organization +and numbers of the Saxons, who, although at heavy loss, stormed every +house in the village, and finally gained possession of the castle +itself.</p> + +<p class="normal">Only a very few of the French succeeded in escaping to the forest, +where they scattered; the rest atoned with their lives for their brief +period of conquest, and the crimes committed in Assais.</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">The conflict had been terrible, crushing for the conquered, and tragic +enough for the victors, who had sustained heavy losses. If the +franctireurs had been better marksmen and had not suffered from the +death of their leader, Count Repuin, early in the fray, they would have +prolonged the struggle, and the German losses would have been greater +still, for the French had the advantage of a sheltered position.</p> + +<p class="normal">The village of Assais, when the battle was over, presented a ghastly +spectacle. Among the dead and dying that cumbered its streets the Saxon +soldiers were searching diligently for wounded comrades, who were +carried to the castle, where the regimental surgeons had their hands +full.</p> + +<p class="normal">The wounded officers, of whom there were not a few, were carried into +the dining-hall, where pallets had been arranged, upon which they might +rest for the brief space of time that the regiment could remain in +Assais. Its work of vengeance completed, it must immediately fall back +again upon Nontron.</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel's face was grimly sad as he entered the hall for a personal +inspection of the wounded. "We have suffered heavily," he said to Count +Styrum, who, with his arm in a sling, approached him. "Much noble blood +has been shed, and I take blame to myself for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What possible blame can attach to you, colonel?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I might have nipped the treachery here in the bud. From the first I +mistrusted that Baron de Nouart and his tool Gervais. But for my +weakness they would both have been brought to a court-martial, and then +all their villainous schemes would have come to light, your arm, +Styrum, would have been free from a sling, and your best friends, +Hohenwald and Poseneck, would not be lying there severely wounded. How +is it with Arno? What does the surgeon say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He gives us good hope. The wound is serious; he is still unconscious, +but the surgeon says that he thinks careful nursing will bring him +round."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Careful nursing!" said the colonel. "And where is he to get careful +nursing in this God-forgotten corner of France? In two hours at the +latest we must take up our march for Nontron, and even there our +wounded cannot rest. I must send them on farther. What nursing can they +have in the nearest hospital? They are all over-crowded. And can +Hohenwald bear the transportation to a hospital?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He can bear a farther journey than that if taken carefully. I believe, +colonel, that I can save Hohenwald's life if you will allow of my +undertaking his transportation to the only place where he will find +health for both body and soul."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not understand you, Count."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Upon a charming estate on the Rhine, near S----, a lady has +established a private hospital; beneath her care Arno will, I am sure, +recover."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Aha! I see, an affair of the heart. Who would have suspected it of our +misogynist? But S---- on the Rhine is far from here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will undertake to deliver him there safely with your permission, +colonel. My wound makes me incapable of service for some weeks, but I +have strength enough to superintend the transportation of poor +Hohenwald and of my cousin, Kurt von Poseneck, to S----. Your +permission is all that is needed, colonel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That you shall have. All that I can do for your friends shall be done. +How is Poseneck?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Doing fairly well. He has recovered his consciousness and can answer +for himself. His bed is the last; Arno's is next to the last."</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel walked down the row of beds, accompanied by Styrum, saying +a few kind words to each of the wounded officers. He paused for some +minutes beside Arno's couch, gazing sadly at the pale, unconscious +figure stretched there. "My poor old friend!" he murmured. "It will be +a hard blow for him to learn that his darling son is severely wounded. +I must write to him. Better hear it from me than from the papers. It +ought to console him to know how his son has distinguished himself +to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will console him still further, colonel," Styrum observed, "if you +will add in your letter that by your permission I have taken Arno and +my cousin Kurt to Kaltenborn, near S----. He will be quite satisfied +that Arno will be preserved to him if he knows that he is to be tended +and nursed by one whom the old Baron honours and loves as he does Frau +von Sorr."</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel turned hastily and looked in surprise at Styrum. "What name +did you say?" he asked, eagerly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fran von Sorr is the lady who has instituted a private hospital on her +father's estate of Kaltenborn."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you wish to take Arno to her; you would confide him to Frau von +Sorr's care?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, colonel; Frau von Sorr lived at Castle Hohenwald for some time as +governess to Arno's sister; she is warmly attached to the family, and I +know that the old Freiherr holds her in high esteem."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And Arno?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Esteems her no less than does his father."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hm! After a different fashion, perhaps," the colonel said, with a +smile. "Be assured I will do all that I can to further your wishes. +And, by the way, what has become of that scoundrel Sorr? Has Poseneck's +suspicion been confirmed? Is the Baron de Nouart, whom Captain von +Säben laid low with a sabre-stroke, found to be one and the same person +with Herr von Sorr?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There he lies," Styrum gravely replied! "I have no doubt upon the +subject, although the features seem greatly altered. I saw Sorr only +once at a ball, but I remember him perfectly, and recognized the dead +man's face, although it is disguised by a huge false beard."</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel turned and looked at the corpse of the supposed Baron. A +compassionate maid had washed the blood from the face, and in so doing +had loosened the false beard, which the colonel now tossed aside, and +all doubt as to the man's identity instantly vanished from the minds of +the two officers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is indeed he," said Schlichting; "he has reaped the reward of his +treachery, as has also Repuin, who was shot dead early in the +engagement. I think, Styrum, that both you and Herr von Poseneck will +agree with me that it is best so; we are spared the dealing out to them +the death of traitors."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke he went up to Kurt's couch, and the young man was quite +able to express his thanks for the colonel's promised aid in +transporting him to Kaltenborn. The surgeon, however, at this moment +made his appearance and forbade further conversation, as Kurt's wound +was in the chest and he had suffered from loss of blood. Count +Schlichting therefore gave his hand a farewell pressure and left the +hall.</p> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Several months have elapsed; how, during this time, those who have +played principal parts in our story have prospered may be gathered from +the following communications from the widowed Frau von Sorr to her +dearest friend:</p> +<br> + + +<p class="right">"<span class="sc2">Kaltenborn</span>, December 18, 1870.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<span class="sc">Dearest Adèle</span>,--What weeks of +suspense have passed since I last wrote +you!--passed amid hopes and fears, terrible distress, and yet happiness +unspeakable. I could not write; every moment that was not spent in care +of him seemed wasted in disloyal neglect.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At last the staff surgeon came to me yesterday with a beaming face and +the delicious words, 'Out of all danger!' Since then I have been in a +dream of happiness, and my first thought is to make you the sharer of +my joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That Arno is spared to me I owe entirely to the self-devotion of your +Karl. He has, I know, written to you how he obtained permission to +bring Arno and Kurt von Poseneck across half France to be nursed here +by me. But he has not, I am sure, told you at what an expense of +trouble and strength he with his wound did this. I never shall forget +the moment, now just six weeks ago, when he came to meet me below in +the hall. A messenger on horseback, from S----, had brought word that +three wounded officers, among whom was Lieutenant Kurt von Poseneck, +had been by their desire transferred to Kaltenborn for lodgment and +nursing, and that they would arrive in an hour at the latest. I was +ready to receive them, too glad to take charge of Kurt, and little +dreaming how near the other two were to my heart. I never can tell you, +dear Adèle, of all that I suffered during those first few days. Count +Styrum's exertions in bringing his charge to this place had been +superhuman; his own wound, not serious at first, had been greatly +aggravated, and for a time he was utterly prostrated. But now the +dreadful days are all past when the angel of death lingered beside the +two so near to me, Arno and Kurt. As soon as your Karl recovered from +the disastrous effects of his journey he joined me in care of them, and +never shall I forget the consolation of his presence and his words. +When I gave up all hope of Arno's recovery, Count Styrum was always +ready to tell me how, in '66, he had recovered from a worse wound, and +to bid me rely upon his vigorous constitution. And during the long +hours when together we watched beside Arno's or Kurt's couch. Count +Styrum recounted to me the terrible events of which he was an +eye-witness at Assais. From him I learned the fate of my unhappy +husband,--that death had dissolved the tie that bound me to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would be hypocrisy, dearest Adèle, to attempt to conceal from you +that this knowledge brought with it a sense of relief to which I had +long been an utter stranger, and that I breathed still more freely when +I learned that I need no longer dread the persecutions of Count Repuin, +who also fell fighting at Assais. As to Herr von Sorr, I forgive his +sins against me, and when I think of him in future I will recall the +time when he certainly did not inspire me with terror."</p> +<br> + + +<p class="right">"December 26.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Arno is making rapid strides towards recovery. To-day he was +able to +sit up for an hour; his voice is clear and strong, and when he looks at +me his eyes sparkle, as they did once at Castle Hohenwald."</p> +<br> + + +<p class="right">"December 30.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see, dear, I write oftener. Kurt is nearly well; he took +a walk in +the garden yesterday, and the doctor says he will be able to return to +his regiment in two weeks, when your betrothed also leaves us. I am +glad to know them so far recovered, and yet how we shall miss them!</p> + +<p class="normal">"Arno will chafe at being obliged to take no share in the glorious +termination of the war, but he must submit; the doctor says he cannot +possibly be fit for service for some months yet. I will confess to you, +dear Adèle, that when the old doctor uttered this verdict I could have +kissed him. Arno had been so much pleased at his increasing strength +that he had entertained hopes of leaving Kaltenborn with your Karl and +Kurt, and of course he was disappointed at first. Then he looked at me; +I suppose my joy was evident in my face, for his brow cleared +instantly, and he said no more about leaving."</p> +<br> + + +<p class="right">"<span class="sc2">Kaltenborn</span>, January 15, 1871.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Adèle, my darling Adèle, I am the happiest woman in the +world! I am +betrothed! Ah, how fair life is! You must hear all about it, although +no one else is to know of it for some time to come. Listen, I will tell +you all. Early this afternoon I was seated in my little drawing-room at +my writing-table, when I heard the door open behind me and some one +say, 'Excuse me, madame, I would not intrude. Modesty is a gift of +nature; I do not boast, but I possess it----'</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course there was no need to turn round to recognize the good +Assessor von Hahn, my former admirer. Yes, there he was, and the oddest +figure imaginable. Had not the red cross on his left arm informed me in +what capacity he had come to the Rhine, I should have supposed him +dressed as a brigand for a masquerade; his costume, with a huge sabre +dragging at his heels, was so comical.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could not but smile as I welcomed him to Kaltenborn, and told him +how glad I was to see by his red cross to what service he had devoted +himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Yes, madame,' he said, twisting his moustache after his old familiar +fashion, 'I serve the fatherland; this very evening I must take up my +journey to France; duty demands it, and I am a slave to duty; I do not +boast, but I am so. I have stolen a moment on the way to assure you of +my devotion to you, and to bring you some news which will, I am sure, +surprise you. I have the honour of being in charge of supplies for some +of our hospitals in France. Early this morning, as my train was about +to leave the station at Minden, as I stood upon the platform, my +attention was attracted by an old gentleman who was berating a railway +official in no measured terms. The official had just informed him that +this was a train bearing supplies, and that no places could be procured +on it for passengers, and the old man's anger found vent in a good +round oath; he was ready to pay any price for places, and have them he +must and would. He was supported on the arm of an old servant in +livery, and beside him stood a young girl. I could not see her face, +but her figure was charming. I passed around her and recognized--but +surely, madame, you have guessed whom I recognized----'</p> + +<p class="normal">"I tried in vain to solve the riddle, mentioning the names of several +ladies known to each of us, but in vain.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Wrong, madame; I am sure your astonishment will equal mine when I +tell you that I recognized in the young lady with the charming figure +my lovely cousin, Celia von Hohenwald.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"My astonishment was indeed great; the Assessor was delighted. 'Yes, +Celia von Hohenwald; she was with her father, my respected relative, +the Freiherr von Hohenwald. Fortunately, I met them upon the railway +platform at Minden, and was able to be of service to them.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"'The Freiherr von Hohenwald!' I exclaimed, now amazed indeed. I could +hardly believe that my dear old friend had left his forest castle, +where he had so long been confined to his rolling-chair, but the +Assessor eagerly went on to explain it all to me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Freiherr's health had improved wonderfully during the past summer, +as I knew from Celia's letters, but she had not told me that he had for +some time been able to walk in his beloved garden supported by old +Franz, and she herself had never dreamed that he would think of +undertaking a journey. He had heard first from Count Schlichting and +then from Kurt, as he told the Assessor, of his son's wound, and had +determined not to await his recovery, but to go himself to Kaltenborn, +that he might be near him. So, accompanied by Celia and old Franz, he +had set out, and felt better and stronger than he had done for years. +His desire to see his son again was intense, and hence his angry +outbreak when told that he could not leave Minden by this train. The +Assessor instantly offered both Celia and himself seats in his own +coupé, while old Franz was accommodated in a freight-wagon. The good +little man fairly glowed with enthusiasm as he described his delightful +journey and the charms of his fair cousin, to whom he has evidently +lost his too susceptible heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Arrived at S----, the Assessor instantly came by extra post to +Kaltenborn to announce the arrival of the Baron and his daughter, that +Arno might be prepared to meet them. They were, the Assessor concluded, +awaiting his return at S----, whither he was to carry intelligence of +Arno's condition and my father's permission to visit Kaltenborn.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You may imagine, dear, how happy the good Assessor's news made me. To +think of seeing once more my dear old friend and Celia! My heart beat +quickly as I went with the Assessor to Arno's room, where the little +man contrived with great tact to announce to him the arrival of such +dear friends.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My father was out walking, but I sent in his name a cordial invitation +to the Freiherr, and the Assessor took leave of all of us in a state of +the most amiable self-complacency.</p> + +<p class="normal">"After his departure I had too much to do in preparing for the +reception of my dear guests to leave time for reflection. I had just +finished arranging flowers in their rooms when their carriage stopped +at the hall-door. I really do not know how I got down-stairs, but I +found myself at the carriage-door. I felt Celia's ardent kisses, and +the next instant I was in the carriage and in the Freiherr's arms. He +kissed my forehead tenderly, and then, clasping both my hands in his, +held me off from him with a smile of perfect content on his dear old +face. 'You never thought, my dear child,' he said, 'that your old +adorer would leave his rolling-chair and come to look for you. I could +not help it; a longing for the sight of you and anxiety for my boy have +brought me here. No, not anxiety, for even when the Poseneck fellow +wrote me word that he was very ill I knew that my dear child's tender +nursing would preserve him to me; and so it was. I owe my Arno's life +to you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would have disclaimed his praise, but he would not let me speak. 'I +know better about it than you do, child; his heart needed healing, and +I knew his body would follow suit. You alone could be his true +physician. But never blush about it; postpone that, dear child, until +you and I have had a private talk together. Thunder and lightning! The +will-o'-the-wisp has rushed directly into the Poseneck fellow's arms! +Here's a pretty business!'</p> + +<p class="normal">"The tone in which this outburst was uttered was far from grim, and the +words themselves were contradicted by the sparkle in the old man's eyes +as he looked out of the carriage. Kurt stood in the doorway with Celia +clinging to him. Clasped in each other's arms, for the moment the world +about the happy pair was forgotten; the Freiherr's exclamation recalled +Kurt to a sense of the present. He would have hurried out to the +carriage, but Celia only clasped him the closer, crying, amid tears and +laughter, 'No, no, Kurt, my dearest, I have you now, and you shall not +go; papa is not so angry as he pretends. Look how glad he is that we +are all happy together at last!'</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Let go the Poseneck fellow, you romp!' the Freiherr called from the +carriage. 'Let him come here, I want to look at him.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"Kurt sprang forward to offer his arm; before the Baron took it, +however, he scanned the young man with keen scrutiny. The result of it +must have been satisfactory, for he nodded complacently at Kurt, and +then, with his help and with Franz's support, descended heavily from +the carriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When I handed him his crutch-handled cane from the carriage, he +let go of Kurt's arm. 'You would, of course, rather conduct the +will-o'-the-wisp than the old father,' he said to Kurt, with a laugh. +'Give your arm to your Celia, then, for she is yours; I can't prevent +that. My child here will take me to Arno,' he added, nodding towards +me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was by his side in a moment; he put his arm in mine and, leaning +over me, whispered, 'Will you not promise, my darling, to support your +old father thus as long he lives?'</p> + +<p class="normal">"I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. I could not speak; but he needed +no reply, as he looked at me with a happy smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thus we walked slowly through the hall, and were received at the door +of his room by Arno himself, leaning upon your Karl's arm, so strong +that he hardly needed its support.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As the old man embraced his darling son the tears rolled down his +withered cheeks; he held him clasped in his arms for a moment, and then +turning to me, said, with profound emotion, 'We owe this happy moment +to our Anna. She has been the guardian angel of those two,' pointing to +Kurt and Celia; 'softening my old heart until I gladly receive Kurt as +a son. She has restored you to life, Arno. The dark cloud that divided +you has vanished, serene skies smile above your future. Have you +nothing to ask at her hands, Arno?'</p> + +<p class="normal">"What Arno replied I cannot tell you. I felt his arm about me, his lips +upon mine, and heard the ecstasy in his whispered words, 'Mine,--mine +for all eternity!'</p> + +<p class="normal">"This was our betrothal. My dearest father joyfully gave us his +blessing, and Kurt and Celia, Arno and I have just passed the happiest +evening of our lives, in the circle of those dearest to us, where only +you, my own faithful Adèle, were wanting. Count Styrum recounted to the +Freiherr his adventures in the castle of Assais, and the old Baron told +in his turn of how the danger that had threatened the Finanzrath had +fortunately been averted by the kind interference of influential +friends. Upon Werner's promise, made in writing, never to return to +Germany, the warrants out against him on a charge of high treason have +been withdrawn, and he is living in Vienna in great seclusion. The +thought of Werner, so different from his father, brother, and sister in +his whole character and nature, disturbed my happiness for a moment, +but only for a moment. One glance at Arno was enough to dissipate any +cloud called up in my mind by the remembrance of his unworthy brother.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Darling Adèle, my heart is full. The shadows of the past lie behind +me, the future is brilliant with glorious sunshine. Farewell, my own +true friend; I know how you will rejoice with and for your <span style="letter-spacing:10px"> </span><span class="sc">Lucie</span>." +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Spring had again returned, and with it the blessings of peace to the +fatherland. In the latter days of May there was joy indeed at Castle +Hohenwald, where a double marriage was celebrated. Of course Lucie and +Arno, Celia and Kurt, were the happy pairs, and Count Styrum, with his +charming young wife, was present on the auspicious occasion.</p> + +<br> + +<br> + + +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_01" href="#div2Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: Councillor of finance. It is best to give these titles in +German; they must always be awkward in English. A. L. W.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_02" href="#div2Ref_02">Footnote 2</a>: Forest-depths.</p> + +<br> + +<br> + + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>SIGN OF THE CROSS</h2> + +<h3>By WILSON BARRETT</h3> + +<p class="center"><i>Player's Edition. Illustrated. Cloth, 75 cents</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">A new edition, illustrated by scenes from the play. There is still a +live demand for this widely-known novel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No romance of early Rome can equal it in any of the points of its +splendidly romantic conception, highly dramatic fervor, or its noble +and ignoble extremes of characterization. Religion, history, +literature, owe Wilson Barrett a great debt for his production of this +work, which is one that one may not hesitate to prophesy will endure so +long as literature itself may."--<i>Boston Courier</i>.</p> +<hr class="W10"> +<h2>NEVER-NEVER LAND</h2> + +<h3>By WILSON BARRETT</h3> + +<p class="center"><i>12mo. Decorated Cloth, $1.50</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">A dramatic and adventurous love-story of to-day, told by the author of +the famous "Sign of the Cross."</p> + +<p class="normal">The book is full of action and incident. Part of the scene is laid in +America and part in foreign countries.</p> +<hr class="W10"> +<h3>J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA</h3> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + + +<h2>AT THE MOORINGS</h2> + +<h3>By ROSA N. CAREY</h3> + +<p class="center"><i>12mo. Cloth, $1.50</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Another book in the series of Miss Carey's fine love-stories and +pictures of English life and character, which are noted for their +sweetness and wholesome charm.</p> +<hr class="W10"> +<h2>ROSABEL</h2> + +<h3>By ESTHER MILLER</h3> + +<p class="center"><i>12mo. Decorated cloth, $1.25</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">A love-story of English life which is bringing the author deserved +praise. The plot is natural, and the characters true to life.</p> +<hr class="W10"> +<h2>AN ANGEL BY BREVET</h2> + +<h3>By HELEN PITKIN</h3> + +<p class="center"><i>12mo. Frontispiece. Cloth, $1.50</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Pitkin's first book has met with instant and generous welcome. It +is a love-story of New Orleans. The picturesque setting, the glimpses +of the old aristocratic life there, the strange superstitions and rites +of voodooism are deftly and ably drawn.</p> +<hr class="W10"> +<h3>J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA</h3> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + + +<h2>BY E. F. BENSON</h2> +<hr class="W10"> +<h2>THE CHALLONERS</h2> + +<p class="center">12mo. Cloth, $1.50</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Benson's latest novel, 'The Challoners,' is probably the best +thing he has done so far. In 'The Challoners' his happiest faculty, +that of putting smart society on paper, is shown to its best advantage. +He is at home with English people, and when he attempts to picture the +heights and depths of a father's despair when he sees his children +taking what is to him a plunge into moral perdition, his work is deft +and true and commendably sincere. An entertaining, well-written story, +with deep feeling in it."--<i>Chicago Record-Herald</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'The Challoners' is conceived upon a plane that lifts it immediately +to the highest rank in fiction. One has to recall the works of Dickens, +Thackeray, and Reade to find a production of equal dignity and grasp. +Indeed, there is much in it that will bear comparison with George +Eliot's performances. It is impossible to read it without realizing the +great burden that oppresses the clergyman who sees his son and daughter +departing from the practices and rules he in his sufficiency has laid +down to govern them."--<i>The Index</i>.</p> +<hr class="W10"> +<h2>THE IMAGE IN THE SAND</h2> + +<p class="center">12mo. Cloth, $1.50</p> + +<p class="normal">"The author of 'Dodo' has written a 'thriller.' It is a spiritualistic +story. Mr. Benson sets part of his story in the East, and part in +London, and tells it in a manner to keep the reader wide awake and +interested to the end."--<i>Globe</i>, New York.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Spiritualism, hypnotism, demoniac possession, white and black magic, +Oriental theosophy--all are found among the component parts of this +tale. The <i>denouement</i> is decidedly original and highly imaginative. +Decidedly, 'The Image in the Sand' will not fail to make a strong +appeal to every one who has any love for the marvellous and the +unknown--or who appreciates a very well-written story."--<i>Brooklyn +Eagle</i>.</p> +<hr class="W10"> +<h3>J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA</h3> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + + +<h2>By "The Duchess."</h2> +<hr class="W10"> +<table cellpadding="10" style="width:80%; margin-left:10%; margin-top:12pt"> +<colgroup><col style="width:50%; vertical-align:top; text-align:center"> +<col style="width:50%; vertical-align:top; text-align:center"></colgroup> +<tr> +<td>The Coming of Chloe.<br>12mo. Cloth, $1.25. +</td> +<td>Lovice.<br>12mo. Cloth, $1.25.</td> +</tr></table> +<hr class="W10"> + +<p class="center">The Three Graces.</p> + +<p class="center">With six full-page illustrations, 12mo. 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Paper, 50 cents; cloth, $1.00.</td> +</tr></table> +<hr class="W10"> +<table cellpadding="10" style="width:90%; margin-left:5%; margin-top:12pt"> +<colgroup><col style="width:50%; vertical-align:top"> +<col style="width:50%; vertical-align:top"></colgroup> +<tr> +<td>Phyllis.</td> +<td>Mrs. Geoffrey.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>Molly Bawn.</td> +<td>Portia.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>Airy Fairy Lilian.</td> +<td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:middle">Löys, Lord Berresford, and Other Stories.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>Beauty's Daughters.</td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>Faith and Unfaith.</td> +<td>Rossmoyne.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>Doris.</td> +<td>A Mental Struggle.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>"O Tender Dolores."</td> +<td>Lady Valworth's Diamonds.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>A Maiden All Forlorn.</td> +<td>Lady Branksmere.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>In Durance Vile.</td> +<td>A Modern Circe.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>The Duchess.</td> +<td>The Honourable Mrs. Vereker.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>Marvel.</td> +<td>Under-Currents.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>Jerry, and Other Stories.</td> +<td>A Life's Remorse.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td colspan="2" style="text-align:center">A Point of Conscience.<br> + +12mo. Bound only in cloth, $1.00.</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class="W10"> +"'The Duchess' has well deserved the title of being one of the most +fascinating novelists of the day. The stories written by her are the +airiest, lightest, and brightest imaginable; full of wit, spirit, and +gayety, yet containing touches of the most exquisite pathos. There is +something good in all of them."--<i>London Academy</i>. +<hr class="W10"> +<h3>J. B. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Castle Hohenwald + A Romance + +Author: Adolph Streckfuss + +Translator: A. L. Wister + +Release Date: January 9, 2011 [EBook #34892] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CASTLE HOHENWALD *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + 1. Page scan source: + http://www.archive.org/details/3429917 + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + CASTLE HOHENWALD + + + A ROMANCE + + + AFTER THE GERMAN + OF + ADOLPH STRECKFUSS + AUTHOR OF "TOO RICH," ETC. + + + + + BY MRS. A. L. WISTER + TRANSLATOR OF "THE OLD MAM'SELLE'S SECRET," "THE SECOND WIFE," + "TOO RICH," "MARGARETHE," "ONLY A GIRL," ETC. + + + + + PHILADELPHIA + J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY + 1906 + + + + + + + * * * * * + Copyright, 1879, by J. B. Lippincott & Co. + * * * * * + Copyright, 1906, by A. L. Wister. + + + + + + + CASTLE HOHENWALD. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +The music ceased. The gentlemen led their partners to their various +chaperones, and then crowded out upon the balcony to enjoy the cool +spring breeze, giving no attention to the remonstrances of their host, +the President, who, when he found how little heed was paid to his +warning against imprudence, turned away, declaring to his friend the +colonel that there really was nothing to be done with the heedless +young people of the present day. "They trifle with their health as if +their nerves were of iron and illness impossible," he added, a little +out of humour, perhaps, at the neglect of his advice. + +"Why then, old friend, do you give a ball in April?" the colonel asked, +laughing. + +"Could I help being born on the 20th of April? My son and daughter +insist upon my keeping up the old custom and celebrating the occasion +by a ball. This year it is perfect folly, but then no one could +foretell this early warm spring." + +"Come, never trouble yourself about those young people; my officers +have often braved more sudden changes of temperature in the field +without being any the worse." + +"But the Assessor? His constitution is none of the strongest." + +"And suppose he does take cold; 'twill do him no harm. Come, come, let +the young people alone. We were once not a whit more prudent +ourselves." + +And as he spoke the colonel took his old friend's arm and led him back +into the ball-room, while the young officers upon the balcony, who had +overheard all that had been said, laughingly grouped themselves about +the Assessor, rallying him upon the anxiety with regard to his health +manifested by the President. + +"The President is right," said a black-bearded cuirassier, inclining +his tall figure towards the slightly-built Assessor. "You ought to take +care of yourself, my dear Assessor; the sensitive nature of which you +so often tell us can never endure what our coarser constitutions brave +with impunity. Put an end to the anxiety of your future father-in-law +and leave the balcony, I beseech you." + +"Herr von Saldern, I beg----" + +"Do not make the fair Adele a widow before she is a wife," chimed in +another officer. + +"Herr von Arnim, such remarks are very much out of place. It is true +that I am peacefully disposed. I make no boast of it, for the gifts of +nature----" + +"Are variously distributed," Herr von Arnim interrupted the Assessor by +completing his sentence. "Do we not frequently hear from your own lips +how lavishly mother nature has endowed you, denying you the gift of a +robust constitution alone? Spare your precious health,--preserve +yourself for the fair Adele, and for us, your tenderly attached +friends; follow the kind President's advice." + +The Assessor gazed helplessly at the laughing faces about him; he was +the only civilian among these reckless young fellows, and he knew that +any serious remonstrance would but provoke anew Arnim's love of chaff. +The more prudent part was to laugh too and yield the field. This he +did, leaving the balcony and re-entering the ball-room. + +To his astonishment he here recognized an acquaintance whom he had not +met for a long time, and he hastened across the room to greet him, +doubly pleased, since, if Arnim should chance to rally him upon his +flight, he could now declare that he had left the balcony to welcome +the arrival of Count Styrum. + +The Count, a man of about the age of thirty years, was standing in the +background of the ball-room, in the doorway of one of the antechambers, +thoughtfully contemplating the brilliant scene. The elite of the large +provincial town was assembled in the President's rooms to-night, men +high in office, with their wives and daughters, the officers of the +garrison, and the most aristocratic of the county gentry. + +The President enjoyed giving splendid entertainments, and his wealth +and position entirely justified him in gratifying his taste in this +direction. The hospitalities of his house were quite famous,--his balls +had been mentioned with favour by royalty itself,--had not the Prince, +upon a visit to the town, accepted an invitation to one of these +birthday fetes, and declared afterwards that he had never attended a +more brilliant entertainment or seen a more charming collection of +lovely women? + +Count Styrum, too, thought that he had rarely seen so many lovely faces +assembled in one room, and he gazed with delight at the charming groups +laughing and jesting on all sides, wondering while he gazed whom he +should pronounce fairest among so many that were fair. His doubt on +this head vanished, however, as his eye fell upon a young girl seated +upon a low divan near him. + +He was quite lost for a moment in admiration of her beauty; the +features might, it is true, have been more regular, but the face was +indescribably lovely and attractive. The slightly pouting lips could +surely smile charmingly, although now there were pensive lines about +the mouth which accorded well with the melancholy expression of the +large and eloquent brown eyes. + +The Count felt an immediate and lively interest in this lovely girl; he +had never seen her before, and yet he longed to know why she, the +fairest among this gay throng, should look so sad and take apparently +so little interest in what was going on around her. + +She could hardly number twenty years; could she be preyed upon by any +secret grief? What was she thinking of at this moment? Scarcely of the +whispered words of the man on the low seat beside her, for she never +looked at him, and even turned away from him with a gesture betokening +that his conversation was anything but agreeable to her. + +"I see I am right! It is really yourself, my dear Count. I thought you +were in Rome or Naples, and am most heartily delighted to welcome you +here!" + +It was thus that the Assessor addressed the Count, who, in +contemplation of the beautiful girl on the divan, had not noticed his +approach. Now, however, he held out his hand, saying, not unkindly, and +with a smile, "You here in the provinces, my dear Hahn? I had not +expected to meet the lion of the metropolis here; how does it happen?" + +The Assessor, greatly flattered by the question, conceitedly twirled +his light moustache and tried to look as much as possible like a +flaxen-haired lion of the metropolis; not very successfully, however. +His face would look boyish in spite of the moustache, and his head +barely reached to his distinguished friend's shoulder, as he replied, +"I have been here two years. Just after your departure, when I had +passed my third examination, I was appointed to the post of assessor +here. It is true that we forego much in the provinces, where however +the heart finds truer contentment than amid the whirl of the capital, +and therefore I am abundantly satisfied with my present life, which, +unfortunately, I must shortly resign, for I am ordered to Altstadt. It +is difficult to tear one's self away from loved surroundings and +companionship. I am endowed with more than my share of sensibility, I +know; not that I would make a boast of it, for it is mine from the hand +of nature, and her gifts are variously bestowed." + +A smile hovered upon the Count's lips as he replied, "I am glad to find +you unchanged, my dear Hahn. Of course you are entirely at home in this +society, where I am a total stranger. Not a soul in the room do I know +except my uncle Guntram and my cousins Adele and Heinrich. You will +tell me who all these delightful people are." + +"With pleasure. I know all your uncle's guests. You know the poetry of +my nature. I make no boast; nature's gifts are various, but as a poet +nothing interests me more than the study of human feeling and +aspiration. You have applied to the right quarter for information with +regard to the character and circumstances of all these people." + +"I am sure of it. I have always admired your obliging amiability no +less than your profound study of character." + +"You do me honour. I am obliging by nature, but I make no boast of it. +Question me; I am quite at your service." + +"To put you instantly to the test, tell me who is the charming girl +dressed simply but elegantly in white, there, on the divan to my left, +with brown hair and the wreath of snow-drops; the beautiful creature +who evidently cares not one whit for all that the fellow with the black +beard, leaning over her, is pouring so eagerly into her ear." + +The Assessor listened with a smile to this enthusiastic description. +"Evidently hit, my dear Count," he said. + +"Not at all; but the melancholy on that charming face interests me +excessively." + +"Poor Frau von Sorr! She may well be melancholy." + +"Frau? Impossible! You do not know whom I mean." + +"Ah! yes I do. No one could fail to know from your description, and it +is not to be wondered at that you take Frau von Sorr for a young +girl: it is the same with every one who first sees her. She is just +twenty-two and looks much younger." + +"And the man talking to her is, I suppose, her husband." + +"Not at all. That is Count Repuin, an enormously wealthy Russian, a +bosom-friend of Herr von Sorr, and a gambler and spendthrift, who +throws away his money by thousands. They say Herr von Sorr knows how to +pick it up, and that is the secret of the friendship between them, and +also why Sorr allows Repuin to pay such court to his wife." + +"And does she encourage it?" Count Styrum asked. "How deceived one may +be by a face! I thought hers so innocent and refined in expression." + +"And the expression does not belie her," the Assessor rejoined. "Herr +von Sorr is a despicable fellow enough, and bears the worst possible +reputation; but scandal itself could not touch his charming wife. It is +only on her account that he is endured in society in spite of his +notorious past and his more than doubtful present. Your uncle would +never have invited him here to-night except for the sake of his wife, +who is the dearest friend of Fraeulein Adele." + +"But the Russian----" + +"Is desperately in love with her. He throws away incredible sums upon +her worthless husband, while she sternly refuses to accept any of his +attentions. My observation is naturally very keen. I make no boast of +it, but it is; and I am convinced that at this moment that poor woman +is suffering agonies because, without exciting observation, and for the +sake of her good-for-nothing husband, she cannot repulse that fellow +indignantly." + +The Assessor's words increased the interest with which the beautiful +Frau von Sorr had inspired the Count, and it was still further +heightened by a little scene that passed unobserved by any eyes in the +ball-room except his own and the Assessor's. + +Frau von Sorr, who had hitherto endured, rather than heard, in perfect +silence what her neighbour was saying to her, never even varying by a +look the cold indifference of her bearing, suddenly turned upon him +eyes flashing with indignation. The delicate colour in her cheek +deepened to crimson, the beautiful lips unclosed as if to speak, when +suddenly second thoughts seemed to assert their sway, and rising, with +a look of inexpressible contempt at Repuin, she turned from him and +walked slowly across the ball-room to join a group of young girls +gathered about the daughter of the house, Adele von Guntram. + +"What does that mean, do you think?" Count Styrum asked the Assessor. + +"It means that the fellow went too far, and she turned her back upon +him." + +"Poor young creature! she interests me, and I must hear more of her; +pray tell me, my dear Hahn, what you know of her husband." + +"Certainly. What I know everybody knows, and there can be no +indiscretion in relating it; for the world I would not be indiscreet. +In fact, I am discretion itself. I make no boast of it, but I am. Of +course I may tell you what all the world knows. Well, then, Herr von +Sorr is utterly worthless. In the last few years he has squandered his +own considerable property and his wife's fortune upon all sorts of +follies, and worse, in the capital. What he now lives upon no one +knows. All sorts of strange stories are told about that. They may not +all be true, of course, but there must be some foundation for them, +since Lieutenant von Arnim lately declared that he would not play when +Herr von Sorr kept the bank, and that he did not like to have him for +next neighbour when he kept it himself, for it was so disagreeable to +have to keep a sharp eye upon the pile of money before him." + +"Rather strong, I should say." + +"It was indeed; but no one expressed any surprise at Arnim's +declaration; indeed, I heard it whispered that one night when he sat +next Sorr at play a hundred-thaler note had unaccountably disappeared; +as I said, the man's character, or want of it, is such that were it not +for his lovely wife every respectable house in the town would be closed +against him." + +"But how did the fellow come to have so lovely a wife?" + +"Six years ago, when he married Fraeulein Lucie Ahlborn, his reputation +was good; he was held to be a wealthy man of rank, and such he was, +although even then he had squandered a large part of his property. Herr +Ahlborn, his wife's father, was a rich manufacturer; he never thought +of saying 'no' when Sorr applied for his daughter's hand,--he was +probably flattered by the proposal,--and if he thought the young man +rather wild, supposed that marriage would cure all that. Fraeulein +Ahlborn brought her husband a fine estate, which she had inherited from +her mother." + +"Was she forced into the marriage by her father?" + +"Not at all. I do not know that she was very devoted to her bridegroom, +but possibly she was, for he was a handsome enough young fellow,--his +wild life has told upon him now,--but then he might easily have +captivated the fancy of a girl of sixteen. This I grant, although I was +a student then, visiting very frequently at Herr Ahlborn's, and a +little in love with the fair Lucie myself, which did not prepossess me +in favour of my fortunate rival. Neither I nor any one else dreamed +that Sorr would ever sink so low as he has done. Everybody thought the +match an excellent one, and regretted that the charming couple withdrew +to the retirement of Frau von Sorr's estate to enjoy their conjugal +felicity. Their seclusion, however, did not last longer than a few +months. They then returned to town, where Sorr played like a madman, +kept a costly racing stud, and spent huge sums upon a notorious +ballet-girl, scandalously neglecting his poor wife, who, however, bore +her sad fate with divine patience. Fortune dealt her its heaviest +blows, for she lost her father, with whom she might have sought a +refuge from her husband. Herr Ahlborn was ruined by the bankruptcy of a +large business firm, and failed. There might have been some composition +with his creditors, but being a man of an even exaggerated sense of +honour, he gave up everything. Not one of his creditors lost a penny, +but he forfeited his entire fortune. His business friends offered him +money and credit wherewith to re-open his manufactory, but he could not +endure the thought of beginning life again in a place where he had +occupied so high a position. He became gloomy and misanthropic, even +refusing to accept assistance from his daughter, who would gladly have +given it to him. Taking with him but a small sum of money, the remnant +of his large fortune, he left the scene of his former activity, +ostensibly to sail for America. They say he never took leave of one of +his old friends, but went, without even bidding good-bye to his +daughter. This was more than four years ago, and nothing has since been +heard of him; he has never written to his daughter, and she does not +even know the name of the vessel in which he sailed from Germany. +Shortly before his departure he declared that he would either return as +a wealthy man or not at all. If he really went to America, which is +doubtful, he may not have been successful; perhaps he is dead,--no one +knows anything about him. His daughter mourned him deeply; but she soon +needed to mourn still more deeply for herself for her miserable +husband, after spending all his own fortune, did the same by hers, +mortgaging her estate until it had to be sold. Since that took place, +how he lives is a mystery. I have told you some of the current +explanations of it, and I am sure you must now find it very natural +that there should be an expression of melancholy upon Frau von Sorr's +lovely face." + +The doors of the adjoining supper-room were here opened, and the +Assessor broke off his long narrative, saying, "Excuse me, my dear +Count, for leaving you, but duty calls. Your charming cousin, Fraeulein +Adele, has promised to allow me to take her to supper." + +And bowing, he hurried towards the group of ladies, of which Adele was +the centre. He need not have been in any haste, however, for she +herself, accompanied by Frau von Sorr, advanced to meet him, saying, +with an enchanting smile that transported the little man to the seventh +heaven, "I have a request to make of you, Herr von Hahn, and I am sure +you will grant it." + +"Ask what you will, Fraeulein Adele. You cannot ask what I shall not be +proud to grant." + +"I will not put your amiability to any severe test," she rejoined; "the +fulfilment of my request brings with it its own reward. Pray take my +dear Lucie, instead of myself, in to supper." + +The Assessor was not altogether charmed, since he had engaged his fair +partner for supper a week previously; but he was too courteous to allow +a shade of disappointment to appear in his countenance, and his +momentary annoyance vanished when Adele continued, "We must be +neighbours at supper, however; keep two places for me at your table, +and I will follow you with my cousin, Count Styrum, who, not knowing +the customs of our house, has, I fear, engaged no one to go with him to +supper." + +The Assessor was made supremely happy by her words and manner. Never +had this charming creature, to whom for the time he was devoted heart +and soul, treated him with such a degree of amiable confidence. He knew +better than any one else how far he was from the attainment of his +hopes, and therefore the badinage of his military friends had for him a +peculiar sting; but now on a sudden his fair one's manner was such as +seemed to him to justify his aspirations. + +It was the custom at the President's to have the supper-room arranged +with many small tables, accommodating each from four to eight persons, +at which the guests seated themselves in groups selected among +themselves beforehand. This obviated the necessity for caution lest the +rules of precedence should be infringed,--a very important +consideration in a provincial town,--and greatly promoted the ease and +comfort of the guests. + +With his head proudly erect, the Assessor conducted Frau von Sorr into +the adjoining room, into which other couples were thronging. He soon +found an unoccupied table, and was looking round for Count Styrum and +Adele, when Count Repuin approached, and, without according him any +salute or attention, addressed Frau von Sorr. "Surely, madame, you +cannot have forgotten that you promised me the honour of your society +at supper?" + +The Count uttered these words in a tone almost of menace, scarcely +consistent with the rules of polite society. He was, as was evident +from his flashing eyes and his dark frown, controlling himself with +difficulty, and the Assessor was very much embarrassed. He was +perfectly conscious of the obligation laid upon him to assert his right +to escort to supper Frau von Sorr, whose hand still rested upon his +arm, but such assertion was by no means easy,--the Russian's gleaming +black eyes were so wrathful, and just at the moment the Assessor could +not but remember the man's reputation as an unerring pistol-shot, and +his great readiness to send a challenge. + +Poor Herr von Hahn! He had a most uncomfortable sensation about the +throat, somewhat as if his cravat had been suddenly tightened. He +cleared it, but could scarcely utter a word; nevertheless something +must be ventured, else what would Fraeulein Adele, what would all his +acquaintances say? "Count Repuin, excuse me, but I have the honour of +being this lady's escort----" + +Count Repuin looked down upon him with undisguised contempt as he +rather stammered than uttered these words, and then haughtily replied, +with a coldness that was almost insulting, "I did not address you, sir. +It was not of your mistake that I spoke, but of Frau von Sorr's. Of +course you will yield me the right I desire as soon as madame accords +it to me." + +"Which I shall not do," Frau von Sorr interposed. + +She had relinquished the support of the Assessor's arm, and stood tall +and stately before the Count, meeting his eye with calm resolve, +evidently ready to brave his anger. + +Repuin's face flushed crimson,--he bit his lip, and said, with forced +calmness, "Have you forgotten, madame, that by your husband's +permission I this morning requested to be allowed to conduct you to +supper to-night, and that you consented to my request?" + +"I have forgotten nothing. Count Repuin, not even the words you +addressed to me a few moments ago; let me beg you to leave me." + +"I refuse to yield my right," the Count angrily retorted. "If you deny +me thus, I must appeal to Herr von Sorr to support my claim." + +"I think not, Count Repuin. My friend Frau von Sorr is, I trust, secure +from all insult beneath my father's roof." + +The words were Adele von Guntram's. She had arrived, leaning upon Count +Styrum's arm, just in time to hear Repuin's angry threat, and now, +stepping to her friend's side, she turned to Count Repuin with a degree +of dignity and resolution that added much to the Assessor's already +great astonishment at such a manifestation on the part of so gentle and +amiable a girl, and said, "You have permitted yourself to be carried +away by your annoyance, Count, to the extent of addressing a lady in +terms inconsistent with our German ideas of courtesy. I must beg you to +apologise to my friend." + +Count Repuin angrily compressed his lips, but he perfectly understood +that he had gone too far, and that upon this antagonist he had not +reckoned. If he would not entirely lose the game he was playing he must +control himself, and, difficult although it might be, comply with +Adele's demand. He therefore smothered his rage, and, taking Adele's +hand and kissing it with respectful humility, he said, "You shame me, +Fraeulein von Guntram, yet I cannot but be grateful to you for recalling +me to a sense of the duty which, according not only to German ideas, +but also to those entertained in Russia and throughout the world, every +gentleman owes to a lady whom he has been so unfortunate as to offend. +I beg Frau von Sorr's pardon from my soul, and venture to hope for her +forgiveness, the more confidently as my irritation was the consequence +of my great disappointment at losing a pleasure which she will admit I +had some right to anticipate." + +Frau von Sorr heeded his apology no more than his threat, but turned to +Adele, who replied to his words and farewell bow by a cool and +dignified curtsey. + +As soon as he was out of hearing the young girl gave a sigh of relief +"Thank Heaven, he is gone! He actually terrifies me, and I had to +muster up all my courage to become my poor Lucie's defender. The man is +indescribably odious,--Russian from head to foot,--rough, coarse, and +brutally passionate one moment, courteous, smooth, and smiling the +next, but always false and untrustworthy. However, he has gone, and we +will not spoil our pleasure by thinking of him an instant longer. +Cousin Karl, let me present you to my dearest friend, Frau von Sorr. My +cousin, Count Karl Styrum, Lucie dear; and now let us enjoy our supper +together." + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +Count Karl Styrum had never been very fond of large entertainment, and +had accepted his uncle the President's invitation on this evening only +because he did not wish to be rude to a relative whom he had not seen +for years. The ball had hitherto been rather a bore; he did not dance, +and, stranger as he was in this society, he took little interest in +watching others dance. The only figure that his eyes followed with any +pleasure in the waltz was his cousin Adele's, and he had intended to +slip from the room unobserved, when her gracious and cousinly +invitation to him to conduct her to supper frustrated his unsocial +plan. + +He could not refuse so amiable a proposal, but he promised himself but +little entertainment in her society, since, although cousins, they were +now almost entire strangers to each other. He had last visited his +uncle, his mother's brother, ten years before, when Adele was a pretty +little girl with fair curls, whom he had made a pet of and called his +little sweetheart. In the busy years that ensued he had almost +forgotten her; indeed, he had hardly remembered her name. Now he had +come to M---- to arrange a personal adjustment with his uncle of a +lawsuit between them concerning an inherited estate. It had been the +cause of a not quite friendly correspondence, and the Count had not +looked forward to a renewal of intercourse with his relatives without +some misgivings. He was all the more pleased, therefore, by the +cordiality with which his uncle received him, and begged him to forget +the odious lawsuit entirely, except when it absolutely demanded +attention as a matter of business. + +"I think, my dear Karl," the President said, when the Count first +presented himself at his house a few days before the birthday ball, "we +can manage to leave all quarrelling over mine and thine to our lawyers; +let us do all we can to aid in the settlement of the question, but if +this settlement be delayed, do not, for Heaven's sake, let it disturb +the friendliness of our relations with each other any more than should +our difference in politics, which latter, most unfortunately, +embittered your father towards me during the last years of his life; to +the day of his death he could not forgive me because we Prussians were +victorious in 1866. I trust that you, Saxon soldier though you be, are +more placable, and will reflect, as I do, that your dear mother was my +favourite sister, and that we loved each other faithfully as long +as she lived. It was not our fault, as we both thought, that our +grand-uncle involved us in a lawsuit by an ambiguous will." + +Count Styrum could not possibly fail to reciprocate so kind an +expression of good will on his uncle's part. He did not, it is true, +accept the pressing invitation extended to him to leave the hotel and +make the President's house his home while in M----, but he promised to +spend every spare hour beneath his roof. He did this the more readily +since his cousins welcomed him as cordially as their father had done. +On Adele's part this amiability was certainly sincere, while Heinrich, +who was an assessor in his father's office, probably acted in mere +compliance with his father's wish in the matter. Adele was thoroughly +pleased with her cousin,--she knew nothing of the lawsuit, and cared +nothing for politics,--Karl was to her simply the son of an aunt whom +she had dearly loved, and with whom she could remember passing happy +weeks, in Dresden, in her childhood, when "Cousin Karl" had always been +so kind to her. During all the long years of absence she had never +forgotten him, and she treated him now with a degree of sisterly +familiarity which greatly pleased him. He would gladly have availed +himself of his uncle's kindness to pay frequent visits to his +relatives, but his stay in M---- was very short, and most of his time +was occupied in interviews with his lawyers, who would not listen to a +friendly adjustment of the matter in hand, so that until this evening +he had scarcely done more than exchange a few cursory remarks with +Adele. He had been favourably impressed by her frank and easy gayety of +manner, but she had not aroused in him any deeper interest, and he had +accepted with some reluctance her invitation to be her escort to +supper, since this would of necessity detain him longer than he had +proposed to stay at the ball. Suddenly, however, his feeling with +regard to her changed entirely, upon witnessing her spirited opposition +to Count Repuin. How beautiful she was as she confronted the Count with +indignation flashing from her eyes! and how lovely was the change in +her expression when she turned to her friend with such tender +affection! Involuntarily he compared the two young creatures before +him. + +A few minutes previously he would have pronounced Frau von Sorr the +more beautiful of the two,--the most beautiful woman, indeed, whom he +had ever seen; but now there was no doubt that the golden-haired Adele, +with her earnest eyes sparkling with anger and then melting with +tenderness, was, if not the more beautiful, by far the more attractive. +It was strange that never until this instant had he been impressed by +this exquisite development of the pretty child into the lovely woman. + +And now, when, after Count Repuin's departure, she gayly entreated her +friends to forget the unpleasant scene they had witnessed, and when, +seated at the supper-table, she did all that she could to dissipate +Frau von Sort's melancholy and win a smile from her, she seemed to her +cousin more enchanting than ever. She so managed the conversation that +neither Frau von Sorr, who could not soon forget what had just +occurred, nor the Assessor, who was rather ashamed of the part he had +played, was obliged to talk much, while Count Styrum was drawn on to +speak of his travels, and this all the more willingly as he felt he was +seconding Adele's efforts in so doing. + +The Count had resigned from the army at the close of the war, and, that +he might be prepared for the management of the large estates to which +he was heir, had spent a year in attending the lectures at Tharandt. +Then, in company with a former comrade in the army, who had been his +fellow-student also, Baron Arno von Hohenwald, he had travelled for a +year in Belgium, Holland, England, and Italy, being finally called home +by the death of his father. + +The Count was an admirable narrator as well as observer: no one could +throw more interest than he into the details of his travels, and on +this occasion he surpassed himself. Not only did Adele listen with +sparkling eyes, now and then asking an eager question, but Frau von +Sorr was gradually aroused to attention and interest. The Assessor +alone was very silent and not at all comfortable. In addition to the +mortifying consciousness that he had failed entirely to undertake the +defence of Frau von Sorr against Count Repuin, he could not help +experiencing a decided envy of Count Styrum, who was thus monopolizing +the conversation, and evidently making a favourable impression upon +Adele. + +Although he enjoyed the proud consciousness that among the gifts with +which kind nature had endowed him, and of which he would not boast, a +talent for conversation which had frequently stood him in stead was +most conspicuous, here he was undeniably thrown into the background, +and this, too, in the presence of his adored Adele. He several times +attempted to divert the talk from these overrated adventures of travel, +but without success, until at last, upon the frequent mention by the +Count of the name of his companion, Arno von Hohenwald, he broke into +the conversation with, "Do I understand you, Count? Are you really +speaking of Baron Arno von Hohenwald? I can scarcely credit that you +travelled for a year with that gloomy misanthrope, that inveterate +woman-hater. And yet it must be so, for to my knowledge there is but +one family of Hohenwalds in Saxony, and I ought to know, for I am +distantly connected with them myself. I never judge others with +severity,--it is not my nature,--but I cannot help pronouncing the +Hohenwalds, that is, the old Baron and his son Arno, haughty, +disagreeable, inaccessible people, who have very little intercourse +with any one, not even their nearest relatives. The best of them all is +Arno's brother Werner, the Finanzrath;[1] it is possible to get along +with him; but my cousin Arno?---- Really, I cannot understand how you +managed to travel with him for a whole year." + +"Your judgment of my friend is very harsh and unjust," Count Styrum +replied, gravely. "And yet I cannot blame you for it, for there are few +who know how to value Arno von Hohenwald, or who, indeed, have any +knowledge at all of him." + +"Of course; he is absolutely inaccessible. Can you deny that he is a +perfect misanthrope, refusing to mingle in any society, and repulsing +discourteously every advance made to him?" + +"Arno is no misanthrope, but the warmest-hearted fellow and the truest +and most loyal of friends. I grant that it is not easy to win his +confidence, and that to the superficial observer he may seem to shun +intercourse with others; he has no small change of conversation for +that society where you, my dear Assessor, are in your element. In the +army he had but few intimates, And took no part in our card-parties and +the like entertainments. Nevertheless he was a good comrade whom every +one liked, for all knew that when there was need of a friend's +assistance it was sure to be found at the hands of Arno von Hohenwald, +and we forgave his burying himself among his books while we pursued our +pleasures. I alone of all his comrades could boast of any real intimacy +with him, and I am proud to think that he considered me worthy of his +friendship--his confidence." + +"Oh, then he has certainly told you the story of his notorious +love-affair with the rope-maker's pretty daughter, which ended in his +being the furious woman-hater that he is! You must ask the Count to +tell you that story, madame. I assure you it made quite a noise at the +time at the Court of Saxony, where the Hohenwalds stood very high." + +"I am not curious," Frau von Sorr observed. + +"But I am!" Adele interposed. "I confess, Karl, that I take great +interest in your friend. I have heard much of him. Madame von Kleist is +a cousin of the late Frau von Hohenwald, and the other day, at an +afternoon party, she had such wonderful things to tell of the +eccentricities of the old Baron and his son Arno, that the entire +conversation finally turned upon the Hohenwalds, their lives and their +peculiarities. Several of the ladies present were distantly connected +with them, and they not only confirmed all that Madame von Kleist said, +but contributed various anecdotes to show that the old Baron was no +better than an ogre, and that the son Arno was following worthily in +his father's footsteps. The old Baron, they said, lives in perfect +solitude in Castle Hohenwald, never seeing a visitor, nor indeed any +one beside his two sons and his daughter, except, perhaps, the village +priest, who is the young girl's tutor. All sorts of tales are told of +the way in which the old man has repelled his relatives' advances, as +well as of his quarrel with his son Arno, whom he threatened to +disinherit because he had betrothed himself to a pretty girl of the +bourgeoisie. When the engagement was broken off Arno was reconciled to +his father, having become a more terrible misanthrope and woman-hater +than the old man himself. So you may readily imagine, Cousin Karl, how +I should like, after all these stories, to hear as much of your friend +as you can tell us without indiscretion." + +Count Styrum looked annoyed. The gossiping Assessor had given a turn to +the conversation that necessitated explanations which he would gladly +have avoided. Since this turn had been given, however, he felt it due +to his friend to disprove the false reports current with regard to the +Hohenwalds. "There can be no indiscretion," he said, "in relating facts +known to many, although I certainly would rather avoid doing so since I +know my friend Arno's dislike of any discussion of his private affairs. +However, the truth had better be told about them, that it may +counteract these silly rumours with regard to the family, rumours which +some of their connections, indeed, are not ashamed to circulate." + +The Assessor turned red, feeling that the Count's words might well +apply to himself, but he judged it wisest to take no notice of the +reproof conveyed in them. + +"The Hohenwalds," Karl began, "have furnished food for gossip to the +Saxon aristocracy for many years. They are a singular race; their +peculiarities have been inherited for generations, but the haughty +Barons troubled themselves little as to what the world might say of +them, and lived out their convictions with unshaken fidelity. It was a +Hohenwald who, in Augustus the Strong's time, stood forth at the Saxon +Court as the champion of good old German morality in social life, +scourging with bitter words the wanton frivolity of the lovely court +dames, and denouncing the extravagant luxury that ruined poor Saxony. +All that saved him from persecution and perhaps imprisonment in +Koenigstein was Augustus the Strong's own declaration that the +Hohenwalds had always been fools--it was best to let them wag their +tongues and pay them no heed. So Werner von Hohenwald was not sent to +Koenigstein, but to his own castle, which he never left for many years, +leading much the same hermit-life there as is led by his great-grandson +to-day. Another Hohenwald, the father of the present Baron, +distinguished himself in the early part of this century as a warm +friend of Prussia and a bitter opponent of the Franco-Saxon alliance +and of the first Napoleon, who would have had him shot but for the +interposition of the king, who declared, as Augustus the Strong had +done, that the Hohenwalds were fools, not to be too severely dealt +with. He, too, was sent to live in undisturbed retirement in his own +castle. The present lord, Baron Werner, resembles his forbears; like +them he is unyielding, keen in word and in action, a steadfast, severe +man, living according to his own convictions, and holding himself aloof +from a world that does not share them. I do not know him personally, +but I have heard so much of him from my friend Arno and from my own +father, who was intimate with him many years ago, that I have a very +vivid idea of him, I can see him in my mind's eye,--a tall, stout old +man, his stern face framed in beard and hair of silver, from which the +black eyes can flash terribly when he is angry, although they beam +mildly enough when their gaze rests upon his darling, his daughter. It +is said that in his youth, departing from the traditions of his family, +he was a gay and genial man of fashion. As a wealthy landed proprietor, +he passed his summers at Hohenwald, his winters in Dresden. At that +time my father knew him well, and their friendship lasted for a number +of years after the Baron married a Countess Harrangow. He seemed to +live very happily with his beautiful wife, keeping open house, as well +in Dresden in the winter as in summer upon his estate of Hohenwald, +which is not far from the Prussian boundary. His wife's relatives +visited him frequently, and often spent weeks beneath his roof, where +they were upon the best of terms with the lord of the castle, although +they were Prussians, and he a bitter enemy of Prussia and a great +friend of Austria, never hesitating to declare his anti-Prussian +sentiments in the presence of his Prussian guests. + +"A few months after the birth of his youngest child--a daughter--there +was a sudden and complete transformation in the Baron's manner of life, +the cause of which was entirely unknown. He separated from his wife, +who returned to her paternal home, where she received from the Baron a +large yearly income, but whither she was not permitted to take her +children, two sons and the baby daughter, who remained in Hohenwald. No +one knows the reason for this separation; the Baron has never by so +much as a word alluded to it, and all the reports concerning it +circulated in Dresden society, where the affair of course made a great +deal of noise, are utterly without foundation. Even the Baroness, who +died within a year after the separation, without seeing either husband +or children again, never assigned to her parents any reason for her +expulsion--for that is the only term to be applied to it--from +Hohenwald. The relatives of the Baroness, who had hitherto always found +a welcome at the castle, did all they could to effect a reconciliation +between husband and wife, but they were repulsed by the Baron with such +harshness and severity that they never renewed their efforts. My +father, too, fared no better. Relying upon the claims of long +friendship, he complied with the wishes of the king, who regretted that +the Baron should have so treated his wife's relatives, and expressed a +wish that my father would use his influence with his friend, so that if +no thorough reconciliation could be brought about, at least the public +scandal of a separation without a divorce might be avoided. With some +reluctance my father undertook the task thus assigned him. He could +hardly refuse to do so, although he had but small hope of any good +result. He went to Castle Hohenwald, where the manner of his reception +showed him the hopelessness of his mission. + +"The Baron met him with a dark frown. 'What is your business with me, +Count?' he asked, without offering his hand. My father, embarrassed by +a reception in such marked contrast to the terms of friendship upon +which he had felt himself with the Baron, could not, of course, +immediately explain the real cause of his appearance at Hohenwald, and +spoke courteously of his desire to see a friend from whom he had been +separated for some time; but the Baron interrupted him with, 'Pray take +no unnecessary pains, Count. I am not fond of idle phrases, and declare +to you once for all that I will suffer no one to meddle in my affairs. +If you have been sent hither, repeat this to whoever sent you; if you +are here of your own free will, take my words to heart. If in +consideration of our former friendship you are inclined to do me a +kindness, pray shield me from any further attempt to influence me. Say +in Dresden that the gates of Castle Hohenwald are in future closed to +all visitors; that I have irrevocably and forever broken with all my +former acquaintances and friends!' + +"It may easily be imagined that my father after this made no attempt to +speak with the Baron, but left Castle Hohenwald immediately, never to +return to it. From that day the gates of the castle have been closed to +every one. One or two attempts were made by near relatives to see the +Baron, but they were entirely unsuccessful,--the servants denied him to +every one. So completely did he isolate himself from his former world +that he answered no letters addressed to him except those relating +solely to business. From that time he has led the life of a hermit in +his castle, never leaving his estate, seeing no one except the pastor +and the doctor. In spite of all this, his servants and the labourers +employed upon the estate, as well as the poor of the neighbouring +villages, will stoutly deny that he is a misanthrope; they represent +him as the kindest of masters, the best of landlords. Therefore I would +advise you, Herr von Hahn, to lay stress upon this fact in your future +narratives with regard to the life of the Baron von Hohenwald." + +"I shall most assuredly do so, my dear Count," said the Assessor; +adding, "Justice demands it, and I could not do otherwise, for a love +of justice is one of my characteristics. I make no boast of it, for the +gifts of nature are various; but so it is, and I am indebted to you for +your information with regard to the old Baron von Hohenwald, while I +await with eagerness what you have to tell of the son, Baron Arno." + +"You will have occasion to modify your judgment of him also, for, in +spite of some eccentricities, Arno is one of the best and noblest of +men. You have already laid perhaps more than sufficient stress upon the +faults which prevent mere acquaintances from rightly estimating his +excellence. There is nothing, therefore, for me to do but to explain +how he came to share his father's eccentricity and to withdraw himself +from society." + +"He is a woman-hater, then?" Adele asked, curiously. + +"I cannot exactly contradict you. He shuns the sex for the fault of an +individual, but I am sure you will judge him gently when you hear his +story. I told you just now that he was a silent and reserved officer. +One of our regiment who had been with him at school described him to me +as the merriest of lads, always ready for any school-boy prank. But the +separation of his parents seems to have made a profound impression upon +him, destroying in him all the joyousness and geniality of youth. After +his mother's return to her father, Baron von Hohenwald recalled Arno to +Hohenwald from school in Dresden, and engaged as tutor for him the +pastor of the village, a very earnest and learned man. Thus the boy +grew up sharing his father's solitude; perhaps his father confided to +him the cause of his lonely life; certain it is that never during our +years of intimacy has Arno mentioned to me his mother's name. His +relations with his father were most intimate and affectionate. Whatever +cause the old Baron had for repudiating his wife, his anger was never +visited upon her children. To them he has always been the most kind and +indulgent of parents,--even to Arno's elder brother, who was much more +of a stranger to him than the others, since he, Werner, was already a +student in the university when Arno was recalled from school. The +visits to Castle Hohenwald of the elder son, who embraced a diplomatic +career, have been of necessity infrequent, so that naturally his +father's heart does not cling to him as to the constant inmates of his +household. + +"His solitary life at Hohenwald fostered in Arno a love of retirement, +which was manifest during his military life in Dresden, whither he went +to join the army, by his father's desire, at the conclusion of his +studies. He would have preferred to embrace one of the learned +professions, but his father's wish was his law in this respect; and he +made a capital officer, gaining both the respect and the esteem of +his comrades and his superiors. He took lodgings in the house of a +rope-maker, and, as he spent all his evenings at home, only leaving it +to fulfil his military duties, he saw more of his hostess and her +pretty daughter than would otherwise have been the case. The daughter, +Rosalie, a young girl of sixteen, had been educated for a teacher, and +her associates at school had taught her the air and bearing of a higher +social rank than her own. How could a young man, who knew nothing of +society and the world, fail to be attracted by a girl of extraordinary +beauty and a fair degree of culture, and with manners far above those +of her class? How could he suspect the utter want of moral training +beneath so fair an exterior, or dream of the arts that were practised +to attract him? You spoke, Herr von Hahn, of a 'love-affair with the +pretty daughter of a rope-maker;' a very grave 'love-affair' it was for +Arno, for he asked the girl in marriage of her parents, and of course +received from them a glad consent to his wishes. Not only this, but, to +the extreme surprise of Rosalie's parents, the old Baron von Hohenwald +did not refuse to sanction the marriage. When Arno went to Hohenwald to +tell his father of his betrothal, the old man was naturally enough +dismayed at the prospect of such a misalliance. He represented to his +son all the consequences of so fatal a step, the disapproval it would +meet with in all quarters, the annihilation of all prospect of +advancement in his profession, the scandal it would cause in +aristocratic circles. But when Arno declared that his word was pledged, +and that nothing would induce him to recall it, his father withdrew all +opposition. He consented to the union, though he refused point-blank to +repair to Dresden to see his son's betrothed, declaring that he should +have time enough to make her acquaintance after the marriage. + +"In Dresden the betrothal made a most disagreeable talk; Arno's +comrades were beside themselves; they adjured him to resign all +thoughts of the girl, hinting that she was quite unworthy of the +sacrifice he was making for her. All that they said was to no purpose, +however; and in several cases Arno was with difficulty prevented from +calling to a bloody account those who dared to remonstrate with him. +The colonel of our regiment, by advice from very high quarters, called +upon Lieutenant von Hohenwald, but his representations availed nothing +against my friend's obstinacy. Arno professed himself ready to request +his dismissal from the army, but not to break his plighted faith. This +offer on his part would doubtless have been accepted but that war with +Prussia was imminent, and the services of so brave an officer as Arno +von Hohenwald could not be spared. It was therefore intimated that the +royal consent to his marriage would be accorded him provided he would +accede to the king's wish that it should be postponed for a year. To +this condition he consented, although the pretty Rosalie pouted and +sighed, and her father and mother were quite indignant at the delay. + +"During the short campaign that now took him from Dresden, Arno wrote +frequently to his betrothed, without, however, receiving a word in +reply, a circumstance for which his trusting nature found abundant +explanation in the irregularity of the Bohemian postal arrangements. At +Koeniggratz he was severely wounded; indeed, the newspapers reported him +killed, and as such they mourned him for weeks at Castle Hohenwald. +Meanwhile, he was lying unconscious in the hospital. I was in the same +ward with him, only slightly wounded, however; I was soon sufficiently +recovered to go to Dresden, on leave, to regain my strength there. When +I left Arno his condition was still very critical; in one of his +intervals of consciousness he sent a message by me to his betrothed, +which I of course made it my duty to deliver as soon as possible. I +found only the mother at home when I paid my visit to the rope-maker's, +and she shocked and disgusted me by the want of feeling she displayed +upon hearing that Arno was not dead, as had been supposed, but only +dangerously wounded. She even appeared glad to learn that, in the event +of his recovery, it must be months at least before he could come to +Dresden. On the same day, however, all that was strange in her +behaviour was fully explained to me by the physician whom I consulted +with regard to my wound, and who had been a fellow-lodger of Arno's and +his warm friend. As such he felt it his duty to acquaint me, the poor +fellow's most intimate friend, with the wretched story that so closely +concerned him, and that filled me with consternation and disgust. Arno +had been infamously deceived both by his betrothed and by her parents, +whose sole thought had been how to enrich themselves at whatever +expense of honour and honesty. Some time before her betrothal to Arno, +Rosalie had been secretly under the protection of a wealthy +manufacturer in Dresden, her connection with whom, when the report of +Arno's death seemed to her to free her from the necessity for +concealment, became a day's theme for public gossip. She flaunted her +disgrace abroad, meeting with no opposition from her parents in her +downward career. There is no need to dwell upon the details of this +miserable business; the investigations I felt it my duty to my friend +to prosecute fully confirmed the physician's story. This being the +case, what was I to do? Of course, I ought to acquaint Arno with the +facts I had learned, and yet the knowledge of them might kill him in +his present precarious state. I needed advice in the matter, and I +turned for it to my friend's father. I wrote to him telling him all, +begging him to come to Dresden to receive personal confirmation of the +truth of what I wrote, and offering, if he desired it, to go +immediately to Arno and inform him of his betrothed's worthlessness. I +supposed that the Baron would reply to my letter in person, but he did +not come to Dresden; by return of post I received a letter from him, +expressing heart-felt gratitude to me. 'I need,' he wrote, 'no further +confirmation: it is for my son to investigate this matter. Of course he +will not condemn his betrothed without hearing her in her own defence. +I suffer greatly from the gout, and cannot come to Dresden; besides, I +do not think myself justified in forestalling my son in this matter.' +He then begged me to fulfil my promise to go to Arno as soon as +possible and tell him all. 'Do not be afraid,' he said, in conclusion, +'that you will retard my son's recovery in thus performing your duty as +his friend. We Hohenwalds come of a tough stock, and know how to bear +pain; it may perhaps bend, but it will not break us. Believe me when I +tell you this.' + +"He was right, as I found when a few days later, sitting at Arno's +bedside, and finding him quite himself again, I tried to prepare him +gently for what I had to say. He perceived instantly that I was the +messenger of evil tidings, and briefly and firmly bade me speak out and +tell him all that was to be told. I did so, and he listened in gloomy +silence, with downcast eyes, asking no question, giving no sign, except +the convulsive clinching of the hand that lay on the coverlet, of the +storm of emotion raging within him. When I had finished, he looked up +with eyes that seemed to read my very soul. 'I do not thank you,' he +said. 'I cannot tell, before I have seen and learned for myself, +whether you have rendered me the greatest service that one friend can +render to another, or whether I must call you to account as my mortal +foe. Until then we must part. Leave me now. I shall soon seek you out +in Dresden, either to thank or----' + +"I tried to soothe him, but he repulsed me sternly, and I returned to +Dresden without seeing him again. His surgeon informed me that he +considered his condition very alarming, that he feared the worst, and +that at all events it must be months before he could leave the +hospital. So I left him, filled with remorse for having followed the +old Baron's advice; but scarcely four weeks had passed when one day +Arno entered my room in Dresden. He looked terribly,--his dark eyes +gleamed with unnatural brilliancy in his wasted countenance, his right +arm was in a sling, while, although he supported himself upon a stout +cane, he could scarcely stand. When I hurried towards him he sank, half +fainting, into my arms, and I carried rather than led him to a lounge. +He pressed my hand, and, as soon as he could speak, said, 'I thank you; +you told me nothing but the truth, and yet not all the truth. You have +saved me from a horrible fate, and I never will forget it. Add still +further to my obligations to you by granting me one request: I entreat +you never, never again to make the faintest allusion to that wretched +girl.' I promised, and since that day not one word with regard to her +has passed Arno's lips. How he parted from her I never knew. He had +spent two days in ascertaining the truth of the story I had told him, +and then came to my room, which it was long before he left again. His +strength of will had sustained him until his purpose was fulfilled, and +then he was utterly prostrated. For many a night I watched by his bed, +hopeless as to his recovery, but in the end his vigorous constitution +conquered. The old Baron was right. + +"During his convalescence we often discussed our plans for the future. +We both resolved to send in our resignations. I spare you our reasons +for this course of action, for I know that you, my dear Assessor, are +one of Prince Bismarck's most enthusiastic supporters, and that my +lovely cousin Adele, as the daughter of a Prussian official high in +rank, could hardly appreciate the feeling that made it impossible for +us to continue in the army after peace was concluded. Arno's political +opinions so closely coincided with my own that our plans for the future +were the same. For him, as for me, it was simply impossible to accept +office under government, and so we determined to withdraw altogether +from public life, to study the management of estates and to find our +calling in the future in administering our own. + +"I wrote to my father, and received his speedy approval of my +resolution. Arno, as soon as he was strong enough, set out for +Hohenwald. I proposed to accompany him, but to this he objected, +telling me frankly that he could not invite even his dearest friend to +Hohenwald; that his father's seclusion must be invaded by no stranger. +He attained his wish, however; his father had no objection to make to +his plans; and so we both went to Tharandt to study, and later +travelled through Europe together, until my father's death called me +home. Since then Arno has been living in Hohenwald, where, as he writes +me, he has undertaken the management of his estates. I have not seen +him, for Hohenwald is closed to every one; but we correspond +constantly, and he has promised to pay me a visit shortly." + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +The ladies had listened eagerly to Count Styrum's narrative. Frau von +Sorr, indeed, was so impressed and interested by all that she heard of +the Freiherr that she forgot for the moment the late disagreeable +encounter with Count Repuin. + +Adele was no less interested. So absorbed was she in her cousin's +account that she did not notice a certain restlessness that had begun +to pervade the guests seated at the numerous small supper-tables. It +was the invariable custom at the President's balls for the daughter of +the house to give the signal for the renewal of dancing, by leaving the +supper-room escorted by her cavalier. This duty the young girl, usually +so attentive a hostess, had wellnigh forgotten, and she would have +continued to question her cousin upon the subject that so interested +her, had not her brother Heinrich reminded her that their guests were +awaiting with some impatience the return to the ball-room. He left the +table where he had been playing the part of host, and, standing behind +his sister's chair, whispered in her ear, "You seem to have forgotten, +Adele, that it is high time the dancing began again." + +"Why are you in such a hurry? You are not used to be so eager to +dance," Adele replied, in a tone of some annoyance. + +"I speak for our guests, who have been looking impatiently for your +leaving the supper-room, as you would have seen yourself had not +interest in your conversation with our cousin made you blind and deaf +to everything else. Let me beg you now to bestow a little attention +upon others." + +Although her brother's reproof might have been more amiably +administered, Adele felt the justice of what he said, and, rising +instantly, begged Count Styrum to conduct her to the ball-room. The +other couples followed her immediately, and the supper-room was soon +emptied of all the guests with the exception of the elderly gentlemen, +for whom the President now produced his choicest Havanas, and whose +enjoyment of the evening only rightly began when, supper finished, they +could linger over their wine with closed doors. + +For those younger men who were not enthusiastic dancers, but who were +fond of high play, Heinrich von Guntram had his own sanctum prepared. +The gaming-table was set out, the champagne duly iced, and he only +waited until the dancing should have begun to assemble there the chosen +few. His father discountenanced gaming, and therefore there had been no +mention of play before supper, but now that the President was occupied +with his special friends, Heinrich dutifully danced once with his +partner at supper, and then led the way to his room, followed by all +those for whom gaming always formed part of an evening's entertainment. + +"Are you tired of dancing, Count Repuin?" he asked the Russian, who +stood in a doorway, gloomily watching Frau von Sorr as she was waltzing +with the Assessor. "Come to my room and you will find a cigar." + +"And cards?" + +"Of course." + +"Have you asked Sorr?" + +"No; you know----" + +"Yes, I know; but you will do me a great favour if you will ask him to +join us." + +This request embarrassed Heinrich; he did not like to spare the Russian +from the card-table, for he always lost, when he did lose, with great +equanimity, but he was naturally disinclined to extend his invitation +to Sorr. "I have already asked Arnim," he said, hesitating, "and I am +afraid----" + +"Of his making a scene with Sorr," the Russian completed his sentence. +"You need not be afraid. Whatever Arnim might say at the club with +regard to Sorr, be sure that beneath your roof he will respect him as +your guest. Indeed, you will greatly oblige me, Herr von Guntram, by +asking Sorr." + +"If you really wish it, of course I will do so," Heinrich replied; "but +I would far rather that the invitation should come from you than from +me. I could then excuse myself to Arnim, upon the plea that not I, but +you, introduced him." + +"Be it so," said the Count. "I will bring him with me, with your +permission. All that Herr von Arnim said was that he would not play +when Sorr kept the bank, and we can easily arrange that. I will not +follow you with Sorr until half an hour has elapsed, and your game will +have been begun when we arrive." + +Heinrich assented; he left the Russian, and, as he passed through the +ball-room, observed that Count Styrum was standing alone, looking on at +the dancers. "You are no dancer, Count," he said, addressing him. "I +think you did not dance before supper either." + +"No, I never dance much; and just now, as you know, I am in mourning." + +"It must bore you to look on at all this spinning and whirling. If you +have not forsworn cards, cousin, you will find in my room a good cigar, +excellent champagne, and a few very clever fellows." + +"Do you play high?" + +"Not at all, not at all. Count Repuin stakes rather large sums +sometimes, but no one else among us does so, except perhaps Herr von +Sorr, when he has any money, which is not often. The rest of us stake +but little; we play merely to kill time." + +Count Styrum cared very little for play. He had now and then won and +lost small sums at a public gaming-table, but it had been more out of +compliance with the wish of some friend who desired his companionship +than from any interest in the game. He would have refused his cousin's +invitation but that he was curious to know more of Herr von Sorr, and +thought that no better opportunity could offer for meeting the man who +was husband to the beautiful woman who had so interested him. He +therefore followed Heinrich, who led the way to the room which he +called his study, and presented him to the young men, mostly officers, +there assembled. Count Repuin and Herr von Sorr were not yet present. + +"Who is to keep the bank?" asked Herr von Saldern, who, impatient to +begin, was already shuffling the cards. + +"Let us take turns; each put in twenty-five thalers." + +"Twenty-five thalers is too little. There are but ten of us, and that +would only make two hundred and fifty thalers,' Herr von Saldern +objected. + +"Come, come, Saldern, you shall not insist upon high play," said Herr +von Arnim. "Let us have a comfortable evening, and not dip too deep in +one another's pockets. I agree to Guntram's proposal, but upon +condition that the bank is kept only by one of those now present." + +"But why?" + +"Because I suspect that Sorr will find his way here before long; he has +a wonderful scent for cards. I have declared that I will not play when +he keeps the bank, and I will run no risks." + +"You ought to be more careful in speaking of Herr von Sorr, my dear +Arnim," Heinrich von Guntram remonstrated. + +"Bah! I don't care that whether or not he hears what I say," said +Arnim, snapping his fingers. "Besides, he ought to feel flattered by my +fear of him. At all events, I am superstitious, and feel sure I shall +lose my money if Sorr keeps the bank; so I repeat my condition, and +will not take part in the game unless it be accepted." + +"Well, well, it is accepted. Let us begin, and let Guntram be banker +first!" the rest cried, impatiently, as they seated themselves at the +table; and Guntram, after receiving twenty-five thalers from each of +the players, began the game as banker. He had hardly drawn the first +card when Count Repuin and Herr von Sorr made their appearance. + +"I knew it!" Herr von Arnim whispered to Count Styrum. "Sorr scents +cards ten miles off; no vulture could be keener. Pray, Herr von Sorr," +he added, aloud, as the latter seemed inclined to take a seat between +Arnim and Count Styrum, "be good enough to find a place the other side +of the Count. I do not like to lose so agreeable a neighbour, and there +really is no room on this side." + +All eyes were turned upon Sorr, and every one looked for some hasty +reply to Arnim's words, which were almost insulting from their tone and +the manner in which they were uttered; but Sorr either did not or would +not perceive intentional offence in them, and, merely saying, "You are +right; there is more room here," placed a chair on the right of Count +Styrum and took his seat in it. + +This propinquity was not undesirable to the Count, who now had the best +possible opportunity for observing the man of whom he had heard so much +from the Assessor. As he did so he could not help saying to himself, +"How could this man ever have won the affection of that charming +woman?" Never had he been more disagreeably impressed by any one, and +yet he could hardly tell why this was so. Herr von Sorr's features were +regular; his fair full beard and curling light hair became him well; +his blue eyes were fine in form and colour; but the expression of both +features and eyes was to the Count most repulsive. An artificial smile +constantly played about his finely-chiselled lips. His eyes never +looked fairly into those of the man whom he addressed; there was an air +of utter weakness and want of character about him; defects which, +beyond all others, Count Styrum despised. + +The game began, and was very moderately conducted. Count Repuin, who +was seated opposite Sorr, beside Heinrich von Guntram, now and then +staked a large sum, which he usually lost. Sorr staked but little; +between him and Count Styrum on the table there was a little heap of +silver and paper money, from which he took his stakes and to which he +added his winnings; beside it lay the pocket-book of the Count, who, +for want of small notes, had one of larger amount changed by the +banker. The game interested him but slightly, and he had abundant +opportunity to watch the players, who, in spite of the small stakes, +gradually displayed an eagerness which was by no means allayed by the +champagne with which the servant in attendance plied them. + +The company began to grow noisy. Heinrich von Guntram, who had handed +over the bank to Herr von Arnim, and who began to stake larger sums, +cursed his luck loudly, and was laughed at by Arnim, who had a ready +word of ridicule for all, and bidden to imitate the composure of Herr +von Sorr, who won or lost with equal grace. + +Herr von Sorr did not seem to hear Arnim's persiflage; his attention +all appeared to be given to the game, and he showed a moderation in +drinking which contrasted strikingly with the conduct of his friend +Count Repuin, who emptied glass after glass of the champagne, which +Sorr refused, confining himself to a few glasses of seltzer water. The +wine, however, appeared to produce no effect upon the Russian; he +seemed not at all excited and observant only of the game. But Styrum, +who watched him narrowly, perceived that this was only seeming; that in +reality Repuin's whole attention was given to Styrum's neighbour, Sorr. + +Thus the game lasted for about an hour, when Repuin rose from the +table. "I have had enough for to-night," he said, gathering up his +money; "and you too, Count Styrum, seem but little interested. Shall we +not, without disturbing the others, take a quiet cigar together in the +next room and discuss--our Italian experiences, for example? I think we +were at Naples at the same time." + +Count Styrum was greatly surprised at being thus addressed. He did not +know the Russian, to whom he had been but formally introduced. What +could be his reason for desiring to converse privately with an entire +stranger in the next room? He must have some special aim in view, +although what this was Styrum could not divine. He hesitated to accept +the invitation of the man whose behaviour towards Frau von Sorr had so +disgusted him, but curiosity to know what the Russian contemplated +conquered his reluctance, and, taking his offered arm, he accompanied +him into the adjoining room, the door of which Repuin closed behind +them. + +"I thank you for accepting my invitation, Count," said the Russian, +from whose face the courteous smile vanished as soon as they were +alone. "You guess, of course, that I have sought this interview with +you for a graver object than any discussion of Italian experiences. I +shall therefore, without circumlocution, come to the point at once with +a question which will doubtless strike you as very strange. Do you know +how much money there was in the pocket-book which lay before you on the +table, and which you have just put into your pocket?" + +"Your question is indeed a strange one!" + +"I will explain it immediately, if you will be so kind as to give me an +answer." + +"I cannot see what possible interest the amount of money that I carry +in my pocket-book can have for you, Count Repuin, but, since you wish +it, I can tell you about how much there was. When I sat down to +play I had five one-hundred-thaler notes in my pocket-book; one of +these I exchanged for two fifties; one of these again I put into my +pocket-book, using the other for the game, so that, besides some small +notes, the amount of which I cannot tell you, since I do not know how +much I won or lost, my pocket-book must contain four hundred-thaler +notes and one fifty." + +"Thank you. I pray your patience for a moment, and you shall understand +my apparently indiscreet question. Be so obliging as to take out your +pocket-book and see whether it contains the sum you have mentioned." + +"Count Repuin, this is a most extraordinary request!" + +"It is; and if you insist, I will instantly explain it to you, but you +would greatly oblige me by first glancing at the contents of your +pocket-book; my demand can easily be complied with." + +Styrum could not avoid granting a request couched in terms so +courteous; he opened his pocket-book and counted his notes, finding, to +his great astonishment, that they numbered only three hundred-thaler +notes in addition to the fifty and the smaller sums. + +"Well, is your money all right?" asked Repuin, who was watching him +with eager interest. + +"No; a hundred-thaler note is missing. It must have dropped on the +floor when I changed the other. I will go look for it." + +"Do not trouble yourself, Count; you will find nothing," the Russian +calmly rejoined. "I will find it for you, and, in doing so, will +entirely explain my apparently unjustifiable curiosity." + +He awaited no reply from Styrum. Opening the door leading into the next +room, he called, in an imperious tone, "Herr von Sorr, one word with +you. Count Styrum wishes to speak to you." + +A livid pallor overspread Sorr's countenance. Did he suspect what was +coming? He started, and one hand sought his breast-pocket, but before +it could reach it it was seized by Count Repuin and held as if in a +vice. "Leave the contents of your pocket untouched," the Russian +whispered in his ear. "Follow me instantly,--I command you!" + +Sorr obeyed, following the Russian like a trembling slave. + +"What is the matter?" was the question that hovered upon the lips of +all, and that was uttered aloud by one of the young men at the table. +Although Repuin's last words had been spoken in a tone so low as to +reach Sorr's ears alone, all had heard his first authoritative summons +and had seen Sorr's confusion as the Count had seized his hand, and all +wondered what was the matter, although only one uttered the question. + +"Something very disagreeable, most certainly," Heinrich von Guntram +made reply. "In my opinion, gentlemen, we had better finish the game +and go back to the ball-room as soon as possible. Let those three end +their business as seems to them best; the less we know of it the +better." + +"But our bank!" Herr von Saldern exclaimed. + +"Arnim, who is banker, will attend to all that, and see that each one +receives his due proportion; will you not, Herr von Arnim?" + +"'Tis already done, my dear fellow. You will take charge of Count +Styrum's share," replied Arnim. "Be quick, gentlemen; here is your +money. I agree with Guntram that the less we hear of what is going on +in the next room the better. Let us go back to the ball-room. This +scandalous scene will at all events convince our friend Guntram how +unfit Sorr is to be admitted to the society of gentlemen, and we shall, +I hope, be spared any association with him in future." + +Count Repuin closed the door of the next room after Sorr, and then, +turning to Count Styrum, said, "I will now give you the solution of the +riddle I have just read you, Count." As he spoke he leaned against the +closed door, and looked with disdainful contempt at the miserable +wretch before him, who would evidently have fled from the room had not +the Russian's tall form barred his egress. + +Styrum had already taken a thorough dislike to Count Repuin, from +witnessing his behaviour towards Fran von Sorr. Now, as he marked the +triumphant malice that mingled with the contempt expressed in his face, +this dislike deepened to what was almost a horror. He divined what +would be the solution of the riddle of the lost money; he remembered +all that the Assessor had said of Sorr, and, recalling the keen +scrutiny that Repuin had bestowed upon Sorr's movements at the +gaming-table, he could not doubt why the Russian had summoned the pale, +trembling wretch before him. Still, he could not understand the triumph +with which Repuin was regarding the detected thief. Was he not, +according to the Assessor's report, the man's intimate friend? What +reason could he have for sacrificing him merely to restore some lost +money to a stranger? This riddle Styrum could not solve, for it was +incredible that Repuin should act thus, simply from indignation at +Sorr's dishonesty. + +After a moment's pause the Russian turned to Styrum: "Do you now +guess, Count, where your hundred-thaler note will be found? You do not +reply? Well, I will tell you; it is at present in Herr von Sorr's +breast-pocket, whither it was conveyed from your pocket-book, with +immense dexterity it is true, but not dexterously enough to elude my +vigilance. He is the thief,--does he dare to deny it?" + +He did not dare. Repuin's words seemed to annihilate him, all the more +that they were uttered by a man whom he had thought his friend. Pale +and trembling, unable to articulate a word in self-defence, he bowed +before the terrible fate that had thus overtaken him. All power of +resistance seemed crushed out of him. In silence he awaited his +sentence. + +"Give back the stolen note to Count Styrum," the Russian ordered. + +Again he obeyed; he was incapable of thought,--Repuin's iron will ruled +him irresistibly. Automatically be put his hand into his breast-pocket, +took out the note, and handed it to Count Styrum. + +"I have kept my word," Repuin continued. "You are again in possession +of the missing note. We must now consider what is to be done with this +scoundrel. It is your part, as the sufferer by his theft, to decide +this. Shall we deliver him over to justice and a jail? He is ripe for +it; this is not his first crime of the kind, as his skill in committing +it testifies. Let us take the gentlemen in the next room into council, +and send for the police. What say you, Count?" + +"For God's sake, have mercy upon me!" With this cry Sorr threw himself +at the Russian's feet. But Repuin thrust him from him. "Hands off, +scoundrel! To me you appeal in vain. There stands your judge!" + +He pointed as he spoke to Count Styrum, and to him the wretched Sorr +turned with clasped hands. "Spare me, Count!" he implored. "I have +given you back the note. Have pity!" + +Pity for the worthless creature who crawled thus in the dust after his +detection Count Styrum could not feel. Why should he have any +compassion upon the miserable worldling who had squandered his means in +every kind of low dissipation and was now nothing more nor less than a +common thief? He deserved mercy less than did the criminal whom want +and misery had driven to steal. It was his duty to banish him from the +society of honest men and deliver him over to a just punishment. + +And yet, just at this moment, there presented itself to Count Styrum's +mind a vision of the lovely young creature who, without a suspicion of +the horrible fate impending over her, had but a short time before +listened to his words with such interest. Would not a just sentence +pronounced upon her husband crush her also? And Adele,--Frau von Sorr +was her dearest friend. What a blow her misery would inflict upon +Adele! + +Thus Styrum was still undecided between the consideration he felt for +Frau von Sorr and for his cousin's peace of mind and the evident duty +of delivering over a thief to justice, when suddenly an idea occurred +to him that caused him to waver no longer. What reason had Count Repuin +for convicting his friend of a theft? Was he weary of a friendship +which, as the Assessor reported, cost him so much money? Had the +disdainful repulse he had but now received from Frau von Sorr incited +him to revenge? Or did he hope by ruining the husband to plunge the +wife into such misery that she would in the end be accessible to his +degrading advances? He looked quite capable of so devilish a scheme. + +"Decide, Count!" Repuin said, hastily. "What is done must be done +quickly!" + +"I have decided," Count Styrum replied. "We owe it to the hospitality +extended to us beneath this roof to avoid a scandal which would be most +painful to my uncle and to my cousin Adele." + +"And you will let the fellow go scot-free?" Repuin asked, gloomily. + +"If we allow him to escape the legal penalty of his villainy, his sole +punishment must be the memory of this hour, which, I trust, may serve +him as a warning." + +"Oh, Count Styrum, how shall I thank you!" exclaimed Sorr, to whose +cheeks the colour began to return, as he attempted, but vainly, to take +Styrum's hand. + +"Spare me your acknowledgments," said Styrum, turning from him with +disgust. "It is owing to no sympathy for you, but to consideration for +the society in which I find you, that you are spared the punishment you +deserve. Go,--take my advice, and leave my uncle's house on the +instant. I trust I shall never meet you again beneath his roof." + +Sorr would immediately have followed this counsel, but it was +impossible, for Repuin, who was still leaning with folded arms against +the closed door, did not stir. The Russian's eyes were gloomily fixed +on the ground; evidently he was dissatisfied with Styrum's decision, +and was considering whether or how he should combat it. As Sorr +approached him he looked up. "You are in too great a hurry," he said, +disdainfully. "You and I are not yet quits; we have a few points to +discuss that would hardly interest Count Styrum. I left the decision in +this matter to you, Count, since you were the injured party, and I bow +to it, but I cannot suffer this man longer to frequent a society in +which he is regarded as my friend, and where I must continually +encounter him. The means that I shall use to prevent this will depend +upon the result of a private conversation, which I must insist upon +having with Herr von Sorr." + +There was in these words so direct a request to be left alone with Sorr +that Count Styrum could not but comply; he had no right to remain, +although an imploring look from Sorr seemed to entreat him to do so. +With a slight inclination to Repuin, who instantly made way, and even +opened the door, he left the room. + +Scarcely was he gone when Sorr raised his head. The degradation of the +moment when his villainy had been unmasked in the presence of a +stranger had robbed him of all power of self-defence; now that he found +himself alone with the Russian he was once more able to speak; his +wrath he might hope to appease. Although Repuin's savagely passionate +nature had always impressed him with a kind of terror, he thought he +could devise a means to pacify him, difficult as it might be. Extreme +caution was necessary,--in Count Styrum's presence this means could not +be mentioned, but now, let him but soothe his antagonist with hopes of +the fulfilment of his wild desires and all might yet be well. + +"How could you--you of all men--act as you have just done, Count?" Sorr +began. "How have I deserved such treatment at your hands? You know how +devoted I am to your interests, how grateful for all you have done for +me,--that I should think no sacrifice too great to testify this +gratitude to you, and yet you--you it is who would ruin me!" + +Repuin looked down with haughty contempt upon the cringing figure +before him. He had spent months in studying this man, and his servile, +degraded soul was as an open book before him; he knew the precise value +of all these asseverations. + +"Spare me your protestations, Herr von Sorr," he replied, "they will +avail you nothing. I did not detain you here to listen to your +assurances of friendship and gratitude, but to put a stop to any such. +I have lost my interest in the game which you and your beautiful wife +have been playing with me. I must be done with it. Understand me,--I +refuse to be any longer either your dupe or your wife's." + +"I do not understand you. I----" + +"You shall learn to do so. I know you. I have scrutinized your every +action for months past; your very thoughts are laid bare to me; I knew, +when I brought you to Guntram's room to-night, that you would deliver +yourself into my hands, either by cheating or, as has been the case, by +theft. I knew when Count Styrum left his pocket-book open before you +how it would all end." + +There was an expression of absolute horror on Sorr's face as he +listened to these words. That Repuin's treatment of him was due to no +sudden impulse, no outbreak of passion, but was the result of a cool, +well-considered scheme, robbed him of all hope, and he stood before his +savage persecutor and judge an image of despairing guilt. + +A cruel smile hovered upon Repuin's lips; he was satisfied with the +effect his words had produced; without awaiting a reply, he continued: +"You thought to play with me, Herr von Sorr; you were but a tool in my +hands,--a tool to be thrown away whenever it pleased me. I should have +done so long since, but for certain considerations. I might have +unmasked the thief in the little affair with that other lost note of +Herr von Saldern's, which I see you remember, but the fruit was not +quite ripe, and I disdained to shake the tree. I am not fond of violent +measures. I prepare them for my use, but I use them only in cases of +absolute necessity. So long as I hoped to win your wife to listen to my +suit, and to purchase her husband's easy compliance with money and a +show of friendship, I allowed you to go your way. I thought you wise +enough to use your influence with your wife in my favour. I paid you +well for such service; but to-day she has shown me that it is vain to +attempt to proceed upon a friendly footing. She has offended, insulted +me; the consequences be upon her head. For what has happened to-night +you may thank your beautiful wife." + +"What--what has happened?" Sorr exclaimed, marking with terror the +savage gleam in the Russian's eyes. + +"Your wife repulsed me with scorn and left me, when, after the dance +to-night, I whispered a few passionate words in her ear; and although +by agreement with you she was engaged to me for supper, she refused my +escort, and took the arm of that fool, Von Hahn!" + +"Impossible!" exclaimed Sorr. "When she promised me so faithfully! She +shall atone for it; she shall make you ample reparation!" + +"If your influence with your wife is so powerful, you should have +exerted it earlier," Repuin said, with cruel scorn. + +"How was I to know that Lucie would break her word? But you shall have +satisfaction; I swear you shall. I do not deserve that you should +punish me thus for Lucie's actions. I am your most devoted friend; ask +of me what you will, and you shall be obeyed." + +"I look for no less from you," Repuin replied, "though I certainly do +not reckon upon your friendship or gratitude, but upon your fear. That +you may know clearly what you have to expect, I will tell you plainly +what I meant, and still mean to do. Entire frankness is the best policy +between us. I love your wife passionately, madly; I have sworn that she +shall be mine at all hazards. Though I should commit murder in pursuit +of her, she shall be mine. You must separate from your wife. She must +be left to me." + +Sorr fairly staggered. He had, indeed, long known that Count Repuin +loved his beautiful wife; he had built upon this love his hopes of +mollifying the Count; but for this infamous demand he was not prepared. +He had often made shameful capital of his wife's exquisite beauty +when young men of fortune were to be decoyed to his house and to the +gaming-table; his dissipated life had long since destroyed in him all +ennobling affection for her; he felt no jealousy upon seeing her +surrounded by admirers; he had even exulted when the wealthy Russian +had been evidently conquered by her charms. And yet he was horrified by +Repuin's demand; to comply with it would banish him from the world in +which he had hitherto lived; who would take the slightest notice of him +if Lucie were no longer his wife? + +"What you ask is impossible!" he gasped, at last. + +"Do not dare to talk of 'impossible' to me!" the Russian angrily +exclaimed. "I require obedience of you, and if you refuse I will hand +you over to justice. Count Styrum, if summoned to court as a witness, +must tell what he knows, however unwilling he may be to do so. Your +fate in such a case is certain. Your only alternative would be to send +a bullet through your brains before you were arrested. If, however, you +consent to my will, I will not only be silent, and engage that Count +Styrum shall be silent, but I will also pay you ten thousand thalers +down. You shall receive the money on the day when your wife becomes +mine and we start for the Italian tour. You see I am magnanimous. +I buy your wife of you when I might force you to give her up to me. +Choose,--your fate is in your own hands!" + +As Sorr looked up at the Count's face filled with savage resolve, he +felt that all hope was lost. "My wife will never consent to it," he +said, with hesitation. + +"That would be unfortunate for you; but I am sure she will yield if you +tell her the true state of the case. Describe to her her future as the +wife of a convict. How will she live when her present support is +closely confined behind bolts and bars? Upon the other hand paint to +her the delights of a life by my side. There is no wish that she can +frame that it will not be my joy to gratify. If the fair Lucie is not +insane, I think that a just representation of the state of affairs--and +this must be your task--will soon convince her of what choice she had +best make." + +"You do not know my wife," Sorr said, still hesitatingly,--he was +afraid of arousing the Count's anger, and yet he dared not keep back +the truth: "her pride transcends belief; she would prefer the most +fearful fate, even death itself, to a life with you." + +"Exert all your eloquence, Herr von Sorr, and I am convinced you will +succeed. Remember the sword that is suspended above your head, and that +you alone can avert its fall. But enough for the present; you will now +return to the ball-room, only to leave it immediately with your wife +upon whatever pretext you may devise,--a sudden indisposition or +something of the kind. I owe it to Count Styrum that you spend not an +instant longer than is absolutely necessary beneath this roof. You will +inform your wife this very night of what has been agreed upon between +us. I will wait no longer than to-morrow morning for the result. Come +to me early and let me know what it is, and I will decide what is next +to be done." + +"Count----" + +"Not another word! Your part is to obey; woe upon you if you fail! I +shall expect you to-morrow morning by eight o'clock at the latest!" + +With a haughty, scarcely perceptible nod, the Russian withdrew, +and finding Heinrich's room--whence the gamblers had long since +departed--empty, returned to the ball-room. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +After supper there had not been the amount of gayety that was wont +to distinguish the President's balls. The young people had begun to +dance, and the elderly folk to enjoy the delights of card-room and +smoking-room, when there was whispered through the assemblage a rumour +that interfered greatly with the merriment of the evening. It was first +heard in the ball-room; whence it originated no one could exactly tell, +but there it was, flying from lip to lip. The younger men were seen to +crowd around Guntram and the officers from Heinrich's room, whom they +plied with questions, and although it had been agreed that no mention +was to be made of the disagreeable circumstance that had occurred +there, the dark rumour was not long in taking shape. + +How it came about that first the elder ladies and then the younger +portion of the assemblage learned it no one could tell, but it +circulated everywhere in the ball-room, and finally penetrated to the +smoking-room, where the older men left their cigars and cards and +returned to the ball-room to ascertain what had happened. + +They found the greatest excitement prevailing there; the band was still +playing, it is true, but there were only a few couples on the floor, +and these danced without enthusiasm, and apparently merely for form's +sake. + +And what was it all about? No one could precisely say. Had Count Repuin +actually boxed Herr von Sorr's ears in Heinrich's room and called him a +cheat and thief? Oh, no! it was not Count Repuin. He had interfered +when Count Styrum, who had been robbed by Sorr, would have chastised +the thief, and high words had passed between the two Counts. It would +certainly end in a duel. This was the tale told to Adele by the wife of +Major Gansauge; but Frau von Rose, who stood by, declared that she had +it from the best authority--her informant had begged that his name +might not be mentioned--that there was not a word of truth in the whole +story. It all came from Herr von Arnim's recklessly accusing Herr von +Sorr of playing unfairly. Poor Herr von Sorr was very likely not so +much to blame; he played high, to be sure, but, good heavens! plenty of +people did that nowadays, and Arnim was probably irritated because +Sorr's luck was better than his own. He had lost his temper, accused +Sorr of cheating; Sorr had naturally resented it; a duel was impending; +Count Styrum was to be Arnim's second, while Count Repuin was to act as +poor Herr von Sorr's friend. It was outrageous that such an affair +should disturb the gayety of one of the dear President's charming +balls. Poor dear Lucie von Sorr was most to be pitied, for every one +knew that Arnim was the best shot in the world and always killed his +man. But there was Count Styrum just come back to the ball-room; he +could tell all about it, if he only would. + +Adele listened with impatience to the contradictory statements of the +two ladies. They were both noted gossips, and equally untrustworthy, +but there must be something wrong, else how could the report of some +kind of scene in Heinrich's room have circulated everywhere, even +reaching the ears of Frau von Sorr, who, in some agitation, had begged +her friend to discover the truth of the matter for her? + +Heinrich, to whom his sister had first turned for information, had +refused, somewhat roughly, to give her any satisfaction. "Old women's +gossip," was his only reply, as he turned his back upon her. His manner +only served to convince Adele that there was some truth in the rumours +she had heard, and anxiety for her friend Lucie induced her to pay some +heed to the talk of the two old ladies in hopes of learning some fact +of consequence. Her only satisfaction had been in hearing that her +cousin, Count Styrum, could give her the information she desired. It +was not easy, however, to enter into conversation with him, for +immediately upon his return to the ball-room he was surrounded by eager +questioners, each curious to know all that he could tell. In her +friend's interest, however, Adele was brave. She walked towards the +group of gentlemen, who instantly made way for the lovely daughter of +their host, and, accosting Styrum, said, "Cousin Karl, let me beg you +to conduct me to a seat." + +The Count instantly offered her his arm, and, while conducting her +through the room, quietly remarked, "I suspect why you have sought me. +You want to know the truth with regard to the occurrence in Heinrich's +room, concerning which such wild rumours have got abroad with +inconceivable rapidity. Am I not right?" + +"Yes, cousin; I implore you to tell me the whole truth. My poor Lucie +is quite beside herself with anxiety. Only see how pale she is! Never +was there a woman so self-controlled as she. Look, she is smiling now, +as she must so often when her heart is almost breaking; but she cannot +quite conceal her torturing fear that something terrible has occurred. +Take me to a seat beside her, that you may tell us both what has +happened." + +"That I cannot do," the Count replied, gravely. "I will willingly tell +you all that I know, but I cannot describe to that most unfortunate +woman the disgraceful scene which I was forced to witness. You are her +most intimate friend, and yet I doubt if even you will be able to tell +her the whole truth. With this I can acquaint only yourself, your +father, and your brother." + +Adele looked around; she noted the curious eyes fixed upon the Count +and herself; she knew that it would create gossip if she indulged in a +longer _tete-a-tete_ with her cousin, if she withdrew with him from the +throng; but she would brave it all for the sake of her poor Lucie. "Let +us go out upon the balcony," she said; "there is no one there at +present; the gentlemen are all gathered about Heinrich and his +friends." + +It excited no little observation in the ball-room when Styrum led his +cousin out upon the balcony. + +"Look, look!" the major's wife whispered to her crony, Frau von Rose. +"That is a little too strong. I know they are relatives and all that, +but it is possible to presume too much upon such relationships. Out +alone on the balcony with him! Who would ever have thought it of the +little prude!" + +"What are you thinking of, my dear?" Frau von Rose whispered in her +turn. "Adele is as good as betrothed to the Assessor von Hahn. I have +it from a trustworthy source." + +"Indeed! So much the more reason why she should not be out on the +balcony alone with her handsome cousin. It is scandalous! Who would +have thought of such things happening here at the President's! First +this terrible Sorr story, and then such conduct on Adele's part." + +"But, my dear, we advised her to ask information of the Count." + +"We?---- I beg pardon; I never should have advised any such thing; and +if I remember rightly, you only mentioned that the Count could tell all +about the matter if he would; you never hinted a word of advice. But of +course Fraeulein Adele will blame you if her father scolds her for such +behaviour, and very unseemly behaviour it is for a young girl to talk +to a gentleman alone in a dark night upon a balcony." + +"I myself do not think it exactly the thing, but there's no great harm +in it. The balcony is as light as day from the lights in this room. You +can see them both quite plainly. Look, Adele is leaning against the +iron balustrade, and the Count is standing at a respectful distance +talking to her. He is telling her all about Herr von Sorr, it is plain +to be seen; and at any rate, my dear, what affair is it of ours if +Fraeulein Adele finds it convenient to talk more confidentially to her +cousin on the balcony than she could here in the ballroom? She will +know the particulars of the affair when she comes back, and we will +make her tell us all about it." + +While the elderly ladies in the ball-room were thus unfavourably +discussing the interview on the balcony, Adele was listening with +painful interest to her cousin's story. She had long known of the evil +reports circulated with regard to Sorr; they had been matter of +discussion in the President's family circle, and her father had often +declared that he could not ask to his house a man whose reputation was +so bad. It was only in compliance with Adele's entreaty that Sorr had +been invited to this birthday ball, and this only when Heinrich, upon +being consulted, had insisted that the silly stories concerning Sorr +were false, that they were all inventions of Lieutenant von Arnim, who +hated Sorr. + +Adele, too, had hitherto given little credit to what was said of Sorr; +she knew that her friend led a very unhappy life with her husband, that +his habits were extremely dissipated, and that he neglected his wife +shamefully, but that he had ever been engaged in any dishonourable +transaction she did not believe. Nevertheless, at times, when Lucie +seemed oppressed with a sadness which no words of hers could relieve or +lighten, doubts had occurred to her; doubts which, however, since Lucie +never accused her husband, nor even alluded to him, the young girl had +resolutely banished, defending Sorr against her father's suspicions, +and treating all evil rumour concerning him as idle gossip. + +Now she knew the truth; and her heart seemed to stand still as she +learned that all that had been hitherto whispered of evil against Sorr +was exceeded by the facts,--her Lucie's husband was a detected thief! + +"My poor, poor Lucie!" she said, with infinite sadness, when Styrum had +finished his narrative. "What will be done now? What does that dreadful +Repuin mean to do?" + +"I am not sufficiently familiar with the relations which have existed +hitherto between Sorr and Count Repuin to answer that question," Styrum +replied, "but I must confess that my first thought was that Repuin had +brought about this catastrophe intentionally. I may do the Count +injustice, for he acted as any man of honour would have done in his +place. He could not suppress his knowledge of Sorr's theft, but he +acquainted me with it with great tact, leaving it to me to spare the +thief or to bring him to justice, and he acquiesced in my decision, +that out of consideration for your father the fellow must be let alone. +And no one can blame him for wishing to adjust without my assistance +his own relations with Sorr, who has hitherto passed in society for his +friend. He has only done his duty, and that in the most honourable +manner. All this I admit, and yet I cannot help suspecting that he +acted in accordance with a deep-laid scheme and in furtherance of his +own evil designs. I can never forget the look the man cast upon Frau +von Sorr when you took your friend's part so bravely, and the memory of +it fills me with distrust of him. Therefore I had intended to tell you +as soon as possible all that happened, and am especially grateful to +you for this opportunity to do so, since you are in a position to judge +whether any danger threatens your friend. She certainly must have told +you much that will enable you to know this." + +"Oh, if she only had!" said Adele. "Unfortunately, it is not so. I love +Lucie like a sister. When we were at school together she confided +everything, even her very thoughts, to me: we had no secrets from each +other; but I no longer possess her confidence. I know she loves me as +well as ever, and if she could confide in any one, she would confide in +me and let me share and soothe her sorrow. Therefore I cannot but hope +for a return of the old intimacy. After her marriage I had not seen her +for a long time, and our correspondence had flagged, when something +more than a year ago she suddenly came here with her husband to live. +Her first visit was to me, and I was indescribably happy to see her +once more. She showed me all her old affection, but not her old +confidence. I soon perceived that she was very unhappy,--she could not +prevent my seeing that,--but to all my questions she returned evasive +answers, and I only judged from common report that her marriage was an +unhappy one, she has never spoken of it to me. And of her relations +with Count Repuin I know only what my own observation has taught me. He +has been for months Sorr's most intimate friend; they seemed +inseparable. Sorr lives very quietly, he never gives large parties, but +he frequently entertains a few friends, among whom, Heinrich has told +me, Repuin is always to be found. He has paid assiduous court to my +poor Lucie, never heeding the almost offensive coldness of her manner +to him. I know how abhorrent his attentions are to her, although she +has never mentioned him to me: I can read it in her eyes. This is all I +know; you were a witness of the odious scene at supper to-night, it +aroused in you the suspicion that troubles me also. My poor, dear +Lucie! I am in despair at not knowing how to advise or assist her. I +entreat you, dear Karl, to help me; my Lucie deserves to find faithful +friends in her terrible misery. Tell me, what will happen,--what can we +do?" + +As she spoke, Adele looked up at her cousin, her large, dark eyes +glowing with entreaty and filled with tears. How beautiful her eyes +were!--almost more beautiful now when their brilliancy was dimmed by +those "kindly drops" than when sparkling with youthful gayety. + +Count Styrum was wonderfully impressed,--Adele's cordial confidence +enchanted him. Frau von Sorr had already interested him; he was now +resolved to do everything in his power to aid her in her misery. +Adele's friend could not be the accomplice of her unworthy husband. + +But what could he do? He pondered this question in vain. "What will +happen?" To this he could make no reply; he could not imagine what +Repuin contemplated doing. + +"You do not reply, Karl?" Adele asked. "Will you not help me to protect +my poor Lucie from that horrible Count Repuin, to stand by her in her +misery?" + +"With all my heart I will, my dear Adele," he replied, taking her hand +and kissing it so fervently that the girl withdrew it with a blush. + +"I accept your promise," she said; "we are now allies, and I am +convinced that you will be a help indeed. How we can aid my friend I do +not yet know, but I am sure that in her great need she will accord me +her full confidence, and appeal to me for help; then, Karl, I will +summon you and remind you of your promise." + +"And I will come. Ask of me what you will, you shall not ask in vain." + +"I thank you from my soul; you inspire me with courage and hope. But +look, cousin, there comes Repuin, followed by Sorr. Take me to Lucie +quickly,--I cannot leave her alone!" + +Repuin, as he entered the ball-room, looked around for Heinrich von +Guntram. To reach him he was obliged to traverse the entire length of +the room, and he waited several minutes to do this, since he did not +wish to disturb the dancers. He paused in the doorway and let Sorr pass +him, saying as he did so, "Good-night, my dear fellow," in a tone +evidently intended to be heard by all about him. "I hope," he added, +"that your terrible headache will be gone by tomorrow. Indeed, you +ought to consult a physician. Pray give my regards to your wife." + +He held out his hand to Sorr with a friendly nod, and then, turning to +Assessor von Hahn, he forestalled the question which that worthy was +about to address to him, by saying, "I am sorry for poor Sorr; he seems +to me in a very bad way. See, Herr von Hahn, how pale he is! He only +drank a couple of glasses of champagne, and they have given him a +racking headache." + +"Is his present ghastly appearance entirely the effect of champagne?" +the Assessor asked, with a slight laugh. + +"What else could it be? Do you think he can be seriously ill? I trust +not." + +"It seems, Count, that your great kindness of heart prompts you to +endeavour to hush up this ugly story. I admire your amiability. I am +naturally kind-hearted myself. I make no boast of it,--the gifts of +nature are variously distributed; but it enables me to understand you, +Count, and it makes it all the more painful for me to tell you that you +never will succeed in crushing this scandal,--nothing else if talked of +throughout the room. See how every one looks at Sorr, how his most +intimate acquaintances avoid him, turning away as he passes them. Your +kindness can avail that man nothing, Count; he is lost, branded, and he +knows it; a guilty conscience speaks in every feature of his face." + +Repuin had observed the same thing, and exulted to see the contempt +with which Sorr was treated by those of his acquaintance whom he was +obliged to pass in gaining his wife's side. What had taken place in +Heinrich's room was already known here, then. The young officers had +blabbed; they could not have told all, for they did not know all, but +enough had been said to affect greatly Sorr's reputation. + +This was just what he had intended, that Heinrich and his companions +should suspect Sorr's guilt without being sure of it. He had hoped to +find the ball-room filled with dark rumours, and his wishes were +gratified. Sorr would now be convinced that it needed but a word from +Repuin to annihilate him, and that his only hope for the future lay in +implicit obedience to the Russian's commands. + +He, however, feigned to be greatly amazed. "I do not understand you, +Herr von Hahn," he said. "What ugly story is it that my discretion is +to crush? Why should poor Sorr have a guilty conscience in addition to +a bad headache? What has he done?" + +"That you know best, Count." + +"I am but a poor hand at guessing riddles, and must beg you not to +propound them to me, but to tell me plainly what has happened. I must +request an explanation in the interest of my friend Sorr." + +The Assessor looked at the Count with a very puzzled air. He really did +not know what to think. Arnim had given him a succinct account of what +had taken place in Heinrich's study, and had added his opinion that +"Sorr was now done for," since Repuin had doubtless detected him in +cheating at the game. Arnim's trustworthiness was not to be questioned, +but how did his story tally with the Count's behaviour? Surely Repuin +would not call a detected cheat his friend? + +The Assessor did not know what to believe; he was in a very +disagreeable position. The only way out of it for him was to tell the +Count what reports were current in the ballroom, and thus justify his +over-hasty expressions. + +"A most annoying misunderstanding," was the Russian's comment upon his +communication. "I cannot, Herr von Hahn, explain the occurrence to you, +since it concerns a private matter of Count Styrum's, to whom I have +promised silence, but this rumour must be contradicted. Pray come with +me, we will make use of this pause in the dance to seek out Herr +Heinrich von Guntram, and I will explain matters as far as I may in his +presence." + +Repuin then walked directly across the room to Heinrich, the Assessor +following him, joined by several of the gentlemen, who guessed Repuin's +intention and were curious to know more of the scene in Heinrich's +study. Thus the Russian was surrounded by quite an audience when he +reached Heinrich, who was standing near the door of the balcony talking +earnestly with Arnim and Herr von Saldern. + +Heinrich replied but coldly to the Count's friendly address. He was +very indignant that Repuin should have been the cause of so unpleasant +a scandal beneath his father's roof upon this special evening; a +scandal that had called forth a decided rebuke from the President with +regard to the gaming in his son's apartment. He was also annoyed at the +indiscretion that had given rise to such disagreeable rumours, and he +visited this annoyance upon the Count, although he had but just entered +the room and could not possibly have originated any of them. + +Repuin took no notice of his cool reception. "I am sorry to disturb +you, Herr von Guntram," he said, in a loud voice, "but I am forced to +do so by a very unfortunate misunderstanding, which appears to be +wide-spread. It concerns a conversation which took place between your +cousin, Count Styrum, Herr von Sorr, and myself. May I beg you to ask +Count Styrum to step here for one moment, that I may have his +ratification of a declaration which I wish to make in your presence?" + +Heinrich was surprised at the conciliatory tone adopted by the Russian, +and he could not refuse to accede to his request. He beckoned to Count +Styrum, who had returned from conducting Adele to Frau von Sorr, and +was standing near the balcony quietly surveying the assemblage. + +"I have to my regret learned from Herr von Hahn." Repuin began when +Count Styrum had drawn near, "that the aforesaid conversation between +the Count, Herr von Sorr, and myself has given rise to various +groundless reports, which I feel it my duty to contradict, in order +that the serenity of this charming entertainment may not be disturbed +by any silly gossip. I therefore declare, and beg all the gentlemen who +hear me to take notice of what I say, that the conversation between +Count Styrum, Herr von Sorr, and myself, which has given rise to all +this talk, related solely to private personal matters, and ended, I +trust, entirely to Count Styrum's satisfaction, so that we agreed to +forget the whole affair, and not to speak of it again. I beg Count +Styrum kindly to confirm this statement." + +Styrum did not immediately reply. Could he confirm Repuin's words? They +contained no falsehood, and yet they were calculated to deceive the +hearers, who would infer from them that the question was of a personal +disagreement, which, after a friendly adjustment, was to be forgotten. +Did they not imply a justification of Sorr which Styrum neither could +nor would ratify? What was Repuin's motive in thus gently treating the +thief whom so short a time before he had seemed unwilling to allow to +escape? + +"May I ask for the confirmation of my words, Count?" Repuin asked +again, on noticing Styrum's hesitation. "Have I not spoken truly?" + +"What you have said is true," said Styrum, who could hesitate no +longer, "but it might give rise to a further misunderstanding, which is +under all circumstances to be avoided. I therefore add that there was +no question of any quarrel." + +"I did not mean to imply that there was, and state expressly that there +was no talk of a quarrel between Count Styrum and Herr von Sorr. I +believe this affair may now be considered as dismissed." + +"Not quite, Count," Lieutenant von Arnim here interposed. "The affair +has unfortunately acquired such publicity that it must be pursued a +little farther. If you desire to re-establish as a man of honour Herr +von Sorr, whom in the presence of many witnesses you treated as no +gentleman should be treated by another, you must do it rather more +formally. Your conduct towards Herr von Sorr exposed him to suspicions +which nothing that either Count Styrum or you have said suffices to +allay. I have no desire, Count, to meddle in your private affairs; I do +not care to know what was the nature of the conversation to which you +summoned Herr von Sorr after so unceremonious a fashion. I shall be +quite content--so shall we all--if you and Count Styrum will simply +declare 'We consider Herr von Sorr a man of honour.' Let me beg you to +make this declaration, Count Styrum." + +"I do not feel justified in making such a declaration," Styrum replied. + +"Nor do I," Repuin added, "since I do not admit that any one has a +right to demand of me a statement as to the honour of a gentleman." + +"Your opinion is made sufficiently plain by your refusal," Arnim said, +very gravely. Then, turning to Heinrich von Guntram, he added, "I +think, Guntram, that you now owe it to yourself, to your family, and to +all of us to require this Herr von Sorr to leave a society where there +is no place for him." + +"I protest against such a construction of my words!" exclaimed Repuin, +with a dark glance at the lieutenant. + +"No quarrelling, gentlemen, let me entreat," Heinrich von Guntram +interposed. "We have had enough, and more than enough, annoyance for +to-night. Have some regard for my father and my sister, Arnim, and +recall your demand, compliance with which would only provoke a fresh +scandal." + +"There is no occasion for farther discussion," said Repuin. "Herr and +Frau von Sorr are just leaving the room. I advised Sorr to go, he +complained of a headache." + +"A very prudent proceeding on Herr von Sorr's part," sneered Arnim. "He +relieves our friend Guntram of a disagreeable duty. For the present the +matter is settled. You must decide for yourself, Guntram, how to act in +future with regard to this precious Herr von Sorr. Do not, gentlemen, +allow this miserable affair to disturb our enjoyment any longer. The +music is just beginning; let us at least have one more dance." + +To this all were agreed, even Count Repuin, who was not sorry to be +relieved from duty as Sorr's champion. Everything was taking the course +he desired; his victim could no longer frequent this society; he was +delivered over into the hands of his enemy. + +Herr and Frau von Sorr had indeed left the ball-room before Arnim's +last words. Their suburban dwelling was not far from the President's, +it took scarcely a quarter of an hour to drive thither, but to Lucie +the time appeared an eternity. + +She leaned back among the cushions, whilst her husband looked out of +the carriage window. Not a word did he address to his wife during the +drive, nor did she once break the silence. She did not wish to question +him to provoke an explanation, she would fain have avoided any such +altogether. She knew nothing decided with regard to what had occurred +at the President's. A few remarks, not intended for her ear, had hinted +at a most disagreeable scene, in which her husband had been implicated, +and in her anxiety she had applied to Adele for information. Her +friend, however, had no time to impart this, for scarcely had Count +Styrum conducted her to Lucie when Sorr made his appearance, stating +that he was not well, and that he wished to leave immediately, without +any formal adieux. + +A few words only Adele had contrived to whisper into her friend's ear, +few but significant. "Courage, dearest Lucie; remember, I am your +devoted friend; trust me; whatever happens, I will stand by you." + +What did these words mean? Lucie ran over in her mind the events of the +evening, but found no explanation of them. Adele could not know how +insulting had been Count Repuin's presumption, or how sharply he had +been reproved. But if she did not know, she perhaps suspected it, and +therefore had her championship of her friend been so eager. + +Had the Count perhaps had a quarrel with her husband? They had returned +to the ball-room together, the Count with his head carried haughtily, +Sorr, on the contrary, with an air that seemed to Lucie to express +profound despair. Just so pale and downcast had he looked on the day +when he told her that the last remnant of his property had been lost at +the gaming-table, and that not his money only, but also his honour +would be sacrificed if he could not quickly find means to pay his +gambling debts. He threatened to put a bullet through his head if Lucie +did not sign a power of attorney that placed her maternal inheritance, +her whole fortune, at his disposal. He had promised then never to play +again, and to alter his whole manner of life. + +Lucie had long known that he had broken his word, that he had played +away her property also, and she only called this scene to mind now +because he had the same air of utter despair that had characterized him +on this evening when he had followed Repuin into the ball-room. + +What had happened? Should she ask him? No! Whither could such questions +lead? He had long ceased to tell her the truth; and even were he to do +so, she might well wish it untold. Even to guess at the dark ways by +which he maintained his position in society was misery enough. Why +should she wish to know the terrible truth? He must have been playing +again; Repuin had probably lost, and some quarrel had ensued, +which---- No, she would pursue such thoughts no further. She trembled +to think that her husband might have revelations to make to her that +would rob her of the last remnant of her peace of mind. + +The carriage stopped; Sorr got out, and, without troubling himself +about his wife, unlocked the door and entered the house. She followed +him, and they ascended the stairs in silence. In the anteroom he +lighted the two candles left in readiness for them. When they returned +from an evening entertainment it was his custom, after lighting the +candles, to retire to his room with a curt "good-night," but this he +did not do. "I have something to say to you," he said, handing Lucie +one of the candles. "I will go with you into the drawing-room." + +She made no reply; her hand trembled as she took the light. She had a +foreboding that a crisis in her destiny was at hand; that the +communication which Sorr was about to make to her would be momentous +both for her and for him. + +He went first. In the drawing-room he placed the light upon the table, +and then sank upon the sofa as if exhausted. He sat for a long time in +silence, his head resting on his hand, his looks bent on the ground. + +Lucie did not disturb him, but remained standing by the table in front +of the sofa, silently watching him, marking the convulsive twitching of +his lips, the terrible change in his countenance. She saw the struggle +going on within him. + +At last he seemed to have come to a determination. He looked up, but +when he saw Lucie's dark eyes fixed searchingly upon him he instantly +averted his own. He sprang up from the sofa and paced the room with +hurried, irregular strides, pausing at last before his wife. He tried +to look at her, but he could not meet her eye. It was inexpressibly +difficult to speak the first word. He longed to have her question him, +that he might reply, but Lucie was silent. He felt her keen glance +watching his every movement, and at last he could endure it no longer. + +This must end,--this terrible silence was not to be borne; he must +break it by some word, no matter what. "I am ruined!" he said. + +"I know it; we have been so for a long while," was Lucie's reply, given +with forced calmness. + +"You deceive yourself. I am far worse off than you think. I have lost +all,--everything! More than we ever possessed! I am overwhelmed with +debt; we are on the brink of an abyss from which there is but one means +of escape." + +"We should have adopted it long since." + +Sorr looked up in astonishment. "What do you mean?" he asked. + +"That we must at last resign the life we have led hitherto. I have +often, but always in vain, begged you to do so. Now necessity will +force you to it, and if you really see this at last I shall bless this +hour. By honest labour we can regain what we have lost. We have +influential friends, by whose aid we can easily begin life anew in +another city. You can procure some official position, and I will give +lessons in music and drawing, or in French and English. With courage +and determination we can easily achieve a secure independence." + +"You are mad!" + +This was all the reply that Sorr had for Lucie's words. Then he laughed +aloud. "It is incredible," he said, more to himself than to her, "the +wild ideas that will fill a woman's brain! An official post with a few +hundred thalers of salary--too much to starve upon, too little to +procure enough to eat! Tiresome work, from morning until night, and +hectored by a superior officer, to whom one must cringe. Regarded +askance by gentlemen. A pretty position! No, rather a bullet through my +brains and the whole mummery at an end. No need to waste a word upon +such nonsense. If I cannot live as I have been accustomed to live, I +had rather not live at all. This is not the means of escape which I +have to propose to you." He paused a moment; it was difficult to say +what he had to, but he could delay no longer, and he continued, "We +must separate, Lucie!" + +"You forget that this is impossible," Lucie replied, forcing herself to +speak calmly; "a Catholic marriage cannot be dissolved, or ours would +have been so long ago." + +"Nonsense! I am not talking of a divorce, which is of course +impossible, but of a separation. I have a proposal to make to you; I +know that at first it will seem odious to you; I do not like it myself, +but upon calm reflection you will see that in it lies our only means of +salvation. You must first know how matters stand with me, and this I +will tell you in as few words as possible. Our need is such that in +my despair I was induced to--to--it must out, there is no help for +it--Count Styrum's pocket-book lay open before me, and I took from it a +hundred-thaler note." + +Lucie recoiled; incapable of uttering a word, she stared at her +husband. A thief! No; for this she had not been prepared; this exceeded +her worst forebodings,--a thief! And he could confess his shameful deed +thus with cynical frankness; he did not even repent it; he was not +crushed and despairing. Had he not just expressed his contempt for +honest labour? A thief! And to this man she was bound by an +indissoluble tie! + +Sorr expected no answer; he had now gained the courage to speak; after +the confession of the theft nothing was difficult, and he continued, +"Well, yes, I could not resist the temptation; the pocket-book lay open +before me; the opportunity was too tempting. I thought no one saw me, +but I was wrong; Repuin saw it all. Our fate lies in his hand; if he +speaks I shall be condemned as a thief, and you will share my +dishonour. The wife of the thief who has escaped punishment only by +voluntary death is an outcast from society. Your plan of honest labour +would prove futile, for none would intrust their children's instruction +to a woman at whom the world points the finger of scorn. You will sink +into utter misery; that will be your fate, as mine will be to die by my +own hand, if you refuse to accede to the proposal in which alone lies +safety for us. It is in your power," the wretch continued, speaking +rapidly and in a firmer tone, "to secure yourself a gay and joyous +existence, free from care, and provided with every luxury that wealth +can give, while you keep your conscience clear of the guilt of my +death, for it will be your act that drives me to suicide if you refuse +to accede to my proposal." + +"And what do you ask of me?" Lucie inquired, in a low monotone. + +"Count Repuin," Sorr began again, "is madly in love with you. You have +hitherto treated him very badly, although you owed it to me to smile +upon him, as I have often begged you to do. His love, however, has been +only increased by your reserve. He is ready to make any sacrifice for +you now. But if he is again repulsed he is resolved upon revenge; he +will then be our deadly foe; he will ruin both you and me. You see what +is before us. If, however, you consent to our separation. Count Repuin +will take you to Italy, or whithersoever you wish to go. He will load +you with the costliest gifts, every wish that you can frame will be +fulfilled. You will insure yourself a most brilliant position and save +my life. It would be worse than madness to say 'no.'" + +Lucie's gaze was bent upon the ground. When her husband first began to +speak such shameful words, she thought she could not endure life until +he should have ended, but she summoned up all her strength of mind and +succeeded in conquering the terrible pain that tortured her; she +preserved an outward calm, while her heart seemed breaking with horror +and indignation. + +Sorr patiently awaited her answer. He thought she was considering his +proposal, and that was a good sign. He had feared that she would +indignantly reject it, give utterance to her detestation of the +Russian, and overwhelm him with reproaches for having dared to suggest +such a scheme, but nothing of all this had occurred; she had listened +quietly. He had prepared himself to overpower her resistance with +threats and entreaties, but there seemed to be no need for these. Since +she was so calmly considering the matter she would certainly be +reasonable in the end. He exulted in so easy and unlooked-for a +victory. + +At last she spoke: "You then desire that we should part? You yourself +would now declare me released for life from every obligation that a +wife owes to her husband? You distinctly consent to our separation, and +declare that you have no longer any claim upon either my life or my +fidelity. Answer me with a simple 'yes,' and I will consider whether to +accept your proposal, but before I decide I must be free." + +"If you accept my plan, it follows as a matter of course that you are +entirely free by my desire," Sorr replied, who could not help thinking +her demand rather ambiguous. + +"I asked for a simple 'yes' or 'no,' without any 'if.' I must be free +before I decide. Unless you say 'yes' unconditionally, I swear to you I +will die before I yield to your wishes and part from you." + +"Well, then, 'yes,'--you are free. But now be reasonable, Lucie; tell +me what to say to Repuin; he expects me tomorrow morning by eight +o'clock. I dare not go one minute later." + +"I will consider; you shall have my reply before eight to-morrow." + +"But, Lucie----" + +"You must wait. I will not decide to-night." + +"Well, then, as you will. To-morrow morning early. Good-night, Lucie." + +He held out his hand, but she turned from him with loathing, and, +without even looking at him, took up a candle and left the room. Sorr +heard the door of her own room bolted behind her. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +The Hohenwalds by no means belong to the old German imperial nobility. +It is said that in the forest-depths of the domain of a Saxon Prince +his trusty huntsman saved the life of his lord from the furious +onslaught of a wild boar, and that in gratitude the Prince bestowed +upon him the hunting castle where he had previously been overseer, and +in memory of his bravery gave him the name of Hohenwald,[2] which +gradually came to belong to the castle and the neighbouring village on +the estate. The title of Freiherr, or Baron, was bestowed much later by +the Emperor. Baron Werner von Hohenwald, who distinguished himself as a +colonel during the Thirty Years' War, was probably the first thus +honoured, and the founder of the family of _von_ Hohenwalds. + +This old colonel, who added much to the estate, not a large one +originally, was passionately devoted to the chase; he took up his abode +in the old castle, surrounded on all sides by the forest, and his +example was followed by all his successors, although such a residence +by no means lightened the cares of the management of the extended +estates of Hohenwald. The solitude of the forest had an irresistible +attraction for the Hohenwalds, and although they had erected a +comfortable grange near the village, they always occupied the castle. +Around the comparatively new grange were gathered the farm buildings +and the dwellings for inspectors and other officials. The Hohenwalds +thought nothing of the inconvenience of riding a couple of miles to +reach the grange; they thought themselves amply compensated by the +wonderful beauty of the site of the castle, buried in the depths of a +magnificent forest. The love of solitude seemed inherrent in the +Hohenwalds. If some among them had in their youth frequented the Court, +of Dresden, they were sure to return finally to Castle Hohenwald, and +none of them ever left it in summer. They had lavished so much money +and taste in fitting it up for a home, that it would indeed have been +difficult to find one more charming and desirable. The imperial colonel +had first begun to improve and add to the old hunting-nest, and each of +his successors had done his part in giving fresh beauty and grace to +castle, to gardens, and even to the forest, a portion of which had been +converted into a magnificent park. If they loved solitude, they were +all the more determined to surround themselves in their solitude with +every luxury that wealth could procure. Some of the rooms of the castle +were furnished with princely splendour, especially those on the lower +story, in which the present Freiherr Werner had been wont to assemble +frequent guests before his separation from his wife. The walls were +hung with paintings by illustrious masters;--the collection of pictures +at Hohenwald, although for years it had been seen by none save the +inmates of the castle, was accounted one of the best and largest in the +country,--and the castle library exceeded many a public one in its +treasures of literature. + +The ground-floor of the castle was less gorgeously fitted up than was +the first story. The present possessor, Freiherr Werner, had arranged +it for himself, and he thought more of solid comfort than of +superficial splendour. Nothing had been spared to make the rooms +pleasant and comfortable, but the hangings and furniture-covers were +not of silken damask, but of substantial woollen fabric, subdued in +colour, suiting well with the dark oak wainscoting and furniture. + +The Freiherr's favourite retreat was a large apartment, at one end of +which lofty folding-doors of glass opened upon a terrace, whence a +flight of steps led into the garden. As the castle crowned an eminence, +from this terrace almost all the garden could be overlooked, as well as +part of the road leading to the castle from the village of Hohenwald. + +The garden-room, as it was called, was the dwelling-room of Freiherr +Werner; he spent most of his time here, even in winter, and in summer, +when the tall doors were thrown wide open, the view from them partly +indemnified him for the loss of open-air exercise, from which he had +now been debarred for some years. + +Every morning he was pushed into this room in his rolling-chair from +his bedroom, for his right foot was so lame from the gout that he could +not walk. Here he assembled his family about him, here the daily meals +were eaten, and only late in the evening was he rolled back again to +his bedroom by his servant or by his son Arno. Every day he sat at the +open doors, gazing out into the garden. In former years he had devoted +much time to his garden; he was enthusiastically fond of flowers, but +since the gout had confined him to his rolling-chair he had been forced +to content himself with merely superintending the gardeners, to whom +from time to time he would shout down his orders. It was but seldom +that he could be taken out into the garden among his flowers, for the +slightest motion occasioned him great pain. + +On the afternoon of a lovely day in May the Freiherr was seated in his +favourite spot, looking abroad into the garden, where his beloved +flowers were budding gloriously, and delighting in their beauty and the +mild air of spring. He was in the most contented of moods; his book was +laid aside; he could read at any time; storms did not interfere with +that. His keen gaze wandered with intense enjoyment from shrub to +shrub; most of them he had planted himself, and his interest was +unflagging in watching their daily development from bud to blossom. + +If the Assessor von Hahn could have seen the Freiherr at this moment he +would hardly have recognized the gloomy misanthrope in this kindly old +man with genial smile and gentle eyes; but the next moment the +expression of the mobile features changed, the genial smile vanished, +the brow was contracted in a frown, the dark eyes sparkled with +irritation. + +It was the sound of a distant post-horn that caused this sudden change +in the Baron's expression. The old man listened. An extra post! He had +not heard the signal for a long time, but in former years his ears had +been familiar enough with it; he could not be deceived. A visit was +impending, for the road led only to Castle Hohenwald and ended there; +any traveller upon it must have the castle for his goal. Again the +signal sounded, rather nearer; the postilion was evidently determined +that the castle should be thoroughly apprised of the visitor at hand. + +The Freiherr picked up a bell from the table beside him and rang it +loudly. A servant instantly appeared at the door leading into the hall. +"Did you hear that, Franz?" his master angrily exclaimed. "Did you hear +that? An extra post!" + +"It cannot be, sir," old Franz calmly replied. "Who is there to come to +us?" + +"That's just it. Who can have the insolence? But there; hear it for +yourself. The cursed postilion is blowing with all the force of his +lungs just to vex me." + +"Can it be possible?" old Franz exclaimed, in the greatest +astonishment, as he hearkened to the postilion's horn now sounding much +nearer. + +"No doubt of it! A visit! Such insolence is insufferable! Do they think +me old and childish? Whoever it may be will find himself mistaken. +Hurry, Franz, to the castle gate; you know what to say. I receive no +one; I'm sick,--I cannot see anybody. The carriage must turn round and +go back; whoever it may be, don't let them get out. Call the gardener +and old John to help you, if you need them. Go; be quick. In a few +minutes that carriage will be here." + +The old man looked very angry as he shouted out these orders; his dark +eyes flashed from beneath the bushy snow-white eyebrows. With one hand +he stroked, as was his habit when vexed, his full silver beard, with +the other he rapped upon the small table beside him. "Well, what are +you waiting for?" he growled to the man, who still stood hesitating at +the door. + +"What if it should be the Herr Finanzrath?" + +"Werner? I positively never thought of him," replied the Freiherr, +mollified on the instant. "Of course he is an exception; but now to +your post. Go!" + +Old Franz vanished, and the Freiherr leaned forward in his chair, +disregarding the pain the movement caused him, that he might better +overlook the road leading up the hill, for in a few moments the extra +post would emerge from the forest and be visible upon the road. + +On came the horses and the vehicle, a light chaise, in which sat an +elegantly-dressed man leaning back among the cushions, and talking to a +horseman who was riding beside the carriage. + +"Of course it is Werner!" muttered the Freiherr, relieved, sinking back +into his chair. And yet he did not seem particularly rejoiced at the +unexpected arrival of his eldest son, for the frown did not quite leave +his brow. He looked annoyed. "What does he want, coming thus without +letting us know? But perhaps he did announce his visit to Arno; he is +riding beside him. Well, well, we shall see." + +The old man had not long to wait,--the post-chaise soon rattled +over the stones of the court-yard, and a few minutes later the +Finanzrath von Hohenwald, accompanied by his brother Arno, entered the +garden-room. + +The Finanzrath was a tall, handsome man, something over thirty years +old; he, as well as his brother Arno, bore a decided resemblance +to the old Baron,--they had the same dark, fiery eyes, and the same +finely-chiselled mouth, which, when tightly closed, lent an almost hard +expression to the face. And yet, despite their likeness to their +father, the brothers were so unlike that it was only after long +familiarity with them, and a careful comparison of their features, that +any resemblance between them could be detected. Both were handsome men, +tall and shapely, but their air and bearing were entirely dissimilar, +Arno having preserved the erect military carriage of the soldier, while +the Finanzrath was distinguished by an easy, negligent grace of +movement. Although he was the elder of the two, he looked much younger +than Arno; his fresh-coloured, smooth-shaven face had a very youthful +expression, while Arno's grave, earnest eyes made him appear older than +he really was. + +The old Baron's face cleared somewhat as the Finanzrath drew a chair up +beside his father's and greeted him most cordially. "I am delighted to +see you looking so well, father," he said, kindly. "I trust that +terrible gout will soon be so much better that you can get out among +your flowers. But where is Celia?" he asked suddenly. + +"Yes, where is she? Who can tell the whereabouts of that +will-o'-the-wisp? In the forest, in the park, in her boat on the lake, +in the village,--everywhere at once!" the old man answered, with a +smile. + +A slight shade flitted across the Finanzrath's countenance. "Just the +same as ever," he said. "I thought so; and perhaps it is as well that +Celia is not here at the moment, as it gives me an opportunity to speak +to you and Arno, father, of a matter that lies very near my heart, and +that I should like to have settled before I see her. I hope, sir, you +will not be angry with me if I speak frankly with you in regard to your +darling, whom you have just designated so justly a will-o'-the-wisp?" + +"What do you want with the child? Have you any fault to find again with +Celia?" the Freiherr asked, crossly. + +"Yes, father; I feel it my fraternal duty towards Celia to speak very +seriously to you and to Arno in regard to her. You both spoil the girl +so completely that a stop must be put to it. Celia is now fifteen years +old, she is almost grown up." + +"She is grown up," Arno interposed. + +"So much the worse. Then it is certainly high time that something were +done about her education, if she is not to run quite wild. She is a +charming, sweet-tempered creature, and I can hardly blame you, living +with her here in this lonely forest, for being content with her as she +is, nor can I wonder that you, my dear father, can scarcely grasp the +idea of allowing her to leave you." + +"What do you mean?" the Freiherr exclaimed, angrily. "What are you +thinking of? I let Celia leave me? Never!" + +"I knew what you would say, father," the Finanzrath replied; "but I +hope, nevertheless, that after calm consideration you will agree to a +plan that I have to propose to you. Celia has grown up here in the +castle without feminine companionship, for you will hardly call our old +Kaselitz, who has always spoiled the child to her heart's content, a +fit associate for a Fraeulein von Hohenwald. The only person of +education with whom Celia comes in contact, with the exception of +yourself and Arno, is her tutor our good old pastor, Quandt, who, as +Arno wrote me, has taught her well in various branches of science and +literature, but can of course teach her nothing of what a young girl of +rank should know when she goes out into the world." + +"She never shall go out into the world!" the Freiherr indignantly +exclaimed. + +"Do you wish Celia to pass her entire life here in the solitude of +Castle Hohenwald? Will you run the risk of hearing her one day say to +you, 'You have robbed me of the joys of life, father! I might have been +a happy wife and mother, but since you chose to keep me by your side, I +am become a weary, unhappy old maid!' You cannot be so selfish as to +wish that your darling should sacrifice to you her entire youth?" + +"Nonsense! What would you have?" growled the Freiherr. "But go on. I +should like to know what you really want." + +"You shall soon learn. I spoke of Celia's education; she is well +grounded in science and literature; she rides like an Amazon,--not +badly perhaps; she handles a fowling-piece with the skill of a +gamekeeper. So far so good; but does she understand how to conduct +herself in society? does she possess the talent for social +intercourse,--a knowledge of those forms which, worthless in +themselves, are nevertheless indispensable accomplishments for a young +lady of rank?" + +"I have not brought her up to be a fine lady!" the Freiherr said, +peevishly. + +"I think, sir, if you will pardon me, that you have not brought her up +at all. I detest a fine lady and modern artificial culture, but a +Baroness von Hohenwald should not be utterly ignorant of the forms of +society. Celia must learn to conform to the rules that govern the +society of to-day, and it is high time that she began to do so. Arno +will admit that I am right." + +"I cannot deny it," said Arno, who had been an attentive listener as he +paced the room to and fro, and who now paused before his brother and +nodded assent. "I, too, have pondered upon what was to be done for +Celia. Something must be arranged for her further culture, but I have +vainly tried to devise what it shall be." + +"And yet the matter is simple enough. Two methods are open to you. Let +my father choose which he prefers. The first, which I myself think the +best and would therefore most strongly recommend, is perhaps the one +that will prove least pleasing to my father. Frau von Adelung's school +in Dresden has the best of reputations, and Frau von Adelung herself is +a woman of refinement and culture, who moves in the first society. I +made an excursion to Dresden before I came hither, saw Frau von Adelung +myself, and spoke with her regarding Celia, whom she is quite willing +to receive among her pupils." + +"Deuce take you for your pains!" cried the Freiherr, with a burst of +anger. "I know without being told that if I choose to pay for it the +best boarding-school in the country will be thankful to have my Celia, +but I tell you, once for all, I will not hear of it. I cannot part with +the child. Celia is my sunshine in this gloomy house. My heart rejoices +at the sight of her. The pain that tortures me is forgotten when I look +into her laughing eyes. I am a sick old man. You ought not to be so +cruel, Werner; leave me my jewel for the few years that I have to +live." + +The Freiherr's tone from one of angry reproach had become that of +almost humble entreaty. + +The Finanzrath nodded and smiled. "I hope you will rejoice for many +years in your jewel, and one day see her a happy wife and mother," he +said; and then continued: "If you will not part with Celia, she must +have the training here in Hohenwald which she could indeed procure more +easily at school; all that remains to be done is to engage a good +governess for her." + +Arno suddenly paused in his pacing to and fro in the room. +"Impossible!" he exclaimed. "What are you thinking of, Werner? A +governess here in the house! Live with the pedantic, insufferable +creature day after day, week after week, and always have her +interfering between our Celia and ourselves! Our entire life would have +to be changed. If so pretentious a person were to come here she would +require to be amused; we should have visitors, and would be forced to +pay visits in return. The peaceful repose that has hitherto reigned in +Hohenwald would be gone if a strange inmate were introduced among us." + +"Would you rather send Celia to school? I confess I should prefer it +myself." + +"But I should not!" the old Freiherr exclaimed, with decision. "I do +not like womenfolk, but sooner than part with Celia I will endure a +governess in the house. After all, she will be only a superior sort of +servant. We get along with Frau Kaselitz, and we can get along with her +too!" + +"Frau Kaselitz does not pretend to sit at table with us, nor to join +our family circle," said Arno. + +"That would be insufferable," the Freiherr said, reflectively. + +"Then let us have recourse to the school." + +"Don't say another word about that cursed school," growled the +Freiherr; "let us have the governess and be done with it!" + +Arno would have made some further objection, but his father cut it +short by declaring that not a word more should be said upon the subject +until Celia was by; the girl was old enough to have an opinion +concerning her own affairs. + +To this decision the Finanzrath assented, rather unwillingly, to be +sure, since he would have preferred to have the matter settled on the +instant. He saw, however, that his father was coming round, and he +feared to injure his cause by any insistance. And Celia herself +prevented the possibility of continuing the conversation in her +absence. + +A shower of syringa blossoms suddenly rained down upon the Finanzrath, +who was seated near the open door leading to the garden, and a +charming young girl appeared upon the threshold. It was Celia,--the +will-o'-the-wisp, as her father loved to call her,--who always appeared +when least expected. + +With a merry laugh she flew to the Finanzrath, sealing her +flower-greeting with a light kiss upon his cheek, and then turning to +the old Baron, she threw her arms around his neck. "You are a dear, +darling old papa!" she cried, gayly. "You will not let your Celia be +sent to school like a little child; you will not let me be disposed of +without consulting me! Thank you, my own dear papa; but as for you, +Werner, I shall not forget that you would have banished me from +Hohenwald." + +The Finanzrath shook off the syringa blossoms, and, leaning back in his +chair, contemplated his sister with increasing satisfaction. He had not +seen her for nearly a year; he had not been at Hohenwald since the +Freiherr's last birthday, and during this time Celia had changed +wonderfully. He had left a child, he found a maiden; the tall, lithe +figure had gained a certain roundness and grace. + +Celia was developed physically far beyond her years; mentally, she was +still the gay, careless child; the happy spirit of childhood laughed in +her large brown eyes, was mirrored in the bright smile that lit up her +lovely features, and in the gay defiance with which, after having +fairly smothered her father with kisses, she confronted the Finanzrath +with folded arms. "Well, my sage brother," she said, laughing, "here I +am, in my own proper person, prepared to listen to your highly valuable +advice with regard to my future training." + +"Have you been listening, Celia?" the Finanzrath asked. + +"Of course I have. I saw you arrive, and by way of welcome plucked a +whole apronful of syringa flowers to surprise you after a sisterly +fashion, and then crept up to the door on tiptoe. There, to my horror, +I heard how the redoubtable Finanzrath had the impudence to tell my +darling old papa that he had not brought me up. Was it not my duty to +listen? You are a detestable monster, Werner! Look at me and tell me +what fault you have to find with me." + +At this moment the Finanzrath certainly had no fault whatever to find +with his charming sister; he thought her lovely, and owned to himself +that if no one had brought Celia up, mother Nature had done the best +that was possible for her. Her every movement was graceful, her bearing +that of a lady, and even in the stormy embrace she had bestowed upon +her father there had been nothing rude or unfeminine, but only an +impulsive warmth that became her admirably. + +"Why do you not speak?" Celia went on, as the Finanzrath continued to +look at her with a smile but without replying. "You were ready enough +just now to prate about my want of social elegance, and Herr Arno, in +the character of a dignified echo, added his 'I cannot deny it.' Only +wait, Arno; you shall atone to me for that!" + +"That's right!" the Freiherr cried in high glee. "The little witch has +you both on the hip." + +"And, papa, I am a little angry with you, too. You were nearly talked +over by that odious Werner. Now let me tell you, if you ever send me to +boarding-school I will run away immediately. Even if I have to beg my +way back to Hohenwald I never will stay in Dresden with that horrid +Frau von Adelung, to whom Werner would sell me like a slave." + +"You would not talk so, child, if you had ever seen Frau von Adelung," +the Finanzrath observed. + +"I am not a child, and I will not let you treat me as such. Remember +that, Werner. I will never consent to be sent to school." + +"Assure yourself on that point, little one. You heard me say that I +never will permit such an arrangement: that I cannot and will not be +parted from you," said the old man. + +"Yes, I heard that, you dear old papa, and I could have shouted for joy +when you refused to listen to Werner's odious plan. You cannot live +without me, nor can I without you. So let Arno talk as he pleases. You +and I know that I am very well brought up. Neither you nor Arno has +ever found any fault with my manners, and as for what Werner has to say +about marriage, it is all nonsense. I shall never marry, but live here +with you two at Hohenwald. Upon that I am resolved." + +"Ah, indeed?" the Finanzrath asked, smiling. "So elevated a resolve +adopted by a girl of fifteen of course alters the case." + +"You are detestable! In two months I shall be sixteen." + +"A most venerable age, I admit; fortunately, however, not so advanced +but that you may still have something to learn. How, for example, does +your music come on?" + +Celia blushed, and replied, rather dejectedly, "I have not practised +much lately. Our good old pastor is so deaf that he never hears my +mistakes." + +"And therefore you prefer not to practise at all, but to forget the +little you have learned, although you have considerable talent, and +might give my father a great deal of pleasure if you had a good +teacher. Think, father, how you would enjoy having Celia give you an +hour or so of delicious music every evening." + +The old man looked fondly at his darling: "Yes, yes, I should like it +very well, but if it tires the child to practise, I can do very well +without it." + +"Oh, no, papa; I will turn over a new leaf, and practise well, if it +really will please you." + +"Practice is not enough," said the Finanzrath; "you never will improve +without a teacher. I consulted Frau von Adelung upon the subject, for I +foresaw that my plan of sending you to school would meet with +invincible opposition from you and my father. Therefore I asked Frau +von Adelung if she knew of any one whom she could recommend as a +governess for Celia." + +"Ah, now we are coming to the governess!" cried Celia, laughing. "You +are a born diplomatist, Werner. This is why you praised my 'talent' and +talked about my music. But no, my cunning brother, I am not to be +caught in your net. Am I, grown up as I am, to be ordered about by an +ugly old governess in green spectacles? I can hear her now: 'Fraeulein +Celia, sit up; you are stooping again! Fraeulein Celia, no young lady +should climb a chestnut-tree. Fraeulein Celia here, Fraeulein Celia +there! You must not do this, and you must not do that.' Oh, a governess +is always a horror! and I tell you, Werner, that if you send one here, +I will contrive that she is tired of her post in a week." + +"We will see about that," the Finanzrath rejoined, coolly. "Frau von +Adelung has recommended to me very highly an accomplished young person, +who, so far as I know, neither wears green spectacles nor is a horror. +She is very musical, plays the piano charmingly, and speaks French as +well as English." + +"She must be a prodigy, indeed!" Arno said. "Is it possible that such a +combination of the arts and sciences can condescend to come to Castle +Hohenwald? Celia is right; the lady could not stay here a week. Our +lonely castle is no place for such a wonder, nor is Celia any pupil for +her. Neither my father nor I could alter our mode of life for a +governess. Women, in fact, are so little to my mind, that it is only by +an effort that I can bring myself to speak to them." + +"Pray let me thank you in the name of the sex," Celia said, with a low +courtesy to her brother. + +"Nonsense! you are an exception, you little will-o'-the-wisp. No need +to talk artificial nonsense to you; you are not greedy for admiration, +and do not expect to be flattered." + +"And how do you know that Fraeulein Mueller, the lady recommended by Frau +von Adelung, expects it?" asked the Finanzrath. + +"All these modern governesses expect it. Most of them are pedantic, and +all of them are greedy for admiration." + +"You are certainly mistaken in this case. I described exactly to Frau +von Adelung the life that is led at Castle Hohenwald; I expressly told +her that no guest is admitted within its walls, that the governess +would have no companionship save Celia's, that my father was ill, and +therefore unfit for social intercourse, that Arno was a woman-hater, +who would never, probably, exchange three words with her, and that +therefore the position of governess here would not suit any one with +any social pretensions." + +"And what was Frau von Adelung's reply?" Arno asked. + +"That it was just the kind of situation that Fraeulein Mueller wanted." + +"That seems to me a rather suspicious circumstance. Why should such a +woman as you describe, talented and accomplished, desire to bury +herself in the solitude of Castle Hohenwald?" Arno objected, and his +father, too, shook his head doubtfully. + +But the Finanzrath was prepared for this objection; he said, "Frau von +Adelung, in whose sincerity and truth I place perfect reliance, +explained what seemed to me, too, an anomaly. Fraeulein Mueller has had +much to endure in her life; her father was a wealthy merchant, and she +was brought up in the greatest luxury. But all the young girl's hopes +in life were disappointed: her father lost his entire fortune. Frau von +Adelung hinted that he had committed suicide, probably in despair at +his losses, and gave me to suppose, although for the young lady's sake +she did not say so directly, that the poor girl was betrothed, and that +the loss of her money broke her engagement. Alone, and dependent +entirely upon her own exertions, the unfortunate girl is anxious to +earn an honourable livelihood. The solitude of Castle Hohenwald, Frau +von Adelung maintains, would make the situation here peculiarly +desirable to Fraeulein Mueller. I expressly stated, also, that my father +would be quite ready to indemnify her by an unusually high salary for +the disadvantages of her position here; and I have so arranged matters +that it only needs a note from me to Frau von Adelung to secure +Fraeulein Mueller for Celia. She might be here in a few days. It is for +you to decide, father, whether we shall embrace the opportunity thus +offered us of procuring a suitable companion and teacher for Celia, or +whether we shall let it slip." + +The Freiherr was convinced by his son's representations. There was +still a conflict going on within him between his distaste for having +his quiet life disturbed by the intrusion of a stranger and his desire +that Celia's education might be complete. But he was so far won over to +the Finanzrath's views that he would not say 'no' to his plan. Celia +must decide. "Well, little one," he said, "what do you think now of +Werner's scheme? Shall he write to Frau von Adelung to send us this +Fraeulein Mueller, or do you still declare that you will not have her?" + +Celia looked thoughtful. She must decide, then. She thought of the +delicious liberty she had hitherto enjoyed, of the restraint that would +be laid upon her in the future. But she thought also of her father's +pleasure in her progress in music, and more than all, it quite broke +her heart to think that her "no" would destroy the hopes of an +unfortunate girl who was seeking a position as governess. + +Her brother's account had excited her profound sympathy. She could not +say "no." "You are an odious fellow, Werner!" she said, after a short +pause for reflection. "You do just what you please with us; but you +shall have a kiss, and you may write to Fraeulein Mueller to come, and I +will try not to tease her." + +So the Finanzrath had his kiss, but he could not keep her by his side. +She had been serious long enough, and she ran laughing into the garden, +leaving her father and brothers to farther consultation. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +The Prussian-Saxon boundary defines also the bounds between the +Hohenwald estates, that lie entirely on Saxon territory, and the +Prussian domain of Gruenhagen. The boundary-line here makes a great +curve into Saxony, so that the Gruenhagen lands are almost shut in by +the Hohenwald forests and fields. The Gruenhagen forest indeed forms a +continuation of the magnificent woods of beech and oak that surround +Castle Hohenwald, the boundary-line between them being only marked out +by a narrow path, so overgrown with moss and underbrush that only +careful observation can detect its course. + +The vicinity of the two estates has always been, since the memory of +man, a fruitful cause of quarrel between the respective proprietors of +Hohenwald and Gruenhagen, each being strictly jealous lest his neighbour +should infringe upon his rights. At times some of the Hohenwald cattle, +when the herd-boy was not sufficiently on the alert, would stray into +the Gruenhagen fields and be taken into custody by Herr von Poseneck's +people, and on one occasion the Hohenwald forester had actually +sequestrated the fowling-piece of Herr von Poseneck, when that +gentleman, who was devoted to the chase, had in his hunting attempted +to make a short cut through the Hohenwald forest. There had also been +various trespasses upon the rights of the chase which were hardly to be +distinguished from poaching committed on both sides of the boundary by +enthusiastic Posenecks and Hohenwalds. + +These innumerable quarrels had begotten a hostility between the Barons +of Hohenwald and Poseneck, which had been handed down from generation +to generation, and which was by no means lessened by the fact that, +since the annexation of Saxony with Prussia, the Posenecks had become +Prussian noblemen. No Hohenwald ever visited Gruenhagen, and even in the +days when Hohenwald had been renowned for its brilliant entertainments, +at which were assembled all the country gentry and many families from +beyond the border, no Poseneck was ever invited within its gates. + +The hatred of the Hohenwalds for the Posenecks was so great that +Freiherr Werner, although he was not wanting in a certain amiability, +could not suppress a sentiment of exultation when, in 1849, Kurt von +Poseneck, who had allied himself with great enthusiasm to the +revolutionists, was forced to sell Gruenhagen to his brother-in-law, the +Amtsrath Friese, and emigrate to America with his family to escape the +trial for high treason that threatened him as a member of the extreme +left of the Frankfort National Assembly. + +Since then, however, the animosity between Gruenhagen and Poseneck had +slumbered, for the new possessor of Gruenhagen was a man who detested +litigation, and who did all that he could to avoid giving cause for +offence to the Hohenwalds, while he overlooked any slight trespass on +their part. Thus open strife was avoided, but the old dislike only +smouldered. Freiherr Werner had transferred it to the Poseneck's near +relative, the Amtsrath, whom he detested for his Prussian extraction. + +Like master like man! All the inmates of the castle and the inhabitants +of the village of Hohenwald hated everything relating to Gruenhagen. The +Hohenwald servants, from the steward and inspector to the commonest +stable-boy, held the "Gruenhagen Prussians" for an odious race of men, +and, as they had received strict orders from the Freiherr not to be led +into any disputes, avoided all association with the Gruenhagen people. + +Thus the road from Gruenhagen to the village of Hohenwald wellnigh +disappeared beneath weeds and grass, for there was not the slightest +intercourse between the two places. Was it to be wondered at, then, +that a Hohenwald plough boy, driving his team in the meadow bordering +upon the Gruenhagen lands, stopped his horses and stared in surprise at +a young, well-dressed man sauntering slowly along the disused road, +crossing the boundary, and then, when near the village of Hohenwald, +striking into a by-path leading directly to the Hohenwald oak-forest? +The fellow looked after the stranger until he was lost to sight in the +forest, and then whipped up his horses, resolving to acquaint the +inspector that very evening with the remarkable occurrence. + +The stranger noticed the ploughboy's wonder, but it merely provoked a +smile as he slowly loitered along the meadow-path. Now and then he +paused and looked around, surveying with evident pleasure the lovely +landscape spread before him, the fertile fields and meadows, girdled by +the glorious oaken forest, now clothed in the delicious green of early +spring. As he reached its borders he paused again to look back at the +charming village of Hohenwald, nestled on the edge of the forest, and +at the stately mansion of Gruenhagen, overtopping the farm-buildings, +granaries, stables, and cottages about it. + +How near the two estates were to each other and yet how wide apart! A +smile hovered upon the young man's handsome face as he called to mind +the strange hatred of the two proprietors for each other. He had +laughed aloud when the Amtsrath Friese had told him of it at Gruenhagen, +and he could not now suppress a smile, for such an inherited aversion +was entirely inconceivable to him; it was a folly for which there was +no possible explanation. + +Entering the wood, he pursued the narrow path through the thick +underbrush, and gazed about him with intense admiration. Nowhere else +in Europe had he seen such magnificent old oaks; they belonged +exclusively to the Hohenwald domain, whose proprietor cared for them +most tenderly, and never allowed any of the giant trunks to be felled +except those which nature had decreed should yield to time. The Baron +could well afford to cultivate his love for his oaks; and whatever +might be done in distant parts of the forest, no axe was ever allowed +to work havoc near the castle among his old oaks and beeches in his +dear "forest depths." The narrow foot-path crossed a broad road through +the wood; here the stranger paused irresolute and looked about him +searchingly. To the right the road wound through the forest, in whose +depths it vanished; to the left it led through rows of trees up a +gentle incline to Castle Hohenwald, one of the wings of which the +stranger could discern in the distance. He had not thought himself so +near the castle; the foot-path must have led him astray. According to +the directions of the Gruenhagen inspector, he should be upon the path +which, cutting off a corner, was a more direct road to the Gruenhagen +woods than the one leading from the mansion; but if this were so, it +ought not to have brought him so near to Castle Hohenwald. He +hesitated, pondering whether to follow the path on the other side of +the road or to turn round, when his attention was arrested by a +charming sight. Galloping upon a magnificent and spirited horse, there +suddenly appeared upon the road from the castle a girl scarcely more +than a child. She managed her steed with wondrous case and security; +the mad gallop gave her no fear; she sat as firmly and even carelessly +in the saddle as though the horse were going at an ordinary pace; +indeed, she even incited him to greater speed with a light touch of her +riding-whip. + +How lovely she was! A young girl, judging by her slender, well-rounded +figure, and yet only a child. There was a bright smile upon her +charming face, her eyes beamed with happiness, and her dark curls, +blown backwards by the breeze, escaped from beneath her light straw +hat. + +She was very near the stranger when the horse suddenly started and +shied, probably frightened by the young man's light summer coat among +the trees. + +A practised horseman might well have lost his stirrup through such an +interruption of the swift gallop, but the young Amazon kept her seat +perfectly, punished her horse by a smart cut with her whip, as she +exclaimed, "What are you about, Pluto?" and then, as with a strong +steady hand she reined him in, looked to see what had caused his +terror. + +A stranger in the Hohenwald forest! Celia had reason enough for +astonishment, for she could scarcely remember ever having seen any save +the people of Hohenwald upon her father's estate. And this was an +elegantly-dressed stranger, no forester or peasant, but a young man +evidently from the higher walks of society. Now a well-educated young +lady would certainly have found it becoming in such an unexpected +encounter with a stranger in the lonely forest to display a certain +amount of embarrassment, perhaps of timidity. Not so Celia. She scanned +the intruder upon her father's domain with a long, searching look,--the +sensation of fear she knew only by name, and there was no cause for +embarrassment. She was at home here, upon her native soil. She had a +perfect right to ask the stranger bluntly, "How came you here? Who are +you?" + +The stranger bowed very respectfully. "I think," he replied, "that I +have the honour of addressing Fraeulein von Hohenwald." + +He was evidently a very polite and agreeable young man,--"the honour of +addressing Fraeulein von Hohenwald." Celia suddenly felt very much grown +up. Hitherto she had been only Celia. Even the servants, who had known +her from infancy, called her nothing but Fraeulein Celia. Fraeulein von +Hohenwald sounded delightful. She quite forgot to pursue her inquiries, +and answered, "Yes, I am Cecilia von Hohenwald." + +Again the stranger bowed low, and taking a little card-case from his +breast-pocket, produced a visiting-card, which he handed to her, +saying, "I must pray your forgiveness for presenting myself in this +informal manner as your nearest neighbour." + +Celia read the card. "Kurt von Poseneck!" she exclaimed, and the tone +of her voice as well as the expression of her eyes manifested such +surprise and even terror, that for Kurt all the inherited hatred of the +Hohenwalds for the Posenecks found utterance in this brief mention of +his name. + +When the Amtsrath Friese, his uncle, had told him of the fierce hatred +between the Hohenwalds and the Posenecks that had been handed down +through generations, Kurt had laughed heartily, but now when he thought +he saw that this insensate hate had taken root in the heart of this +lovely child, he was filled with a sense of painful regret. "What have +I done to you, Fraeulein von Hohenwald," he said, sadly, "that my name +should so startle you?" + +"It does not startle, it only surprises me," Celia replied, quickly, as +she looked with increased interest and a greater degree of attention at +this young man, who did not in the least resemble the picture she had +formed from the tales of Frau Kaselitz of a member of the evil-minded, +cross-grained quarrelsome Poseneck family. + +Certainly Kurt von Poseneck looked neither cross-grained nor +quarrelsome as his frank eyes met her own kindly and yet sadly. + +Her first inspection had inclined her in the stranger's favour, and +Celia now decided that he was a very fine-looking man, almost as tall +as her brother Arno and far handsomer, for Arno looked stern and +gloomy, while Kurt smiled kindly. His full brown beard and moustache +became him admirably. Celia thought his expression exceedingly +pleasing; she had never supposed that a Poseneck could have so frank +and honest a smile. + +The girl was quite incapable of dissimulation,--her thoughts and +sentiments were mirrored in her eyes,--and Kurt perceived to his great +satisfaction the first startled expression vanish from her face as she +looked at him with a very friendly air. + +"I thank you, Fraeulein von Hohenwald," he said, "for those simple +words. I was afraid you shared the melancholy prejudice that has been +the cause of so many terrible disputes between our families in former +times, and this would have specially pained me in you." + +"Why specially in me?" + +The question was simple and natural, but yet not easy to answer. +"Because--because--well, then, honestly and frankly, Fraeulein von +Hohenwald, because as soon as I saw you I said to myself, 'Let the +Hohenwalds and the Posenecks quarrel and hate one another as they +choose, Fraeulein Cecilia von Hohenwald and Kurt von Poseneck never +shall be enemies!' Forget the mutual dislike that has divided our +families. Will you not promise me this? I know it is a strange request +to make of you, but you must forgive my bluntness. I returned to Europe +only a few months ago, and cannot forget the fashion learned upon our +Western farm in America. I hope you will not blame me for it." + +"Oh, no; on the contrary, I like frankness. Werner always scolds me for +having my heart upon my lips; he is odious, but papa and Arno take my +part." + +"Who is Werner?" + +"My brother, the Finanzrath. I thought you knew; but indeed you cannot +know much about us if you are only lately come from America." + +"More than you think. My father used often to tell me of Gruenhagen and +Hohenwald, and my uncle Friese has talked of you to me also. I knew and +admired you, Fraeulein von Hohenwald, from his description, and I am +doubly rejoiced that chance has brought us together. But you have not +yet answered me. Will you grant my request and promise me that for us +the old family feud shall not exist?" + +"With all my heart!" said Celia; and in ratification of her promise she +held out her hand to Kurt, although her horse seemed to take the +stranger's approach very ill, and grew restless. + +Kurt took the little proffered hand. "Peace is formally concluded, +then," he said, gayly. "We are to be good friends, and I trust, +Fraeulein von Hohenwald, that if you should meet me again in the +Hohenwald forest, bound for the Gruenhagen wood by the shortest way, you +will permit me to exchange a few friendly words with you." + +This Celia promised readily; but at the same time she pointed out to +Kurt that he never would reach the Gruenhagen wood by pursuing a path +leading directly to the lake in the Hohenwald park, and offering to +show him the path he was seeking, she walked her horse beside him. + +She never dreamed that there could be anything unbecoming in her +readiness to show him the right way through the lonely wood; she +thought it very natural that she who was at home here should direct a +stranger aright, and quite at her ease, she chatted on to Kurt as to an +old acquaintance. + +He told her of his life in America, and spoke with such affection of +his parents, who had been dead now for some years, and with such loving +tenderness of his sisters, who were married in America, that Celia +could not but be interested and attracted by him. He told her how he +had served in the Northern army in the war with the South, attaining +the rank of major before it was over. He had then resigned, and, after +his father's death, had disposed of the American property, and had now +returned to Germany to assist in the management of the Gruenhagen +estates, which, as his uncle's declared heir, would one day be his. He +had spent a few months in travelling in England, France, and Italy, and +had arrived only three days before in Gruenhagen, where his uncle had +given him the warmest of welcomes. + +All this Kurt detailed to his guide on their way through the forest, +and he also expressed to her his sincere regret that, as his uncle had +told him, there was no possibility of establishing friendly relations +between Hohenwald and Gruenhagen, and that he himself could not even +venture to pay a visit to Hohenwald to show that he had inherited +nothing of the old family hatred. + +"Oh, no, it would never do," Celia said, sadly. "Papa would be terribly +angry; his orders are positive that no visitor shall ever be admitted +to the castle. Arno would have liked so much to ask his dearest friend, +a Count Styrum, to stay with us; but, although papa thinks very highly +of the Count, and says himself that he must be an excellent man and a +worthy son of his father, who was once papa's dear friend, he could not +be induced to let Arno send him an invitation." + +"Of course, then, I cannot venture to come, but I hope at least to make +your brother Arno's acquaintance; this will surely be facilitated by +his being an intimate friend of my cousin, Karl Styrum." + +Celia shook her head dubiously. Arno was just as dear and good as papa, +but just as disinclined to come in contact with strangers. He never +left Castle Hohenwald except when some inspection of the estate was +necessary; he spent all his time in studying learned books. + +"Are you, then, quite alone in the lonely castle?" Kurt asked, +compassionately, but Celia laughed aloud at his question. "I alone and +lonely!" she cried. "What can you be thinking of? I have my own darling +papa, and Arno, who is so kind; you cannot conceive how kind he is. +Then I have my tutor, dear old Pastor Quandt, to whom I go every +morning from nine to eleven; that is, I always have gone to him until +now,--how I shall do in the future I cannot tell, for only think, now +in my old age I am to have a governess." + +Kurt laughed, and Celia laughed too, but the laugh did not come from +her heart. "You must not laugh at me," she said, with some irritation. +"I am afraid I have said something that I ought not. Tell me frankly +and honestly, are my manners so odd that I really need a governess?" + +"What a very strange question, Fraeulein von Hohenwald!" + +"Answer it by a simple 'yes' or 'no.' Ought I to have a governess or +not?" + +Kurt looked at her, with a smile. "Do you really want a frank answer?" +he replied. + +"Of course I do; it would provoke me very much not to have it!" + +"I am afraid you will be provoked with me for giving it, but I will do +as you ask. In truth, I think you might learn much of a really good +governess, and that she would do you no harm in spite of your 'old +age.'" + +"How odious of you!" + +"Did I not say that I should provoke you by my frankness?" + +"No; I am not provoked with you, quite the contrary. I see now that +Werner was right. If you, who have only known me a quarter of an hour, +see that I need a governess, it must be so. But here we are on the +borders of Gruenhagen, and there is the path that will lead you back to +the house." + +She stopped her horse, and pointed out to Kurt with her riding-whip a +narrow path, so grass-grown that it could have been detected only by +some one very familiar with the locality. + +"And you really are not angry?" Kurt asked, unpleasantly surprised by +his abrupt dismissal. + +Celia looked thoughtful, and after an instant's pause held out her hand +to Kurt. "No, I am certainly not angry with you," she said, cordially. +"I was provoked, I do not deny it, that you should have thought Werner +right; but you meant no unkindness, I am sure, or you would not have +been so frank." + +"I assuredly meant nothing but kindness!" + +"I am sure of it, and it makes me all the more sorry that you cannot +come to Hohenwald. It would be so pleasant to have you tell me more +about America and your adventures there. But that cannot be, and it +will be long before we see each other again, unless we should meet by +chance in the forest." + +"I trust in my good fortune." + +"Well, we may possibly chance to meet again soon, since I take my ride +almost every afternoon about this hour, and am very fond of the broad +road leading towards the Gruenhagen woods. Adieu, Herr Kurt von +Poseneck." + +"Au revoir, Fraeulein von Hohenwald." + +She gave him a friendly little nod, touched her horse with the whip, +and vanished in a minute along the road leading to Castle Hohenwald. + +Kurt looked after her vanishing figure, and then resigned himself to +delightful reflections. Was it not something more than chance that had +decreed that he, who had found his way so often in American forests, +should lose it here, and thus make the acquaintance of this charming +girl? + +The next day about four o'clock Kurt was seized with an irresistible +desire to inspect the forests; he could not stay in the house; it drove +him forth, much to his uncle's surprise, who, however, ascribed it to +the love of nature engendered by his life in the open air in America. +Kurt did not this time, however, pursue the path he had taken on the +previous day; he remembered the ploughboy's gaping wonder, and did not +choose to become a theme for gossip to the Hohenwald servants; he +followed, instead, the more direct course across the Gruenhagen fields +to the woods, but scarcely had he reached it, when chance guided him to +the very spot upon the broad road leading from Castle Hohenwald where +he had been so unfortunate as to frighten Celia's horse. The same +chance that led Kurt to this place arranged that Celia also, who had +hitherto been very careless about the time at which she took her +afternoon ride, suddenly required her horse to be saddled on the stroke +of four. Old John, the groom, could not imagine why Fraeulein Celia +should all at once be "so very particular." She never had seemed to +care whether the horse were brought to the door a quarter of an hour +sooner or later, and now she insisted sharply upon punctuality, +although it was the Baron's birthday, and the old servant had had a +great deal to do, as Fraeulein Celia knew. She could scarcely restrain +her impatience to be gone, and as she galloped off down the road, the +old man looked after her with a thoughtful shake of the head. + +"We may possibly chance to meet again soon," Celia had said to Kurt as +she took leave of him, and chance conducted her to the very spot where +she had met him yesterday, and where she now met him again. From afar +she espied his light coat among the trees, and her lovely face was lit +up with a happy smile. + +Had she expected him? Impossible! She had made no appointment with him. +She knew enough of social rules to understand that a young lady could +not appoint a rendezvous with a young man whom she had seen but once, +and then only for a short time. Of course it was chance that had +brought them both to this spot at the same time, but she was very glad +of it, and greeted Kurt with a charming smile. + +It was quite natural that she should now walk her horse that Kurt might +walk beside her, although it cost her a struggle with Pluto to induce +him to agree to this new order of things. Kurt walked beside her, +looking up at her with admiration. How graceful was her every movement +as she reined in and controlled her impatient horse! She held the curb +in a firm grasp, but there was nothing unfeminine in the strength thus +put forth. For a while her whole attention was given to her horse, but +when she had reduced him to a state of obedient quiescence she replied +kindly to Kurt's greeting, and when he expressed his pleasure that a +fortunate chance had again brought them together, she answered, with +perfect freedom from embarrassment, that she also was much pleased. As +she spoke, her smile was so arch that he could not but laugh. And then +they laughed together like two children. They knew well what made them +laugh, although they said no more about it. + +It sounded almost like an excuse when Celia said that she had come from +home nearly a quarter of an hour later than usual this afternoon, old +John had been so long saddling Pluto, but that she could not scold him, +for he was very old now, almost seventy, and he had been up half the +night helping her to hang oaken garlands all about her father's beloved +garden-room, that he might be surprised by their beauty when Franz +rolled him in from his bedroom at five o'clock on his birthday morning. +And her father had been very much delighted,--he so loved his +oaks,--and he had been specially pleased with a tobacco-bag that she +had embroidered for him as a birthday gift. He was not very fond of +embroidery, but he knew how hard it was for her to sit still at any +kind of work, and he had been touched by the trouble she had taken for +him. + +Thus Celia talked on, and Kurt listened with rapt attention, as if she +were imparting to him the most important secrets. Her delight in the +garlands of oak-leaves and in the completion of her gift for her father +charmed him. He thought her almost more lovely now than when, a few +moments before, her eyes had sparkled and flashed in her struggle with +her horse. He did not know which to admire more, the blooming girl or +the lovely child; he only knew that both were adorable. + +On the day previous, Kurt had told of his adventures in the war and his +life in America; to-day he begged Celia to describe to him her life in +Castle Hohenwald, and she did so willingly. She was glad that Kurt +should have in his mind a true picture of her dear old father, whom +strangers could never portray truly, for no one knew how dear and good +he was. Arno too, Frau Kaselitz and Pastor Quandt had often told her, +was just as little known or appreciated as his father. She had seen +yesterday, from the compassionate way in which Kurt had spoken of her +solitude at Castle Hohenwald, how false was his conception of the life +there; now, strangers might think what they pleased of it, but Kurt von +Poseneck must know what happy days she led there with her kind papa and +her dear Arno. + +And so she described it to him, beginning with her father, so truly +kind, although a little hasty perhaps now and then, bearing pain so +patiently, never requiring any sacrifice of his people, but always +ready to befriend them. All who knew him loved him. The old servants +declared that there never was a better master; even the Herr Pastor had +a great respect for him, and only regretted that he had withdrawn from +the world, and was in consequence so misjudged. Arno, too, was as +kind as he could be. He might look stern and gloomy, but he was not +so,--only very sad,--and for this he had good cause. He had been +betrothed, and had lost his love, of whom he was inexpressibly fond. +Celia did not know how it had happened. Frau Kaselitz would not tell +her anything about it, and she could not ask Arno, for when the +engagement had been broken some years before, her father had forbidden +her ever mentioning the subject to her brother. He had travelled for a +long time, but travel could not make him forget his grief; that was why +he seemed so stern and gloomy, although he was always gentle and kind +to his father, to her, and to the servants and villagers. If any of +them were in trouble they always came to Arno for help; and even when +it was impossible to help them he always had a kind word for them. + +Celia's praise of her eldest brother was by no means so enthusiastic. +He was a very good fellow, but then he was not Arno; still, he was very +wise, and could always persuade his father to do as he chose. She had +been told that in his boyhood Werner was very irritable and passionate, +but he had quite conquered this fault. Now he rarely allowed himself to +be carried away by anger; his self-control was so great that even when +he was deeply irritated he could preserve a perfect calmness of manner, +and this was why he had such influence with his father, that whatever +he wished to have done at Hohenwald was done. If he did not succeed in +one way he tried another. Thus he had contrived that in spite of his +father's dislike of having a stranger in the house he had consented to +the engagement of a governess. + +As she said this Celia could not suppress a little sigh, although she +instantly laughed, and added, "Well, it may be best,--you think so, and +I will do what I can, and receive Fraeulein Mueller as kindly as +possible." + +Werner, she went on to say, came but seldom to Hohenwald, usually only +once a year, to be present on his father's birthday, when he stayed +only two, or at most three weeks. He was always very good and kind, but +she could not love him as she did papa and Arno; she could not tell +why, but so it was, and she could not deny that she was always a little +glad when he went away again. She was quite sure that papa and Arno +felt just as she did, although neither of them had ever said one word +to that effect, but she had observed that papa breathed more freely +after the carriage had rolled away with Werner. + +Then Celia described the few people, not her relatives, with whom she +had daily intercourse--Pastor Quandt, her tutor, an old bachelor nearly +eighty years of age, but still hale and hearty, and dear and good, and +Dr. Bruhn, the village physician, also an amiable old bachelor, and +Frau Kaselitz, the housekeeper, who could not do enough to show her +love for her darling Fraeulein Celia. She, Frau Kaselitz, was the +childless widow of one of the former stewards of Hohenwald, and had +passed her entire life either in the village or at the castle. She was +as good as gold; far too kind; she, Celia, knew that Frau Kaselitz +spoiled her and made a governess so desirable--as he had thought it, +the girl added, with an arch glance at her companion. She could not +deny herself the pleasure of this little thrust. + +Celia's lively description soon made it possible for Kurt to have in +his mind a vivid picture of the simple life at Castle Hohenwald, and +his admiration for the lovely speaker was increased tenfold. What a +treasure of simple content she must possess, to preserve such a +cheerful gayety of mind with so little in her surroundings to induce +it! + +A long conversation followed upon Celia's narrative; she required, in +her turn, to be told of Gruenhagen and its inmates. She asked about his +uncle Friese, and was amazed to learn that he was an amiable, kindly +old man, who only desired to live at peace with all men. According to +Frau Kaselitz and the Hohenwald servants, he was a cross, quarrelsome, +purse-proud old person. + +In such mutual explanations the time sped rapidly, and Celia, as well +as Kurt, was surprised to find that they had reached the Gruenhagen +woods and the end of the broad road that led through the Hohenwald +estate. + +"It is time for me to turn back," said Celia, with a slight sigh. + +Kurt did not venture to remonstrate, although he felt as if he should +have liked to talk on with her forever, and although in Celia's manner +there was an indirect appeal to him to ask for a prolongation of the +conversation. + +"Indeed I must turn round," Celia added, with an interrogatory glance. + +"I am afraid you must," Kurt replied, suppressing his desire, and +yielding to more prudent suggestions. Then, holding out his hand to +Celia, he continued: "Chance has been so kind to-day that I trust it +will prove no less so in the future, and so I do not say 'farewell' to +you, Fraeulein von Hohenwald, but 'till we meet,' and may that be +speedily!" + +Celia smiled as she nodded her farewell to him, and rode back along the +forest road; and on the following day chance was again so amiable as to +bring about a meeting between the young people at the same spot in the +woods. Yes, chance here proved steadfast and true, and day after day +the pair passed slowly along the forest road to the Gruenhagen woods, +deep in innocent but profoundly interesting conversation. Kurt was on +the spot with unfailing punctuality at four o'clock, and a few minutes +later Celia would appear on Pluto, who now greeted Kurt with a neigh, +and was no longer impatient at the slow walk along the road to the +Gruenhagen woods. For ten days the skies smiled upon Kurt's forest +walks, but then May, which had hitherto shown him such favour, +justified the reputation for variability which she shares with April. + +At Gruenhagen a cold rain pelted against the window-panes, through which +Kurt disconsolately watched the skies, covered with dull gray clouds +that gave no hope that the weather would clear that day, nor perhaps +for several days to come. + +The Amtsrath had just finished his after-dinner nap and lighted his +long pipe. Sitting in his arm-chair and comfortably sipping his coffee, +he was not in the least incommoded by the rain that so interfered with +Kurt's good humour; on the contrary, he thought it good growing +weather, for + + + "Whenever May is wet and cool, + The farmer's store-house will be full." + + +He had often lately looked up to the sky in hopes of rain, and he was +glad that it had come at last to scatter abroad its blessings over +field and fell. + +"A fine soaking rain," the old man said, with a smile, to Kurt, who, he +felt sure, must agree with him. + +"Soaking indeed," Kurt replied, not by any means so pleased as his +uncle had expected; but then the old man was thinking of his meadows +and Kurt of Celia, whom the soaking rain would surely prevent from +taking her daily ride. + +The clock in the Gruenhagen church-tower struck four; Kurt took his hat. + +"Where are you going?" asked his uncle. + +"To take a walk in the woods." + +"In such weather?" + +"A few drops of rain will do me no harm." + +The Amtsrath shook his head, for the few drops of rain were, as Kurt +himself had admitted, a steady, soaking downpour. Still there is no +accounting for tastes, and if forest walks in a pelting rain were among +Kurt's American habits, his uncle had no objection to make. + +As Kurt stepped out into the open air, and the huge drops were driven +into his face by the wind, he hesitated a moment. There was no +possibility of meeting Celia in the forest in such a storm. Still, +suppose she should persist in taking her ride? It was possible; no, it +was impossible; nevertheless, Kurt would not fail to be upon the +appointed--no, it had never been appointed--spot in the forest; he +could then tell her the next day that he had been there in spite of the +storm and rain, that he had not, indeed, expected her, but that he had +thought of her. He knew that she would laugh at him and tease him about +his walk in the rain, but he so liked to hear her laugh, she was so +wonderfully charming in her gayety. + +In spite of the increasing rain that soon penetrated his light summer +dress, the way did not seem long; he thought of her, and perhaps +because he had no hope of seeing her that day her image was all the +more present to his mind. During the past ten days a very peculiar +relation had been developed between Kurt and Celia. While Kurt +sauntered along the forest road beside Pluto they talked together like +brother and sister. Celia was never tired of hearing all that Kurt +could tell her of America and the life he had led there, and his +conversation had opened to her an entire new world of thought and +emotion. Brought up in a narrow home-circle, whence all strangers were +excluded, the girl had had no idea that people of culture could +entertain any views and opinions save those shared by her father, by +Arno, and by the old pastor her tutor. It was, for example, one of her +articles of faith that across the boundary, just beyond that strip of +meadow in Prussia, evil reigned triumphant. Prussian! The word stood +for all that was contemptible,--rapacity, low ambition, greed of gain, +and arrogant conceit. Like a good Saxon, Celia hated the Prussians from +her very soul, and worst and most to be hated among them all was +Bismarck, whose name her father never uttered without coupling it with +some opprobrious epithet. Kurt was the first to present to her mind +other views with regard to the state of affairs in Germany, and she +listened to him with profound interest. It was exquisite enjoyment to +Kurt to talk with Celia, and to note her rapt attention to all that he +said, her quick espousal of any cause advocated by him. He loved her, +and he knew that he loved her, but not for the world would he have +addressed to her one word of love; it would have been a sin against her +childlike innocence. His experience of life, spite of his youth, had +been so wide and varied that he could not but be aware what risk there +was for Celia in these daily interviews with a young man in the +solitude of the forest; and could he have seen her anywhere else, could +he but have sought her at Hohenwald, he would have abstained from his +daily walks for Celia's sake. But they offered him his only opportunity +for meeting the girl, and he had not the strength to refuse to embrace +it. He could not but yield to the spell that lured him daily to the +forest road, but he pledged his honour to himself that he would be +nothing to Celia save a friend and brother, that he never would betray +the childlike trust she reposed in him. + +Now first he felt what an absolute necessity for him the daily meeting +with Celia had become,--now, as he walked on in the wind and rain, +constantly repeating to himself that she certainly could not leave the +house to-day. In spite of this repetition, a yearning desire for a +sight of her spurred him on along the accustomed path. He never heeded +that in pushing through the trees and bushes he had become fairly +drenched with rain. He reached the broad castle road: the distant wing +of the castle, a glimpse of which could be had from here in fine +weather, was veiled in mist. Sadly he leaned against the trunk of a +giant oak, conscious that until this moment he had cherished a hope +that perhaps in spite of the rain Celia might take her afternoon ride; +she was no city-bred fine lady, but a strong, healthy child of nature, +who was not afraid of the rain. Now, however, as he looked forth into +the comfortless, white, impenetrable fog, his last hope vanished. + +But what sound was that? Surely something like the distant neighing of +a horse. And now--yes, there was no mistaking Pluto's loud neigh, close +at hand, as a tall figure emerged from the fog, and the next moment +Celia reined in her horse beside Kurt. + +"I thought so!" she cried, triumphantly. "I knew you would not mind the +rain!" Then, as she looked at him, she burst into a merry laugh. "Good +heavens! how you look, poor fellow! You could not be wetter if you had +fallen into the lake!" + +Kurt laughed with her. How odd it was that the huge waterproof that she +wore detracted not a whit from her beauty and grace! A gray waterproof +can scarcely be called an elegant garment, but Celia looked lovely in +this one. Her fresh rosy face smiled enchantingly from out of the hood +that she had drawn over her head, and from beneath which tiny curls +were rebelliously fluttering out into the wind and rain. + +"It certainly is a 'fine, soaking rain,' as my uncle says," Kurt +rejoined, laughing. "It has drenched me, but I have many a time tramped +through a wood in worse weather than this, and even slept soundly on a +hill-side in just such a pour, with only a soldier's blanket over me. +The rain can do me no harm, but you, Fraeulein von Hohenwald, are very +wrong to come abroad in such weather." + +"And yet you expected me to do it." + +"No; I was sure you would prudently stay at home. It is no weather for +you to ride in." + +"No? Still, here I am, you see. Neither Pluto nor I ever mind the rain; +but then we are neither of us at all prudent. And besides, you do not +tell the truth. Why are you here if you thought I should not come? I +had more confidence in you. I knew I should find you here, and I should +have been terribly angry if you had stayed away for the rain. For +indeed I had to see you to-day. I have so much to tell you. Only think, +the new governess is really coming this evening!" + +"Indeed? Then the Finanzrath has carried his point." + +"Of course; just as he always does. He wrote to Fraeulein Mueller, and +sent the letter to Frau von Adelung in Dresden. I could not help hoping +that the Fraeulein would decline to come, for papa consented to Werner's +plan only upon condition that he should truthfully describe the life +she would have to lead at Castle Hohenwald. Werner did so. He read his +letter aloud to papa, Arno, and me, and I must confess he did not +flatter any one of us. If I had been Fraeulein Mueller I never would have +said 'yes' to such a letter." + +"Did he give so terrible a description of the castle and its inmates?" + +"The castle and all of us. He made Arno out a gloomy woman-hater, and +called me a spoiled child. Was it not odious of him?" + +"He meant no wrong." + +"Oh, I know you agree with him! Now, confess honestly that you think me +a spoiled child, or rather do not confess it, or we shall be sure to +quarrel. Let me tell you more. Werner told Fraeulein Mueller that at +Castle Hohenwald she would be cut off from all social intercourse, that +she could neither receive nor pay visits, and that the family circle +there could not indemnify her for such seclusion, since neither papa +nor Arno was an agreeable companion. In short, he painted existence +here in such gloomy colours that papa said Fraeulein Mueller must be a +very extraordinary person if she accepted such a situation. But she has +accepted it. Her answer came to-day,--a very odd reply. Papa and Arno, +as well as Werner, shook their heads over it. They could not make it +out. So it is no wonder that I cannot comprehend it either. I have +brought it to you to read, that you may tell me what you think of it." + +"You have brought me the letter?" Kurt asked, in surprise. + +"Why, yes; I know you always tell me the truth when I ask you for it, +and when Werner gave me the letter I thought to myself, 'Herr Kurt von +Poseneck shall read it;' so I kept it and brought it with me. There, +read it; but be careful not to let it get wet. Wait a moment; I will +hold my waterproof out so as to shield it from the rain." + +Celia handed Kurt the letter and protected it with her cloak while he +read it. + +"An excellent hand," he said, as he opened it: "firm and clear. They +say that the handwriting shows the character of the writer; if that be +true, this letter should impress one greatly in Fraeulein Mueller's +favour." + +"That is just what Arno said; only he added, 'Only to be the more +bitterly undeceived afterwards.' But read, read, I beg you,--I am so +anxious to know what you think of the letter." + +Kurt read the short note, which ran as follows: + + +"Dear Sir,--Your description of the life at Castle Hohenwald so +perfectly accords with my wishes and inclinations that I accept with +pleasure the honourable position offered me of companion and teacher +to Fraeulein Cecilia von Hohenwald. I shall arrive at the station at +A---- by the afternoon train, at a quarter-past eight on the +seventeenth, hoping to meet the carriage which you tell me will be sent +for me from Hohenwald. + + "With much respect, + + "Anna Mueller." + + +"Well, what do you think of it?" Cecilia asked, eagerly. "It does not +seem odd to me at all. I think it simple, clear, and decided." + +"But what does she mean by saying that Werner's ugly description of the +life here accords with her views and inclinations? Arno says that must +be a falsehood; that no girl could like such a place, and that Fraeulein +Mueller must be a false, exaggerated person to say that she accepts such +a position with pleasure. Papa thought the same; and even Werner said +that the brevity of the note impressed him disagreeably, while Arno +insisted that its short, decided tone, its want of all conventional +courtesy, was the only thing in it to recommend it. What do you think?" + +"I think we should be overhasty in adopting a prejudice against the +lady upon reading her short note, which to my mind contains nothing to +inspire it. Why should we distrust her declaration that the life in +Castle Hohenwald is to her taste? If it were not so, could she not +decline the position offered her? It certainly speaks well for her that +she makes use of no stupid conventional phrases, and she shows a +correct appreciation of her duties towards you, Fraeulein von Hohenwald, +in calling herself not your governess, but your companion and teacher. +I really cannot see any reason why you should form an unfavourable +opinion of Fraeulein Mueller. Take my advice and receive her after your +own frank, cordial fashion. Do not be swayed by your brother Arno's +(pardon me) unjustifiable prejudice, but see and judge for yourself, +and you will be sure to judge rightly." + +"Yes, I will," Celia said, cheerfully. "I knew you would give me good +counsel, and I shall follow it. But now," she continued, with a sudden +gravity, "we must discuss one point which I have never ceased to think +of since the letter arrived to-day. What will become of my beloved +liberty? Is it not lost from the moment that Fraeulein Mueller arrives at +Castle Hohenwald?" + +"It may be somewhat restricted, and is it not perhaps best that it +should be so, Fraeulein von Hohenwald?" + +"Ah, you are thinking again that I need a governess. You will make me +seriously angry. I am not a child, and I will not have my liberty +restricted! I am willing to learn. I will sit still for hours and play +the piano every day, but I will not be put into leading-strings. It is +not kind of you to wish it for me, Herr von Poseneck. What will become +of my afternoon rides if Fraeulein Mueller thinks it unbecoming for a +young lady to roam about the forest alone?" + +Celia's words told a joint in Kurt's armour; had he not often reflected +that the propriety of these rides was questionable? It was hard for him +to carry out his resolve of always being frank and true towards Celia, +but he did it. With a sigh, he replied, "Fraeulein Mueller would not be +far wrong if she did think so." + +Celia suddenly reined in her horse, and looking down at Kurt with eyes +large with wonder, she said, in a tone expressing painful regret, "And +you tell me this?" + +"Yes, Fraeulein Celia," and for the first time he avoided the formal Von +Hohenwald; "yes, I tell you so, because I always will be honest and +true to you." + +Celia made no reply; she urged Pluto into a walk again, and rode beside +Kurt in silence. She had never reflected whether these meetings in the +forest were becoming. She had made no appointments with Kurt, but +chance--no, it had not been chance entirely after the first meeting; +she knew that she should meet him, but she could not reproach herself +with having made any appointments. She was quite blameless. Quite? Why, +then, had she never mentioned these daily meetings at home in Castle +Hohenwald? Why had she never uttered the name of Kurt von Poseneck to +her father or Arno, and never even said a word when Arno had casually +mentioned the fact that a son of the Poseneck who had emigrated to +America had returned, and was living at Gruenhagen with the Amtsrath, +whose heir report said he was to be? Her father, Arno, and Werner had +discussed the Posenecks at some length; why had she never said a word, +although she could easily have set them right upon several points? +Hitherto she had simply followed her impulse to see Kurt, whom she +liked so much, daily; but now, suddenly, she became aware that +something about these meetings was not just as it should be. + +After a long pause, she said, dejectedly, "I think you are right, Herr +Kurt; I have acted very unbecomingly; but then we never made any +appointments, and it was so pleasant to meet by chance. You have told +me so much to interest me, I could always listen to you for hours; but +if you think it improper, I will not ride on the forest road again. It +will be hard, for lately I have looked forward all the forenoon to this +hour of talk with you." + +The girl's childlike, innocent frankness enchanted Kurt; he yielded to +an irresistible impulse to seize and kiss the hand that hung down near +him. Then, startled at what he had done, he instantly dropped it, while +Celia, not in the least startled, looked at him with a happy smile. + +"Is it really so wrong for us to spend one short hour here every day +talking together?" she asked, looking down kindly into his face. + +He could not withstand the magic of her look; all the wise rules that +he had laid down for himself melted in the light of her eyes like snow +before the sun. "No, dearest Celia! A thousand times no!" he cried, +rapturously. "I swear to you by my honour that you never shall have any +cause to regret your confidence in me. I will not ask you to continue +your rides,--you shall not promise me to do so,--but I will be here +awaiting you every day; nothing shall prevent me. Although you should +stay away for weeks, you will find me here whenever you come at this +hour." + +"And you shall not await me in vain," Celia replied; and as she leaned +down towards him their lips met for one instant in a fleeting kiss. +Then she suddenly wheeled her horse about and was gone. + +Kurt stood for a while motionless. Long after the lovely rider had +vanished in the gloom he still saw her in spirit, and felt her kiss +upon his lips. He hardly noticed that the rain, which had ceased for a +few minutes, was pouring down with renewed violence; that a sharp wind +was blowing, colder than before. He stood like one entranced in the +lonely forest, and, when unconsciously he turned towards home, he never +heard the howling of the tempest. Not until the bough of an oak-tree, +torn off by the wind, fell directly across his path did he waken from +his revery. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +"Station A----. One minute's stop!" + +The conductor hastily opened the door of a second-class carriage and +helped out a young lady, civilly handed her her travelling-bag and +railway wrap, clambered into his place again, and in a few moments the +train was out of sight. + +The young lady was the only passenger who had left the train; therefore +the gentleman who had been walking to and fro on the platform for a +quarter of an hour easily recognized her as the person for whom he had +been waiting. He approached her, and, raising his hat, said, +courteously, "Have I the honour of addressing Fraeulein Anna Mueller? I +am the Finanzrath von Hohenwald." + +"Have you come yourself, Herr Finanzrath, in spite of this terrible +weather? It is really too kind." + +There was surprise as well as great satisfaction in the smile with +which Werner looked at the young lady; he was in truth deeply impressed +by her striking beauty. + +Fraeulein Mueller was by no means equally pleased. She had supposed the +Finanzrath to be a much older man; his fresh, smooth-shaven face looked +to her very youthful, and she was not agreeably impressed by the +satisfied smile with which he contemplated her. + +It was but a moment that Werner devoted to his scrutiny of the lady; he +now bowed even lower and more respectfully than at first, and said, +with extreme politeness, "I was too much rejoiced, Fraeulein Mueller, +that I had been able to induce you to come to Hohenwald to allow +another than myself to be the first to welcome you here. Moreover, I +felt it my duty to meet you, since I was the cause of your accepting a +position for the difficulties of which you are perhaps not fully +prepared. Before you enter Castle Hohenwald you ought to have a more +vivid idea of those with whom your life there will be passed than it +was possible to give you in my short letter. I described as impartially +as I could the difficulties of your position, but there is much that +you should know, which I shall be able to tell you during our drive to +the castle, which in this weather, and from the consequent state of the +roads, must needs be a slow one. And now let me conduct you to the +carriage as quickly as possible; it will, I fear, be quite late and +very dark by the time we reach Hohenwald." + +Then taking her travelling-bag, and offering her his arm, which after a +moment's hesitation she accepted, he led her through the station-house +to where a close travelling carriage was awaiting them. + +The wind howled, and the rain poured in torrents. The Finanzrath was +assiduous in his attentions, holding his umbrella over his companion as +she got into the carriage, then hurrying to see that the porter +fastened her luggage securely in its place behind the carriage. Not +until all was arranged to his satisfaction did he take his seat beside +her in the well-cushioned vehicle. The rattling of the carriage over +the stones while the road led through the town of A---- prevented all +conversation, and enabled the Finanzrath to observe his companion +attentively without attempting any of his promised communications. + +He was impressed anew by the girl's extraordinary beauty; an expression +of melancholy that vanished when she spoke, but which characterized her +features in repose, made her still more attractive, while it afforded +the Finanzrath--who remembered all that Frau von Adelung had hinted to +him of Fraeulein Mueller's misfortunes--an explanation of her readiness +to accept the offer of a position at Castle Hohenwald. At length the +carriage left the paved streets and entered upon the country road +leading to the castle. Although the wind howled about the vehicle and +the rain pelted against its windows, conversation had become possible. + +The Finanzrath was a clever man; it was but natural that his lively +portrayal of the inmates of the castle should interest Fraeulein Mueller +extremely. She listened eagerly, only interrupting him now and then by +brief questions, which he answered readily. With an impartiality which +was surely worthy of all praise, Werner entered upon a detailed account +of the characteristics of his nearest relatives,--his father, his +brother, and his sister; he warmly extolled their good qualities--his +father's kindness of heart and simple truth, Arno's stern sense of +justice, his earnestness, his industry, his varied acquirements, +Celia's gay good humour and childlike simplicity; but at the same time +he concealed none of their faults. As he discoursed, the daylight had +vanished and darkness had succeeded the short twilight. The sky was +black with clouds, and within the carriage it was so dark that Anna +could scarcely see the outline of her companion's figure, although he +leaned towards her as he repeatedly assured her that in him she would +find a friend ready to aid her in any way during her life at the +castle, and begged her to confide frankly to him any wish with which he +could comply. + +He said not one word that circumstances did not fully warrant, and yet +Anna was excessively uncomfortable. The _tete-a-tete_ with him in the +dark carriage seemed to her almost insufferable. She shrank away from +him at the very time when he was speaking so gently and kindly to her +that there could not be the slightest reasonable cause for her distaste +of his society. + +Suddenly the carriage stopped. Anna drew a long breath of relief when +the Finanzrath broke off his discourse and, opening the window, asked, +anxiously, "What is the matter, John? Why do you not drive on?" + +"I do not know, Herr Finanzrath," a voice from the box replied, "but I +think something is wrong." + +"What can be wrong?" It seemed to Anna that the Finanzrath's voice +trembled as he asked the question. Was he, strong man as he was, so +fearful of an accident that his fear betrayed itself in his voice? The +sign of weakness instantly put an end to all Anna's dread of the +Finanzrath. She felt strong, indeed, in view of his timidity. No +possible danger of the road in the dark night had power to alarm her. +All she had dreaded had been the _tete-a-tete_ with her companion. + +The coachman did not immediately answer; he slowly descended from the +box, and not until the Finanzrath asked in a tone of still greater +anxiety, "What has happened, John?" did he reply, sullenly, "Nothing +has happened, Herr Finanzrath, but the devil himself could not find the +way in this storm; you can't see your hand before your face. I thought +we had got off the road and were going towards the Gruenhagen quarry, +but it is all right, and we can drive on." + +"No, no, don't try, for Heaven's sake, John!" the Finanzrath exclaimed, +in evident terror. + +"Oh, it's all right," the coachman said, with great composure. "We must +drive on; we can't spend the night here in this weather." + +He mounted the box again and whipped up his horses, but the next +instant there was a jolt, a crash! The wheels on one side of the +carriage rolled over a stone, while those on the other sank deeper and +deeper into the mud, the carriage leaned more and more to one side and +finally upset. + +Anna felt herself tossed to one side; her head struck against some hard +object. She experienced a burning pain in her temple, and was near +fainting, but the next moment recalled her to herself; she did not +choose to faint, and her will was victorious. + +The carriage had fallen upon the side where sat the Finanzrath. Anna +heard him groan as he struggled to rise. + +"Are you hurt?" she asked, anxiously. + +"My foot pains me terribly; I fear it is broken," he replied, in a +loud, distinct voice which soothed Anna's apprehensions that his +injuries might be mortal. + +"I will try to open the door that is uppermost," she said; and this, +after several attempts, she succeeded in doing. The rain poured down +upon her, but she braved it, and exerting all her strength, she climbed +out upon the side of the carriage and thence got down to the ground. At +first she sank ankle-deep in the mud, but in a minute she found firm +footing. "Can you possibly get out, Herr Finanzrath?" she asked. + +"I will try," a voice from the carriage replied, and immediately +afterward the Finanzrath looked out of the open door. He gazed about +him, but in the gloom could see nothing. Anna's figure was hardly +distinguishable, although she was but a few paces off. "John! John! +Where are you?" Werner called loudly, but, although he repeated the +call several times, there was no reply. + +"I am afraid the poor fellow has had a bad fall," said Anna. + +"So it seems, since he does not answer," rejoined the Finanzrath. There +was not much sympathy in the tone of his voice, and still less was +there in the remark that followed. "The clumsy scoundrel cannot even +hold the horses after upsetting us. This is horrible! Suppose the +horses should run off just as I am climbing out?" + +This fear was groundless. The horses had stopped the instant the +vehicle overturned. They did not stir, and the Finanzrath climbed out +upon the carriage, but did not attempt to descend from it. + +"Is your foot so painful that you cannot step upon it?" Anna asked, +compassionately. "Can I help you? Take my hand, I pray you!" + +"Thank you," he replied; "but my foot will not permit me to climb +farther. What are we to do? We cannot sit here all night in the rain." + +"I will seek help," Anna replied, resolutely. "The road must lead to +some house or village. Wait for me here. I shall soon return with men, +who can right the carriage." + +"For Heaven's sake, do not go one step!" Werner cried, in great +agitation. "We are close upon the quarry; there must be a deep chasm +just at hand!" + +"I will be very careful. At all events help must be procured. Something +must be done for the poor coachman, who has given no sign of life yet; +and you too, Herr Finanzrath, need assistance." + +"Yes, yes; but you must not leave me. Let us both shout for help. We +shall perhaps be heard. There must be labourers' cottages near the +quarry. Help! help!" he thereupon shouted with all the force of his +powerful lungs. And in fact scarcely had the sound died away when a +distant "Halloo!" was heard. + +"Thank Heaven, they have heard us!" Werner said, and then shouted +again, "Help! help!" + +The answering shout came nearer, and in a few moments a dark figure +approached. "What is the matter here?" a rough voice asked. "A carriage +upset, as I live! What the devil were you doing in the quarry at this +hour?" + +"We lost the road, and are greatly in need of assistance," replied +Werner. + +"Lost the road? Were you going to Gruenhagen?" + +"No; to Castle Hohenwald." + +"To the castle? Then you belong to Hohenwald?" + +"I am the Finanzrath von Hohenwald; but this is not the time for +talking. I beg you, my friend, to help me to reach some place of +security." + +A burst of discordant laughter was the only reply vouchsafed to this +request. After indulging in his ill-timed merriment, the new-comer +inquired, "Have you ever heard of Carter Jock?" + +"No; but, my friend----" + +"No friend of yours! I would rather eat my head than help a Hohenwald. +Any of the castle people can tell you about Carter Jock. Finely they +treated him indeed; and, by way of thanks, he wishes you a pleasant +night!" With another scornful laugh the man turned on his heel and +would have gone, when Anna approached him, and, laying her hand on his +shoulder, said, "You will not be so cruel as to desert us in our need?" + +"The deuce! There's a woman in the scrape, and not the madcap Celia +either!" the man exclaimed, in amazement, after having lighted a couple +of matches, which the rain, to be sure, instantly extinguished, but not +before he had perceived that it was not Celia who addressed him. + +"A lady! a stranger!" he muttered to himself. "She must not be left all +night in the quarry. The devil take the Hohenwalds; but I must let the +folks at Gruenhagen know what has happened." + +For one moment he stood reflecting, and then, without heeding the +Finanzrath's entreaties, he turned away and vanished in the darkness. + +For a while Werner von Hohenwald sat silent as if in utter despair. At +last a red spark of light appeared in the distance; again he shouted as +loud as he could for help, and to his joy the voice that answered him +was Arno's. + +In a few minutes Arno, followed by several men with lighted torches, +reached the overturned carriage. "I was afraid," he said, "that John +would miss the road, and so came out to meet you with torches; not soon +enough, unfortunately, to prevent an accident. But why do you sit up +there on the carriage, Werner? Why don't you jump down?" + +"The chasm must be close by, Arno." + +"Nonsense! there is no chasm here. Give me your hand and spring down." + +Werner grasped the hand extended to him and sprang out upon the road. +His foot could not have been severely injured, since he accomplished +this with apparent ease. + +"Where is Fraeulein Mueller? I hope nothing has happened to her." + +"Nothing has happened to me, Herr von Hohenwald," said Anna, who was +standing in the shadow, "but I am afraid the coachman has received some +injury." + +Arno turned hastily, and stepped aside so that the torchlight fell full +upon Anna's face. Its great beauty astonished him also, but he was +shocked at the sight of a dark-red streak that extended from beneath +the chestnut curls on her temple to the white kerchief about her +throat, which was stained crimson. "You are bleeding?" he exclaimed, +"you are hurt?" + +"It is nothing. Never mind me; but let us search for the unfortunate +coachman. I fear he is terribly hurt." + +"Where is he? John, where are you?" + +There was no reply, and Arno became alarmed. He took one of the torches +from the men, and was not long in finding poor old John, who was lying +unconscious by the roadside, with a terrible wound on his forehead. +Arno kneeled beside him, and laid his hand upon his heart. "He is +alive," he instantly declared, "but I am afraid he is very badly hurt." + +"Oh, is he?" said Werner, who was seated on a stone, calmly watching +his brother's proceeding. "I thought it must be so when he did not +answer. But what are we to do, Arno? My foot is terribly painful." + +"Indeed? It cannot be very bad, since you easily jumped from the +carriage." + +"Nevertheless it pains me terribly. I never can walk to the castle. Can +the carriage not be righted?" + +"We will see." Arno examined the carriage, but found the axle broken. +"This is bad," he said. "We cannot, then, drive poor old John to +Hohenwald, but we can make a litter comfortable with the carriage +cushions, and you, my men, can carry him to the village." + +The men assented eagerly, but the Finanzrath was not satisfied. "I +should suppose," he said, peevishly, "that I might be attended to +before John. I cannot possibly walk. When the men have carried me to +Hohenwald they can return and fetch John." + +His brother greeted this speech with a glance of contempt. "If you +cannot walk," he said, coolly, "you can sit here! The old man's life, +perhaps, depends upon his having surgical aid speedily." + +"I cannot stay here in the pouring rain; I shall catch my death of +cold!" + +"Death is not easily caught of cold!" Arno rejoined, unsympathetically. +"Make haste," he said to the men, who were busy constructing the +litter. "Poor old John must be moved as quickly as possible." + +"How far are we from Hohenwald?" the Finanzrath asked, when the litter +was nearly completed. + +"Three-quarters of a league from the castle and half a league from the +village." + +"Then the manor-house of Gruenhagen must be close at hand." + +"Gruenhagen is not ten minutes' walk." + +"Indeed? Then, Arno, I think it would be much wiser to carry John +there, and I could manage to hobble there myself." + +"You would go to Gruenhagen?" Arno asked, and there was surprise as well +as disapproval in his tone. "What business has a Hohenwald in +Gruenhagen? Am I to ask shelter for old John and for you of the Amtsrath +Friese or young Kurt von Poseneck, only to meet with a rude refusal, +or, what would be worse, with a condescending compliance, which would +burden me with an obligation to them?" + +"What folly!" Werner declared. "You ought to be above such prejudice, +Arno. It speaks ill for your humanity that you insist upon dragging +poor old John to Hohenwald." + +Here one of the men whom Arno had brought with him advanced, and, +taking off his hat, respectfully said, "No offence to the Herr +Finanzrath, but we cannot take old John to Gruenhagen." + +"What do you mean?" the Finanzrath angrily inquired. "Would you disobey +orders?" + +"Certainly not," the man replied, exchanging a glance with his fellows. +"We are old soldiers, and know how to obey always, but indeed we could +not answer it to the master or to old John himself if we took him to +Gruenhagen. If he had his senses he would be sure to say that he would +rather die than be carried to Gruenhagen. And, besides, if we do take +him farther, we get the doctor sooner, for our Dr. Bruehn in Hohenwald +would not go to Gruenhagen for the world; when they want a doctor there +they have to send to A----, and that is too far." + +Arno nodded approvingly to the man. "You are right, Kunz; we will take +John to the Hohenwald village. Lift him carefully and lay him on the +cushions, and let us be off instantly." + +"But, Arno, what is to become of me and of Fraeulein Mueller?" Werner +asked, plaintively. + +Anna had been no idle spectator during this time; she had helped the +men to arrange the cushions on the litter, and was holding a torch to +light them as they lifted the unconscious John upon it, listening the +while with surprise to the conversation between the brothers. She had +been disgusted with the Finanzrath's selfishness in desiring to be +carried when his foot was evidently not severely hurt; and Arno's stern +refusal to carry the wounded man to Gruenhagen had also impressed her +disagreeably. She had no desire to take any part in the discussion, but +now, when the Finanzrath asked of Arno what was to become of her, she +hastily interposed with, "I shall carry one of the torches, since I +cannot, unfortunately, render any more important assistance; there is +no occasion to waste any thought upon me." + +Arno looked at her with a surprised but kindly air. "Brava!" he said. +"You are brave, and I trust can walk the half-league to the village; if +you are very tired I will assist you. You, Werner, must help yourself. +If you cannot walk with us, creep back into the carriage and shelter +yourself from the rain until I can send you assistance. And now on to +Hohenwald!" + +"No, Herr von Hohenwald; to Gruenhagen," a strong, manly voice was now +heard to say. + +The voice was Kurt von Poseneck's; he emerged from the darkness into +the torchlight, and, advancing towards Arno and the Finanzrath, +courteously informed them that he had just heard the news of the +accident in the quarry, and had instantly given orders to have a +carriage prepared, while he had hurried hither to entreat the gentlemen +to turn towards Gruenhagen, where they would be cordially welcome, and +where apartments were already prepared for them. The injured coachman, +too, should have every care bestowed upon him, and a carriage should be +instantly sent to fetch Dr. Bruehn to Gruenhagen. + +Kurt spoke so kindly, so cordially, that even Arno could not help for a +moment forgetting his prejudice against the Posenecks as he thanked the +young man for his proffered hospitality, which, however, he declined. +In vain did Werner add his entreaties to Kurt's. Arno refused to yield, +and cut short all further discussion by ordering the men to proceed +with the litter. + +Werner was very indignant at his brother's obstinacy. "Such +unreasonableness is inconceivable!" he exclaimed; "but you shall not +force me, Arno, to share your folly. I accept your invitation +gratefully, Herr von Poseneck, for Fraeulein Mueller and myself; we will +return with you to Gruenhagen and accept your hospitality." + +"You must not speak for me, Herr Finanzrath," Anna protested. "I +promised to be at Hohenwald this evening, and I shall keep my word." + +"But, Fraeulein Mueller, you cannot surely persist in walking to +Hohenwald in this weather? I will engage to excuse your delay to my +father." + +"I need no excuse, Herr Finanzrath," Anna replied. + +In vain did Werner expend his eloquence in entreaties and +representations. She carried one of the torches and walked beside the +litter towards Hohenwald. She stoutly braved the storm; the wind +blowing in her face cooled her burning temples, and she experienced a +sense of strange satisfaction when, upon looking back, she found that +the quarry was already so far in the distance that the light of the +torch left with the Finanzrath gleamed like a faint spark in the black +darkness of the night. + + * * * * * + +The castle clock had struck eleven, and the Freiherr von Hohenwald, who +was usually rolled into his bedroom at ten precisely, was still sitting +in the spacious garden-room. He was not in a good humour, as was +manifested by the frown upon his forehead, which even Celia's +cajoleries could not smooth. The girl was seated on a low chair beside +him, endeavouring in vain to win him to cheerfulness. Sure as she +usually was of an affectionate reply to her questions, to-night he +would not be amiable. She had been reading aloud to him; but even that +did not please him. He took the book from her, grumblingly declaring +that she was inattentive, that her emphasis was all wrong; she was +thinking, of course, of the new governess, on whose account the whole +house was turned upside down. + +As he spoke, the Freiherr glanced angrily at the table in the centre of +the room spread for four people. "It capped the climax," he added, +peevishly, "for Werner to tell me it was not the thing to smoke in +ladies' society, I am not to be hectored after that fashion, however. +Bring me my meerschaum!" + +Celia sprang up and brought him his large meerschaum, with a lighted +match. He usually rewarded her for this service with a loving smile, +but to-night he sat puffing out clouds of smoke without a word, until +he drew out his huge gold watch and said, "Ten minutes after eleven! +This household is topsy-turvy. It was not enough that Werner should +insanely go to meet the woman at the station himself, but that fool +Arno must needs run after him. There stands the table waiting,--nine +o'clock is the supper-hour, and it is now nearly midnight." + +"But you had your supper at the right time, papa," said Celia. + +"How would it have helped matters to have me kept waiting? It is enough +that all the rest of the household suffers because of you and this +governess. It was the stupidest thing I ever did to listen to Werner. +What's the use of your having a governess? Your manners are quite fine +enough for Castle Hohenwald, for Arno, and for me." + +"Still it was very wise in you, papa, to follow Werner's advice. I can +learn a great deal from a good governess, and some time, I suppose, I +shall meet those who demand more than Arno or you." + +"Oho! the wind has changed, then? So Werner has converted you too!" + +Celia blushed. Werner had not even attempted the conversion of +which his father accused him; but she did not say one word in his +defence,--she could not tell her father that it was Kurt von Poseneck +who had caused her change of opinion. + +"Where can they be?" the Freiherr exclaimed, impatiently; "they ought +to have been here by ten o'clock at the latest." + +"I hope there has been no accident." + +"Nonsense! The road is perfectly good, and since Arno chose to go and +meet them with torches an accident is impossible. There is just as much +pother about this governess as if she were a lady of distinction." + +"Do not be unjust, papa! If old John, who has not driven over that road +for so long, should have missed the way and got into the Gruenhagen +quarry, and any accident had happened to Werner or the lady, you never +would forgive yourself for scolding Arno for going to meet them, Only +hear how the wind howls and the rain beats against the windows. For my +part, I am almost dead with anxiety lest an accident has happened. But, +thank Heaven, no--there they are; I hear the carriage rattling over the +stones of the court-yard." + +Celia started up, and would have hurried out to meet the arrivals, but +a peremptory word from her father detained her. "Stay here!" he +exclaimed. "There is such a thing as being too kind. It is more than +enough that Werner brings her from the station, that Arno goes to meet +her, and that the table and you all are kept waiting for her. As she +herself wrote, she is to be your paid companion and teacher. Remember +that, child. Any undue familiarity is very undesirable." + +Celia tossed her head and a reply was upon her tongue, but as she +looked at her father she thought it wiser not to provoke him further, +so she bit her lips and obeyed in silence. At the same time she +privately determined that neither her father's command nor her +brother's advice should influence her conduct towards the governess. + +Her patience was put to the proof, for several minutes elapsed before +the hall-doors were thrown open and Arno appeared, ushering in a lady, +whom he presented. "Fraeulein Anna Mueller. My father, my sister Celia." +This introduction he evidently considered quite sufficient, for he +instantly turned from her, and, taking his father's hand, said, "We +have kept you waiting a long while, father--you shall hear why when you +have welcomed Fraeulein Mueller. I have much to tell." + +The Freiherr made no reply; during the presentation he had not removed +his pipe from his mouth, but when Anna approached with a slight +courtesy, and, in a soft, rich voice, said, "Forgive me, Herr Baron, +for having been the involuntary cause of so much disturbance," he +instantly laid it aside and made an attempt to rise from his chair in +answer to her words. It was many years since he had exchanged a word +with a lady, but the memory of the time when he lived in society +stirred within him as he looked at Anna. He had supposed that a +negligent word of greeting would suffice for a governess, after all +only a kind of upper servant, but he saw before him a lady to whom he +involuntarily paid a mach greater degree of respect. It was not Anna's +extraordinary beauty that thus impressed him, although he found it +admirable, but a certain indescribable something which characterized +her, and which her unsuitable dress could not conceal. She had left her +drenched clothing at Inspector Hauk's, in the village of Hohenwald, and +had borrowed a dark woollen dress of his wife's, which, although much +too large for her slender figure, could not disguise its beautiful +proportions. + +A few minutes previously the Freiherr had not been by any means +inclined to receive kindly the disturber of his domestic peace, but as +he looked into Anna's pale face, and thought he saw an entreaty for +kindness in her fine eyes, the expression of irritation vanished from +his features, and he said, very kindly and simply, "You are heartily +welcome, Fraeulein!" + +These were the first words that Anna heard from the dreaded +woman-hater, the stern Freiherr. Her future pupil's reception of her +was far more effusive; she had taken Celia's heart by storm. While Anna +was speaking to the old Baron, the girl stood rapt in admiration of the +stranger's exquisite smile and melodious voice, and when she turned +from the father to the daughter, the latter threw her arms around her +in a sudden burst of girlish enthusiasm, which conveyed a far more +cordial welcome than could have been given in words. Anna gently kissed +her brow and felt inexpressibly pleased by the manner of Celia's +greeting, founding upon it the brightest hopes for the future. + +And what did the Freiherr say to this infringement of the rule he had +laid down but a few short minutes before? He was not in the least +angry; he smiled benignantly, and watched with great satisfaction the +two charming girls, the governess, apparently but a few years the elder +of the two, and his darling, his will-o'-the-wisp. Paternal pride +whispered to him that, beautiful as the stranger was, she was no +lovelier than Celia. + +Arno by no means shared his father's satisfaction. His face grew dark +as he looked at Anna. What magical charm did this stranger, whom Werner +had introduced among them, possess, to enable her thus, by a single +word, to transform his father, prompting him to utter that "heartily +welcome," and now so completely winning over Celia, who had naturally +rebelled against the idea of a governess? Had she not even made a far +deeper impression upon himself than he was willing to admit? She must +be an adept in the art of pleasing. + +"Now you shall have supper," said the Freiherr; and Arno rang the bell +to have it served immediately, and then pushed his father's chair up to +the table. It was only when old Franz had placed the dishes on the +table that Celia observed that Werner's place was empty. Her father +noticed this at the same time, and they asked, simultaneously, "Where +is Werner?" + +"Where you would least suspect him to be, father," replied Arno. "The +Finanzrath is so far exalted above the traditional prejudices of his +family that he has accepted Herr Kurt von Poseneck's invitation, and is +at this moment either calmly supping with the Amtsrath Friese and Herr +von Poseneck, or comfortably tucked in bed at Gruenhagen." + +This announcement produced very different effects upon Celia and her +father. Celia blushed crimson; but so far from seeming shocked at +Werner's transgression, she laughed merrily, and asked, "How did it +happen?" + +The Freiherr, on the contrary, would have risen hastily from his chair +had not his gout prevented; he muttered an oath, and exclaimed, "What a +devil of a story is this? Werner at Gruenhagen with those scoundrels of +Posenecks!" + +"Why should you speak so harshly of Herr von Poseneck, papa?" Celia +asked, indignantly. + +The Baron gazed at his child in amazement. "What is the child thinking +of?" he asked. "Actually taking me to task! Since when have you become +the champion of the Posenecks, little one?" + +"It seems to me unjust to abuse the absent, who do not deserve it, and +cannot defend themselves!" + +"How do you know what the Posenecks deserve? Would you send your old +father to school? Truly, it seems high time that your education were +looked after, child." + +Celia's cheek grew more crimson still, but she made no reply to her +father's reproof. Arno had listened to the brief war of words with a +smile. "Positively," he said, "I shall henceforth believe in signs and +wonders. A Hohenwald partakes of the hospitality of Gruenhagen; Celia +appears as the champion of the Posenecks; my father scolds his darling, +and she makes no reply! Who can discredit miracles after all this?" + +"Nonsense!" the Freiherr rejoined, peevishly. "Rather tell me how +Werner came to meet that Poseneck fellow." + +In answer Arno gave a narrative of the evening's adventures. He had +determined to state the simple facts to his father, alluding as little +as possible to Fraeulein Anna Mueller, but as he proceeded, his +remembrance of the scene at the quarry was so vivid that he went +farther than he had intended. He could not forbear, for mere justice' +sake, to enlarge somewhat upon the courage and unselfishness of Anna's +conduct, in contrast with Werner's weakness and egotism, when he told +how, although wounded herself, she had declined his aid and had begged +him instantly to bestow it upon old John. He did not utter one word of +praise, but in his description of what had occurred there was much +commendation implied, while he did not spare his sarcasm in speaking of +Werner's very slight injury. + +Anna was not a little embarrassed by his account; she would have liked +to disclaim Arno's praise, but what could she say while he confined +himself to a narrative of facts? When Celia, however, turned to her +with a warm caress, saying, "Good heavens, you are wounded, and have +said nothing to us about it!" she smilingly lifted the dark-brown curls +upon her forehead, and said, "You see it is a mere scratch; the village +doctor attended to it, and told me that it would be perfectly healed in +a few days. It really is nothing." + +Arno confirmed her words, and went on to reassure his father as to old +John's condition, which Dr. Bruehn pronounced to be not at all +dangerous, although his injury had at first seemed grave. He then gave +a detailed account of Werner's desire from the first to go to +Gruenhagen, and of how he was not to be dissuaded from accepting Kurt +von Poseneck's invitation, which, Arno admitted, was most amiably and +courteously tendered. + +The Freiherr nodded, well pleased, when he heard how the Hohenwald +people had refused to carry old John to Gruenhagen, but he was all the +more irritated by the Finanzrath's acceptance of Kurt's invitation. "It +is disgraceful!" he exclaimed. "How could a Hohenwald forget himself so +far as to accept hospitality at the hands of a beggarly Poseneck!" + +"It is not at all nice of you, papa!" Celia instantly declared, with +flaming cheeks and flashing eyes. "How can you, who are usually just +and good, speak so unkindly of Herr von Poseneck, who has never done +anything to you? It is poor thanks to him for hurrying out to the +quarry in the storm to help Werner. And Werner was perfectly right to +accept the invitation; what had he to do with an old worn-out feud? +Herr Kurt von Poseneck certainly had no share in it; he has only lately +arrived from America." + +"Why, what an eloquent advocate the Posenecks have in our little one!" +Arno rejoined, before his father, who was quite speechless with +astonishment, could frame a reply. "And in truth she is partly right, +for the young Herr von Poseneck certainly conducted himself excessively +well on this occasion; nevertheless, I did not wish to accept his +invitation, nor did Fraeulein Mueller; Werner, however, is superior to +all Hohenwald prejudice. The Finanzrath knows far better how to conduct +himself than we, who rust here in Castle Hohenwald, possibly can. His +father and brother ought to be banished to the lumber-garret,--eh, +Celia?" + +"Come, come; have done with sneering, Arno. Go on with your story," the +girl replied. + +"You are right. Disputing cannot change matters; that neither my +father, nor Werner, nor I can do. You and I belong to the old order of +affairs, father; we must be content to find others leaving us; and it +is but natural that Celia should vow allegiance to modern ideas; so I +will not waste another word upon the Posenecks, although I confess I +practise self-denial in not doing so." And he finished his narrative, +describing Anna's courageous braving of the storm and rain on their way +to the Inspector's at the village of Hohenwald, where they found warmth +and shelter, and whence a messenger was despatched for Dr. Bruehn, who +soon pronounced upon old John's case and dressed the cut upon Fraeulein +Mueller's forehead. Then, after Arno had exchanged his wet clothes for a +suit of the Inspector's, and Fraeulein Mueller had been provided with +garments from his wife's wardrobe, a village wagon had brought them +both to the castle. + +The old Baron was greatly interested in Arno's account; even Werner's +visit to Gruenhagen was almost forgotten as he eagerly listened to his +son's narrative. The new governess was evidently no spoiled city lady. +He briefly expressed to her his admiration and gratitude, and it +pleased him still more that Anna quietly declined to accept any thanks +for what was merely a matter of course and of no consequence. + +Meanwhile, it had grown late, and still, contrary to his custom, the +Freiherr leaned comfortably back in his rolling-chair and said not one +word of retiring, so interested was he in discussing the events of the +evening. Suddenly, however, he happened to glance at the clock, and +discovering that it was just about to strike one, he remembered how +fatigued Fraeulein Mueller must be. Directing Celia to show her to her +apartment, he had himself rolled into his bedroom by Arno, after +wishing the new governess a courteous good-night. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +"My dear Arno,--You have a right to scold. I can see you frown when you +learn that this letter would have reached you two weeks ago, if I had +fulfilled my promise of writing to you about my visit to my uncle +Guntram soon after my arrival in M----. + +"But man proposes, and a charming, smiling little blonde disposes. +Indeed she is charming enough to make a man forget even the sacred +claims of friendship, and so I confess my fault, and pray your +forgiveness. But I can see the frown deepen on your brow, you +incorrigible woman-hater, and you are less inclined than ever to +forgive upon such a plea. What will you say, then, when you know the +worst? Listen, and wonder, Arno. I am betrothed,--the happy lover of +the aforesaid lovely little blonde. I beg leave to present to you the +betrothed pair, Adele von Guntram--Karl, Count Styrum. There! Do not +throw the letter angrily aside, or you will not learn how it has all +come about so quickly, and, besides, you must accustom yourself to the +idea of receiving, upon your promised visit to Altenheim, a welcome +from a charming little Countess Styrum. That your welcome from her will +be of the warmest I can assure you, for my betrothed takes the keenest +interest in Arno von Hohenwald, about whom she is never weary of +hearing. I might almost be jealous of him did I not know his views with +regard to women. + +"And now let me tell you what is stranger than all, that it is owing to +this interest of Adele's in you that I am now her accepted lover, or +rather that I am so much sooner than I could otherwise have been; and I +will tell you as briefly as I can, without breaking a promise I have +made, how this came about. + +"You know I visited M---- on account of the vexatious lawsuit with my +uncle Guntram which I inherited from my father, and concerning which I +hoped to effect some sort of compromise. My uncle received me with the +greatest cordiality, and we should speedily have arranged matters had +it not been for my cousin Heinrich, who, being a newly-fledged lawyer, +would not hear of any adjustment of the affair. I believe I could not +have offended him more deeply than by voluntarily relinquishing my +claims. Now he must put up with this offence, although it is given in a +manner different from any that he could have foreseen. His zeal +for litigation was of the greatest service to me, for it kept me in +M---- when I thought my presence necessary at Altenheim. Thus weeks and +even months passed, and I was no nearer the goal than at first, that +is, so far as the lawsuit was concerned, otherwise my stay in M---- was +entirely delightful to me. My uncle Guntram was all that he could be in +the way of affectionate kindness, Heinrich extremely amiable in a +cousinly way, and Adele--no, I will not write about Adele, for you +would only laugh at me and call me a love-sick fool. Wait until you +come to M----, as friendship demands you should do, to be present at my +marriage, and you will understand how welcome any pretext was to me for +a protracted stay here, and how willingly I spent day after day beneath +my uncle's roof, passing the most of my time talking with Adele. She +treated me in the kindest manner, but her innocent familiarity, which +was almost like that she might show to a brother, made me anxious. A +distant connection of yours, a certain Assessor von Hahn, frequents my +uncle's house, and was evidently suing for my cousin's favour. I heard +reports from all sides of a private betrothal between them, which was +not to be announced until the Assessor had obtained the position of +circuit judge, since my uncle greatly disapproved of long engagements. + +"I really could not perceive that Adele favoured the pretensions of the +Assessor, who is a very well-disposed but rather ridiculous little man; +but as all the world declared that it was a settled affair, and as even +the Assessor himself let fall several hints to the same effect, I +thought I should be forced to accept my fate. I should never have dared +to tell my charming cousin how dear she was to me had not you, Arno, +without knowing it, lent me your aid. + +"I had often talked of you to Adele, telling her of our delightful +travels, and even describing to her your father, your sister Cecilia, +and your surroundings at Castle Hohenwald, as I had learned to know +them from yourself. + +"When I went to my uncle's this morning at the usual time, I found +Adele alone; she received me more kindly than usual; she even owned +frankly that she had for an hour been longing for my coming. Flattering +as this reception was, I founded no hopes upon it, for I saw that my +cousin was desirous to acquaint me with some plan, in the execution of +which she looked to me for assistance. She was in a state of feverish +agitation; at times she would look at me with an expression of intense +entreaty, and then, just when I hoped she was about to speak frankly of +what was nearest her heart, she would introduce some indifferent topic +of conversation. At last she evidently summoned up courage sufficient +to enable her to bestow her confidence upon me. 'Cousin Karl,' she +said, in her sweet, gentle voice, 'I have a very, very great favour to +ask of you.' I need not tell you how fervently I assured her that she +could not ask what it would not be my delight to grant. She then +proceeded to tell me that her dearest friend, a Fraulein Anna Mueller, +who had been her schoolmate at Frau Adelung's, in Dresden, was forced +by dire misfortune to seek a position as governess. Frau von Adelung +had recommended the young lady to your brother Werner for your sister +Celia, and Fraulein Mueller was to start for Hohenwald this very day. +The mighty favour that Adele asked of me was to write to you and exert +my influence with you to insure the young lady a favourable reception +at Castle Hohenwald. I never can tell so evil-minded a woman-hater as +yourself how exquisitely lovely Adele was as she thus pleaded with me +for her friend, nor how it happened that I retained the hand I took in +mine and forgot all the silly stories about the Assessor von Hahn. +Indeed, I do not know where I found the courage to tell her how +inexpressibly dear she was to me, and how life had no greater joy for +me than the hope of keeping for my very own forever the hand I then +held. I was afraid she would instantly withdraw it, but she did not, +and--no, I will only tell you that I am the happiest fellow in the +world. Uncle Guntram, when he came from his study shortly afterwards, +found us betrothed, and gave us his blessing, assuring me that his +dearest wish was fulfilled in our betrothal, and adding that Adele +should have the lawsuit for her dowry, so that if I wished to continue +it I could do so with my wife. Heinrich made a wry face at this, but +there was no help for it, and he offered us his brotherly +congratulations. + +"Thus, you see, I owe my being the happy lover that I am to you, Arno, +for had it not been for Adele's request I never should have had the +courage to confess to her that I loved her. The bugbear of her +betrothal to Herr von Hahn would have prevented my speaking frankly to +her. Adele laughed at me when I told her this, and rallied me upon +lending an ear to such silly gossip. + +"And now, Arno, that my confession is made, my next duty is to fulfil +my love's request, and cordially to recommend her friend to your +kindness. I do this with a good conscience; she is a cultivated, +highly-gifted person. I congratulate your sister that your brother +succeeded in inducing her to come to Castle Hohenwald. I as well as +Adele am convinced that Fraulein Mueller's talents and acquirements will +achieve for her an honoured position in your father's household, and +Adele hopes for more yet; she trusts that her friend in the solitude of +Hohenwald, in a refined family circle, may in time forget the +misfortunes that have befallen her, and that your kindness may assist +her to do so. I know your magnanimity and delicacy of sentiment, and +that you only need be told that Fraulein Mueller, owing to no fault of +her own, is very unhappy, and that any allusion to her past, any +question with regard to it, would be extremely painful to her. To +alleviate her sorrow she only needs cordial kindness, confidence which +she deserves in fullest measure, and considerate regard. All these I +know she will find at Castle Hohenwald, and among you she will not be +subjected to a curiosity to which she would be specially sensitive. You +will forgive me for communicating no further particulars to you with +regard to the lady's past when I tell you that I am bound by a promise. +I know that you will be content with my declaration that I vouch for +Fraulein Mueller's blameless integrity and purity of character. When you +receive this she will already be beneath your roof; let me pray you not +to let her know that I have written to you, and my Adele will thank you +for not doing so when you come to M---- to our marriage. + +"One thing more before this long letter is concluded: with regard to +your nearest neighbor, my cousin, Kurt von Poseneck. I have heard +something of an hereditary feud between the Hohenwalds and the +Posenecks, but I know you too well to suspect you of giving heed to any +such folly, and therefore I cordially commend my cousin to your +kindness. Kurt's life in America has been the best of training for him; +he is a fine fellow. I learned to know him well when he paid me a visit +at Altenheim not long ago, and I assure you that I have rarely seen a +young man so greatly to my mind, as I know he will be to yours. +Although we are antagonistic in politics (he is a democrat, as was his +father before him), I enjoyed every moment of his stay with me at +Altenheim, for even in a political discussion Kurt never forgets that +he is a gentleman. He defends his views with spirit, but with such +calmness and moderation that he is never offensive. I am sure you will +soon be friends, if you will only consent to break the spell of your +solitude so far as to become acquainted with him. + +"And now adieu! God bless you! Woman-hater though you be, your +congratulations are confidently expected by + + "Yours always, + + "Karl Styrum." + + +Arno laid the letter aside, after he had read it, with a sigh. He had +found it with his other letters by the day's post upon his table after +he had left the garden-room, as we have seen, long after midnight. "He, +too!" he muttered to himself, with another sigh, and then he read the +letter for the second and third time, his face darkening as he read. +After the third perusal he sat for a long time lost in thought, and +finally took up a pen and wrote: + + +"My Dear Karl,--You expect congratulations from your friend; it is +indeed an ancient custom to offer kind wishes to the newly betrothed, +and I follow it all the more readily as in my case I employ no empty, +idle phrase when I wish you happiness with all my heart. We have always +agreed to be frank and true in our dealings with each other, and never +to shun entire openness through fear of giving offence. I now fulfil my +share of our compact. Indeed, after reading your letter three times I +cannot but reply to you, my only intimate friend, as my heart dictates +upon the impulse of the moment, not as I might after long and cool +consideration. Therefore this is no formal letter of congratulation, +but the true and faithful reply of a friend. Yes, I wish you all +happiness, but I do so with a heavy heart, for I know how much I lose +by your betrothal,--I, who have hitherto held the foremost place in +your regard, must content myself with the second, and I shall shortly, +as mournful experience teaches, lose this also, for love is the mortal +foe of friendship. Both cannot exist together in the same heart. Thus I +know that I have already half lost you, and shall soon lose you +entirely, for I shall never be content with the cold modicum of regard +which is all that the bridegroom and husband has for an every-day +acquaintance. This pains me profoundly. You were the only man in whom I +could thoroughly confide,--the only one to whom I could look for entire +comprehension and sympathy. Nevertheless, I wish you happiness, and my +wish is all the more fervent since I dread its non-fulfilment. Yes, my +pain in losing you is augmented by my fears for your future. I know +you, and I know that you never can content yourself as can so many +unless your marriage brings you full sympathy of heart and mind. You +are in love, and I know from sad experience that love drugs the +intellect and bewilders the judgment. You will, therefore, doubtless +regard my doubts as to your future as a positive crime against your +betrothed, but I must be frank with you, my regard for you demands it. +I repeat, I wish you joy; you need all good wishes, and if I could I +would close this letter with mine, for my head and heart are so full of +your betrothal that there is hardly room in them for another thought, +but you have made a request of me to which I must reply. + +"Fraulein Mueller, your betrothed's friend, has been for several hours +in Castle Hohenwald, to which I myself introduced her after a most +extraordinary fashion. Of this I will write you shortly. I will only +tell you now that I have already had abundant opportunity to admire the +lady's rare courage. She has by her beauty and her frank attractive +bearing already taken Celia's heart by storm and conquered my father's +prejudice against her. I received your letter _after_ her arrival here, +and therefore could not comply with your request as to her reception, +but rest assured that the lady herself insured its cordiality far +better than I could have done. I could not have believed it possible +that my father should treat a stranger with such urbanity, although a +few hours before Fraulein Mueller's arrival he had scouted the idea of +any friendly familiar intercourse with the new governess, and had +declared that while Celia's companion and teacher was entitled to a +courteous and respectful reception in Castle Hohenwald, she could lay +no claim to admission within our family circle. Fraulein Mueller can +have no cause to complain of any want of the cordiality you desire in +my father's or Celia's welcome, but the requirement of such from me is, +unfortunately, a demand with which I cannot comply. You know how I +value your opinion, how highly I rate your recommendation; it is a +warrant to me that the lady is deserving of all regard. I promise you +that she shall be annoyed by no curiosity as to her past, and that I +will do all that I can to conceal from her the discomfort that her stay +among us causes me. More I cannot promise. You would not ask me to be +false to my nature, and I tell you frankly that I have an invincible +repugnance to all intercourse with this young person, which is rather +increased by the fact that she is beautiful, cultured, and amiable, and +that I cannot refuse to accord her a certain degree of esteem in view +of the admirable courage she displayed this evening under exceedingly +trying circumstances. + +"To treat her with cordiality is impossible for me; I will keep out of +her way as far as I can. I will always observe every rule of +conventional courtesy in my unavoidable intercourse with her, and, in +deference to your request, will endeavour to make her position in the +household as pleasant as it can be under the circumstances; you will +not ask more of me. Enough for to-night. In a few days I will write you +a detailed account of my adventures in bringing Fraulein Mueller to +Castle Hohenwald, and of my encounter with your cousin Kurt von +Poseneck, whom I saw for a moment upon the same occasion. Farewell, and +do not be angry with me for perhaps mingling one bitter drop in your +cup of happiness,--I could not help it. I must always be utterly frank +and true with you. + + "Always and all ways your faithful friend, + + "Arno von Hohenwald." + + +The letter was finished; but when Arno read it over he was not +satisfied with its contents. He had meant to tell his friend in +heartsome words how he feared for his future; but now that they were +there on the paper in black and white they seemed cold and insulting. +It was but a poor reply to Karl's warm-hearted letter. And he was no +better pleased either with what he had written about Fraeulein Mueller. +He had meant to be perfectly candid and true to his friend. Had he not +promised always to be so? and this surely justified all he had said. +But was what he had written quite true? Did he feel an invincible +repugnance to any familiar intercourse with Fraeulein Mueller? Had she +not, on the contrary, inspired him with an inexplicable interest which +he vainly tried to suppress? While he was writing she was perpetually +in his mind. He had been obliged once to lay down his pen because her +image so flitted before him; he saw her walking beside him through the +night and the tempest, braving the storm so boldly, and yet without +doing violence to a true feminine nature. Even on the road to the +village of Hohenwald he had tried to resist the impression that the +first sight of this charming girl had made upon him, but in vain, +although he conjured to his aid the ghosts of a vanished past. He would +gladly have detested this stranger thus thrust into his life; he heaped +her with all kinds of accusations, and yet confessed to himself that +they were all unjust. What reason had he for crediting her with a +desire for admiration? had she sought by look or by gesture to attract +him? Would Styrum have commended her so warmly if she had not been +worthy of all praise? Still, why should she alone of all women be +careless of admiration? No; Styrum was in love; he saw with his +betrothed's eyes. He was credulous, and had not purchased with his +heart's blood the sad experience that the most innocent of smiles upon +lovely lips is but a prearranged means to some desired end. Poor Karl! +he had not seen through the game they were playing with him, or he +would not have fallen into their toils so easily. The rich Count, +belonging as he did to the foremost of the Saxon nobility, would at any +time have been considered by the President Guntram as an excellent +parti for his daughter; but the prospect of a happy conclusion to the +lawsuit had doubtless made the match doubly desirable. Therefore it was +that the engagement between the fair Adele and the Assessor had been +dissolved, and no means had been neglected to bring the Count to a +declaration. Interest for her friend had afforded Adele an excellent +opportunity to treat her cousin with flattering confidence, and she had +won the game. Poor Karl! in his noble trust in innocence and purity he +had fallen a victim to an excellently-laid plan, and was now made use +of by Adele to insure her friend a firm footing in Castle Hohenwald. +Arno could not but laugh at himself. Had he really been in danger of +proving false to his principles? He had seen through the game at the +right moment, however,--the suspicion that had been aroused on the road +to Hohenwald now became a certainty, and what he had written to his +friend was the truth. Yes, he now felt an invincible repugnance to any +closer intercourse with this intriguing stranger, who had selected +Castle Hohenwald as the theatre for her schemes. The letter should be +despatched just as it was. He folded and sealed it, and then betook +himself to rest. The day's exertions had wearied him, and he soon +slept, but the image of the lovely stranger mingled in his dreams. + +The stranger herself stood at the window of the room to which Celia had +shown her, and gazed out into the gloomy night; she heard the howling +of the wind and the beating of the rain against the panes, but she did +not heed them, for before her mind's eye rose a form that made her +oblivious of the present. She shuddered as she looked back to that last +terrible night spent beneath the same roof with the wretch who would +have bartered his wife's honour for a release from poverty and +detection. She had clung to him faithfully, had always conscientiously +fulfilled her duty to him, hoping that she might perhaps in the end +influence him for good. She had forgiven him for squandering her +property, for plunging her into poverty, although she no longer loved +him, and was bound to him only by a sense of duty; but that he could so +dishonour her as actually to wish to sell her to the Russian was a sin +never to be forgiven,--it separated her from him forever. + +He had spoken the decisive word himself, he had restored to her her +freedom, lured by false hopes perhaps, but he had done so +unconditionally, and she was now her own mistress; she no longer felt +the chains that had bound her to her wretched husband; they might exist +for the world, but no longer for herself, for her own conscience. When +on that dreadful night she had bolted herself into her bedroom, her +resolution was already taken. Without hesitation she proceeded to carry +it out. She exchanged her ball-dress for a simple stuff gown; she +packed a few necessary articles of clothing in a travelling-bag, and +hastily wrote these lines: "You have given back to me my freedom; I +accept it. It is your desire that we should part; it shall be +fulfilled: you will never see me again. Should you dare to persecute +me, you will force me to denounce you publicly and to give to the world +the reasons that justify my conduct. The detected thief, who would +barter his wife's honour, has forfeited the right to control her +destiny.--LUCIE." + +Her hand did not tremble as she wrote these words. She folded the +sheet, sealed it and placed it where its address could be plainly seen +by any one entering the room. + +It was done! She was parted from him forever. A shudder ran through her +as she thought of his threat of suicide if she refused to accede to his +wishes, but the thought did not for an instant deter her. Only the +coward, whose courage is never equal to the commission of the deed, can +threaten suicide; if he could have preferred death to disgrace he never +would have been a detected thief. + +She cautiously unbolted her door and crept through the drawing-room to +the hall, upon which the door of Sorr's sleeping-room opened. Here she +paused and listened,--he was wont to breathe heavily in his sleep,--but +she could hear nothing: a proof that he was still awake. What if he +should hear her and come from his room to prevent her departure? What +then? The wonted gentleness of her look gave place to stern +determination; involuntarily she clinched her hand; the struggle had +begun, and should under all circumstances be carried on. + +Fortunately, however, she encountered no obstacle to her progress down +the stairs to the house-door, which she softly opened and as softly +closed behind her. The streets were deserted; she passed a watchman +asleep on a doorstep, and walked as quickly as possible towards the +President's mansion without being seen by a human being. The windows of +the house were still gleaming with light, and there was a long line of +carriages in the street before it. Lucie paused and hesitated for a +moment. The ball was not yet over. She had hoped this would be the +case; else it would have been difficult for her to obtain an entrance +to the house. But how was she to pass the line of carriages? So late a +wanderer would be sure to be noticed by the coachmen and lackeys, and +she might be the object of coarse jests. Perhaps the little gate +leading from the garden into a side street was open: it was seldom +locked; and even should it be so, she could easily climb the low +garden-fence. She was not to be stopped by such an obstacle; from the +garden, the wing in which was Adele's room was easily entered by a +back-door, which was, of course, still open, and once in the house she +could soon make her way to Adele's room. + +She hurried into the side street. The garden-gate was not locked, nor +was the back-door even closed. Fortune favoured her; not a servant did +she encounter as she hurried up a narrow staircase and along the +passage leading to her friend's room, which she reached without being +observed. Arrived here, she sank down upon the little lounge where she +had so often sat conversing gayly with Adele, upon whose aid she now +relied in her plan of flight. + +An hour passed slowly; the music floated in from the ball-room; but at +last it ceased; there was a bustle of departing guests, servants ran to +and fro in the house, and the rattle of carriages told Lucie that the +ball was at an end. Another half-hour went by; the house grew quieter, +the bustle entirely subsided; there were steps in the passage, and +Heinrich von Guntram's voice said, "Good-night, Adele. Shall I light +your candle for you?" + +"Oh, no; there are matches on the table Good-night, Heinrich." + +"Good-night." + +The door opened. Adele entered, bolted it behind her, and then, going +to the table in front of the sofa, lighted a match, by the flickering +light of which she distinguished a dark figure sitting on the sofa. She +gasped with terror and ran towards the door, but was instantly arrested +in her flight by the gentle tones of a familiar voice, whispering, +"Don't be frightened, dearest Adele; it is I,--Lucie!" + +"You--you here at this hour?" + +"I need your help, Adele. In my extremest misery I seek refuge with +you, my dearest friend." + +In an instant Adele's arms were about her, and the tenderest assurances +of sympathy and aid were poured into her friend's ear. Then she drew +the curtains close and lighted the candles, before seating herself +beside Lucie and entreating her to tell her all. + +Lucie complied; she told her of her wretched past with her worthless +husband, and of the incidents of the last few hours, remaining +perfectly calm amid the storm of indignation with which her friend +greeted her narrative. Anger was dead within her, slain by the thorough +contempt she now felt for Sorr. + +"And now, dear Adele," she concluded, "I come to claim your aid. Your +last words to me this evening when I left the ball-room were, 'Trust in +me; whatever happens, I will stand by you.' This has given me courage +to take this decided step to break the fetters that bound me to one so +unworthy. I knew I should not be quite alone, that you would not desert +me, and therefore I come to you." + +"Never, Lucie dear, never; and not only I,--there is another whose aid +will be of more use to you than that of a poor weak girl. My cousin +Karl told me every detail of the miserable scene in Heinrich's room; he +suspected you would soon need protection and assistance, and is ready +to give it to you. You may trust him; he is a noble, true-hearted man, +and has promised me to befriend you at your need. Be sure he will keep +his promise. He will advise us what is best to be done." + +"I do not need any advice," Lucie gravely rejoined; "my resolution is +taken, my plans for the future are arranged. I need the help of +faithful friends only in their execution. I shall be grateful for Count +Styrum's help; but later, when I am no longer here." + +"What do you propose to do?" + +"Herr von Sorr has given me my freedom. I will employ it in beginning a +new life. For years I have foreseen that I should one day be obliged to +turn to account for my support the accomplishments acquired during my +girlhood, and I have continued to study with this end in view. I am +perfectly qualified to fill a position as governess. Such a position I +shall endeavour to find in some retired country-seat, but in order to +obtain it I need testimonials, with which so young a man as Count +Styrum cannot furnish me. I have therefore thought of writing to our +dear old teacher, Frau von Adelung, in Dresden. I remember that she was +constantly applied to for governesses. But I am afraid to confide +wholly in her. With the best intentions she is something of a gossip, +and would find it difficult to keep my secret, and yet her +recommendation I must obtain. When Herr von Sorr finds my letter +to-morrow and discovers that I am fled, he will, I know, together with +Count Repuin, leave no stone unturned to discover my retreat. He will +not be deterred even by the threat in my letter, and he must learn +nothing, and therefore I cannot confide in good Frau von Adelung. You +must write to her and bespeak her good offices for a friend of yours; +you were always one of her favourites, and she will not hesitate to +comply with your request. I am sure, dearest Adele, you will do this +for me." + +Lucie's scheme seemed to her friend admirable, and she declared herself +ready to do all that she could to further it: but when Lucie went on to +state that she intended to leave M---- the next morning by the five +o'clock train, to await in some retired village the result of her +friend's action, Adele reused to entertain any such idea. Nowhere, she +said, could Lucie be so safe from Sorr's persecution as in M----, where +he certainly would never expect to find her. The arrival of a lady +alone and unattended in any little village would surely excite remark, +while Lucie might stay for weeks in Adele's room and her presence +beneath the President's roof never be suspected. Adele never received +her friends in her bedroom or dressing-room, and neither her father nor +her brother ever came to her there. All that was to be done was to take +Lina, Adele's special maid, into their confidence,--she had lived in +the house for years, and a more faithful, trustworthy creature there +could not be. Adele's representations overcame her friend's scruples, +and it was agreed to admit the maid to a full knowledge of the state of +the case. And when the dawn was at hand the two friends retired to bed, +Adele happier with regard to Lucie than she had been for a long while. + +The next morning when Lina came to call her young mistress her surprise +was great at finding a new inmate in the room, of whose coming no one +had been aware. Adele told her the true reason for Frau von Sorr's +flight from her husband's roof, and Lina, flattered by the confidence +shown her, promised to keep such guard over the fugitive that no one +should dream of her whereabouts, while she should daily fare like an +honoured guest, without arousing the suspicions of the other servants. + +She kept her word, which she would have done out of her faithful +devotion to Adele alone, even if Frau von Sorr's gentleness and +misfortunes had not excited her sympathy and spurred her on to +redoubled watchfulness. The scheme was eminently successful. Neither +the President nor Heinrich nor any of the other inmates of the house +ever suspected that Lucie von Sorr, whose sudden disappearance was the +town-talk of M----, was concealed in Adele's room. + +The President, at the dinner-table, expressed his surprise that so +beautiful a woman could have contrived to vanish utterly without a +trace. He told how Herr von Sorr had applied to the police for +assistance in his search for his wife; that inquiry had been made of +all the hack-drivers of the town and the porters at the railway +stations. No one could remember having seen the fugitive; an +extraordinary fact in view of the lady's remarkable beauty. Herr von +Sorr was beside himself, and feared that his wife might have been +driven to suicide by the strange reports circulating in the town. + +Adele listened to all this in silence, and reported it to her friend +afterwards. + +In a few days many visitors made their appearance at the President's, +in hopes of learning something satisfactory from Adele, who was well +known to be Frau von Sorr's nearest friend. Among them were Madame +Gansauge and Frau von Rose, the Messrs. von Saldern and von Arnim, +Assessor von Hahn, and others, all craving information. + +Adele listened to all that they had to say, but had nothing to tell +them. She could not imagine why her friend had left M---- so suddenly; +she could not look upon her disappearance as a flight, and she feigned +a fresh interest in every repetition of the reports circulating +in M----. + +It was positively certain, the wife of Major Gansauge asserted, that +Frau von Sorr had destroyed herself,--a peasant had seen her at five +o'clock in the morning near the Marble Gate, close by the large pond. +The body had not yet been found, but doubtless would be shortly. Count +Repuin was quite inconsolable, far more so than Herr von Sorr, who bore +his trial with more equanimity. + +Frau von Rose knew from the very best authority--she was not at liberty +to mention names--that Count Repuin and Herr von Sorr had a violent +quarrel. The Count would not believe that Sorr was ignorant of his +wife's whereabouts. The affair was certainly very odd, for the Count +behaved precisely as though his wife, and not Herr von Sorr's, had run +away, and had threatened the husband with some dire revenge if the +fugitive were not shortly discovered. + +The Assessor von Hahn was more cautious in his expressions; he hinted +that Frau von Sorr had made a profound impression upon Count Styrum, +and that the Count had perhaps been willing to shield her from Count +Repuin's persecutions. The Assessor remarked that he was too discreet +to say more; he did not boast of it, for discretion was a gift of +nature, and her bounties were variously distributed; discretion was one +of his natural endowments, therefore he would be silent. + +All these contradictory reports which Adele heard from the gossiping +friends of the family she faithfully recounted to Lucie, and the +friends congratulated themselves that no attempt had been made by Frau +von Sorr to leave M----. + +Adele had written immediately to Frau von Adelung, telling her that one +of her dearest friends, a Fraeulein Anna Mueller, was very desirous to +procure a situation in the country as governess. She expatiated upon +the talents, acquirements, and culture of the young lady, who regretted +that, never having dreamed of being obliged to support herself, she +possessed no testimonials to her ability. Now, however, she was in +great distress; her father had died brokenhearted at the loss of his +large fortune, and Fraeulein Mueller had been very unfortunate also in +other ways, so that she craved retirement from the world, and would +prefer a situation in the solitude of the country. + +An answer to this letter arrived by return of mail. Frau von Adelung +expressed her pleasure at being able to do anything for her dear Adele, +whose friendship for Fraeulein Mueller was a sufficient recommendation in +her eyes. At present she knew of no situation for her, although there +was no doubt that one could shortly be found, and she promised to write +again as soon as this was the case. + +More than a week elapsed before Frau von Adelung was again heard from. +Lucie continued to live in her concealment in her friend's room, +hearing from her all that was going on in M----. Count Repuin and Sorr +had both suddenly left town, the latter deeply in debt. Whither they +had gone no one knew. Count Repuin had left orders that his letters +should be sent to Berlin _poste restante_. + +At last, when Lucie was beginning to chafe under her enforced idleness, +a second letter arrived from Frau von Adelung, asking whether Fraeulein +Mueller would be willing to accept the position of governess to the +Baroness Cecilia von Hohenwald, or rather, as the young lady was +sixteen years old, that of companion and teacher. Lucie and Adele were +greatly surprised by this letter; they well remembered the description +given by Count Styrum on the evening of the ball of the secluded life +at Castle Hohenwald, and this remembrance decided Lucie at once to +accept the offered position. In the solitude of Castle Hohenwald, where +no guest ever found admission, surely she might look for the seclusion +she so earnestly desired. + +In a short time a third letter was received from Frau von Adelung, +enclosing the one addressed to Fraeulein Mueller by the Finanzrath, of +which we have already heard. His dreary picture of the castle and its +inmates, far from deterring Lucie from accepting the post offered her +there, only made her the more desirous to accept it, and she acceded +instantly to the Finanzrath's request that she would, if she could, +return a favourable reply and inform him of the day of her arrival at +the station A----. + +Thus the die was cast. Two days more were all that she could spend with +the dear friend who had so aided and sheltered her. Adele now wished to +intrust Lucie's secret to her cousin, that he might write and insure +her a friendly reception at Castle Hohenwald, but this Lucie permitted +her to do only upon condition that she should wait until she had +actually departed from M---- before she spoke to Count Styrum upon the +subject. + +The day of departure arrived,--an agitating day for Lucie. Hitherto +Lina's fidelity and caution had made concealment possible; not one of +the household even dreamed that the vanished Frau von Sorr was quietly +living in Adele's apartments; but how could she steal away unobserved? + +The gossiping Assessor had reported that Count Repuin had bribed all +the railroad officials, who were to give him immediate notice of the +appearance at any one of the M---- stations of the well-known Frau von +Sorr. The police also were in his pay, and it seemed to Lucie almost +impossible to leave the President's house without discovery. + +Here, too, the faithful Lina rendered most efficient aid. She had come +to seek service in M---- years before from an Altenburg village, and +the ugly national dress of the Altenburg peasantry, although long since +discarded by her, was still reposing neatly folded in her trunk. She +was about Lucie's height, and, with a few alterations, the peasant's +dress was made to fit the lady perfectly, so that when, one morning +towards four o'clock, a neatly-dressed Altenburg peasant-girl walked +out from the President's garden into the side street, the most +experienced detective would hardly have suspected her of being the +admired Frau von Sorr. + +At the Marble Gate Lina was awaiting her in a covered wagon, driven by +one of her cousins, an Altenburg peasant lad, whom she had sent for to +take her to her native village, where she had received permission from +her master to spend a week's holiday. The peasant lad was rather +surprised that his cousin Lina should have stopped him, when they had +driven no farther than the Marble Grate, to wait for a young girl, who +shortly arrived and got into the vehicle. Still greater was his +surprise when, at a little wayside inn some miles from M----, Lina made +him wait much longer, while she went into the house with the young +girl, who must have remained there, for when Lina got into the wagon +again it was in company with a very fine lady, who paid him for driving +her to the nearest railroad station, where she took a kind leave of his +cousin. + +Once in the railway carriage bound for A---- Lucie had no farther fear +of discovery, and we have already heard of her safe arrival there, and +of her adventurous drive with the Finanzrath. + +How different her reception at the castle had been from any she had +anticipated! She had looked forward with a heavy heart to meeting the +old Baron; but he had welcomed her so kindly, so cordially, that she +felt sure that in him she should find a friend. + +But Arno? Even if Count Styrum had written to him beseeching his kind +offices for the new governess, this morning, after his visit at the +President's, he could not have received the letter; his conduct had +been characterized only by the coldest courtesy. Still, she was +prepared for this; she knew his sentiments with regard to women. He had +behaved precisely as she had expected him to do, and his manner was +certainly far preferable to the Finanzrath's. As she called him to mind +a burning blush overspread her cheek, and she leaned her forehead +against the cool glass window-pane. She could not tell what it was in +his behaviour to her that so aroused her repugnance. He had been all +that he should be, and no more, and yet his courtesy inspired her with +dread; this man was antipathetic to her. But why trouble herself about +him in any way? He was but a guest at the castle, where everything +seemed so much more encouraging than she had hoped to find it; he would +be gone in a few days, and Celia, this charming, lovely Celia, who had +evidently conceived a sudden affection for her new companion, would +still be with her. How entirely unnecessary had been Lucie's fear of +the "wayward, spoiled child"! Celia could not feign; in her clear, +honest eyes the genuine welcome she had given to her new governess +was plainly to be read. How happy she had seemed upon noting the +pleasant impression produced by the pretty and luxurious bedroom and +dressing-room to which she had shown Lucie! How cordially she as well +as Frau Kaselitz had begged to know if anything were wanting for the +comfort of the new inmate! and how caressing had been the kiss with +which she had said good-night! + +Yes, everything was far, far more pleasant than Lucie had expected; +surely she could find repose and forgetfulness amid these surroundings, +and in the fulfilment of a duty so interesting as the instruction of +this sweet young girl; and yet she could not look forward into the +future with any degree of buoyancy; the driving rain, the dark night, +the moaning wind, seemed to her to symbolize her destiny. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +The tempest had spent its fury in the night, and the sun shone warm and +bright into Lucie's bedroom when she awaked at a rather late hour the +next morning. She was habitually an early riser, but the fatigue of the +previous day and evening had prevented her from sleeping until towards +morning, and she did not awake until eight o'clock from her dreamless +and refreshing slumber. She gazed around her in some bewilderment, and +could not at first remember where she was; but in an instant all the +past, her parting from her dear Adele, her journey hither, and last +night's adventures, flashed upon her mind, and brought with them the +consciousness that she was actually in Castle Hohenwald. If her room +had looked pretty and comfortable by candle-light on the previous +evening, it was positively charming now, with a bunch of fresh spring +flowers, which she had not seen the night before, upon a little table +between the windows, and the sunlight glorifying the landscape without. +Lucie hastily left her bed, and was proceeding to dress, when there +came a low knock at her door. "Who is there?" she asked. + +"I,--Celia. I waited until I heard you stirring, to tell you that your +trunk has been brought over from Gruenhagen, and is here in the next +room--our morning room--with your dry dress from the Inspector's. I +will come to take you to breakfast in half an hour." + +When Lucie opened the door into the next room Celia had vanished, but +her trunk stood near, and her travelling-dress, brushed and dry, hung +across a chair. She made haste to perform her simple toilet, and then +went again into the apartment which Celia had called "our morning +room." This room, then, she was to share with her pupil. It was a +delightful and luxurious retreat; its windows opening upon an +enchanting prospect of the garden, the mighty oaks in the park, and the +distant mountains; near one window was a table, upon which lay a +half-finished piece of embroidery, while another table, evidently new, +and prettily furnished with writing materials, was plainly destined for +the new governess. Upon it was a small vase filled with flowers +evidently plucked but an hour ago, the dew not yet dry upon the petals +of the roses. Flowers! So little, and yet so much! They made a welcome +where they stood. Lucie bent over them to inhale their cool fragrance, +and when she raised her head looked into Celia's laughing eyes. "How +can I thank you for placing these here, Fraeulein von Hohenwald?" she +said, with emotion. + +"By never again calling me Fraeulein, but Celia. Every one who cares for +me calls me Celia, and I want you to care for me very much." + +Such a request, accompanied as it was by a kiss and a caress, could not +be refused. The girl's frank tenderness was inexpressibly soothing to +Lucie. + +"And now come with me to the garden-room," Celia went on, putting +Lucie's hand within her arm. "Papa is waiting for us; he drank his +morning cup of coffee long ago, but he wants us to take our breakfast +in the garden-room all the same." + +The Freiherr had indeed been awaiting the appearance of the ladies to +breakfast in the garden-room for more than an hour. Seated in his +rolling-chair in his favourite spot, he was rejoicing in the beauty of +the lovely morning and inhaling the mild air of spring, while, as he +sipped his coffee, he received his morning visit from his son. + +Arno seated himself beside his father's chair and began, as was his +wont in the early hour of talk, to discuss matters connected with the +estate, agricultural schemes, etc., which did not, however, appear to +have the power to interest him today as deeply as usual. It almost +seemed as if he were thinking of other things as he expatiated upon the +new ploughs and the building of fresh stables. He now and then paused +in his talk, and seemed to lose the thread of his discourse. The case +seemed the same with the Freiherr. He could think of nothing but what +had already occupied his mind since he arose,--the pleasant talk of the +previous evening. For years he had not conversed with a lady. Celia, +Frau Kaselitz, and the servant-maids were the only women with whom he +ever exchanged a word. His conversation with the governess had +therefore the added charm of novelty, and he had greatly enjoyed it. + +Celia's appearance to wish her father good-morning interrupted, to the +Baron's satisfaction, the agricultural discussion, and gave him an +opportunity to ask after Fraeulein Mueller. Celia announced that she had +listened several times at the door of her bedroom, but that she was not +yet stirring. + +"Evidently accustomed to late hours," Arno observed. + +His words sounded like sarcasm, and instantly aroused Celia's +combativeness. "Do you suppose," she said, indignantly, "that a +delicately-framed woman, not used like you to hunting all night long, +can endure without fatigue such a walk through the storm as Fraeulein +Mueller took last evening? It was almost three o'clock when we went to +bed, and it is now just seven. Four hours' sleep is not much after such +fatigue, although you may think it sufficient for yourself. Besides, +you are used to such early rising that you should not judge for +others." + +"Don't quarrel, children," the old Freiherr interposed; "although you +are quite right, child, to take up the cudgels for your governess; she +certainly has well earned a few hours of sleep. Even you, Arno, +expressed your wonder last evening at her quiet endurance of so much +fatigue." + +"Yes, papa; is it not odious of Arno to be so unjust to Fraeulein +Mueller, when she is so charming, so divinely beautiful, and so +amiable?" + +"The child is all fire and flame!" Arno remarked. "Well, well, it is +nothing to me; believe that your governess is an angel of light and a +miracle of amiability if you choose, only do not require me to agree +with you. Your enthusiasm lightens the duty with which my friend Styrum +has charged me. I found a letter from him among my papers last night +announcing his betrothal to his cousin, Adele von Guntram, and telling +me that Fraeulein Mueller is his betrothed's most intimate friend. Here +is his letter; read aloud to my father what he says of Fraeulein Mueller, +Celia, if you like." + +This Celia did most willingly. As she returned it to Arno she said +reproachfully to her brother, "You do not deserve the confidence, Arno, +that Count Styrum reposes in your friendship. I cannot conceive how you +can judge Fraeulein Mueller so harshly and unjustly after such a +recommendation from your dearest friend." + +"Bah! his recommendation is utterly worthless; he sees with the fair +Adele's eyes, and would recommend the devil's grandmother to us if his +betrothed desired it. What I did promise him was that the lady shall be +annoyed by no inquiries or allusions to her past. In this respect +Karl's word is all-sufficient, for not even the entreaties of his +betrothed could induce him to vouch for Fraeulein Mueller's purity of +character if the slightest blame attached to her. I know my promise +will be kept by all." + +"Most certainly it shall," the old Freiherr rejoined. "Styrum's word is +quite enough for me; he is a man of honour, as was his father, once my +intimate friend. I respect the young fellow, although I do not know him +personally. You remember, Arno, how well he conducted himself upon a +former occasion, with what tact and delicacy----" + +"Let the past be forgotten, father!" Arno interrupted him; and, turning +to his sister, he added, "I hope you will be discreet, Celia, and not +ask any idle questions of Fraeulein Mueller." + +"I am not curious, and I certainly will be careful," Celia replied, as +she left the room. + +The Freiherr called after her, "Beg Fraeulein Mueller, if she is up, to +take her breakfast here in the garden-room. I am expecting her." + +It was not long before his darling reappeared with the governess, whose +cheerful good-morning the old man returned after his most genial +fashion. Then, ringing the bell, he desired Franz to have Fraeulein +Mueller's breakfast served immediately, and to roll his chair nearer to +the table that he might take part in the conversation. + +This he found exceedingly entertaining. Whatever was the subject under +discussion Fraeulein Mueller bore her part charmingly. The Baron found +her possessed of a far higher degree of culture than he had thought +possible in a woman, and he was specially pleased to find her at home +in his beloved classical literature. + +When the meal was ended she seated herself, at his request, at the fine +grand piano, which had been his last gift to Celia, and, after a lovely +prelude, sang a little national melody, in a rich, deep contralto, with +such pathos that Celia embraced her enthusiastically with eyes swimming +in tears, and the old Freiherr was inexpressibly delighted. It +certainly was a fact that Werner had found a treasure; his advice, +after all, had been worthy of all gratitude. The old man was in an +admirable humour, as was plainly shown when his sons unexpectedly +entered the room together. He had intended on the previous evening to +greet the elder upon his return from Gruenhagen with a thunder-blast; +but he was now half inclined to condone his transgression of the family +traditions. "Why, here we have the Herr Finanzrath," he said, as Werner +approached him. "Have you had a comfortable night at Gruenhagen with the +Posenecks? I am pleased to see that your broken leg is mended again. I +certainly should not imagine from your walk that anything had ailed +it." + +Werner had expected a much harsher reception, therefore he quietly +accepted the raillery. "It was not so very bad," he replied, with a +smile, "although it certainly pained me so much last evening that I +could not have undertaken the long walk to the village." + +"Which Fraeulein Mueller courageously accomplished, in spite of her +evident fatigue," Arno interposed. + +"I admire Fraeulein Mueller's courage," the Finanzrath continued, with a +courteous bow to Lucie; "but she would hardly have been able to walk so +far had her injury been of the foot instead of the temple. I positively +could not, and, as Herr von Poseneck was polite enough to invite me to +Gruenhagen, I saw no reason for declining his kindness; it might have +offended him." + +"So you preferred to offend your father by accepting it," the old Baron +said, angrily, his good humour already disturbed by Werner's words. + +"I knew of no reasonable grounds why you should be offended by my doing +so. Young Herr von Poseneck, who has only lately come to reside at +Gruenhagen, has certainly never insulted you, nor had any desire to +insult you. He assured me that he had the highest respect for you, and +that only your express refusal to receive visits at Hohenwald had +prevented him from paying his respects to you." + +"Let him try it! let him try it!" the old Baron said crossly. + +"I hope, father, that calm reflection will induce you to change your +mind," the Finanzrath quietly rejoined. "I can assure you that young +Kurt von Poseneck in no wise deserves the dislike which you have +transferred to him from his late father, and that he really desires to +testify his respect for you. I cannot sufficiently extol the cordial +hospitality extended to me at Gruenhagen, and which can be ascribed only +to the fact of my being your son." + +"Nonsense!" growled the Freiherr. + +"The Amtsrath Friese, as well as Herr Kurt von Poseneck, repeatedly +expressed his pleasure in being able to render any little service to a +Hohenwald. Both lamented your seclusion, and wished they might convince +you of their friendly regard. Both treated me with distinguished +hospitality, for which I am greatly obliged to them. Herr von Poseneck, +after he had conducted me to Gruenhagen, went back with horses and men +to the quarry to extricate the carriage and horses and get them under +shelter; he sent over Fraeulein Mueller's trunk at daybreak this morning, +and when I expressed a wish to return home, the Amtsrath placed his own +carriage at my disposal. Common courtesy requires that I should drive +to Gruenhagen to-morrow to call, and to tell Herr Kurt von Poseneck that +he will gratify me by visiting me in return at Hohenwald." + +Celia's eyes sparkled as she heard the Finanzrath thus announce his +intentions, but her joy quickly fled as she looked at her father, upon +whose forehead the frown had deepened as Werner spoke, and whose rage +now burst forth with, "I'll have the dogs set on him if he dares to +enter the court-yard! No Poseneck shall show his face in Hohenwald so +long as I am master here!" + +"Papa, that is very disagreeable of you," Celia ventured to say; "you +do yourself great injustice!" + +"Is the girl out of her senses?" the Freiherr asked, angrily. "What are +the Posenecks to you, that you should defend them against your own +father?" + +Celia flushed crimson; she could not answer this question. + +Fortunately, Werner came to her assistance, saying, "Celia's words, +although they are perhaps to be reprehended, are prompted by her innate +sense of justice. She could not help exclaiming against your threat of +requiting the courtesy of a visit by setting the dogs on the visitor. I +think, upon calmer consideration, you will find her conduct but +natural. I am very sorry, sir, that I should so have provoked you, and +will try to avoid doing so again. Of course I am not to be deterred by +the unfortunate prejudice entertained by you against the Posenecks from +fulfilling the duty enjoined upon me by common politeness. I must call +at Gruenhagen, but I will not invite Herr von Poseneck to Hohenwald. I +will convey to him your thanks, and tell him you regret your inability +to receive him at Hohenwald, since your health does not admit of your +receiving visitors." + +"Then you will tell him a lie; my health admits of my receiving any +visitors whom I care to see." + +"I think my conscience can endure the weight of a lie of that kind," +the Finanzrath rejoined, with a smile. + +"Do as you please, but let me hear no more of the Posenecks!" growled +the old Baron. His relations with his eldest son were peculiar; he +constantly disputed with him, but in spite of his father's angry +vehemence Werner usually gained his end, because he never lost his +temper. The old Baron felt now that he had been wrong, and, although he +did not frankly admit this, he yielded. + +Werner seemed not to notice this; he was too wise to insist upon his +father's acknowledging himself in error. To change the conversation he +turned to Lucie, who, still seated at the piano, had been an +involuntary listener to the dispute between father and son. Approaching +her, the Finanzrath took her hand, and saying, with the air of +protection which had so annoyed her on the previous evening, "Permit +me, dear Fraeulein Mueller, to bid you cordially welcome to Castle +Hohenwald," would have carried it to his lips had she not hastily +withdrawn it. + +Why she did so she could not herself have told. She had frequently +allowed her hand to be kissed by way of greeting; it was a received +custom in the society to which she had belonged, and yet she could not +endure that this man should avail himself of it; it seemed to her an +unbecoming familiarity on his part. She acted upon an impulse, and she +did not observe the fleeting smile that passed over Arno's face as he +noticed the intentional withdrawal of her hand. She replied to the +Finanzrath's courtesy by a simple inclination of her head. + +Celia, too, had seen that Werner's salutation was not received with +favour, and with ready tact came to her new friend's aid. "You must +reserve all your fine speeches for another time, Werner," she said, +stepping to Lucie's side; "Fraeulein Mueller belongs entirely to me +to-day. I am burning with desire to take my first lessons of her, to +show her what a good scholar I can be." + +Lucie's grateful glance as she arose and followed Celia from the room +showed the young girl that she had done right. + +From this time Celia devoted herself to her studies with ardour. +Lucie's hardest task was to induce her to moderate her zeal. The +"will-o'-the-wisp" quite forgot its errant nature; for hours the girl +would sit at the piano practising wearisome exercises, and at other +times she would bury herself in a book,--an entirely new experience for +Celia. It needed but a few weeks of intercourse with her new friend to +arouse within her a genuine literary taste. The old Baron and Arno were +astounded at the change; the former feared that his darling, whom he +saw thus tamed, might perhaps become too tame; he shook his head as he +reminded Celia that she must not study too hard, lest her health should +suffer; she ought to continue to take her daily exercise in the open +air. + +To such admonitions the girl was not at all deaf. True, she no longer +roamed about the garden as she had done: it took too much time; she +confined herself to a morning's walk there with Fraeulein Mueller to +visit the green-houses and the shrubberies; but her afternoon ride was +never omitted. When the hour for this arrived she could no longer fix +her attention upon her book: her thoughts flew forth to the forest. +Fraeulein Mueller smiled at her enthusiasm for her daily ride, ascribing +it in great part to the force of habit, since no weather was too stormy +to keep her at home. + +Celia always rode alone. Formerly, old John had sometimes accompanied +her, but, although he soon recovered from the effects of his fall, his +young mistress never now desired his attendance. She could not so +easily have declined Lucie's companionship, but Fraeulein Mueller had +never been a horsewoman, and did not care to learn to ride. + +Thus, then, Celia rode alone. A happy smile illumined her features and +her dark eyes sparkled as she daily caught the first glimpse of the +light straw hat among the trees, and found Kurt at the appointed place +in the forest waiting to walk along the woodland road by her side. Then +the girl would drop the bridle on her horse's neck, and Pluto, who was +now on the best of terms with Kurt, knew perfectly well that before he +was urged to greater speed than a leisurely walk an hour would elapse. +An hour! How quickly it flew by! how much had both Celia and Kurt to +say in that brief space of time! Celia told of her studies, of the +delightful hours she now owed to her friend Anna, whose beauty and +loveliness, clearness of head and goodness of heart, she described in +such glowing terms that Kurt could not at times suppress a smile, for +which Celia would instantly reprove him as implying a doubt of the +accuracy of her descriptions. + +Kurt, on the other hand, would tell of his life at Gruenhagen: how he +was becoming more at home in Germany, how his uncle's hospitality and +social qualities made his house delightful, a resort for the country +gentry and for the principal people in the neighbouring town of A----. +He often spoke also of the Finanzrath, who was now frequently at +Gruenhagen. Kurt, who was always candid and unreserved towards Celia, +admitted to her that, although for her sake he should always treat her +brother with the utmost politeness, he had very little liking for the +exaggerated polish of his manners and bearing. + +Thus they talked in the most innocent manner. At parting Celia always +offered her hand to Kurt, and smilingly permitted him to imprint upon +it an ardent kiss, but not again did she bend over him as when she once +had yielded to an irresistible impulse. If he had uttered one tender +word she would hardly have refused him a second kiss, but this word was +not spoken; he withstood with manly determination the temptation to +utter it. He had registered a vow that never should this innocent girl +have cause to regret the frank confidence she had shown him. + +Lucie had no suspicion of the attraction that took Celia to the forest, +nor that the simple-hearted girl could have a secret from her. She took +delight in her charming pupil's tender affection for her, which indeed +she reciprocated with all her heart. + +The old Freiherr had greatly changed since Lucie's coming to Castle +Hohenwald: he had grown social. True, his sociability was confined to a +desire for the society of his immediate family circle, among whom he +reckoned, of course, Fraeulein Anna Mueller; but with them he developed a +genial courtesy that astonished his sons. + +Arno, on the other hand, preserved the same attitude towards his +sister's governess that he had adopted upon her first arrival at the +castle; he was conscious of an involuntary thrill of delight when, in +the course of conversation, or upon an accidental encounter in their +walks, Fraeulein Mueller bestowed upon him one of her rare sweet smiles; +but the next moment he would rouse himself to renewed hatred of the +entire sex, bethinking himself that this very enchanting smile was bit +a trap set by overweening love of admiration, and could avail nothing +with him. And yet he could not avoid her. When Lucie, occupied with +some bit of feminine work, seated herself at the table beside the +Baron's rolling-chair and talked pleasantly with the old man and Celia, +Arno would join the circle, placing his chair where, unobserved, he +could watch every change of expression on the lovely face. He spoke but +little, but not a word of hers escaped him,--especially did he watch +and listen when, as was but rarely the case, she appealed to Werner. + +Why was he so pleased at the coldness and reserve of her usual manner +towards his brother? Why should he be so much annoyed when one day +Werner announced that he had just received a favourable reply from his +chief in office to his request for a prolongation of his leave of +absence? Wherefore should Werner have seemed to him absolutely +insufferable since he had taken to paying such marked court to Fraeulein +Mueller? + +Arno had never been upon terms of close intimacy with his +brother,--theirs were antagonistic natures; but now he felt an absolute +repugnance to him for which there was no accounting; surely it was +nothing to him if Werner chose to pay court to Celia's beautiful +governess. + +No; it was not "nothing to him." He excused himself for this by +reflecting that Werner's superficial, frivolous manner was unworthy a +Hohenwald. What views could he entertain with regard to Fraeulein +Mueller? Had he not often declared that in the choice of a wife he +should consult his head, and not his heart? Wealth was of no +consequence; but the future Freifrau von Hohenwald must belong to a +family through whose influence the Hohenwalds might recover the +importance they had lost with the government. Arno thought he knew well +that Werner, keenly devoted as he was to his own interests, never +carried away by sentiment, would not be false to these expressed +principles of his. It was inconceivable that he should sacrifice his +ambition to love for a poor bourgeoise girl, his sister's governess! He +could scarcely cherish honest intentions with regard to her, and Castle +Hohenwald should never be profaned by the reverse! And this was why, as +Arno tried to convince himself, he watched Werner and Fraeulein Mueller +so narrowly. + +Often when riding alone in field or forest it would suddenly occur to +him to wonder whether Werner were at the moment talking with Fraeulein +Anna in the library, or walking with her in the garden. Then resistance +was useless; he was forced to succumb to the impulse that drove him to +plunge the spurs into his horse and gallop furiously to the castle, +where his calm was restored only when convinced of the groundlessness +of his alarm. + +Lucie found nothing to offend or displease her in his manner towards +her. When she had resolved, in defence of her honour, to undertake the +battle of life under a maiden name, she had not been unmindful of the +dangers that might beset her path, and she had gladly accepted the +position offered her at Castle Hohenwald, since she knew from Count +Styrum and Adele that there she should have nothing to fear from +obtrusive admirers. She had reckoned upon Arno's hatred of her sex, and +she had not been deceived. From her first meeting with him his manner +had been not only indifferent, but even repellent. It was what she had +hoped for, and she was glad of it; but her gladness was not heartfelt. +Count Styrum's recital of his misfortunes had awakened Lucie's interest +in the misanthrope, and this interest had grown since she had known him +personally. His coldness and reserve did not irritate her; they were +but natural after the terrible experience that life had brought him. He +had--how could it be otherwise?--lost all faith in mankind; but still +he might have shown a trifle less animosity towards her. Sometimes a +severe remark of his would bring a warm flush to her cheek, and she was +tempted to as severe a retort; but if she yielded to the temptation she +always reproached herself afterward. He was so unhappy! What a blessed +task it would be to heal the wounds from which he was still bleeding! +But such ministry was forbidden in her sad case. + +Here was a dark spot in Lucie's otherwise contented life at Castle +Hohenwald, and there was one still darker in the anxiety she felt at +the Finanzrath's demeanour towards her. There was surely no sufficient +cause for this anxiety, for the cultured man of the world never +transcended conventional bounds. He was attentive and polite, but never +officious; his courtesy and kindness never degenerated into any +familiarity which Lucie could be justified in resenting. When he +extolled her beauty and amiability, her delightful singing, her +admirable instruction of Celia, and spoke of the excellent influence +she exerted over her pupil, it was all done after so refined a fashion +that she could not take exception to what was said. The old Freiherr +said precisely the same things, though far more bluntly. And yet Lucie +could not away with a feeling of uneasiness with which the Finanzrath's +manner always inspired her. The news of the prolongation of his leave +of absence was very unwelcome to her; it made her really unhappy. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +"There comes Werner again!" Arno said to his father, when an extra post +was again seen approaching Castle Hohenwald; and the announcement did +not seem particularly to delight the old Freiherr. + +The Finanzrath had spent a few days in Dresden about the end of May in +arranging for another prolongation of his leave of absence. He had been +successful, and upon his return had remained at the castle only a few +days when a letter arrived for him from Paris. He immediately declared +that he must go to Berlin, where a friend whom he had not seen for a +long while was awaiting him. He departed, remaining away but a few +days, when he returned, only to leave again after two days, this time +to see an old college friend in Hanover, and to take a trip to Cassel, +where another of his friends resided. Even after this journey he was +not content to stay quietly at home. He had scarcely been at the castle +for a week when he left it again for a somewhat longer tour; he wished +to visit the South German capitals, Stuttgart and Munich, passing +several days in Vienna, and returning by way of Dresden. + +The Freiherr received Werner's announcement that this time he should be +absent two weeks, and could not return to the castle before the +beginning of July, with a smile of satisfaction; he was not at all +displeased that his eldest son should break in upon his prolonged stay +at Castle Hohenwald with these frequent journeys. He as well as the +other inmates of the castle felt relieved when the carriage with the +Finanzrath inside rolled out of the court-yard. + +"Werner makes the atmosphere dense; he kicks up a dust wherever he +goes," the old man was wont to say in excuse of his evident relief at +his son's departure; and was it therefore to be wondered at that he +greeted with a sigh Arno's exclamation, "There comes Werner again!" + +Arno, too, frowned when old Franz announced the Herr Finanzrath's +arrival a few moments before Werner himself entered the garden-room. + +He paid his respects to his father and greeted his brother with his +usual quiet courtesy, in which, however, there was never any genuine +cordiality, and then he dropped into a comfortable seat beside the old +Baron's rolling-chair. "Home again at last!" he said. "I travelled all +night to reach Hohenwald as quickly as possible, and I bring news of +vivid interest, especially for you, Arno. Not only for Arno, however, +but for every one who carries a good Saxon heart in his bosom. To arms, +Arno! It is time that you girded on your sabre again. I hope you will +write to the king this very day to ask for your appointment to your +former military rank, for I tell you beforehand in confidence that +France is about to humble the arrogance of Prussia, and I need not say +what side we Saxons should take in the fray; the time has come to +revenge ourselves for Koeniggratz and Sadowa!" + +"Are you mad, Werner?" burst out the old Freiherr, who really thought +that his son had taken a little too much wine. + +"I mad? Do you think madness or the love of change has driven me away +upon these various journeys lately?" the Finanzrath exclaimed in his +turn. "I must tear the veil from your eyes and rouse you from your +fancied security; the time for action has come,--a time that calls upon +you, Arno, in especial. You must re-enter the army immediately, for it +is eminently advisable that the number of right-minded Saxon officers +should be as large as possible, that Saxony may not fail to do her duty +at the right moment. There is a wide-spread secret alliance in process +of formation against Prussia. War will immediately ensue upon its +completion. The question is not of months, perhaps not of weeks, but +only of days, for every preparation is concluded, and our action must +be prompt and sure." + +"From what source have you gathered this wondrous information?" Arno +asked, incredulously. "Since when have you linked yourself with those +who decide the destiny of nations?" + +"Spare your sarcasm, Arno!" the Freiherr said, crossly; "and you, +Werner, come to the point. I should like to know something of this +wonderful mess you seem to have been helping to cook." + +"You shall be informed, father, in a very few words of the present +condition of political affairs." Werner began by ascribing the quarrel +between Prussia and France to the choice of a Hohenzollern prince for +king of Spain, and then continued, "Napoleon will compel William to +choose between a humiliating compliance, that will deprive him of all +prestige, and war. Now, relying upon the power of the North German +alliance, upon the military treaty with the South German states just +concluded, upon the friendship of the Emperor of Russia, and upon that +of England, Bismarck, who has no suspicion of the secret alliance +against Prussia, to which, in addition to the dispossessed princes, +Austria, Bavaria, Wuertemberg, and the hereditary princes of Russia +belong,--Bismarck, I say, will undoubtedly choose war. This you will +see by next week, perhaps sooner. We can rely upon Russia absolutely; +this I have learned in conference lately with my friend Count Repuin. +The heir to the throne of Russia hates Bismarck, and the Emperor's +voice is powerless in the matter; the anti-Prussian party at the +Russian court is too large and too powerful. The French preparations +are all complete. Immediately after war is declared a French army will +invade the very heart of Germany, and will be received by the +acclamations of the liberated Hanoverians." + +"And what part have you assigned to me in the struggle which you +describe as so near at hand?" asked Arno, who during the preceding glib +explanations had been pacing the apartment with eyes fixed upon the +ground, but who now paused and confronted his brother. + +"The one marked out for you by your duty as an enemy of Bismarck, as an +officer of the Saxon army which was so shamefully defeated in 1866, +and, above all, as a true Saxon patriot," the Finanzrath replied. "If +Saxony is to hold its own as the equal of Bavaria and Wuertemberg after +the downfall of Prussia, if it is to have its full share in the +distribution of the Prussian provinces, this unnatural Prussian +alliance must be dissolved, and that speedily. Now our king will hardly +be in a condition to do this; at the beginning of the war he will be +deterred by considerations that have no weight, however, with Saxon +patriots. As in 1813, York, by his independent action, decided the +destiny of Prussia and earned the gratitude of his king--as Saxon +troops then, following the ignorant leading of the common people, went +over to the German army with flying colours, so must they now, in the +coming conflict, act independently for their fatherland. It will +produce a tremendous impression upon the entire German people, and +conduce essentially to the speedy overthrow of Prussia, if the Saxon +regiments sunder the Prussian alliance and turn their bayonets against +Prussians. The animus of our troops is good, but it will avail nothing +unless their officers take the initiative, and, unfortunately, many of +these are not to be relied on. Our corps of officers is tainted with a +Prussian mania; they must be recalled to their duty. Let this be your +task, Arno. You can easily influence your old comrades; you can arouse +their Saxon patriotism, inflame their slumbering hatred of Prussia. You +must instantly apply for reinstatement in your old rank. I have +provided that your application should receive immediate attention." + +"Treason, then! You would incite me to degrading perjury and treason?" +Arno exclaimed, looking at his brother with flashing eyes. "Matters +have gone far indeed when a Hohenwald can make such proposals to his +brother!" + +The Finanzrath was quite unprepared for such a reply. He had never +imagined that Arno could refuse to undertake the task assigned to him, +and therefore had he explained his schemes and hopes with such reckless +frankness. He suddenly found himself exposed to a danger of which he +had not dreamed. What if Arno should misuse the knowledge thus gained! +He grew pale, but speedily recovered his composure. He must show no +sign of fear; the game might yet perhaps be won. + +"Who talks of treason?" he rejoined, with forced calmness. "Is it +treason for a Saxon officer to obey his king's command? Is it treason +to break an alliance that was framed by mere brute force? Was York +guilty of treason in 1813? Has not posterity honoured him as the +saviour of his country? Do not judge too hastily, my dear Arno, do not +yield to a momentary emotion, but ask yourself, after calm reflection, +whether you are justified in refusing your services to your country at +her sorest need. Can you ever forget that you are a Saxon? Our king and +country are to be delivered from the Prussian yoke; remember that, +Arno, before you decide." + +Arno looked at his brother with profound contempt. "I will hear no +more!" he said, sternly. "What your share may be in the disgraceful +intrigue of which you speak I do not know, nor do I wish to know. Go +your own dark way, but do not think to mislead me by your sophistry. I +know my duty. You reckon upon my hatred of Prussia, upon my love for +our own little Saxon land; your reckoning is false from beginning to +end. Yes, I do hate the arrogant, ambitious Prussian, but I have a +fiercer hatred for the arch-enemy of all Germany, and it fills me with +shame and indignation that a Hohenwald should dream of inciting his +brother to a disgraceful league with France in a war with Germany. This +is the error in your prudent calculations: you reckon upon the hatred +of Prussia in South Germany, in Hanover and Saxony, but that hatred +will vanish like chaff before the wind when it comes to be a question +of defending Germany against French lust of conquest. Neither you nor +your noble Russian friend Count Repuin can use the German love of +country as a factor in your calculations, for you do not appreciate its +existence, nor that there are happily but few scoundrels in Germany so +ready as yourself to satisfy their own selfish ambition by giving over +their fatherland to French greed of territory." + +The Finanzrath sprang up in a rage, but his brother, without waiting +for a reply, left the room. "Insulting!" Werner exclaimed, quite beside +himself. + +"Not one word against Arno!" the old Freiherr said, sternly. "Every +word that he uttered found its echo in my soul, and I thank God that +there is at least one Hohenwald who retains within him a sense of right +and honour and a genuine love of his country. Not a word, Werner! I +will hear no more of your disgraceful schemes; not now, at all events. +I must be more myself than I am now when I speak with you again. Now +leave me; I wish to be alone." + +Werner hesitated for a moment, but judged it wisest to make no attempt +at present to recover the ground he had lost. "I obey your commands, +sir," he said; "I hope calm reflection will induce you to change your +mind, and that it will also have its effect upon Arno." + +After the angry dispute with his brother, Arno walked out into the +garden, and, feeling the need of quiet to collect himself, took his +seat upon a rustic bench nearly hidden in a clump of shrubbery. It was +a favourite retreat of his, and from its seclusion he could overlook +almost the entire garden. Here, then, he sat down, and resigned himself +to thought. So buried was he in reflection that, although he was aware +that Fraeulein Mueller and Celia came from the castle to take their +morning walk, and passed quite near him, he did not heed them: his mind +was filled with Werner's dark schemes. + +Thus he remained for he could not tell how long, when he was suddenly +roused from his reverie by the sound of the voice that never reached +his ear without thrilling him to the heart. He looked up. Walking along +a leafy side-path came Werner and Fraeulein Mueller; she was speaking, +and looking, not at Werner, but upon the ground. Arno thought he +perceived that her voice trembled, although he could not distinguish +what she was saying. + +Werner's reply was made in so low a tone that not a sound reached +Arno's ear; he could only perceive its effect upon Fraeulein Mueller, and +it aroused within him a feeling of indignation. There was pain that was +almost agony expressed in Anna's face as she listened eagerly to her +companion's whispered words. Werner spoke long and persistently, +bending above Fraeulein Mueller the while, and devouring with passionate +admiration the lovely downcast face. As the pair passed his retreat +Arno caught two words from his brother's lips, "Count Repuin," and +marked how colourless was Anna's cheek, down which a tear was trickling +from beneath the drooping eyelid. + +They passed, and at the end of the woodland path turned into a walk +leading to the castle. Celia here joined them. Near the castle gate +they paused. Fraeulein Mueller, with a slight inclination to Werner, left +him and entered the castle with Celia. The Finanzrath turned into a +side-path leading to the forest and disappeared from Arno's sight. + +What had passed between Werner and this girl? Was there a secret +understanding between them? Arno felt his blood boil at the thought. +Had Werner really induced Anna, who had hitherto treated him with cool +reserve, to grant him a private confidential interview? She had begun +her morning walk, accompanied by Celia, and had sent away her pupil +that she might speak alone with Werner. Arno sprang from his seat in +uncontrollable agitation; but he grew calm again as he remembered the +pained expression of Anna's features, the tear that had rolled down her +pale cheek. If there were some private relation between them, it +certainly was not a friendly one. Still the mere thought that Werner +by some fine-spun scheme had induced the girl to accord him this +_tete-a-tete_, and to listen with eager attention to his words, was +torture to Arno. If he had succeeded thus far, what might not be the +result? She must be warned, warned against the vile arts of the +betrayer! Thus much was certain. But who should warn her? To whom could +he confide his fears? To his father? Impossible! The Freiherr was not +overfond of Werner, but he would indignantly have rejected the idea +that his son, that a Hohenwald could be guilty of such infamy. Celia, +then? An innocent child of sixteen? No! Celia never must dream that her +eldest brother could harbour a thought that could wrong her dear +companion. And there was no one else in the castle who could speak one +word to Anna upon such a subject; he had held himself so aloof that he +never could advise her in so delicate a matter. + +To Styrum he would turn in this need; but first he would narrowly +observe Anna and Werner, that he might be able to give his friend a +clearer idea of the relations between them than he had yet been able to +gain for himself. + +The result of his observation during the next few days could scarcely +be called favourable,--it strengthened his suspicions as to Werner's +dishonourable intentions, but he arrived at no decided conclusion. + +There was evidently a change in the relations between Werner and Anna. +She no longer avoided casually meeting the Finanzrath; she did not cut +short her morning walks with Celia when he joined them, but Arno never +again saw them alone together. + +The political horizon darkened daily,--the newspapers were read with +avidity. None of the Hohenwald household could resist the conviction +that a political convulsion was at hand; there were constant +discussions at table and in the evenings in the domestic circle as to +public affairs. On these occasions Celia's governess, who took an eager +interest in the conversation, proved herself as enthusiastic an admirer +of Bismarck as was the Finanzrath his bitter opponent. + +One morning, in the library, Arno was eagerly discussing the news of +the day with Fraeulein Mueller. Celia's teacher was unusually interested; +she declared that her hopes for her country were centred on Bismarck. +"His enemies," she said, with ardour, "conspire in secret; in their +foolish conceit they believe him blind to their man[oe]uvres, deaf to +their machinations, but I am convinced that he clearly sees through +their dark dealings. A Bismarck is not to be hoodwinked by such men as +the Herr Finanzrath." + +Scarcely were the words uttered when she seemed to regret them,--they +had evidently escaped her unawares. + +Arno listened surprised. "You know of my brother's schemes, then?" he +asked. + +There was nothing for it but to reply. "They are not difficult to +divine; he has made no secret of his desires and hopes; but he and all +his associates will find themselves deceived. Your brother in his +miserable plans reckons upon the pitiable jealousies of all petty +governments; but he is out in his reckoning,--the German people is not +yet so degraded as to lend itself to so frivolous a game. If war should +really be declared, Germans will, with a few disgraceful exceptions, +rally promptly around the banner that will wave in the front of the +battle to vindicate German honour and faith against all rude assaults. +The very attempt now made to retard Germany in its march towards +internal unity will but bear it more swiftly to its goal of unity and +freedom!" + +As she spoke her dark eyes sparkled, her cheeks glowed, and Arno +thought he had never seen her so enchantingly beautiful. + +"I trust from my soul that you are a true prophet!" he rejoined. + +She rewarded him for these words by a brilliant glance of appreciation. +"I knew that you must think thus," she said, with emotion; "you will be +among the first to forget an ancient grudge when the time comes to +stand forth for German honour and German right. The Freiherr Arno von +Hohenwald will be at hand when the German people is summoned to the +defence of the fatherland; of that I am convinced from my very soul." +She held out her hand to him: he seized it and pressed it to his lips: +for the moment he scarcely knew what he was doing; his past, his +prejudices, were all forgotten; it was as if a dark cloud which had +enveloped him were suddenly rent asunder, revealing to his mental +vision a bright, sunlit future. "Your trust shall not be deceived," he +said, with enthusiasm. "Be sure that when the battle begins I shall be +ready. And when I return from the field, will you not give me a kindly +welcome?" + +He had not released Anna's hand; he bent over it to kiss it once again, +when it was suddenly withdrawn. He looked up, and was shocked by her +altered looks. Her cheeks were deadly pale, the light of enthusiasm in +her dark eyes was gone: they were veiled in tears. "This must not be, +Herr Baron," she said, in a low monotone. + +"Have I offended you?" Arno asked, startled. + +"No--but--I must leave you, Herr Baron; I must not and will not listen +any longer!" + +She would have turned and left the room, but Arno took her hand again +and held it fast. "But you must listen," he said, gravely; "there must +be truth between us. You will not yield to an over-sensitive delicacy +of feeling that is unworthy of you, you will not leave me without +letting me tell you that the light of your candid eyes has banished the +mists that hung about me; your words have broken the spell that parted +me from you. My heart is filled with sunshine; I know now that I love +you with my whole soul, that I have loved you from the first moment +that I saw you in the quarry. I have struggled with this love, I have +even tried to hate you; have in my blind folly often shocked and +offended you, because I would have it that the deception which so +blasted my first youthful passion had killed all power to love in my +heart. I know now how grossly I deceived myself. I am in your eyes a +gloomy, irritable misanthrope; you can accord no liking to one who has +so often wounded you by his severity; but it is my dearest hope that +one day your love may be mine, and in this hope I shall leave you when +duty calls me to the field. It will henceforth be the star of my life." + +Anna had listened in silence to this torrent of words; her hand still +rested in his: she did not withdraw it until he had ended; then first +she raised her eyes and looked him full in the face with an expression +of profound sadness. She did not reply at once; she could not for a few +moments sufficiently master her emotion to attain an external calm. +When she spoke at last, it was with an evident tremor in her voice. +"There must be truth between us," she said; "you require it, Herr +Baron, and I owe perfect truth both to you and to myself. Your sudden +and unlooked-for declaration has destroyed the hope in which I had +found peace. I hoped to regard Castle Hohenwald as my home; I hoped to +pass years here, sheltered from the sorrows which have poisoned my +life; but your words drive me forth into the world again!" + +"Anna! I conjure you----" + +"No more, Herr Baron! I must not listen to you; must not permit hopes +that can never be fulfilled. You say that the hope of one day winning +my love will be the guiding star of your life; banish the idle thought, +for never,--I swear it by Almighty God,--never may I return your love." + +"You love another, then?" Arno exclaimed. + +"No, Herr Baron." + +"Then I will not resign the hope you call idle. I implore you not to +turn from me; I ask for so little, for no promise, only for permission +to love you." + +"And this little I must not grant. I pray you leave me, Herr Baron; we +must part forever. I must not again expose myself to a danger from +which I thought myself safe with you; my duty as well as my honour +forbids me to listen to you. Once more I entreat you to leave me!" + +"You rob me of all hope?" Arno asked, gently. + +"All!" + +She spoke so calmly, and with such absolute firmness, that Arno +despaired of moving her; he did not venture to add a single word of +entreaty; after so decided a rejection he could no longer refuse to +accede to her request. He took her hand once more, kissed it +passionately, and hurried from the room. + +He never looked back, and therefore could not see how, even before the +library door had closed upon him, Lucie's hardly-won composure utterly +forsook her. She sank into a seat, buried her face in her hands, and +burst into a passion of tears. + +Half an hour afterward she was seated at her desk in her room, writing +to her dearest, her only friend, Adele. + +"I must leave here immediately,--every hour of my stay at Castle +Hohenwald is a period of unspeakable torment for me. I had feared and +hoped so much from this place; both fears and hopes are unfulfilled, +and I must leave Hohenwald, where I was so content. I love the old +Freiherr like a father, and I know he is fond of me; scarcely a day +passes that he does not tell me that the sun has shone more brightly in +Hohenwald since I came here. And I love my darling Celia, dear, +innocent child; with my whole heart do I return the tender affection +she lavishes upon me,--her progress delights me, but I must go. + +"Do not, dear Adele, think me variable and fickle,--my heart bleeds at +the thought of leaving these dear people, but it must be; you will say +so yourself when you hear all. You know I have faithfully described my +life here to you. I have told you of the distaste with which the +Finanzrath's attentions inspired me. I did all that I could by the cold +reserve of my manner to impress him with this fact. I did not think he +would ever succeed in forcing me to grant him a private and +confidential interview, and yet this he has done. About a week ago he +came into the garden where Celia and I were taking our usual morning +walk. He had just returned from one of his frequent journeys, and I +could not avoid replying to his courteous greeting. He joined us and +entered into conversation with us. He talks extremely well, and even I +could not help being amused by his lively descriptions of his +travelling adventures, while Celia, who is not very fond of her eldest +brother, was much entertained. Suddenly he paused, and, turning +directly to me, said, 'But I have not told you the most interesting +experience of my trip, Fraeulein Mueller.' Then, with a searching glance, +he added, 'I have seen several friends of yours, and have talked of you +a great deal.' + +"I felt the blood mount into my face at these words. I could not +conceal the terror with which they inspired me; whereupon the +Finanzrath, with a satisfied smile, went on, 'I need only mention the +name of one of my friends, of Count Repuin, to convince you how +interesting was our conversation about you.' The detested name of that +terrible man produced upon me all the effect that the Finanzrath had +doubtless expected. It was only by a strong effort that I could keep +myself from fainting. Celia noticed my pallor; she had not heard her +brother's words,--he had chosen a moment for them in which she was +lagging behind to pluck a flower. 'What is the matter, dear Anna?' she +exclaimed, in terror; 'you are deadly pale.' In fact, had she not put +her arm about me I think I should have fallen, although I soon +recovered myself. The Finanzrath offered me his arm, and despatched his +sister to the castle for a vinaigrette. I did not dare to refuse his +proffered aid, lest I should offend him, and thus I found myself alone +with him, forced to continue my walk leaning upon his arm. 'I thank +you, Fraeulein Mueller,' he said, as soon as Celia had left us, 'for your +readiness to grant me this _tete-a-tete_. It gives me a precious proof +of your confidence in me,--a confidence which, I promise you, you never +shall regret. Chance has revealed to me your secret; but I give you my +word of honour it shall remain buried in my breast.' He then told me +how he had learned who I was. Repuin is his friend,--he had seen him in +Munich, and one day, while Repuin was engaged in writing letters, had +whiled away the time by looking over some photographs in a book upon +the Russian's table. Many of these he was familiar with; but his +astonishment was great when in one of them he recognized his sister's +governess. He waited until Repuin was at leisure, and then his first +thought, so he told me, was to ask the Count whether he was acquainted +with Fraeulein Anna Mueller, the original of the photograph; but, +reflecting that Count Styrum had made it a request that no curiosity +should be shown regarding my past, he suspected that I should prefer +the Count's remaining in ignorance as to my whereabouts, and therefore +he took up the book of photographs again, as if casually, and suddenly +exclaimed, 'A pretty face, Count; who is this girl?' showing my +likeness as he spoke. + +"'Not a girl, but a married woman,' Repuin replied. 'Sorr's runaway +wife!' + +"'I could not so command my features,' the Finanzrath continued his +narrative, 'as not to show the surprise I felt at this information. +Fraeulein Anna Mueller the wife of that Herr von Sorr whom Repuin had +presented to me! It seemed impossible! + +"'And then the shameful words which Repuin had uttered, "Runaway wife." +I could not rest without some explanation. Can you wonder at it, +Fraeulein Mueller? "The picture reminds me of a lady whom I saw not long +ago," I said. + +"'Scarcely had I uttered these words when Repuin sprang up in great +agitation. "You have seen her?" he cried. "There is no other face that +resembles hers; tell me where you saw her. I have been searching for +her for months, but she has vanished utterly." + +"'What was I to tell him? I saw instantly that he must be put upon a +false track, and on the spur of the moment replied that I had shortly +before travelled in a railway carriage with a young lady who closely +resembled the picture. + +"'My answer was so prompt that Repuin was fortunately deceived. He +never suspected that I was misleading him, and questioned me further +with the greatest eagerness. I told him that the young lady had been my +travelling companion from Berlin to Cassel, but that of course I had +not exchanged a word with her. + +"'"I will go to Cassel this very night!" Repuin exclaimed, in the +greatest excitement. "I must find her! I have sworn to do it though it +should cost me half my fortune. Now that I have traced her she shall +not escape me." + +"'He was completely deceived by my invention, and I could no longer +doubt that it was to destroy all trace of your existence that you had +taken refuge in Castle Hohenwald under a feigned name. I remembered +your enigmatical letter to me, and was convinced that I had found its +explanation. Let me assure you that it was entirely owing to my +profound sympathy for you that I now begged the Count for further +particulars concerning you. What I heard filled me with horror and +indignation. With cynical candour he informed me that he had spent +fabulous sums upon Sorr that he might be near his charming wife, who at +last, when he had actually purchased her of her wretch of a husband, +vanished without a trace.' + +"Such, dearest Adele, was the Finanzrath's story, which he concluded +with assurances of his profound secrecy. + +"I cannot describe my sensations while he was speaking, of mingled fear +lest he should betray my secret and give Count Repuin some clue to my +retreat, and aversion for the man himself. I quivered with anger when +he called me, as he did repeatedly, 'dear Fraeulein Mueller,' and yet I +did not dare to show him that it offended me, lest I should provoke his +resentment. Celia, who came from the castle with the salts, at last +relieved me from my embarrassment. The Finanzrath left us. Then I +determined to leave Hohenwald, but, as the days slipped by and the +Finanzrath made no further allusions to my secret, I decided to remain, +since the noble old Freiherr would surely grant me his protection in +case of any disagreeable advances from his son. Each day the shadow +that the Finanzrath's revelations had thrown upon my peaceful life here +faded still more; my courage returned to me. I believed myself quite +safe in my beloved Hohenwald with my dear Celia, when one wretched +moment blasted all my hopes. + +"I must go; I cannot stay here, for Arno has just told me that he loves +me. I thought his heart was dead to all affection, and he has just +declared his passionate attachment for me. + +"I suffered indescribably when all that I could do in answer to his +frank avowal of affection was calmly and coldly to crush his hopes +forever. I wept bitter tears when he left me, and yet--yet the +consciousness of his love brought happiness with it as well as misery. + +"Strength was given me to fulfil my duty; not by look or word did I +betray what I felt in rejecting him, but could I resist him a second +time? I must flee from my own weakness. + +"I can write no more, dear Adele, and must close. I am filled with but +one desire,--to go away from here as soon as may be. I rely upon your +aid again, my dear, kind friend; try to find me another asylum. I do +not care where it is or what it is, only let it be far, far away from +here and from all of you. + +"Help me, dear Adele; protect your + + "LUCIE." + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + +Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden +from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be +unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post. She +listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the +rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird. + +What could have happened? He had hitherto always been awaiting her at +their place of meeting. How could he allow anything to curtail, even by +a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so +eagerly? Although he could not be to blame, still she felt aggrieved. +Pluto, too, seemed to find his absence very unnatural. He pawed the +ground impatiently with his fore-foot and shook his black mane; then +pricked his delicate ears with a neigh as a distant crackling of the +underbrush was heard, and a minute afterwards Kurt made his appearance. +He was very warm and quite out of breath with the haste he had made to +atone for his want of punctuality. + +"Now this I call scant courtesy!" exclaimed Celia, who had intended to +punish him by a cool reception for his tardiness. She was quickly +appeased, however, when she saw how warm he looked from his hasty walk. +She held out her hand to him, and when he took it leaned down towards +him. "You do not deserve a kiss for keeping me waiting so long, but I +will temper justice with mercy. Poor fellow! you are terribly warm; you +ought not to have walked so fast!" + +What had become of Kurt's good resolutions? They had shared the fate +that awaits such resolutions generally. How could he resist when Celia +smiled so bewitchingly upon him? The temptation was too great. Besides, +he had only resolved never by a single word to betray Celia's childlike +trust in him, to treat her as a brother would treat a tenderly-loved +sister, and is it not perfectly allowable for a brother to kiss a dear +sister? He was not wrong in kissing her. Had he been wrong several +weeks before, when Celia, after some slight dispute, offered him her +rosy lips in token of reconciliation, not to refuse the precious gift? +Celia, in her innocent purity, never could have comprehended such a +refusal, and would have been deeply grieved by it. + +Since then it had become a custom for the young girl to receive him +daily with a kiss, and to take leave of him with a kiss, and they +called each other by their first names. It would have been ridiculous +in Kurt, after becoming so intimate with Celia, to adhere to the formal +"Fraeulein von Hohenwald" in addressing her. It had vanished; neither +Kurt or Celia could tell when or how; it had done so so naturally. + +Still, after that kiss of reconciliation Kurt had not felt perfectly +comfortable as he walked home to Gruenhagen; he was dissatisfied with +himself. Cool reflection told him that he had been false to his +resolve,--he, a man to whom life and its perils were familiar, should +have conquered himself; he should have been a guide to Celia, who was +half a child, and who had no idea that there could be any danger in her +guileless familiarity. But his heart bore away the victory from his +understanding. Kurt quieted his conscience when it would have +reproached him. Was it his fault that he did not go directly to Celia's +father and declare his love for her, and that she loved him in return? +Ah, how gladly would he, if he could, have done this! But the miserable +family feud, the invincible prejudice of the old Freiherr, forbade all +approach. Should Kurt, then, sacrifice the happiness of his life, his +love for Celia, to such a phantom? Should he reject the dear girl's +confidence because the old Baron in his obstinacy had an unaccountable +hatred for the name of Poseneck? No; he could not and he would not. He +never had asked Celia whether she loved him and would be his; but there +was no need of such words between them. He knew that her heart belonged +to him, and his determination to win her hand was absolute, although he +vainly sought in his imagination for some means to attain this end. + +Castle Hohenwald was surrounded for him by an insurmountable wall; +there was no possible way by which he could approach Celia's father. +Did not the Finanzrath whenever he came to Gruenhagen loudly lament that +it was impossible for him to invite Herr von Poseneck to return his +visit? The attempt, too, which Count Styrum had made to influence Arno +had been without result. Arno was as inaccessible as his father. Castle +Hohenwald was closed against Kurt. + +Yet he would not resign hope; he was resolved that his life should not +be ruined by a silly prejudice. Although Celia was now too young to +bestow her hand where she chose, perhaps, in direct opposition to her +father's will, it would not always be so. Thus Kurt hoped in the future +for some lucky chance that would make it possible for him to surmount +the barriers that kept him from Castle Hohenwald. + +With these hopes he soothed his conscience when it reproached him for +yielding to the spell that Celia's confidential familiarity cast around +him. He knew that no unholy thought stained his devoted love for the +dear girl, and knowing this, he believed himself justified in enjoying +the bliss of the present. + +"But you were angry with me, Celia," he said, as, after her kiss, he +walked slowly along beside Pluto. "You were angry with me for keeping +you waiting. Confess it; your first words hardly sounded kind." + +"Well, yes; I will not deny," Celia replied, "that I was a little vexed +and hurt. I had been thinking of you all day long, and you were not +here; I did not know what to think. You never kept me waiting before; +indeed, you spoil me, Kurt, as does every one,--you, and my father, and +Arno, and my dear Anna. You all spoil me, and ought not to be surprised +when I am impatient." + +"I am only surprised that you forgave me so quickly." + +"Oh, I was so glad to have you here, although I ought to have scolded +you for walking so fast in this terrible heat. You look warm still." + +"I could not help it. I was afraid you would think I was not coming and +would ride home again. In my heart I cursed that tiresome Assessor for +detaining me, and when at last I escaped from him, I walked straight +across the Hohenwald fields to meet you here." + +"You need not have done that, you dear, kind Kurt. I should have waited +an hour here for you at least." Again she held out her hand to him, and +surely it was but natural that he should kiss it passionately. + +"Have you another visitor at Gruenhagen?" Celia continued, without being +put at all out of countenance by the tender kiss imprinted upon her +hand. "You said something of a tiresome Assessor who had detained you." + +"Yes, an Assessor von Hahn, who has lately been transferred to the +courts at A----, saw fit to pay my uncle a visit this morning. With his +usual hospitality my uncle invited him to stay, and to my horror he +accepted the invitation. He is a commonplace, tiresome man, and +incredibly inquisitive. He has only one good quality, which is that he +is a distant relative of yours." + +"Yes, the Hahns are remotely connected with my mother's family, but I +never heard anything of them, and did not even know of the existence of +an Assessor von Hahn." + +"I assure you it would mortify him excessively to hear you say so. He +has already told my uncle and myself much with regard to his +relationship to the Hohenwalds, and has deeply lamented that Castle +Hohenwald is closed even to near connections. When he heard that your +father had consented to have a governess for you he was overwhelmed +with astonishment, and asked every imaginable question concerning +Fraeulein Mueller, where she came from, who she was, how she looked; +whether she were ugly or pretty, young or old, learned or ignorant. He +wanted to know all about her, and I could see was greatly dissatisfied +with the scanty information he gathered from us. He tormented me with +questions about you and your brothers and your father, and I escaped +from him only by slipping off when he was engaged for a moment with the +newspaper. My uncle told him that I was in the habit of taking a +solitary walk in the forest every afternoon, upon which he offered to +accompany me, and was not at all dismayed by the terrible picture I +drew of the difficulties of the path through the underbrush. I could +not get away from him except by secret flight." + +"My precious cousin seems to be a very agreeable man," said Celia, +laughing. + +"He is insufferable, and yet I ought to be glad of his visit. In his +loquacity he supplied my uncle and myself with some important +information which made it especially desirable that I should see you +this afternoon." + +"Information that concerns me!----" + +"That concerns your brother Werner," Kurt replied, very gravely. "I am +afraid he has allowed himself to be drawn into certain schemes which +may place your father and Arno in a very embarrassing situation, +although I do not believe that, as the Assessor hinted, they have any +share in them. I never regretted so deeply as to-day that your father's +and Arno's wretched prejudice against our family made it impossible for +me to hasten to Hohenwald to warn your father, and to entreat him to +turn a deaf ear to Werner's insidious whispers. I long to do this, but +how would he receive one of the hated Posenecks? He would not credit my +information, just because it came from me; he would repulse me as an +unauthorized intruder. My warning would probably do more harm than +good, and Arno is just as inaccessible as your father." + +"Unfortunately, you are right," Celia said, sadly. "You would not be +kindly received at Hohenwald. But can you not tell me what you wish to +say to my father and Arno? I am afraid that neither of them would pay +me much heed, but I will induce Anna to help me, and my father at least +will be influenced by her. Arno, to be sure, is incorrigible; even Anna +has no effect upon him." + +"Has Fraeulein Mueller any influence with Werner?" + +"I do not know," Celia replied, thoughtfully. "I have sometimes thought +so; at all events, the relations between them seem to me very odd and +quite incomprehensible. She cannot endure him, and avoids him whenever +she can, and yet he pays her devoted attention. I cannot understand +it." + +"It might be dangerous, then, to trust Fraeulein Mueller?" + +"Now you are unkind, Kurt!" Celia exclaimed, indignantly. "You must not +speak so of my Anna." + +"But you yourself said----" + +"I never said or thought anything that could imply a want of confidence +in her. I trust her entirely. But you have told me nothing of these +mysterious schemes of Werner's. I know nothing as yet." + +"You shall know all that I know myself, although it may be wrong for me +to acquaint a young girl of sixteen with political intrigues existing +perhaps only in the diseased fancy of this garrulous Assessor." + +Celia hastily withdrew the hand which Kurt had held in his own as he +slowly walked along beside Pluto. "You are very disagreeable, Kurt," +she said. "I am no longer a child; girls are far more precocious than +boys, and at sixteen I may surely be trusted. And I am very much +interested in politics: I read the papers daily; have we not often +discussed them together? I continually scold papa and Arno for abusing +Bismarck as they do." + +Kurt could not but smile at her indignation. "Do not be angry with me, +dearest Celia," he said. "I will tell you all I know, which, +unfortunately, is not much; the Assessor's hints were rather vague and +confused. Since you read the daily papers you know well how imminent is +the danger of a war with France. At such a time it is the duty of every +German to be true to the fatherland, and yet there is a large party in +Germany who ignore this, and who, because they are opposed to the +Prussian government, wish for a war with France and the overthrow of +Germany and Prussia. To this party your brother Werner unfortunately +belongs." + +"Unfortunately!" Celia said in confirmation of his words. + +"Those belonging to it," Kurt continued, "know nothing of true +patriotism. Prompted by mean self-interest and by silly hatred of +Prussia, they are ready to ally themselves with the Frenchman, the +arch-enemy of Germany, who believes that when war is declared all the +enemies of Prussia in Southern Germany, in Saxony, and in Hanover will +flock to his banner. There are at present French agents scattered +through Germany employed in plotting and arranging for this disgraceful +treachery. These agents are of every nation; some of them are even +Germans of rank, who believe that their names shelter them from +suspicion, and that they can pursue their dark designs unobserved. But +they are mistaken; the leader of Prussian polities is not so easily +hoodwinked as they think; he knows his treacherous opponents, and will +know how to bring them to the punishment they deserve." + +"And you are going to tell me that Werner is one of these treacherous +agents," Celia interrupted Kurt, "I suspected it; this is why he has +taken these frequent journeys. Werner is sufficiently unprincipled to +lend himself from vanity and ambition to such treachery, but Arno, I +assure you, Kurt, is incapable of it. He is stern and hard, but he +never would dream of aiding in treason against his country. You must +not suspect him for an instant." + +"I do not suspect him, but others do, and therefore I fear both for him +and for your father. The gossiping Assessor hinted to my uncle and +myself that Castle Hohenwald is the centre of various treasonable +intrigues, that Werner is in constant communication with the most +dangerous French agents, with a certain Count Repuin, for example; nay, +that he is himself such an agent, working in the French interest among +the Saxon nobility, and that he is probably assisted by your father and +Arno, whose hatred of Prussia is well known. The Assessor implied +further that Castle Hohenwald is under strict surveillance, and that it +is only a question of time when these treasonable intrigues are to be +crushed out by the arrest of all the Hohenwalds. Your father and Arno +must be put upon their guard against Werner, but how it is to be done I +do not know." + +"I will warn them!" Celia said, decidedly. + +"Will they believe you? Will not your father's first question be whence +came your information?" + +"Of course it will, and I know he will be terribly angry when he knows +all; still, I must not mind that if he and Arno are in danger of +arrest. He will get over it in time. The worst is, that until he does +he will forbid my riding out, or will always send Arno with me, so that +we shall not see each other. But I must bear that too. It has perhaps +been wrong for us to have these meetings here every day. I have never +been able to look papa full in the face when the Posenecks were +mentioned, or any allusion made to my afternoon rides. I never before +had a secret from my dear old father, and he has a right to be angry +that I have concealed from him what he ought to have known long ago. +But if I should hesitate now from fear of his anger to tell him that +danger threatens him, and that you have informed me of it, how could I +ever forgive myself if anything should really happen to him? Tell me, +dear Kurt, am I not right?" + +"Yes, you are right, darling courageous child that you are. I do not +know how I can bear to lack the sight and sound of you every day; I +shall be wretched without this hour of delight; but you are right. We +must not think of ourselves, but of how to avert the danger that +threatens your father and Arno." + +"You are the dearest and the best fellow in the world!" + +As she spoke, Celia allowed Kurt to lift her from her horse and conduct +her to a rustic bench, which he had himself constructed, just upon the +borders of the Gruenhagen forest, where they usually parted from each +other. Many a time lately they had sat here side by side, but to-day +every moment seemed more precious than ever, the future was so +uncertain. + +They sat silent for a long while, his arm about her waist and her +lovely head reclined upon his shoulder, while her eyes were downcast; +she was reflecting upon the coming parting. + +"Will your father believe you when he knows that your warning comes +from me?" Kurt asked, suddenly. "Will he not suspect me of giving it +with a view of arousing his gratitude, and thus obtaining an entrance +into Castle Hohenwald? If I did not fear that this would be so, I would +go to him myself, his commands to the contrary notwithstanding; but, as +I told you before, I dread his transferring his doubt of him who warns, +to the warning itself to the extent of rejecting it incredulously. The +same thing will happen if you tell him that it is I who warn him; he +will even be more suspicious and mistrustful in his anger at our +intimacy, which has become such without his knowledge and against his +will." + +Celia's eyes sparkled. Hard as she knew it would be to put a stop to +these meetings by a frank confession, she was still resolved to make +the sacrifice, but Kurt's words showed her that it would be useless; +she was quite ready in a moment to convince herself that for the +present it was best that her father should be ignorant of her meetings +with Kurt, lest he should regard the warning with suspicion. + +She raised her head, and looking at Kurt with a happy smile, said, +"Anna will help us; we will tell her all. If she puts my father upon +his guard and tells him that she cannot mention the source whence comes +her information, but that she knows it to be correct, he will pay heed +to her; he has the greatest confidence in her, and it never will occur +to him that she could deceive him." + +Kurt had no objection to urge to this. He consented that Celia should +confide everything to her friend, both as regarded their daily +meetings, and as to what Kurt had heard from the Assessor von Hahn. + +Thus conversing, the time flew by so quickly that the lovers did not +suspect the lateness of the hour. The outer world was forgotten, when +suddenly they were recalled to it by an unfamiliar voice, that gayly +interrupted their confidential talk with, "Found at last! I beg ten +thousand pardons for disturbing you; I never suspected that I should +find Herr von Poseneck in such charming society. Now I understand his +sudden disappearance; but pray don't let me disturb you; I am +thoroughly discreet; I will not boast of it, for discretion is a gift +of nature; I possess it, and would not for worlds interrupt a +delightful _tete-a-tete_." + +Kurt and Celia, as soon as the voice fell upon their ears, started up +from the bench, Celia looking down blushing, greatly confused, while +Kurt, with anger flashing in his eyes, confronted the Assessor, who, in +the best of humours, did not seem to perceive how unwelcome was his +presence. This first appeared to occur to him when Kurt approached him, +saying sternly, "Sir, what do you mean? how dare you thus follow me +without my permission?" + +The Assessor retreated a step, taught by the angry gleam in Kurt's eyes +that his jesting remarks had been quite out of place. In much confusion +he stammered, "I beg pardon; indeed nothing was farther from my +intention than to intrude; I am inconsolable at having disturbed you." + +The poor little man, as he shrank from Kurt's indignant glance and +poured out his terrified excuses, cut so odd a figure that Celia could +not help smiling, although she was anything but pleased with the +present aspect of affairs. She could see that Kurt's indignation was +still further aroused by the intruder's apology, and she whispered to +him as gently as possible "Be calm, dearest Kurt, I pray you, for my +sake." + +Her words produced an instant effect. Kurt's brow grew smooth, the +angry look vanished from his eyes, which sparkled strangely as he +looked at Celia, and then turned with an air of sudden determination to +the Assessor, saying, in a much gentler tone, "It is not to me, Herr +von Hahn, that you should excuse yourself, but to my betrothed, +Fraeulein Celia von Hohenwald." As he spoke he cast at Celia a quick +glance of inquiry, afraid lest his words might offend her; but no, she +did not even look surprised; an arch smile quivered about her lips for +a moment, and she nodded to him assentingly. + +The Assessor's amazement, however, was unbounded; his large and rather +prominent blue eyes grew larger and more prominent as he looked from +Kurt to Celia. "Ah--really--indeed"--he stammered, bowing low--"I had +no idea--I humbly beg the lady's pardon--permit me to offer my cordial +congratulations--indeed--I am so surprised that I hardly know what to +say." + +Celia laughed; she could not help it: the flaxen little Assessor was +too comical; and Kurt smiled; he was no longer angry, but inexpressibly +happy. Celia's hand was in his and returned his pressure. How could he +be angry with the Assessor, who had been the cause of his sudden +resolve? "Never mind, Herr Assessor," he said, kindly. "We will credit +you with the most heartfelt good wishes. But"--and he suddenly changed +his tone to one of grave admonition--"since chance has willed that you +should be the recipient of our confidence, I must pray you not to +misuse it. You know that there exists an hereditary feud between the +Hohenwalds and the Posenecks, which some of the members of the families +have not yet agreed to forget, therefore we, my betrothed and myself, +do most earnestly enjoin upon you to be silent as to what you have +learned. Any allusion to it to others would be an indiscretion for +which I should be obliged to call you to account. I am sure we may rely +upon you." + +"Absolutely. I swear it!" the Assessor eagerly replied. "Not a word +shall escape my lips. I am silent as the grave!" + +"I am quite sure that your promise will be kept. And now we will no +longer detain you from the enjoyment of your walk. This broad road +leads to Castle Hohenwald; by pursuing it until you reach three huge +oaks in a group you will find a by-path on the right, which will give +you a pleasant stroll through the forest and lead you out into the +open, whence you will perceive Gruenhagen in the distance." + +The Assessor bowed. Clearly he was dismissed. He would have liked to +exchange a few words with his relative Celia, whose voice even he had +not heard, but there was something in Kurt's manner that told him it +was hardly advisable to linger here longer. In a few choice phrases he +expressed to Celia his delight at this chance meeting with so charming +a cousin, and his sorrow that circumstances over which he had no +control would prevent him from calling upon her at the castle. Then +imagining that Herr von Poseneck was growing impatient, he took his +leave, turned in the direction that had been pointed out to him, and +was soon out of sight. + +"Are you angry with me, dearest Celia?" Kurt asked so soon as this was +the case. + +"Why should I be angry with you?" + +"I could not help it; I had to decide on the instant what to do, and it +was only by presenting you as my betrothed to the Assessor that I could +prevent him from speaking of having seen us." + +"And why should I be angry with you? It was perfectly natural; you only +said what we have both long known. I am glad you said it; I only wish I +could tell my dear kind father how very, very happy I am. But," she +added, with a little sigh, "it would not do,--it would not do at all; +he would be terribly angry, for he does not know you, Kurt, does not +know how dear and good you are, and if I should tell him we were +betrothed he never would give his consent. Anna must help us. I will +tell her everything to-day; she has more influence than any one else +over him, and she will contrive to have you come to Hohenwald,--she is +so good and so wise!" + +Kurt shook his head doubtfully, but he could not shake Celia's +confidence in Anna's power over the old Baron. Meanwhile it had grown +late; they had been together much longer than usual. Pluto was +evidently impatient; still, Celia had more to say than ever before. +Kurt put her on her horse again, and, when she begged him to turn back +with her for a little way, walked slowly beside her along the broad +forest road. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + +Lucie's resolve was a hard one. Castle Hohenwald was to her as a home. +The thought of leaving Celia and the old Freiherr gave her intense +pain, but it must be done,--she could not stay. She had written her +letter to Adele with feverish haste, almost immediately after Arno had +left her; but now that it lay before her sealed and addressed she +hesitated to despatch it. She shrank from so decisive a step. + +Did stern duty really require of her to leave this loved asylum and +brave the world again and the danger of Repuin's persecution? Here she +was safe both from the Russian and from Sorr; both the old Freiherr and +Arno would extend protection to her, and must she give it all up just +because Arno loved her? No; not for that. Had she been sure of her own +heart she might have remained. She had not felt the need of fleeing +from Werner's distasteful devotion. + +But Arno! She had summoned up strength to utter the words that +annihilated his hopes; but she felt that in so doing she had almost +exhausted her self-control. Could she have withstood his pleading a +moment longer? Even while writing to Adele the thought would not be +banished from her mind that she was actually free, bound by no +obligation to the wretch who himself on that terrible night had +sundered the tie that had linked her to him! + +But could he sunder it? No; it must still remain a brazen fetter +chaining her to her unworthy husband, although she were forever parted +from him. As she had herself said, her marriage could not be dissolved; +she was free only in spirit,--only the death of the dishonoured thief +could make it possible for her to form another tie. + +Her heart rebelled against so unnatural a chain; but cool reason told +her that she could not disregard it without dishonour. Sorr's wife must +not listen to Arno's words of affection; if she could not slay within +her the love she now knew that he had awakened there, he must never +know it. + +The sealed letter trembled in her hand; if it were to be sent it must +go instantly. From her window Lucie saw already saddled and standing in +the court-yard the horse upon which the groom was to take the daily +mail from the castle to A----. Frau Kaselitz stood upon the steps just +about to close the post-bag. One minute more and it would be too late. +A day at least would be gained, a day for reflection, and a day, too, +of imminent peril, a day in which Arno might repeat his protestations, +his entreaties! + +She hastily threw open the window. "Wait one moment, Frau Kaselitz; I +have a letter to go!" she called out into the court-yard, and then +hurried down the great staircase to the hall-door. She could not trust +herself, and it was only when she had seen the groom gallop away +bearing her letter with him that she breathed freely again. + +The die was cast, and she could think clearly and calmly. Her strength +of will returned, and she knew that she could brave any struggle +which the next few days might bring her. She had regained the calm +self-control that would enable her to fulfil her duties towards the +Freiherr and Celia during the time she should yet remain in the castle, +and this fulfilment should instantly be put into action. Celia should +suspect nothing during lesson-hours of the mental agony that had so +tortured her teacher. + +But where was Celia? She had not made her appearance, although the time +had long passed at which she usually returned from her afternoon ride. +Lucie inquired of old John, who was on his way to the stables, and +learned that Fraeulein Celia was still out in the forest. She never had +stayed so late before, the old man added; indeed, she had had time to +ride up and down the broad forest road to Gruenhagen at least twenty +times. Of course that was where she was; she always rode there. John +could not see why she never tired of that road. Lucie was not ill +pleased to hear that the girl was still in the forest: she longed for +its cool depths; and since John assured her that she could not fail to +meet Fraeulein Celia, she determined to go in search of her. She +declined John's attendance, for she felt perfectly secure in the +vicinity of the castle. Quickly tying on her hat she sallied forth. + +Her walks hitherto had never extended beyond the castle garden and the +park. This was her first flight into the "forest depths," from which +the castle took its name. She gazed in wonder at the mighty oaks and +beeches. Around her brooded the mystery of the primeval forest; in the +vicinity of the castle no axe had rung a discord in the poetry of +woodland life. The deep silence, broken only by the low notes of the +woodland birds, harmonized with Lucie's mood; she sauntered dreamily +along the path, passing in mental review the events of the day, and +particularly the struggle with herself, in which--and there was a +measure of content in the consciousness--she had come off conqueror. + +Lost in thought, she almost forgot that she had come out to look for +Celia; her gaze wandered unconsciously over the wealth of foliage on +every side of her. She did not observe, when she had reached the +loneliest part of the forest, a solitary stranger walking towards her, +and hastening his steps with every sign of amazement upon seeing her. +Not until he had approached her very nearly did she look up and start +in terror. Could she believe her eyes? The Assessor von Hahn, whose +element was fashionable society, here alone in the woodland solitude? +She could not be deceived; the Assessor stood before her as elegant as +if bound upon a round of morning visits, staring at her out of his wide +blue eyes, and twirling, as was his wont when startled or surprised, +his flaxen moustache; it was indeed Herr von Hahn as large as life. + +The good Assessor was no less startled than was Lucie. "Is it +possible?" he exclaimed; "am I awake or dreaming? Frau von Sorr here in +the forest! This is a surprise indeed,--a most agreeable surprise of +course. I am enchanted to meet you, madame." + +As he spoke he held out his hand, and Lucie was obliged to place her +own within it and to allow him to kiss it; she could not show him how +unwelcome was his presence here. Of all her former acquaintances she +would have preferred to have almost any one invade her retirement +rather than the gossiping Assessor, but she could not let him perceive +this; she banished all surprise and terror from her face and said, not +unkindly, "A most unforeseen meeting. I never should have expected to +find you in this remote corner of Saxony, Herr von Hahn." + +"My presence here is easily explained, madame. I have been transferred +to A----, and, as there is scarcely any society in the tiresome little +town, I beguile my leisure by visits to the neighbouring gentry. I am +at present enjoying the Amtsrath Friese's hospitality, in Gruenhagen, +and was just taking a woodland walk. But you, madame,--how happens it +that I meet you here? You must be living either at Gruenhagen or in +Castle Hohenwald. Oh, I see, I see. My cousin, the old Freiherr, has +overcome his antipathy to your charming sex and has admitted into his +household a governess for my lovely cousin Celia. You are this +governess of course. This is why you vanished so suddenly from the face +of the earth. It must be so; my keen perception has penetrated the +mystery. I do not boast, for keenness of perception is one of the gifts +of nature, and her gifts are variously bestowed, but I possess it. +Confess, madame, that I am right." + +The Assessor, who had now succeeded in twirling the ends of his +moustache into two long thin points, stayed the torrent of his words +for a moment to regard Lucie with a triumphant look of inquiry. + +What should she reply? Chance had revealed to him her retreat in Castle +Hohenwald; he now knew too much to admit of his not being told more. +She dreaded his loquacity, but perhaps he might be induced to curb it +if she appealed to his honour. And, besides, he need keep silence only +for a short time; in a few days she hoped her friend Adele would have +provided another refuge for her, and then the good Assessor's love of +gossip could do no harm. "Your keen perception has not been at fault, +Herr Assessor," she replied. "I live in Castle Hohenwald as governess +to Fraeulein Celia von Hohenwald, but I need hardly tell you that in +order to obtain such a situation I have been obliged to change my name. +The consequences would be disastrous to me if any one in Castle +Hohenwald should learn my real name, and still more so if any one save +yourself, Herr Assessor, whom I trust implicitly, should suspect that I +have taken refuge in Castle Hohenwald. Your perceptions are too keen to +make any explanations necessary as to the painful circumstances that +have driven me thus to change my name and to take refuge in the deepest +seclusion. I rely upon your honour, and am convinced that you will not +abuse the knowledge you have gained by accident, and that you will +mention to no one our meeting to-day." + +The Assessor bowed profoundly, feeling immensely flattered. He seized +Lucie's hand and kissed it with fervour, "Your gratifying confidence is +not misplaced. I swear it by my honour!" he exclaimed, his hand on his +heart. "I will be torn limb from limb sooner than that Herr von Sorr or +Count Repuin or any enemy of yours, dear madame, shall learn where you +have found an asylum. Rely upon me, madame, and if you should need +counsel or aid I am always at your service." + +"Thank you, Herr von Hahn. I knew I could trust you, and therefore I +have bestowed upon you my entire confidence. If I need your assistance +I shall certainly apply to you, but at present I ask only your silence +and your forgiveness for concluding this interview; I must not be seen +in your society." + +"I understand and respect your wishes, madame; I am discreet; I make no +boast of it, but----" + +"I know it, Herr Assessor, and I thank you for it. But before we part +let me ask one question. Have you encountered upon this road a young +lady on horseback?" + +"Ah, you mean my fair cousin, Celia von Hohenwald." + +"Do you know Celia?" + +"Certainly; that is, I have seen her." + +"Did you meet her?" + +The question was a simple one, and yet it confused the Assessor. He +remembered Herr von Poseneck's words and felt very uncomfortable. True, +he had not been told not to mention meeting Celia. Kurt's prohibition +had borne reference only to his betrothal, but he had expressly +declared that he should call the Assessor personally to account for any +indiscretion, and Herr von Poseneck seemed to be a man very likely to +keep his word. Would he not consider it an indiscretion to direct Frau +von Sorr to where she would find the lovers together? He would not run +any risk, and so answered with some hesitation, "I really do not know, +madame; I hardly remember----" + +"Whether you have met Celia in the forest? You can hardly have +forgotten it." + +"Certainly not, but--some one is coming. You desire that we should not +be seen together; I hasten to comply with your wishes. Adieu, madame!" + +He bowed very low, glad to have any pretext for his flight, and walked +away so quickly that he was in danger of overlooking the group of +mighty oaks near which was the by-path to which Kurt had directed him. +Fortunately, he discovered it in time and was soon lost to sight. + +Lucie looked after him, at a loss to understand his conduct. Why should +he find such difficulty in answering her simple question with regard to +Celia, and hurry away in such confusion? He must have seen Celia; why +not say so? She quickened her pace and soon reached a turning-point in +the road that opened a long vista before her. Here her glance instantly +encountered Celia, who was riding slowly towards her, attended by Kurt, +whom Lucie instantly recognized, having seen him upon the evening of +her arrival at Castle Hohenwald. Celia held her bridle negligently in +her left hand; her right was clasped in that of Kurt, towards whom she +was leaning, talking so earnestly that at first she did not perceive +Lucie, who stood still transfixed with astonishment. + +This, then, was the reason of the Assessor's mysterious behaviour; this +was the explanation of Celia's devotion to her daily rides in the +forest. + +Pluto was the first to become aware of Lucie's presence; he tossed his +head and neighed; this attracted Celia's attention, and she perceived +her friend. "Anna!" she exclaimed in a tone of delighted surprise, in +which there was not the slightest trace of terror. She withdrew her +hand from Kurt's and urged her horse to where her friend stood. "Anna, +my darling Anna!" she said, tenderly. "I am so rejoiced to see you! Now +you shall learn all. Kurt himself can tell you all about it. Yes, Kurt, +tell Anna everything,--how we first came to know each other, that we +are betrothed, and that nothing now can separate us; tell her, too, +what you told me awhile ago of Werner. Ah, how glad I am that chance +has brought you two together! Now, Kurt, you will know my dearest Anna, +and will see how wise it is to confide in her absolutely. Adieu, my +darling Anna! Au revoir, dear Kurt!" + +She kissed her hand to Lucie and Kurt, then gathered up her reins and +galloped towards the castle. + +Lucie looked after her very gravely. She was inexpressibly pained by +the discovery she had so unexpectedly made. It had never occurred to +her that Celia, gay, innocent, frank child that she seemed, could be +engaged in any secret love-affair; she would have rejected any such +idea with indignation. + +And yet here was the proof. She felt grieved and ashamed; grieved +because she had believed herself possessed of Celia's entire +confidence, and ashamed that her care of her pupil had been so +negligent that the girl had been able to deceive her from the first day +of her arrival at Hohenwald. + +Her anger, however, was not for Celia, but for Kurt; Celia was an +inexperienced child, who did not and could not know the peril of such +secret entanglements; Kurt's was all the blame. + +It was therefore a very stern and forbidding look with which she +received Kurt, who approached her with some embarrassment in his +greeting. He knew that her judgment of him could hardly be a favourable +one. She had seen him but once, when his courtesy in proffering +assistance and his whole air and manner had made a very pleasant +impression upon her, an impression in which she had been strengthened +by what she had learned of him from the Finanzrath and from Adele's +letters. Even now, as she looked at him with severe scrutiny, she could +not but admit to herself that his appearance was greatly in his favour. +He was not, strictly speaking, handsome, his features were not +perfectly regular; but his countenance was frank and manly in +expression, his fine eyes were honest and true, and about the firm +mouth there were lines that betokened great gentleness and kindliness +of nature. Lucie easily understood how a young man of so pleasing an +exterior could win the heart of the inexperienced Celia, who was +debarred all society, and her indignation was the deeper that Kurt +should have so unscrupulously used his power over an innocent child. + +"You will have the goodness, Herr von Poseneck, to give me the +explanation to which Celia has just alluded," she said, gravely and +sternly. + +Kurt bowed, and not without some confusion, for his conscience was not +quite clear, he replied: "You have a right, Fraeulein Mueller, to ask +this explanation of me, and I give it you the more readily, since my +betrothed was about to give you her entire confidence this very +evening. Even without this chance meeting you would have learned from +her what you are now to learn from me." + +"Your betrothed?" Lucie repeated the words with sharp emphasis. "Your +betrothed? Are you not aware, Herr von Poseneck, that a child of +sixteen cannot be betrothed without her father's consent? So far as I +know, the Freiherr von Hohenwald has not given his paternal consent to +your betrothal to his daughter, nor will he, for reasons with which you +doubtless are familiar, ever be likely to do so." + +"You condemn me without hearing me!" Kurt said, sadly. + +"I have heard from Celia and from you that you are betrothed to my +pupil, although you know that the Freiherr is hostile to your family, +and that you can never hope for his consent. Was it right, was it +honorable, that you, a man of ripe knowledge of the world, should +induce a young, innocent girl, almost a child, to grant you private +meetings in the forest, and finally to betroth herself to you against +her father's will?" + +"You are right, Fraeulein Mueller; I cannot deny it; I have often said +just the same thing to myself; but my heart was stronger than my head. +I hope, however, that you will judge me less severely when you have +heard that I came to know Celia by chance, and that my love for her +soon grew to a consuming passion that was beyond heeding the sage +suggestions of reason. Only grant me a short interview; I promise you +that I will be absolutely frank with you. Will you not hear me?" + +Lucie consented, and the short interview ended in a long conversation +between the two as they slowly paced to and fro in the woodland road. + +Kurt kept his promise to be entirely frank and candid; he began with +his first accidental meeting with Celia, who had won his heart at once, +although he had determined that he would entertain for her only +brotherly friendship. He described eloquently how this love had grown +within him, until he had been carried away by it so far as to reveal it +to Celia, and how he had been, as it were, forced by the Assessor's +intrusion to utter the decisive word that betrothed them on this very +day. He went on to tell Lucie how he had agreed with Celia that she was +to acquaint her dearest friend with their secret, and ask her for aid +and counsel; that he had at first been resolved to go to the old +Freiherr and confess everything to him, but that he had been deterred +from doing so by Celia's entreaties and representations. He informed +Lucie of all that he had heard with regard to Werner's schemes, and of +the danger threatening the Freiherr, adding that Celia looked to her to +aid in averting it. "And now," he said, in conclusion, "you know +everything. Judge for yourself whether I am as culpable as you thought +me at first. I confess that my only excuse is my passionate affection +for my darling Celia." + +Lucie did not reply immediately,--she pondered well upon all that Kurt +had said; his candour and integrity she could not doubt,--truth shone +in his eyes; she could not help believing him. "I cannot approve your +conduct," she said, after a long silence, "but neither will I judge you +too harshly. What is done cannot be undone; we can do nothing with the +past, but I demand that you atone in the future, as far as in you lies, +for the wrong you have committed. There must be an end to these +meetings with Celia; this you must promise me,--this duty you must +fulfil, however hard it may seem to you. Do not answer me immediately, +but reflect. I know that at this moment you think it impossible to +comply with my demand; nevertheless it must be done. You must have +sufficient self-control to enable you to resign a fleeting moment of +happiness. If you love Celia truly and honestly, and would not separate +her from her father, you must sacrifice thus much for her sake. You +ought not to see Celia again unless by the Freiherr's consent. If you +promise me this, Herr von Poseneck, I will promise you to do all that I +can to influence the Freiherr in your favour. I will try to combat his +unjustifiable hatred of you; I will be silent with regard to what I +have seen to-day, although it is perhaps my duty to put him on his +guard. Will you make me the promise that I ask, Herr von Poseneck?" + +"Can I make it? Would not Celia doubt my faith and affection if she +should not find me in the forest at the accustomed hour?" + +"Celia will never again, while I am at Castle Hohenwald, ride in the +forest alone, and she shall learn from me with what a heavy heart you +make the sacrifice to your love which I have asked of you. It is very +likely that she, too, will rebel against this sacrifice, and will blame +both you and me; but this consideration ought not to deter you from +doing your duty; thus only can you enable me to keep silence to the +Freiherr, who, if he should learn now, without any preparation, that +his daughter is secretly betrothed to a Poseneck, never would forgive +you!" + +"You demand an impossibility!" Kurt replied. "I cannot make a promise +which I may be forced to break. If Celia should call me, should need my +help, should I not hasten to her aid? And how easily this might happen! +Am I not Celia's natural protector? You know what danger threatens the +Freiherr through the Finanzrath's intrigues; if he, with his two sons, +should be placed under arrest, to whom could Celia turn for aid and +counsel? Ought I then, bound by a promise, to refuse her this aid? I +could not!" + +"Nor do I ask this. Your promise is not to be held binding in so +extreme a case. Give it me with this condition." + +"You are very cruel." + +"I am only doing my duty, and requiring that you should do yours." + +Lucie's firmness conquered, and Kurt submitted after much hesitation. +He could not but admit to himself that Lucie was right, and that in her +influence with the Freiherr lay his only hope for the future. He gave +the required promise. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + +Away into the open air, to field or forest, wherever nature offers +solitude! This was Arno's thought; he longed to be alone, to collect +himself, after the fearful blow he had received. He crossed the +court-yard and hurried through garden and park into the depths of the +forest. Arrived there, where he felt sure of encountering no one, he +threw himself down upon the moss-carpet at the foot of a giant oak. The +quiet soothed him; he needed it to aid him to control the storm of +emotion within him. What had he just undergone? To his humiliation he +had been harshly rejected,--rejected in a manner that wounded his pride +as well as his heart. What folly his former suspicions of Anna had +proved to be! He had preserved towards her a cold and chilling +demeanour to convince her that her feminine arts to attract him were +vain. How she must have smiled at the silly vanity for which he was now +paying so dearly! And he had asked for so little, for only one ray of +hope, only for permission to love her, and even this she had coldly and +firmly denied him. He had thought his heart desolated by the deceit +from which he had suffered years before, but the contrary was proved in +the bitter pain that now tortured him. He loved, and she whom he loved +scorned his affection. Was her heart no longer free? Did she love +another? She had denied this; but could he believe her? He remembered +all that Werner had told of her, that she had been betrothed and +forsaken by her lover when her father's wealth had vanished. Could she +still cling to one so worthless? No; it was impossible. She must +despise such a man, and she was too noble to give affection where she +could not esteem. Had Werner's studied attentions produced any +impression upon her? No; her tone, in speaking of him, had been that of +contempt; she saw through him,--he never could touch her heart. And yet +how could "duty and honour," of which she had spoken, demand that she +should reject forever a genuine devotion, and that she should declare, +"We must part forever!" The claim of another upon her affection could +alone make it her duty to refuse to listen to his protestations. The +thought was torture. He could endure everything save that. He was a +prey to a savage jealousy of this unknown who robbed him of all that +could make life fair, and he had to force himself to reflect that he +had not an atom of foundation for this jealousy, which, nevertheless, +he could not crush out of his heart. There it was, and it would assert +itself, laughing to scorn the arguments of sober reason. + +The sun was low in the heavens when Arno was roused from his long +brooding reverie by the crackling of the underbrush, caused as he +thought by some animal making its way through the thicket. But no; in a +few moments there emerged upon the open space, in the midst of which +stood the giant oak at whose feet he was reclining, Hauk, the chief +inspector of the Hohenwald estate. + +The man was much surprised at encountering thus his young master, whom +he had never supposed to be addicted to daydreams in the depth of the +forest, and he evidently reflected that his presence here, instead of +in the fields superintending the labourers, might seem strange to Baron +Arno. He approached him, hat in hand, with an air of some +embarrassment. "I beg pardon for disturbing you, Herr Baron," he said, +"but I never dreamed of finding you here." + +"True, Herr Hauk," Arno replied, recalled to the actual world by the +Inspector's presence, "nor could I have expected to find you here +instead of in the fields." + +The Inspector's embarrassment was increased by the reproof conveyed in +the young Baron's words; and it suddenly seemed to him that the reasons +for which he had undertaken his walk through the forest were mere +folly. "I beg pardon, Herr Baron," he said, meekly, "I should not have +left my work with the men, but I saw Herr von Poseneck again, and I +wanted to know what the young gentleman is after on our land. Something +must be wrong when a Poseneck tramps about our forest!" + +"You are dreaming. Inspector!" Arno rejoined, harshly. "What could +bring Herr von Poseneck to Hohenwald? Go back to your men, and refrain +from woodland rambles while harvesting is going on." + +The Inspector had never before received so stern a rebuke from the +young Baron, and the faithful fellow felt aggrieved. "Of course, if the +Herr Baron orders it I will return immediately, but it is a pity that I +should not discover what Herr von Poseneck is continually after in our +forest. Still, it is no business of mine why he is sneaking here, if +the Herr Baron does not care about it." + +Arno's curiosity was aroused; he had thought at first that the man's +story was an invention to cover his neglect of duty, but he now saw +clearly that he had wronged Hauk, who had been a faithful servant for +many years. Therefore, in a much gentler tone, he asked, "What is it +you are saying about Herr von Poseneck? Explain your meaning, Hauk." + +"I mean only, if the Herr Baron will excuse me, what I say. Young Herr +von Poseneck, who lives at Gruenhagen with the Amtsrath, has been for a +long time sauntering about in our forest every day; what he is after I +do not know, but since he is a Poseneck, it can be no good. He usually +takes the path along the Gruenhagen boundary, and gets into the forest +that way; but to-day I saw him hurry directly across the Hohenwald +meadow. Early in the spring, Kunz, who was ploughing near the Gruenhagen +boundary, saw him do just the same thing. I watched him enter the +forest to-day with my own eyes, and I came through it from the other +side, thinking to strike the very path he must have taken, and catch my +fine gentleman in the act, if, as I suspect, he is at any poaching +work." + +This was a strange piece of news. It was folly to suspect Kurt von +Poseneck of poaching; the idea was begotten in the Inspector's mind by +the universal mistrust of the Posenecks that was rife among the +Hohenwald tenantry and servants; still Arno wondered what could bring +the young gentleman daily to the Hohenwald forest, and he thought the +matter called for an explanation. "Are you sure, Hauk, that you are not +mistaken in the man?" + +"Perfectly sure, Herr Baron; besides, all the men at work saw him as +well as myself." + +"Strange! And you say that he has been in the habit for some time of +wandering about in our forest daily?" + +"Yes, Herr Baron; he has often been seen, mostly by the women when they +were gathering sticks, but they said nothing about it, for they +themselves were on forbidden ground." + +"Mere old women's gossip then!" + +"No, Herr Baron; the forester has seen him too, but he did not speak to +him, because the Freiherr has ordered us to avoid all quarrels with the +Gruenhageners; and Kunz saw him, as I said, long ago." + +"Long ago? That is very vague. How long ago?" + +"I cannot tell exactly, but it must have been about the time that +Fraeulein Mueller came to Hohenwald, for Kunz was with the Herr Baron +that night in the quarry, and he told me shortly afterwards that he had +seen young Herr von Poseneck cross our field to the forest; that he had +not been sure it was he until he saw him that night in the quarry; but +that then he was perfectly certain of him. So he must have been seen +first about that time, and since then scarcely a day has passed that he +has not been seen by some of the people in the wood." + +Arno's brow darkened. Kurt was no poacher, but he thought he had +discovered the reason for his walks in the Hohenwald forest. Following +the path by which he had been seen to enter it, he would reach the lake +in the park, upon the shore of which, hidden among the shrubbery, was a +bench, whence there was a lovely view of the little sheet of water. +This spot was a favourite one with Fraeulein Anna Mueller. Whenever, as +was, to be sure, but rarely the case, she walked in the park during +Celia's absence upon her afternoon ride, this bench was always her +goal, for she knew that even Werner would not venture to intrude upon +her there. Her reason for seeking this retreat was now plain, as was +also Kurt's attraction for the Hohenwald forest. + +And yet Anna had said that her heart was free! Could she lie? Why had +she not frankly confessed the truth? He would have had no right to +blame her; her avowal would, indeed, have pained him, but the pain +would have been easier to bear than distrust of her. He suffered in the +thought that she was no better than the rest, that she could descend to +a falsehood when the happiness of a man who loved her devotedly was at +stake. + +"Is it the Herr Baron's commands that I should return to the +harvesters?" + +The Inspector's question aroused Arno from his confused imaginings. +"Yes, Herr Hauk," he said, with hardly-won composure. "You had best do +so." Then seeing the man's discontented expression, he added, "I will +myself endeavour to encounter Herr von Poseneck, but I do not desire +any one to spy upon his movements. Let him walk as much as he pleases +in the Hohenwald forest; I am sure that no ill will towards us brings +him here, and I will not have him interfered with. Tell this to the +people, Hauk, and bear in mind what I say. My father's desire that all +disputes with the Gruenhageners shall be avoided must be strictly +complied with. Good-afternoon, Hauk." + +"As you please, Herr Baron," the Inspector replied, with a bow, as he +took his departure. + +Long after he was gone Arno stood leaning against the trunk of the oak, +uncertain what to do. Was Kurt at this very moment perhaps seated +beside Anna on the bench near the lake? Jealousy impelled him to +discover whether his suspicions were correct. In vain did he represent +to himself that he had no right to spy upon Anna's actions. He strode +through the wood and soon reached the borders of the broad Hohenwald +forest road, which he was obliged to cross in order to reach the lake. +Here, as he was making his way through the bushes that lined it on +either side, he heard a voice that thrilled him; it was Anna's. He +could not distinguish what she said, nor the words of the reply, which +was given in clear, manly tones. He cautiously proceeded a few steps +farther, until, parting the bushes, he obtained a clear view of the +broad road. His worst fears were confirmed: Kurt and Anna were slowly +walking along it engaged in earnest conversation. They approached the +spot where Arno stood concealed; a few more steps and he should hear +every word that was said, for they did not suspect a listener near. For +a single instant a wild desire possessed Arno to penetrate Anna's +mystery; he leaned forward as far as was possible without discovering +himself, but the next moment he rose superior to the disgraceful +temptation. His cheek flushed at the thought that he had been deaf +though but for an instant to the dictates of honour. Silently and +hastily he withdrew, moderating his pace only when he could no longer +hear the sound of voices. As he returned to the castle he felt that +although he had heard nothing he had seen enough. + +Lucie parted from Kurt as his friend, and as she slowly walked back to +the castle she reflected upon the perils encompassing the people who +had become so dear to her. She pondered how to put the Freiherr upon +his guard without betraying Celia's secret, and how at the same time to +influence the old man to relinquish his foolish prejudice against Kurt. +She could hardly warn him directly, but could it not be done indirectly +through Werner, perhaps? If she should inform the Finanzrath that his +connection with Repuin and other French agents was no longer a secret, +that his movements were watched, that he was in danger of arrest, and +that his presence in Castle Hohenwald imperilled the safety of his +father and brother,--if she begged him to leave the castle, would he +not comply with her advice? + +Celia hastened to meet her friend; she had not been able to remain +within-doors. Arrived at the castle, the girl threw Pluto's bridle to +old John and hurried to her room to change her dress, thinking that she +would await Anna in their sitting-room; but, although the windows there +were all wide open, the confinement seemed to stifle her; she wanted +air,--not the air of park or garden, but that of the cool, fragrant +forest. As she issued from the gate of the court-yard and was just +about to turn into the broad forest road she encountered Arno, and was +hurrying past him, longing to see Anna and hear what she had said to +Kurt, when he detained her, saying sternly, "Where are you going?" + +"That is not your affair," she pertly answered her brother's harsh +question. "I might as well ask you, Where have you been?" + +"I have been in the forest." + +"And I am going to the forest." + +She would have passed him, but he still detained her. "Do you usually +select this road for your afternoon ride?" + +Celia blushed. What did he mean by the question? Did Arno know anything +of her meetings with Kurt? With feminine evasion she hastily rejoined, +"Why should I always choose this tiresome broad road?" + +"Why, indeed? How long since you returned from your ride?" + +"About a quarter of an hour ago," she answered, frankly. + +"And did you ride on the broad road to-day?" + +"What a foolish question! Let me go, Arno! How can it possibly interest +you when or whore I ride?" + +But Arno still held her hand fast, seeming not to notice her +embarrassment. He gazed darkly down the forest road. If Celia pursued +it she would meet Kurt and Anna together. Such a discovery would be but +a merited punishment for Anna, but what impression would it produce +upon his innocent sister? A second glance along the road reassured +him,--Anna was slowly approaching the castle alone. He let go Celia's +hand, relieved of an ugly dread lest Anna should have confided to her +pupil her love-affair with Poseneck. That Celia knew nothing about it +was clear from her replies to him; the "will-o'-the-wisp" was so frank +a creature. + +So soon as she found herself free, Celia ran towards Anna, bestowing +not another thought upon Arno, who went his way. Throwing her arms +around her friend, she whispered, as she caressed her tenderly, "At +last you are come! My darling, darling Anna! Now all is well, and my +conscience is once more clear." + +"You ought to have had confidence in me," Anna said, in a tone of +gentle reproof. + +"Oh, I have often said that to myself. I have repeatedly determined to +tell you all, but I was so afraid lest you would be angry, and perhaps +forbid my meeting Kurt, and so--I cannot live without just saying a few +words to him every day." + +"You must try it, my dear Celia; you must not meet Herr von Poseneck in +the forest again." + +"I thought you would say that!" Celia exclaimed. "I knew it, but you +are mistaken if you think I shall obey you. I am not a child; I know +what I am doing. Kurt is my betrothed, and I have a right to meet him. +But no, Anna dear, I will not be angry with you, only do not ask +that of me. If you think it wrong for me to see Kurt alone in the +forest,--and I have sometimes been afraid that it was,--then come with +me; we have no secret from you; only you must not ask me not to see him +again,--I cannot obey you: and if you will not go to the forest with me +I must go by myself." + +"It will be of no use. Herr von Poseneck has promised me that he will +not meet you in the forest again." + +"That is detestable of you,--detestable!" Celia exclaimed, indignantly. +She had been so utterly unused to control that she was really angry, +and it was only after a long and grave explanation upon Lucie's part +that the girl was brought to see that her friend's counsel was dictated +by the truest motives and an earnest desire for her happiness. At last, +however, she agreed to be guided entirely by her "darling Anna," and +the compact was sealed with a kiss. + +Relieved to have been successful with Celia, Lucie now applied herself +to the second task she had undertaken, and, instead of entering the +castle, turned into the garden, where the Finanzrath was usually to be +found towards evening. + +"Are we going to the garden?" Celia asked, surprised. "We cannot talk +together there, for Werner, as you know, will instantly join us, and we +shall not be able to get rid of him." + +"I am going purposely to meet him this afternoon," Lucie replied, "and +I beg you to leave me with him when he joins us." + +"Have you more secrets with him?" Celia asked, fretfully. + +"I must speak with him," was Lucie's calm reply. "I promised Herr von +Poseneck to warn your father of the danger that threatens him. I cannot +do this directly, since I cannot say whence comes my information." + +"And you are going to warn him through Werner?" the girl asked, shaking +her head. "Don't attempt it, Anna dear; you do not know Werner,--he +will not believe you; he thinks he knows more than any one else. Do not +have any confidences with Werner; speak to Arno,--he is true and +trustworthy; he will find a means to put papa on his guard and to force +Werner to go away." + +"I must speak with the Finanzrath," Lucie insisted; "do not try to +dissuade me, dear child; I cannot help it." + +Celia said no more; she silently accompanied Lucie into the garden, and +walked beside her along the winding paths until, as had been foreseen, +Werner joined them, when she lingered behind to pluck a flower, and +then, turning into a side-path, left her brother and her friend to +themselves. + +Werner greeted Lucie after his usual smooth, courteous fashion; but she +interrupted the flow of his complimentary speeches by saying, in a very +grave tone, "Our meeting this afternoon, Herr Finanzrath, is owing to +no chance. I came into the garden expressly to find you, for I have an +important communication to make to you." + +Werner's attention was aroused; Lucie frankly admitted that she had +come in search of him. What could she have to tell him? And Celia had +evidently left them together intentionally. She could have done so only +by Lucie's desire. A secret hope that his endeavours to obtain the +beautiful woman's favour were about to prove more successful flashed +across his vain soul, but vanished as he looked into his companion's +grave and even stern face. "I am extremely happy, madame, in receiving +this proof of your confidence," he said, "and await with eagerness what +you have to tell me." + +"It is of no agreeable nature," Lucie went on; "but I will go directly +to the point. You are in great peril, Herr Finanzrath; your connection +with Count Repuin has aroused suspicion that you are of the number of +French agents who are at work here, in the interest of the French +Emperor, endeavoring to effect the dissolution of the treaty that +unites the South German states and those of the North German alliance, +with Prussia, and who are plotting against Prussia among the people as +well as in the army." + +Werner stayed his steps and looked searchingly into Lucie's face. His +cheek grew a trifle paler, and his voice was not quite so firm and +clear as usual, as he replied, with forced composure, "Your information +is indeed startling, madame; I am excessively grateful to you for it, +but you must permit me one question. Whence comes your knowledge that +so foolish and ungrounded a suspicion attaches to me?" + +"There are all-sufficient reasons, Herr Finanzrath, why I cannot answer +your question and reveal to you the source of my information, but I can +assure you that my warning is sent you by a sincere friend of yours and +of your family, who is well aware of the necessity for it. But let me +proceed, and then you can judge for yourself of the magnitude of the +peril menacing you." + +"I am all ear, madame." + +There was a dash of contempt in his tone, and Lucie saw that her +refusal to mention the source of her information had shaken his belief +in its truth; but she went on quietly: "The suspicion of which I have +told you, whether it be well founded or not----" + +"Do you doubt me, madame?" + +"I have no right to form an opinion, and there is no reason why, if +formed, I should express it. Of course, since you declare the suspicion +unfounded, I have no choice but to believe you; nevertheless, it +exists, and it attaches not only to you, but to your father and +brother. The authorities are convinced that your relatives know of your +schemes, and aid and abet them, and that Castle Hohenwald is a centre +for treasonable plots and conspiracies. The castle is already under +surveillance; how strict this is I cannot say, nor whether it extends +to the letters sent from here, but I know that it exists, and that the +authorities have it in mind to crush any treasonable scheming before it +becomes dangerous, by the arrest of the entire Hohenwald family. I +think, Herr Finanzrath, that under these circumstances you will see +that you owe it both to your family and to yourself to leave the castle +as soon as possible. Your presence here imperils your father's safety. +He will, on the other hand, be left undisturbed, though not unobserved, +if you, the cause of this _groundless_ suspicion, absent yourself from +Castle Hohenwald for a while. Your father's age and infirmity, his +seclusion from the world, will shield him from all annoyance as soon as +you are away, since it certainly must be the aim of the authorities to +avoid exciting indignation in Saxony by any useless arrests. This +is all that I had to say to you, Herr Finanzrath. I hope that my +well-meant warning will effect its purpose, and that you will, by a +speedy departure from Castle Hohenwald, both protect your relatives +from the danger of arrest and insure your own safety." + +Werner had listened in silence, an evil sneer playing about his lips +the while. "Then my departure from Castle Hohenwald is the purpose of +your communication, madame?" he asked, watching Lucie with keen +scrutiny. + +"It is; I confidently hope that your departure will remove all danger." + +"Indeed? You are extremely kind. I really cannot be sufficiently +grateful to you for your care, but I must pray you to fill the measure +of your kindness by telling me to what good friend you owe your +information, which has the air of proceeding directly from the +Chancellor himself, if, indeed, it be not the fabrication of an idle +fancy or of a well-laid scheme." + +"I do not understand you, Herr Finanzrath," Lucie asked, amazed. "Do +you really imagine I could wish to deceive you?" + +"Let me beg you again for the name of your informant." + +"Let me repeat that I cannot, or rather will not, give it to you; you +have no right to demand it of me." + +"I do not demand it, madame; I do not even desire it, but perhaps you +will allow me to mention it to you myself." + +"You cannot know it!" + +"But I can guess it. I see through the game that is playing with me. +Have a care, madame, that the bow is not too tensely bent; the string +might break." + +"I do not understand you." + +"Then I must speak more clearly. You shall have your will and +understand perfectly. Yours be the consequences of allowing me a +glimpse into your heart,--of ruthlessly annihilating my fairest hopes. +You shall not escape unpunished from the intrigue which you have spun +to drive me from Castle Hohenwald." + +Werner's eyes flashed fire and his cheek was crimson as he spoke. His +agitation Lucie could not understand, and it terrified her. She had +never seen the calm, easy Finanzrath thus moved. "You speak in riddles, +Herr Finanzrath," she said, looking frankly in his face. "I do not +understand your anger. What do you mean by your threat, and by accusing +me of intriguing to drive you from Castle Hohenwald?" + +"Am I not yet sufficiently clear?" Werner continued, even more angrily. +"Do you still imagine you can deceive me? You are mistaken. I see +through your game. You choose that I should speak it out plainly? Well, +then, so be it! I am weary of the restraint that I have put upon myself +for months I will no longer be your plaything! I have loved you +passionately since the day when I brought you to the castle; to win +your love in return was my highest aim in life, my fondest hope----" + +"I must not listen to you. I must leave you!" Lucie exclaimed, +indignantly. + +"You must listen; I will force you to hear me!" Werner declared. + +"You are mad!" + +"You have made me so. Thank yourself that my passion asserts itself, +that I cast aside the fetters that have bound me for months. As long as +I hoped to win your love I endured their restraint; now, since I see +through your schemes, I will do so no longer. I suspected it all long +since. I have often told myself that you were but playing with my love, +but never until now did I know it surely. Do you think I have been +blind,--that I have slumbered through these long weeks? No, jealousy +has spurred me on to constant watchfulness; not a look exchanged +between Arno and yourself has escaped me. I have been insane with +jealousy when you were alone with him in the library, but I would not +believe that you could prefer him to me, and so I deceived myself and +you deceived me. You may well desire my absence. I could by a single +word put a stop to all your loving dalliance. Arno is your informant; +he would thrust from his path the brother in whom he suspects a rival, +and he thinks to drive me away by the threat of an imaginary danger. +Fool! I see through his game." + +Lucie listened in blank amazement to the accusations thus heaped upon +her, which, in their suddenness and strangeness, bewildered her +comprehension. Was this Werner, the polished, easy man of fashion, +confronting her now with angry eyes and laying bare before her the +inmost secrets of his soul? What should she reply to so disgraceful an +attack? A contemptuous silence was all that it deserved. And she was +silent, but this Werner regarded in the light of a confession; he +thought she was trembling at his anger and unable to reply. He laughed +scornfully, and continued, "Am I sufficiently clear now, madame? Now +you know, I imagine, that you can no longer deceive me. You are right +not to attempt it by any denial. One thing, however, you have +forgotten, that I know your past, and that one word from me can put an +end to your brief dream of love. My precious brother is an idealist who +might indeed bestow his heart upon Celia's poor governess, the lovely +Anna Mueller, but who would turn with aversion and disgust from the +runaway wife of Herr von Sorr! Hitherto I have kept your secret +faithfully, but I might easily be tempted to forget to do so in future. +Herr von Sorr has not resigned his rights; he is still searching for +you, and it is owing to my silence alone that he is not now here +asserting those rights in defiance of which you would vainly seek +protection from Arno. Your safety here you owe only to the love which, +spite of all the offence it has received at your hands, still glows +within me, a consuming flame. Have a care that you do not convert it to +hatred, Frau von Sorr. Continue to reject my devotion, to play with my +jealousy, and you shall bitterly repent!" + +Not a word could Lucie utter. Amazement, shame, and indignation +overwhelmed her. Werner no longer awaited a reply; he left her not as +was his wont with a low bow, but with head proudly erect, hurrying +towards the castle, and not even looking back at her whom he had so +insulted. He did not see the intense scorn and disgust expressed in her +face as she gazed after him, nor hear the word "wretch!" that passed +her lips as she did so. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + +For a few moments after leaving Lucie Werner's features wore a smile of +triumph; he thought the proud beauty subdued and terrified by his +threats; but when he reached his own apartment, and had time for +reflection, he felt by no means so sure of his victory. As his +excitement subsided he became greatly discontented with himself, and +bitterly regretted having yielded to one of the outbursts of passion +which had cost him dear in his boyish years, but which he had lately +learned to control. Pacing his room to and fro, he pondered upon the +occurrences of the past hour. While in Lucie's presence, rage at the +thought of his brother's successful rivalry had bewildered his +understanding; he could not think clearly. Reason had returned, and he +confessed to himself that he had played the part of a jealous fool. His +brother was no intriguer, his ways were never those of a schemer. But +whence, if not from Arno, could Fraeulein Mueller have received her +information? She saw no one but the inmates of the castle, and she had +lately received no letters, as no one knew better than Werner, who +distributed the letters from the post-bag every morning. He grew very +uncomfortable; Lucie had known of his acquaintance with Repuin, and she +had now learned of what nature this acquaintance was; she still +maintained a correspondence with influential people in Prussia, Adele +von Guntram, President von Guntram's daughter, was her most intimate +friend, and any information forwarded to them would soon reach the +Chancellor's office. + +The longer the Finanzrath reflected the more grave did the situation +appear to him. Vague pictures of an examination of his papers, of an +arrest, and possible trial for high treason presented themselves to his +imagination. Finally, he seated himself at his writing-table, and +thought he would write to inform Repuin of what he had heard. This, +however, proved to be by no means an easy task; he could scarcely do it +without implicating Lucie, and should he mention her relations with +Adele von Guntram the Russian's suspicions would surely be aroused; he +would make his appearance at the castle with Sorr, who would enforce +his marital rights. Should this occur, Lucie would be restrained by no +considerations from betraying him. At present she would feel obliged to +have some regard for the man who knew her secret and held her fate in +his hands. He tore up his letter to Repuin, and decided to attempt to +avert in another way the danger that menaced him. Lucie was not +implacable; she had no reason for bringing distress upon the Hohenwald +family by betraying him; only a desire for revenge or to defend herself +from attack could prompt her to do this; he would ask her pardon for +expressions used in the heat of passion, and would not allow his love +for the beautiful woman or his jealousy to carry him so far again. +Soothed by these reflections, Werner began to look to the future with +confidence. + +What now? Lucie had asked herself, when left alone in the castle +garden. To answer this question was not easy. Suppose that Werner, +impelled by anger and jealousy, should discover her retreat to Count +Repuin, would not her best course be to leave the castle immediately, +and await in some secluded village the result of Adele's efforts to +procure her another situation? The thought of the consequences of +Werner's betrayal of her secret filled her with horror. What if Sorr, +summoned by the Finanzrath, should appear at the castle and require her +to return to him! She felt sure that the old Freiherr would grant her +his protection, but what would it avail her against her husband! And +Arno? Lucie's heart died within her as she thought of the pain that a +knowledge of her secret would cause him. Nothing was left her but a +hurried flight. But no, she would not leave Hohenwald; had she not +promised Kurt and Celia to use her influence with the old Freiherr to +induce him to forget the wretched feud with the Posenecks? Could she +disappoint Celia's confidence in her by forsaking her at her need, in +selfish care for her own safety? Would not Kurt in that case have a +right to recall the promise he had given her? And what mischief might +ensue! No, it was her sacred duty to watch over Celia; she would not +leave the castle for some time yet. But she had written to Adele +begging her to procure another situation for her as soon as possible. +The letter had gone; should she not write another and revoke her +request? + +In the midst of her uncertainty, Celia, who had seen from her window +that Werner had returned to the castle, joined her again, eager to know +the result of the interview with her eldest brother. "Well?" she asked. + +"You were right, I ought not to have spoken to your brother," Anna +replied; "he does not believe me. I cannot tell you more, Celia; it is +enough that my appeal to him was quite in vain." + +"I knew how it would be," the girl said, sadly; "I wish you had taken +my advice, but it is not yet too late. Let me call Arno; he is in his +room, I saw him go to it; he will be here in a few minutes. Indeed, +dear Anna, Arno has the best heart in the world. He is not so amiable +and agreeable as Werner, he cannot pay compliments, but you can rely +upon him. I have often watched him when he thought no one was observing +him, and I am quite sure that he likes you very much. He will believe +you, and soon devise some way of shielding our dear old father from +danger. Do speak with Arno, dearest Anna. Let me call him. May I?" + +"Yes; I will await him here." + +Celia's gratitude was shown by a fervent kiss, and she flew towards the +castle, returning in a few moments with Arno, whose hand she held in +hers. + +"Here he is!" she exclaimed as she approached Anna. "Only think, the +miserable fellow refused to come at first. Scold him well, Anna dear; +although he does look so grim, he is really dear and good. There, he is +smiling; now you need not be afraid of him. Adieu!" + +And she was gone, tossing a kiss to her friend as she vanished in the +shrubbery. + +The smile which her merry talk had called forth faded from Arno's grave +face as he bowed formally to Lucie. "I await your commands, Fraeulein +Mueller," he said. "You must forgive my momentary hesitation to follow +my sister. I thought her jesting when she told me you wished to speak +with me." + +"Celia was not jesting, Herr Baron. I requested an interview with you, +and I thank you for complying with my wishes." + +A low bow was Arno's only reply. + +Lucie had thought it would be easier to begin a conversation with Arno. +As he now walked beside her, grave and serious, without smoothing the +way for the opening of their talk by a single word, she felt +exceedingly uncomfortable. Her last words to him in the library had +deeply offended him, as was evident from the formality of his manner. +She had determined to make no allusion to their previous interview; but +how could she help it? And she longed to say one kind word to him. + +"You are angry with me, Herr Baron," she began, and her fair face +flushed slightly; she could not look up at him as she spoke,--her eyes +sought the ground. "I regret deeply if what I was forced to say to you +offended you. I did not mean that it should. It was my duty to tell you +the perfect truth; if I did this too harshly, I pray you not to be +angry with me. I told you to-day that your words would drive me from +Castle Hohenwald; I was overhasty. After calm consideration, I have +decided not to go away. I know that Baron Arno von Hohenwald is too +proud and too noble to repeat words that could pain me; I know that +although I was forced to offend him, he will still be my friend. May I +not cherish this conviction, Herr Baron?" + +As she spoke the last words Lucie looked up at Arno and held out her +hand, but he did not take it. He replied, coldly and with a low bow, +"You are very kind, Fraeulein Mueller. I am glad that you do me justice; +I am, indeed, too proud ever again to intrude upon you after the harsh +rejection I have experienced. I assure you that you shall never hear +from me a word that could cause you to leave Hohenwald sooner than you +would otherwise intend. May I hope that this assurance is satisfactory +to you, and that you will inform me to what I owe the honour of this +interview?" + +Lucie slowly let fall her hand; Arno's cold refusal to take it, and his +measured politeness, convinced her that she had nothing to fear from +him, and yet she was not glad that he was thus able to command his +feelings; his cold words grieved her. But he must not suspect this; she +forced her composure to equal his own as she explained to him that she +had a duty to fulfil towards the Freiherr and himself in telling him of +the warning sent to them from a perfectly trustworthy source. His +brother's plots were discovered, Castle Hohenwald was under +surveillance, and such suspicion rested upon his father and himself of +sharing in the Finanzrath's schemes that they were threatened with +arrest. "I trust you, Herr Baron," Lucie concluded, "to devise means +for averting the threatened danger. I had hoped that the immediate +departure of the Finanzrath would effect this, and therefore I first +appealed to him, told him what I have told you, and begged him to leave +the castle, but he would not believe in my information, refused to be +guided by it, and thus forced me to turn to you, Herr Baron." + +"Which you would not otherwise have done," Arno rejoined, bitterly. +"Nevertheless I am grateful to you for your warning; but you must +excuse me for putting one question to you. You tell me that Werner +refused to believe in your information. Did he tell you his reason for +doubting it?" + +Lucie hesitated to reply. She had not expected this question, and yet +it was a very natural one. How could Arno expect to induce his brother +to depart if he were not informed of the entire state of the case? He +must know that the Finanzrath mistrusted him, and this Lucie could tell +him only by letting him know of Werner's jealousy. It offended her +sense of delicacy to inform Arno of this; but it was her duty to +overcome her scruples and let him know what insane folly possessed +Werner. + +"You do not answer," Arno continued, after a short pause, "and yet my +question is a very simple one." + +"It shall be answered, Herr Baron. The Herr Finanzrath thinks that I +have been induced by you to acquaint him with a fictitious tale of +danger, in hopes that terror may drive him from Castle Hohenwald." + +"Indeed? The suspicion is like him!" Arno exclaimed, indignantly. "And +why should I wish to drive him from the castle, and why should you lend +yourself to second me by a falsehood? I do not perceive the connection +here." + +Lucie's cheeks were crimson; but, hard as it was to reply, she did it +bravely. "The Herr Finanzrath explained this in a manner very insulting +to me. He thinks that it is my desire as well as yours to banish him +from Castle Hohenwald, that we may escape his observation. You will not +require me to explain further the disgraceful suspicions aroused in his +mind by an unfortunate passion." + +"Shameful!" Arno exclaimed. "I have long known of his passion for +you,--his cold, calculating nature is incapable of a genuine affection; +his love is an insult to you. I did not believe that he would dare to +offend you by such unworthy suspicions; he is more worthless than I +thought him. I thank you from my heart for bestowing your confidence +upon me; rest assured you shall not repent it." + +For a few minutes they walked on in silence, Arno thinking of Werner's +silly suspicion that he was the author of Anna's warning. Who was its +author? The answer that instantly occurred to him to this question +disturbed the satisfaction that Anna's frankness had afforded him. Her +information could proceed from but one person, from him with whom he +had so lately seen her in earnest conversation; from Kurt von Poseneck. + +But a moment ago he had regarded with profound contempt Werner's +groundless jealousy, and yet now he suddenly felt a like sensation with +regard to the rival who had robbed him of Anna's love. Her warning lost +all credibility in his eyes; he rebelled against receiving it from a +man whom he hated, and felt inclined, as Werner had done, to believe +that it had been given with some unworthy aim. He must have certainty +upon this point. + +All that was genial vanished from his manner as he turned to Lucie, and +with the same icy courtesy that had characterized his first address to +her, said, "I owe you a debt of gratitude, Fraeulein Mueller, but let me +pray you to complete your information. It is very important that I +should know the source of your warning. Tell me frankly, do I owe it to +Herr Kurt von Poseneck?" + +"How did you know? What made you think of him?" Lucie asked, greatly +surprised. + +"Thank you, Fraeulein Mueller; I am answered. You do not deny, then, that +Herr von Poseneck has commissioned you to communicate with me?" + +"Why should I deny it? But I really cannot understand how----" + +"How I arrived at the knowledge of your intimate relations with Herr +von Poseneck? Chance revealed to me your secret. I saw you to-day in +the forest engaged in confidential discourse with him. I now know why +you refused me all hope in the future." + +"Herr Baron!----" + +"Say no more! Why should you blush because I allude to your relations +with Herr von Poseneck and to our interview? You never gave me a right +to hope for your love; it was my fault if in my conceit I cherished +hopes which you crushed as they deserved. I reproach myself, not you. I +deserved the harsh repulse which I received, but I did not deserve that +you should deceive me at the very time when my heart was laid bare +before you. Had you but told me frankly that you loved another it would +have pained me deeply, it is true, but my confidence in you would have +been unshaken. At such a time you should not have told me a falsehood." + +"Herr Baron, I assure you----" + +"Would you still deceive me? That first falsehood was enough, and more +than enough. Let us break off this conversation. Let me give you one +last piece of advice in return for your warning. You know the dislike +that my father entertains for the Posenecks. For this reason, perhaps, +you have refrained from any mention of your intimacy with thus +gentleman, and you certainly are right, for even your powerful +influence would hardly avail, I fear, to conquer the hereditary hatred +of a Hohenwald for a Poseneck; but if you would keep your secret, let +me advise both you and Herr von Poseneck to be more circumspect in +future. The people on this estate have noticed his daily visits to a +certain part of the Hohenwald forest, and will shortly discover to whom +these visits are paid unless you are more careful." + +It was positive torture to Lucie to hear Arno's icy tone as he gave her +this advice. She perceived how he suffered; he had betrayed his pain +when he showed her how deeply he felt the suspicion of her untruth. +This wretched mistake! But could she undeceive him without betraying +Celia? And if she did,--if she proved to him that it was solely upon +Celia's account that Kurt came daily to the Hohenwald forest, might +there not be danger of reviving hopes which he had resigned? Still, she +could not bear that he should leave her with a doubt in his mind of her +integrity. + +As he turned to go, with a formal bow, she lightly touched his arm. "We +must not part thus, Herr Baron," she said, gravely. "You owe it to me +at least to listen to me." + +"What can you have to say, Fraeulein Mueller?" Arno asked as he paused. + +"You have brought a grave accusation against me," Lucie continued, "and +you have done so deceived by appearances." + +"Was I deceived when I saw you scarcely an hour ago in the forest with +Herr von Poseneck?" + +"No; you saw correctly." + +"Is it not true that Herr von Poseneck has, since your arrival at +Castle Hohenwald, daily sought a certain spot in the Hohenwald forest?" + +"This, too, is true." + +"Is it not true that in the forest he sought the seat hidden in +shrubbery near the lake, where you are so fond of dreaming away a +solitary hour?" + +"That is not true, at least so far as I know." + +Arno's face expressed doubt and amazement, but Lucie's eyes flashed. "I +have never given you cause to doubt my truth," she said, more sternly +than he had ever heard her speak. "My word must suffice; I assure you +that I have seen Herr von Poseneck but twice in my life, once upon the +night of my arrival here, and this afternoon for the second time. I +stand in no relation whatsoever with him, and our meeting to-day was +entirely accidental." + +"But you were talking to him so earnestly." + +"And about most important matters. I esteem Herr von Poseneck very +highly, I do not deny. He, inspired by the purest friendship for the +Hohenwalds, begged me to warn you as I have done." + +"Was this all you were talking of?" + +"This and something else no less important. What it was is my secret, +and I feel under no obligation to give you farther information, as you, +Herr Baron, have no right to doubt my truth. This is all I wished to +say; I will no longer detain you." + +Arno was dismissed; he bowed in some confusion as Lucie left him, and +yet, in spite of the severity of her words and manner, his heart felt +lighter than before, and hope began to stir within him. "She does not +love him," he repeated to himself. "There is no falsehood in those +eyes." + +Lucie hurried to her room before joining the family circle, according +to daily custom, in the garden-room, where the old Freiherr was already +looking for her,--she wished to write a few lines to Adele. This she +did hastily, delivering her letter herself to the Inspector when it was +sealed, and begging him to see that it was put into the bag for the +next morning's post. + +A few moments after Lucie had left the Inspector's room Werner entered +it. He had watched her from his window, had seen the letter in her +hand, and had been filled with vague misgivings. "That letter I must +see!" he had said to himself. + +"Can a messenger be sent on horseback to A---- to catch the evening +mail?" he asked of the Inspector, who was just putting Lucie's letter +into the bag. + +"Certainly, Herr Finanzrath, very easily," Hauk replied. "Old John can +go on Fraeulein Celia's Pluto; there is plenty of time." + +"Give me the post-bag then,--I have an important letter to send; and +tell John to saddle Pluto, and I will have it ready for him." + +The Inspector handed him the bag, which Werner instantly carried with +him to his room and opened. With a triumphant smile he took from it +Lucie's letter addressed to Fraeulein Adele von Guntram. "I thought so," +he muttered to himself. "I am just in time." Then tearing off the +envelope he read: + + +"What will you think of me, dear Adele, if a few hours after writing my +last letter I tell you not to heed the request it contained? I hope +soon to be able to let you know why I do this, but I cannot tell you +to-day. I cannot leave Castle Hohenwald, and so you are relieved of the +burden of looking for another situation for me. Farewell, dear; you +will soon hear further from your LUCIE." + + +Werner dropped the letter disappointed. "Nothing more?" he muttered. "I +need not have opened this letter, although I had better know what she +intends to do." He tried to put the letter in its envelope again, but +it could not be done, the latter was too much torn. There was nothing +for it but to destroy it. He tore it up therefore, and threw it into +his waste-paper basket. Then putting several unimportant letters into +the post-bag, he took it out to John, and despatched the old man upon +his useless errand. + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + +The time at which the old Freiherr expected his family to assemble +about him every evening in the garden-room had come. Werner on his way +thither encountered his brother, who was awaiting him at the foot of +the staircase. In a few indignant words Arno informed him that Fraeulein +Mueller had acquainted him with the manner in which her well-meant +warning had been received, and said all that was possible in so short a +time to induce his brother to leave Hohenwald as quickly as he could. +"In the castle," he added, "there are none who do not look upon your +fine-spun schemes as treasonable plotting, and it is unjust that peril +should threaten all on your account." + +Werner, however, who had now entirely recovered his usual self-control +and ease of manner, treated his brother's words with contemptuous +indifference, and thus the two men entered the garden-room together, +the elder dissembling his jealousy and rage beneath an easy amiability +of manner, the younger vexed and indignant at his failure to influence +the brother whose ambitious vanity and want of principle were abhorrent +to him. + +The Finanzrath evidently felt perfectly secure, and exerted himself +to prove to Fraeulein Mueller his sincere regret for his late want of +self-control. He begged her for one of her charming songs, and meeting +with a curt refusal, acquiesced in it without a word. He was all that a +courteous, high-bred cavalier should be; and yet, in spite of his +efforts to maintain the conversation, it flagged continually, for each +member of the little circle felt a secret oppression, which made it +impossible to join in it with any interest. + +Arno was unusually taciturn; he possessed none of the versatility +that enabled Werner so quickly to forget the serious matters that +had lately occupied him. Even Celia seemed to have lost all her +wonted sprightliness; she sat buried in thought beside her father's +chair,--her stool placed so that he could not see her face, for she +could not look him frankly in the eyes to-night, and her heart was too +full to allow her to take any part in the conversation. This would soon +have become monosyllabic in spite of Werner's exertions had he not +casually mentioned a visit that he had paid a few days before to +Gruenhagen. So favourable an opportunity of turning the conversation +upon Kurt did not escape Lucie; she asked Werner, with evident +interest, how young Herr von Poseneck liked Gruenhagen, and whether he +was readily adapting himself to the European mode of life. Werner could +not understand why Lucie should take so vivid an interest in Kurt, but +he was glad to have found a topic upon which he could command her +attention. He expatiated willingly upon Kurt's excellent capacity as a +landed proprietor, and upon the admirable understanding that seemed to +exist at Gruenhagen between uncle and nephew. + +The Freiherr listened silently; that the topic was not an agreeable one +to him the frown gathering on his brow told plainly. + +Arno, too, said not a word, but sat glancing now and then at Lucie with +displeasure in his look. What could be Fraeulein Mueller's aim in this +show of interest in Kurt? If it were intended as a punishment for his +jealousy, it seemed but a petty revenge. + +Celia, however, sat quite still, with sparkling eyes and glowing +cheeks; she said nothing, but not a word that was spoken escaped her. +Werner suddenly appeared kind and amiable in her eyes as he thus +praised Kurt. + +For a while the Freiherr endured Lucie's continued inquiries about +Gruenhagen and Kurt; but at last his patience was exhausted. "You seem +to take a remarkable degree of interest in this fellow Poseneck, +Fraeulein Anna," he said, crossly; "for Heaven's sake leave him to +himself in Gruenhagen,--the less I hear of him the better I am pleased!" + +This was the very outbreak for which Lucie had been hoping. She turned +to the Freiherr and, pushing her chair nearer to his, said, "What has +poor Herr von Poseneck done to you, Herr Baron, that you should be so +angry with him?" + +"He has done nothing to me, but I hate the Posenecks one and all," was +the harsh reply. + +"I am quite sure that you would like Kurt von Poseneck if you knew him, +Herr Baron," Lucie rejoined. + +"I don't want to know him!" the Freiherr exclaimed, discontentedly. + +Nevertheless Lucie continued, boldly, "He is the very man to please +you. Honest and true, earnest in character, but with the enthusiasm of +youth, a thorough gentleman, but no fop, he has won golden opinions +from every one during the short time that has passed since his arrival +in Europe." + +The Freiherr stared at her in amazement; her unexpected praise of Herr +von Poseneck did not at all please him, but as she spoke she looked at +him with so charming an air of entreaty that he could not be angry with +her,--he even smiled as he shook his finger at her, saying, "Aha! +Fraeulein Anna seems quite infatuated with the young man. I had no idea +that she knew him so intimately." + +"Oh, yes, I know him very well, although I have really seen him but +once; my opinion of him is based upon that of a far more competent +judge than I am. Count Styrum, my friend Adele's lover, is a relation +of Herr von Poseneck; his word is the best warrant for the young man's +excellence. A man to whom Count Styrum gives his friendship and esteem +is certainly deserving of them." + +"Make your acknowledgments for the compliment, Arno! Count Styrum is +your friend too," the Freiherr said, with a laugh; and he then +continued, half in jest and half in earnest, "The friendship of the +Count, for whom I have a great regard, is certainly a recommendation +for the young man, but fortunately I am entirely indifferent as to +whether this Herr von Poseneck deserves your praise or not, for I have +nothing to do with any of the Poseneck crew. One thing strikes me, +however, and that is, that I must stop abusing them when Fraeulein Anna +is by. Well, well, we shall not quarrel about them, only, if she +persist in singing this young fellow's praises, she will make her old +adorer jealous." + +Lucie smiled in reply; she had done enough for to-day, and Celia's +grateful look thanked her. She arose, and going to the piano unasked, +sang one of the old man's favourite songs, which would have won him to +forgiveness even had he been angry. + +The tones of her voice had just died away when old Franz entered the +room with the post-bag, which he said had just been brought to the +castle by an extra messenger, and must contain news of importance. + +The Freiherr eagerly opened it, and seizing the newspapers, which, with +a few letters for the Finanzrath, were all that it contained, searched +them for the expected news of importance. This he found in the first +one that he opened; it contained the telegram reporting the abdication +of the Crown Prince of Hohenzollern. With eyes sparkling with joy the +Freiherr read it aloud. "Thank God!" he exclaimed. "I trust we have +done with this miserable war. Franz, bring a bottle of champagne in +honour of the good news!" + +"I must leave you this evening; my duty recalls me to Dresden, as I +learn from this letter," Werner said, after having eagerly looked over +his letters. + +"What! this evening?" the Freiherr asked, and, although the question +expressed surprise, there was no regret in his tone. + +"I must obey the call of duty," Werner replied. "While Franz orders the +carriage I will pack my portmanteau, and I hope I shall be in time to +catch the night train." + +He shook hands with his father, and then turned to Lucie, who was +standing near the window. "I comply with your wish, and leave you; +forgive me," he whispered; adding aloud, "Have you any commands for +Dresden, Fraeulein Mueller? No?" as she answered by a gentle shake of the +head. "I am sorry, but pray remember that you may always command me as +you please. Adieu, Celia; be diligent and good, you little romp. Adieu, +Arno; I trust you will forget, as I do, that there have lately been +some differences of opinion between us; upon reflection I see that you +were right in the last conversation we had together, this letter has +convinced me." + +He offered Arno his hand, but the latter refused to take it. "I have no +confidence in you," he said, in too low a tone to be heard by the +others. "I do not know your reason for this sudden departure, but I am +sure that it is not regard for the safety of your family." + +"Are you then implacable?" + +"I refuse to reply to deceit with deceit." + +"What is the matter, boys? Do not quarrel when you are taking leave of +each other," the old Freiherr interposed; and Werner, with a shrug, let +fall the hand he had offered his brother, and, with another general +"adieu," left the room. + +In his own apartment, he packed a few necessaries in his portmanteau, +devoting all the time he had to a careful disposition of his papers. It +was not until he was certain that not a scrap of writing was left +either in desk or writing-table that he locked his portmanteau and gave +it to old Franz, who came to announce that the carriage was waiting. + +As he drove off, just in time to catch the night train, those whom he +left behind him at Hohenwald by no means experienced the usual relief +felt in his absence. They did not believe in the reason assigned by him +for his hasty departure, and it aroused in his father's mind suspicions +that he was more deeply implicated in rebellious plots than he had +hinted. No one of the little circle could throw off the gloom that +oppressed all, and the old Freiherr was rolled into his bedroom much +earlier than usual. + +In the course of the next few days the political horizon again +darkened; all Germany keenly felt the insult offered to the King of +Prussia by the French Emperor, and was ready to resent it. + +"Disgraceful!" Arno exclaimed, after reading the account of it aloud in +the newspapers, "This is enough to make every German forget all petty +jealousies and prejudices. We should be one nation in the struggle that +France thus forces upon us. I am quite sure, father, that you will +gladly see me leave you to take my part in the war that now seems +inevitable for the fatherland." + +"Go, and God speed you, my son! Only cowards and traitors can hesitate +now!" + +The Freiherr spoke with profound emotion, regarding with paternal pride +the while the son in whom he delighted. Celia threw her arms around her +brother's neck and kissed him tenderly. "You are my own darling Arno!" +she exclaimed; "the best and truest fellow in the world!" + +And Lucie? She bestowed upon Arno a smile that fairly intoxicated him +and impelled him to offer her his hand, in which for one fleeting +instant she placed her own. + +The small circle at Castle Hohenwald presented a picture in miniature +of the sentiments of the entire country at this time, and every day's +developments served but to increase the patriotic enthusiasm +everywhere. No sooner did the cry resound from Paris, "On to Berlin!" +than it was decided that as soon as war was formally declared Arno +should apply for re-admission to the army, and with a view to so doing +he set about arranging affairs on the estate so that his absence might +cause his invalid father as little annoyance as possible. Those cares +kept him from home almost every day,--it was only in the evenings that +he could make one in the family circle; but these evenings, when his +father's welcome was so affectionate, Celia's so enthusiastic, and +Lucie's so fall of gentleness and sympathy, more than indemnified him +for the hard labour of the day. Only one drawback marred the pleasure +they gave him, and this was the manner in which he was constantly +reminded by Lucie herself of his last _tete-a-tete_ with her. What +reason could she have for perpetually dragging in Kurt von Poseneck as +a subject for conversation, when she could not but perceive that it was +distasteful both to the old Freiherr and to himself? This the Freiherr +frankly declared many times, but considerate as Lucie usually was of +his wishes, on this point she paid no regard to them. With persistent +obstinacy she made use of every available opportunity to refer to Kurt, +to extol his admirable qualities, to describe his adventures in +America, in short, to depict him as a young man of distinguished +qualities both of mind and of heart. + +Of course Arno never dreamed that Celia had supplied Fraeulein Mueller +with her accurate knowledge of Herr von Poseneck's life, and it seemed +to him excessively strange that she should be so well informed +concerning a man whom, according to her own declaration, she had seen +but twice. This contradiction struck the Freiherr also, and he +expressed his surprise at it, but Lucie only smiled and replied, "Oh, I +have a private source of information which I know just how far to +trust. I do not mean to describe Herr von Poseneck as an actual angel +in beard and moustache, but he certainly is a charming fellow, whom +you, Herr Baron, would especially like if you only knew him, as I +sincerely wish you did." + +Celia grew crimson at this reply, but, fortunately, no one save Lucie +noticed this. The old Freiherr shook his head and declared that he felt +"no desire to know any Poseneck," but, nevertheless, it was plain to be +seen that Lucie by her persistency had aroused in him a species of +interest, and finally one evening, when she had been recounting some of +Kurt's war adventures in America, he remarked that that Poseneck must +be a brave fellow since he had attained the rank of major so soon. + +Arno was not so easily cured of his prejudice against Kurt, Lucie's +constant reference to whom was utterly inexplicable, and at times +roused within him the bitterest jealousy. He was worried and anxious, +too, with regard to Werner, from whom nothing was heard after his +departure. Whether the Finanzrath were really in Dresden neither his +father nor his brother knew, and when Arno at times saw accounts in the +newspapers of the arrest of persons suspected of being agents of the +French government here and there in Germany, he could not but fear lest +a like fate might overtake Werner, and he knew that such a disgrace +would crush his father to the earth. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + +On one of the last days in July an unusual crowd thronged the platform +of the railway station of A----, looking eagerly for the train, in +which, so crowded was it sure to be at this time with troops, it was +difficult for civilians to find places. On this particular occasion +there were only three passengers for A----, and these had been obliged +to content themselves with places in a baggage-wagon, every carriage +being crowded with troops in process of transportation. As soon as +these three stepped upon the platform they were besieged with questions +of all kinds from the throng of men waiting there,--questions which +seemed especially annoying to one of the three, an apparently choleric, +elderly gentleman, who elbowed his way right and left through the +crowd, now and then giving vent to his irritation in a good round oath, +as he declared, "I know nothing and care less!" and all the while +evidently on the lookout for some one whom at first he could not find. + +At length his face cleared. "Hollo, Assessor!" he called; and then, +with another struggle to clear himself of importunate questioners, +"Deuce take you all!" he exclaimed, "I have something better to do than +to answer every fool's questions!" + +The people about him grumbled, but perceiving that there was no +satisfaction to be gained from him, turned their attention to the other +two passengers, and the elderly man was left to pursue his way +successfully to where the Assessor von Hahn stood awaiting him. "Here I +am at last!" he said, holding out to him the hand unencumbered by his +travelling-bag. "I have been trying to get to you for the last three +days, but not even standing-room could I find in the railway-trains, +which are nothing but military transports. I had to pay an enormous +price to-day for a place in a baggage-wagon." + +The two men were now quite clear of the crowd, and the Assessor shook +the new-comer cordially by the hand. "I am rejoiced to see you!" he +said. "You know how entirely I am at your service, Herr----" + +"Fernheim!" the stranger interrupted him before he could pronounce the +name. + +"Fernheim? Really, I do not know----" + +"Call me Fernheim. It is as good a name as any other," the stranger +said, in a tone only to be heard by the Assessor. "I do not wish these +curious people to know who I am, or what I want. The news of my coming +might else reach Castle Hohenwald sooner than I desire that it should." + +"You are right, Herr Fernheim. I never thought of it; but you are +right, you were perhaps in more danger than you thought. Do you know by +sight the Finanzrath von Hohenwald or Count Repuin?" + +"No, I have no knowledge of the scoundrels!" + +"Then you do not know that they were your fellow-passengers in the +train?" + +"Not an idea of it. But thanks for the information. I shall know them +again when I see them. The bearded fellow is the Russian of course. +Pity that Sorr is not with them; the noble trio would then be +complete." + +"He is not here." + +"I know that; I am familiar enough with the rascal's face. I suppose +those two precious rogues are bound for the castle, so the sooner we +are on our way there the better. You have kept your promise, Herr +Assessor, to prepare everything for a visit to Hohenwald?" + +"Of course; I have awaited you at every train since I received your +despatch. The carriage is here to take you instantly to Gruenhagen, +Herr----" + +"Fernheim. Do not forget the name. And no one in Hohenwald suspects my +arrival?" + +"No one." + +"A thousand thanks, Herr Assessor. We will leave instantly, since so +much depends upon our arriving before those two worthy gentlemen." And +preceded by the Assessor, he passed through the station-house, and +getting into the carriage waiting for them, they were well on their way +before the Finanzrath and Count Repuin had extricated themselves from +the crowd of eager inquirers on the platform. + +The Finanzrath had good reasons for answering all questioners civilly, +here so near his home, where there was special need that he should +preserve a character for patriotism. During the last few days several +of his friends who had dared in Munich, Leipsic, and elsewhere to +express unpatriotic sentiments had been roughly handled by the enraged +populace. In fear, therefore, of a like fate, Werner judged it wisest +to answer all questions with the greatest amiability, re-echoing +bravely the curses of the French heard on all sides, and even his +companion, Count Repuin, thought it prudent to follow his example. + +The Finanzrath informed his hearers that war had been declared the day +before; that Bismarck had announced this officially in the Reichstag, +and that the enthusiasm in Berlin was boundless,--any amount of funds +for the prosecution of the war would be voted unanimously. Werner bore +his part admirably in the wild shouts of exultation that followed this +intelligence, waving his hat with the foremost, hurrahing for Bismarck, +and even adding his fine bass voice to the yelling rather than singing +of "Die Wacht am Rhein," in which the enthusiasm of the mob culminated. + +By degrees, however, the crowd dispersed, and the two men were left +alone on the platform. "Low-lived canaille!" the Russian exclaimed, +giving vent to his suppressed indignation. "I would have every +scoundrel of them well thrashed!" + +"You do them too much honour, my dear Count, in allowing them to ruffle +you!" Werner calmly rejoined. "Let them roar their 'Wacht am Rhein' as +they please. I am annoyed only by Sorr's non-appearance. He cannot have +arrived, as he is not awaiting us here." + +"True, I had forgotten the rascal in the midst of their shouts; but you +are right. Baron, he should have been here if he obeyed my commands and +left for A---- two days ago. What can have happened to him?" + +"Nothing; we have seen the difficulty that exists now in getting from +one place to another. He will come by the next train,--but it is very +unfortunate for me to have to wait here at the station. I am so well +known in A---- that people will wonder why I do not go immediately to +Castle Hohenwald." + +"Unfortunately, there is no help for it." + +"Why should not you await him here while I go on to Hohenwald alone?" + +"Impossible; you know that I cannot appear at Hohenwald, and that Sorr +must accompany you thither, since, if introduced there by you, his wife +cannot refuse to give him a hearing. Then when he swears that he has +broken off all connection with me, she cannot refuse to follow him, and +should she, your father would refuse protection to a wife so false to +her duty. Sorr will do as I say, swear what I dictate to him, and the +result is certain." + +"But what, after all, Count, can the result avail you? You know Frau +von Sorr detests you. Will she not instantly return to Hohenwald when +she finds that she has been deceived?" + +"That is my affair, my dear friend," Count Repuin replied, with an ugly +smile. "There are means to tame the wildest bird, and of those means I +shall avail myself." + +What means, the Finanzrath asked himself, would the Russian use to bend +the young wife's will, to conquer her hatred of him? Brutal force spoke +in the Count's words and gleamed in his treacherous eyes. And to such +villainy he, Werner von Hohenwald, was lending himself! + +A few days previously, in a burst of indignation at hearing that he had +been denounced to the government, the Finanzrath, believing that Lucie +had caused this, had revealed to the Russian the place of her retreat; +now he bitterly repented having done so, and blushed for the part he +was playing. He would gladly have warned her of the danger threatening +her, but the ties that bound him to the Russian were of such a nature +that he dared not provoke the man's resentment, and every precaution +must be taken lest his suspicion should be aroused. With as easy an air +as he could assume he said, "I suppose you will find means to attain +your object, but I would advise you to take care. The lovely Frau von +Sorr would, I imagine, hesitate at nothing if driven to extremes, and +might appeal to the law. If I go on now to the castle I can prepare my +father's mind for Sorr's visit, and insure his refusal to grant her his +protection in case she should rebel against her husband's authority." + +As he spoke Repuin eyed him with a contemptuous smile. "Counsel for +counsel, my dear Baron," he replied, with a composure equal to +Werner's. "Take care that I do not suspect your good faith towards me. +In your delay in informing me of Frau von Sorr's whereabouts there has +been quite enough to put me on my guard. I mistrust you. I will not +have you going to Castle Hohenwald alone, nor will I permit you one +word with Frau von Sorr, except in her husband's presence." + +"Your suspicion is insulting, Count Repuin." + +"You can allay it by making no attempt to provoke it. I do not wish to +offend you; we are allies, and I desire that we may continue friends, +but I swear to you that any obstacle laid by you in the way of my plans +here, will transform me into your mortal foe. Candour for candour, +then; is it to be peace or war between us?" + +What could Werner reply? He had no choice. Lucie must be sacrificed to +save himself. He adopted an aggrieved tone and answered, "I shall +remain here until Sorr arrives, and upon your head be the consequences +of your imprudence." + +Several hours passed, and it was afternoon before Sorr arrived in a +crowded train, in which he was the only civilian. During the last +months he had greatly changed. There was in his appearance not a trace +of the elegance that had formerly characterized it. His dress was +neglected, his beard unshaven, his face bloated. He looked like a man +given over to drink and debauchery. + +When he emerged from the railway-carriage he looked eagerly about for +the Count, whom he did not immediately perceive, but who greeted him +upon his approach with the air of a master addressing his slave. + +Sorr, however, interrupted the imperious commands of the Russian with, +"One moment, Herr Count; I have most important news for both Baron von +Hohenwald and yourself, which will doubtless affect your plans. We are +betrayed! You as well as the Herr Finanzrath are not safe for a moment. +Your arrest is already ordered; your intention to visit Castle +Hohenwald is known, and it is there that you are to be arrested." + +The Finanzrath turned pale and his voice trembled as he exclaimed, "I +am warned from all sides; this news must be true!" + +"It may still only be over-anxiety on the part of our friends," said +Repuin. "Where did you get your information, Sorr?" + +"From Herr von Waltershausen." + +"Then we must indeed be upon our guard. By the infernal gods, this is +danger! What else did Waltershausen tell you?" + +"He has received trustworthy intelligence that Castle Hohenwald is to +undergo a thorough search to-day. The Finanzrath von Hohenwald and +Count Repuin, if they are found there, are positively to be arrested, +the old Freiherr and his son Arno only in case circumstances require +it. The prisoners are to be taken to Koenigstein. That the matter is +considered of importance in Dresden and Berlin is shown by the fact +that the arrests are to be made under the command of Count von +Schlichting, colonel in the army, and formerly an intimate friend of +the old Freiherr von Hohenwald. The notorious Geheimrath Steuber is +associated with him in the search of the castle. When I went to the +railway depot this morning, Count Schlichting was standing on the +platform eagerly conversing with some officers. I was afraid that he +was to come down by the very train in which Waltershausen had procured +me a place, and he knows me. Waltershausen, who was with me, feared +this too. He is extremely well acquainted with the Count, and no one +suspects him of any connection with Count Repuin, so he did not +hesitate to address Schlichting, who spoke to him without reserve of +his plans. + +"It appears that the colonel has been waiting since yesterday evening +for the Berlin Chief of Police, the Geheimrath Steuber, and was +determined that if he did not arrive by this afternoon he would take +the train for A---- without him, and would make a requisition here for +the military force needed to carry out his orders. Herr von +Waltershausen enjoined it upon me to beg you both, gentlemen, not to +delay an instant in escaping the threatened arrest. He is convinced, +from matters being placed in charge of an officer so high in rank, that +a court-martial will immediately ensue, and he is further convinced +that there would be no hope for you under such circumstances at this +juncture. Life and death are at stake, he bade me tell you!" + +"He is right," the Finanzrath said, eagerly. "Let me conjure you. +Count, to desist from your insane schemes, which may ruin us all. We +can still save ourselves by flight into Hanover, where we can be +concealed until we find means of getting to England. It would be +madness to persist in going to Hohenwald." + +Sorr's news had made Repuin anxious, but Werner's words enraged him. +"No power in the world," he exclaimed, "shall force me to turn back +when I have so nearly reached the goal of my desires! Yes, I will fly +with you, but only if Frau von Sorr accompany us. And if by word or +even by look you attempt to thwart me, look to yourself, Herr +Finanzrath. I will not spare you if you refuse to fulfil your promise +to me. I will not rest until you have reaped the harvest of your +treachery if you fail me now." + +"But how can our putting our heads into the trap at Castle Hohenwald +aid you, Count?" Werner cried, in deep agitation. + +"I do not ignore the danger," Repuin replied; "but I am determined to +meet it, and have no doubt that we shall succeed in escaping it if you +will stand by me. We still have several hours in which to act. Follow +the plan that I will mark out for you, and to-night will see us in +safety. As quickly as possible have at our disposal two vehicles and a +trusty messenger on a good horse, and the rest is very simple. While +you drive in one of these vehicles to the castle with Sorr, I will wait +here at the station. I know Count Schlichting by sight, although he +does not know me; it therefore cannot excite his attention for me to +leave the platform as soon as he arrives and despatch the messenger to +you at Hohenwald, while I get into the other carriage and drive to +R----, where I will await you. Before Count Schlichting has obtained +the military aid he requires I shall be miles from here and in perfect +safety. You, in the mean time, will have time enough at the castle to +explain matters to your father and to employ every means to induce Frau +von Sorr to follow her husband, for not until you receive by my +messenger the empty envelope, which is all I shall send, addressed to +you, will there be any occasion for haste on your part, and even then +it will be several hours before Schlichting with his dragoons can reach +Hohenwald. Of course you will not return here with Sorr and the lady, +but drive directly from the castle to Baron Kronburg's at R----, whence +we will pursue our journey together. This is my plan; you must admit +that it is simple and deals with certainties only, not probabilities. +Are you agreed?" + +Werner found some difficulty in replying. "It would be much more +prudent," he said, "to fly at once; but if Herr von Sorr consents----" + +"Herr von Sorr must consent. His opinion is not asked; all I wish is to +know yours." + +Sorr seemed not to hear the insulting words. "I shall do just as you +please," he said, with the air of a slave before his master. + +Repuin hailed Werner's compliance with a triumphant smile. "You never +shall regret your amiable readiness to further my plan," he said; "but +now to action! We must be prompt!" + +Matters were soon arranged according to the Russian's directions. +Werner, with his companion, drove off towards Castle Hohenwald, leaving +a trusty messenger, who had formerly been an inspector on the Hohenwald +estate, and a second carriage at the disposal of the Russian, who took +his stand upon the railway platform to await the next train from L----. + +He supposed that several hours would elapse before its arrival; but +here he was mistaken,--it made its appearance much earlier than he had +expected, and as it rolled slowly into the station Repuin recognized in +one of the carriages Count Schlichting in earnest conversation with +Count Styrum. This startled the Russian, and he feared instant +recognition; but Styrum was so absorbed in what Schlichting was saying +that he did not look up until Repuin had left the platform. Before the +guards had opened the doors of the railway-carriages the Russian had +despatched his messenger to warn Werner at the castle, and was himself +seated in the carriage he had retained for his own use, driving rapidly +towards R----. An evil smile hovered about his lips as he reflected +that he should shortly see the lovely Fran von Sorr again. He never +doubted his power to bend her will to his, and, leaning back among the +carriage-cushions, he resigned himself to pleasing dreams of the +future. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + +Lucie had withdrawn after dinner to the library, to pore over the +newspapers, now so filled with exciting intelligence. She was alone, +for Celia was in the garden usually at this hour, and since her harsh +rejection of Arno he never sought the library when Fraeulein Mueller was +there. She sat for a while lost in thought. Arno had applied the day +before for re-admission into the army; he was to leave for Dresden on +the following day, and her heart told her that this would be a +separation forever. She was so absorbed in her revery that she did not +notice old Franz's entrance, and looked up startled when he held +towards her a note and announced, with a grim air of discontent, "For +Fraeulein Mueller." + +"For me, Franz?" she asked, in great surprise. "Who could have brought +it?" + +"The Fraeulein may well be surprised at the fellow's impudence. A +servant-man from Gruenhagen brought it, and refuses to return without an +answer!" was the reply. After which Franz left the room with the air of +having made his protest, although vainly, against some crying sin. + +Lucie paid him but little heed; she opened her note and read: + + +"Dear Fraeulein Mueller,--I am to leave Gruenhagen to-night for I cannot +say how long, perhaps forever. I am going to Berlin to obtain +permission to enter the Prussian army as a volunteer. Must I go without +seeing my dearest Celia once more? May I not bid her good-bye and tell +her how dear she is to me? I promised you not to see Celia again until +you consented to our meeting, and I will keep my promise if you refuse +to release me from it upon this one occasion; but I pray you to allow +us to see each other once more, perhaps for the last time in this +world. + +"I do not ask to see my darling alone. Pray come with her to the old +place of meeting in the forest, where I will await you. Let me hope +that you will grant my request. I need not tell you with what +impatience I look for your answer, a simple 'yes' or 'no,' by the +bearer of this. + + "With the greatest regard, yours, + + "Kurt von Poseneck." + + +Lucie was profoundly touched by Kurt's note. Celia too, then, was to +suffer the pain of seeing her lover depart for the war. Poor, and yet +happy Celia! She might hope that if he whom she loved returned alive +the old Freiherr would relent, and her love be crowned with happiness; +while if Arno returned, if he should ever seek her again, what then? +For her hope did not exist. + +She took up a pen and wrote hurriedly: + + +"I will be at the appointed spot at the usual time; whether Celia will +accompany me or not depends upon the decision of the Freiherr von +Hohenwald. Anna Mueller." + + +She sealed her note, addressed it to Herr von Poseneck, and hurried +down to the court-yard to deliver it herself to the Gruenhagen +messenger, upon whom she enjoined the utmost despatch. She did not +observe that as she spoke with the man Franz was watching her from the +hall, while Arno, who was crossing the court-yard, paused in +astonishment as he heard her words. Was she really so intimate with +young Poseneck that she corresponded with him? Perhaps the letter after +all might not have been for Kurt von Poseneck; but all doubts on this +head were set at rest by Franz, who, exercising his prerogative as a +privileged servant, said grumblingly, as his young master passed him in +the hall, "Fine doings in Hohenwald, when the Fraeulein receives letters +from Herr von Poseneck, and even condescends to answer them!" This was +enough to arouse once more within Arno's heart the demon of jealousy, +which Lucie's words to him should have killed forever. + +Meanwhile, entirely unconscious of the suffering she had caused, Lucie +walked slowly towards the garden-room, to carry into effect the plan +she had hastily formed. The Freiherr greeted her with a smile of +welcome. "Why, here we have Fraeulein Anna!" he said, in great +satisfaction. "Have you come to bestow your charming society upon an +old fellow at this unwonted hour? But what is that?" he added, pointing +to Kurt's letter, which she held in her hand. "I owe the pleasure of +your visit to business, I see, not to my own attractions. Never mind, I +am always delighted to see you, whatever brings you." + +"Indeed, Herr Baron? May I rely upon that?" Lucie asked, meaningly, as +she drew a chair to his side and sat down. "Are you sure that you will +not drive me away indignantly if I come to prefer a request that does +not please you?" + +"A request? 'Tis granted before 'tis asked; I know of nothing that I +could refuse you." + +"I might take you at your word, Herr Baron, but that I will not do. You +shall not be bound by a promise to grant my request, you must do it of +your own free choice." + +"Why, this sounds quite solemn. I am curious; out with your request, +whatever it is. What do you ask?" + +"Nothing for myself, Herr Baron. My request concerns Herr von +Poseneck." + +The Freiherr was not made in the least angry, as would formerly have +been the case, by this mention of the name of Poseneck; on the +contrary, he laughed, saying, as if in badinage, "Always Poseneck! +Really, child, I believe you are in love with this infernal Poseneck, +who must be a tremendously fine fellow to excite such an interest in +you." + +"That he certainly is, Herr Baron, although I just as certainly am not +in love with him. He is a noble-hearted fellow, who now, after having +served with honour in America, is going off to Berlin to enter the army +there as a volunteer. His life in America never lessened his honest +love for his German fatherland." + +"He is a fine fellow then, and I honour him. I never would have +believed it of a Poseneck," the Freiherr said, with a kindly nod at +Lucie. + +"You may believe anything that is good and true of him," Lucie +continued; "his self-devotion costs him more than it does most men. He +not only has to conquer his ambition as a former major in thus entering +the army as a common soldier, but he sacrifices his whole future +happiness. He passionately loves a young girl, whose father is a bitter +enemy to Prussia, and who never will give his daughter to a man who +fights for Prussia in this war." + +"Who is the scoundrel?" the Freiherr exclaimed, indignantly. + +"You do an excellent old man great injustice, Herr Baron," Lucie +replied, with a smile. "He is a man of honour, but the victim of a +prejudice which so possesses him that he cannot conquer it sufficiently +to call a Prussian his son-in-law." + +"Then he does not love his child!" the Freiherr eagerly asserted, and +then suddenly paused and eyed Lucie suspiciously. "Stop! stop, child!" +he said. "I begin to suspect that you have been playing your own little +game with me. Honestly, what has all this to do with your request?" + +"Will you really not be angry with me, Herr Baron, if I speak perfectly +frankly to you?" Lucie asked, laying her little hand on the old man's +brown, wrinkled fist, and bestowing upon him one of her charming +smiles. + +"Little flatterer, how can any one be angry with you? Oh, you have the +old bear fast in your toils, and now come, tell me all about it." + +"You shall hear, Herr Baron. First read this note which I received not +an hour ago from Herr von Poseneck; it will tell you all, and when you +have finished I will tell you how it came to be written." + +The Baron read Kurt's note, while Lucie noted with keen anxiety every +change in his features as he read. She saw his face darken, and then a +smile dawned about his mouth; he was not very angry. She could have +shouted for joy at her victory. + +"A most interesting production!" the Freiherr said, he handed the note +back to her. "Really, this Herr von Poseneck----" + +"Wait until you hear all, Herr Baron, and then judge," Lucie +interrupted him. + +And she went on to tell the old Freiherr how Celia had accidentally +made the young man's acquaintance; how, in her childlike innocence and +trust, she had grown to love him, and how, at last, chance had betrayed +her secret. She told how Kurt had given his promise never to see Celia +without her governess's consent, and how faithfully he had kept his +word. "And now for my request, Herr Baron," she said, in conclusion. "I +know it will be hard for you to grant it, but I hope everything from +your magnanimity. Let me take Celia with me; she knows nothing of this +note, and if you refuse me she shall know nothing; but you will not be +so cruel. There must be a farewell,--a last farewell. May not Celia go +with me?" + +"You are a white witch, and know how to wind the old ogre round your +finger," the Freiherr said, shaking his finger at Lucie. "In fact, I +ought to be excessively angry with you, but as this is impossible I may +as well take my pill without a wry face. The will-o'-the-wisp had +certainly better see the young man under your auspices than run off, +perhaps through the night and storm, to take leave of him; the child +might do it if she should hear that Poseneck was going away. But one +very serious word I must speak. Your Poseneck certainly is an honest, +honourable young fellow, his note and his whole conduct show that. +Celia in her unsuspicious innocence might have fallen into bad hands. +You cannot expect me to be quite content, but time will bring counsel. +Only there must be no more of it all for the present; no talk of a +betrothal as yet, no tender exchange of letters and such stuff. Celia +is as yet little more than a child. If the young man ever comes back +from the war he may come and see me here and we will talk it over +together. But before then I'll not listen to another word about it. Do +you agree, you white witch?" + +"Your will shall be my law in the matter, Herr Baron, and I thank you +from my very heart for conquering for your child's sake your dislike of +a Poseneck." + +"You may spare your thanks, child, or rather keep them for yourself, +who honestly deserve them for taking care that my dislike should +gradually subside. Have you not hammered away at my heart with your +Poseneck every evening, for weeks, until at last the tough old muscle +has grown quite tender?" + + +The Freiherr had caused his rolling-chair to be pushed near the open +glass doors of the garden-room, that he might inhale the fragrance +which now towards evening was borne in upon the delicious breeze from +the garden, already lying in shadow from the lofty forest. The papers +lay upon the table beside him. His thoughts were busy with the +occurrences of the day. "Where can Werner be?" he suddenly asked +himself. Several letters that had arrived at the castle for the +Finanzrath and had been forwarded to his address in Dresden had been +to-day returned, with the notice on the envelopes that he had left +Dresden. Hence the question that the father asked himself. He nearly +started from his chair when old Franz flung wide the folding-doors +leading into the hall and announced, "The Herr Finanzrath!" + +His visit was not welcome, and when Werner entered, not alone, but +daring to introduce a stranger without permission, the old man's +patience was too sorely tried. The look with which he regarded his son +was by no means amiable, but that with which he greeted his companion +was darker still. He was very unfavourably impressed by this man from +the first instant of his appearance. In spite of his long seclusion +from society the Freiherr had always retained the greatest neatness, +and withal an old-fashioned elegance, in his dress. Nothing was more +distasteful to him than a want of cleanliness or an air of neglect, and +both of these characterized the former fastidious Herr von Sorr, whom +Werner now presented to his father. And Sorr's countenance did not +belie his dress. The pale flabby cheeks, the watery eyes, the whole +expression indeed of the man, bore witness to his degraded, debauched +character and made him odious to the old Baron. For such a guest no +consideration was necessary. + +"What in thunder do you mean?" he said angrily to Werner. "How dare you +bring a stranger here? Don't you know that I receive no visitors? +Whoever you are, sir, learn that I permit no invasion of my seclusion! +There is the door!" + +Sorr, trained though he had been by Repuin to submit to all sorts of +contemptuous treatment, was nevertheless abashed by this reception, and +might perhaps scarcely have ventured to persist in his intrusion had +not Werner come to his aid. + +"Before you express yourself so angrily, sir," he said to his father, +"you should hear the reasons that exist for my transgression of your +commands and my introduction to you of Herr von Sorr. I appeal to your +sense of justice, sir, in informing you that Herr von Sorr has no +desire to intrude upon you, but has come hither because I have assured +him that no Freiherr von Hohenwald ever refused what another had a +right to claim, and that his just demand must be made directly to +yourself." + +"What have I to do with this man?" the Freiherr asked, crossly. + +"This you can only learn, sir, by granting a hearing to Herr von Sorr, +not by repulsing him in a manner that cannot but be offensive to a +gentleman who comes hither at the request of your eldest son." + +Again, as often before, the Finanzrath's imperturbable composure +asserted its sway over his father's passion. The old man gave his son a +dark look, but yielded, and turning to Sorr, said, with forced +calmness, "Approach, sir; I regret it if my hastiness offended +you,--such was not my intention. I can make no exception to the rule +which I have observed for years of denying myself to visitors, and +therefore I beg you to tell me as briefly as possible what you desire." + +Sorr complied with the invitation in spite of the ungracious manner in +which it was conveyed, and took a chair near the old man, but when he +met his dark, searching eye the words which he had committed to memory +that they might serve him in this need would not at first be uttered. +He cleared his throat in a vain endeavour to begin with some fitting +introductory phrase. + +"Well, sir?" + +The Baron's impatient tone admitted of no further delay, and Sorr +began, overcoming his first stammering hesitation as he proceeded. +"Herr Baron," he said, "you see in me a wretched man, who appeals to +you for aid in recovering his lost happiness. In the terrible +misfortunes that have overwhelmed me I have not been guiltless, but I +assure you on my honour that I repent the wrong I have done, and that I +am determined to begin a new life if through your aid I succeed in +attempting it." + +"What is it that you want of me? What business have you to ask me for +your lost happiness?" the Freiherr interrupted Sorr's studied speech. + +"Forgive me, Herr Baron, if, carried away by my emotion, I fail to use +the right words in which to convey my request. Bear with me for a +little while and you shall learn all. I will be as brief as possible, A +few years ago I was a happy man, my fortune was considerable, I enjoyed +the esteem of my friends, an exalted position in society, and I +possessed a charming wife, to whom I was ardently attached. I lacked +but one thing,--the strength to withstand temptation. One passion ruled +my life,--the love of gaming. Although I was usually fortunate, my +success in winning large sums destroyed in me all appreciation of the +value of money. I indulged in the wildest extravagances, and my income +was always exceeded by my expenses. Thus my property dwindled almost +without my knowledge. My wife, who loved me tenderly, warned me, +entreated me, but even her prayers, all-powerful in every other +direction, availed nothing to induce me to resist the fatal temptation +offered me by cards. It dragged me down into an abyss that engulfed my +fortune and that of my wife also. I found myself at last a beggar, my +fortune, friends, position in society, and, worse than all, the +affection of a wife whom I idolized, all gone. Meanwhile, one of my +friends had, with inconceivable cunning and treachery, abused my +confidence. The evenings that I spent at the gaming-table he passed +with my wife, representing himself as having been sent by me to beguile +her solitude. He was enormously wealthy, and no sacrifice being too +great in his eyes where the attainment of his vile ends was concerned, +he at times forced upon me large sums for the payment of my debts, and +I--with shame I confess it--was weak enough, when my wife complained to +me of the persistent attentions of this treacherous friend, to entreat +her not to offend him by any harsh rejection of them. I had utter +confidence in my wife, and never suspected to what depths of infamy my +false friend would descend." + +"What the devil have I to do with all this?" the Freiherr burst out, +more and more disgusted with Sorr, who had hoped his theatrical pathos +was producing a very different impression. "For Heaven's sake, come to +the point!" + +"I am about to do so. My treacherous friend, Count Repuin----" + +"Stay! What name was that? Count Repuin, the Russian, Werner's friend +and confidant,--was he the man?" + +"The same, Herr Baron. I lost the greater part of my fortune to him; he +systematically contrived my ruin, believing that when I found myself a +beggar, my wife, with destitution staring her in the face, would lend +an ear to his vile proposals. When I had lost all, so that I knew not +where to turn for the barest necessaries of existence, he carried to my +wife the false report that I was dishonoured, that I had been detected +in cheating at cards, and that it was in his power to send me to a +jail. It was a bold falsehood, but it found credence with my wife, +whose esteem for me my passion for play had destroyed; and when he +further informed her that, in consideration of a large sum of money, I +had resigned to him all claim upon her duty, in short, that I had sold +her to him, in her despair the wretched woman believed this lie also." + +"Infamous! incredible!" the Freiherr indignantly exclaimed, +involuntarily interested at last in Sorr's recital. + +"But the scoundrel failed in his schemes, although he has plunged me +into misery. Devilish though his cunning was, he failed to take into +account one thing,--in which, indeed, he had no faith,--that a woman +might be impregnably virtuous. He did not know my Lucie. What was his +wealth to her in comparison with her honour? She spurned his offers +with contempt, and yet she believed him, and driven by despair almost +to madness, she secretly left my house. When on the morning after +the fearful night in which I had sacrificed my last hope at the +gaming-table I sought my wife's apartment to pray for her forgiveness +and to make her the promise for which she had so often implored me, +that never again would I touch a card, I found upon her table this +terrible letter. Read it, Herr Baron; it will explain to you better +than any words of mine the depth of my misery." And Sorr handed to the +Freiherr the letter that Lucie had left behind her on the evening of +her flight. The old Baron read: + +"You have given back to me my freedom; I accept it. It is your desire +that we should part; it shall be fulfilled: you will never see me +again. Should you dare to persecute me, you will force me to denounce +you publicly, and to give to the world the reasons that justify my +conduct. The detected thief, who would barter his wife's honour, has +forfeited the right to control her destiny.--LUCIE." + +An odious smile hovered upon Sorr's lips as he watched the Freiherr +while he read this letter aloud, and as he marked the impression that +it produced upon him. He exchanged a significant glance with Werner, +and then, when the reading was finished, continued: "I was beside +myself with grief and fury when I found that my adored Lucie had left +me. She had fled, that was clear, although I could understand neither +her threat nor her strange intimations that I had desired to part from +her, that I had sold her. She had vanished; no trace of her could I +find, although I even summoned the police to my aid. Surely, as a +forsaken husband, I had a right to do so. All was in vain. Again and +again I read her mysterious letter, and at last, upon a sudden impulse, +I hastened to Repuin, showed him Lucie's note, and demanded and +received its explanation. The wretch had the effrontery to tell me with +a smile, of the manner in which he had destroyed the happiness of my +life. We fought. I arose from the sick-bed, where a wound received in +the duel prostrated me for weeks, an altered man. I have taken a vow +never again to touch a card. I have since that day earned my daily +bread by honest toil, correcting proofs for publishers, and giving +lessons in French and English. I have now an assured although moderate +income. In this period of struggle one hope alone has sustained me, +that of finding my Lucie again. She is my wife by the indissoluble bond +of marriage, a marriage blest by the Church. I know that she will +gladly return to me and share my toil and my poverty when she knows of +my change of heart and life. And chance has befriended me, Herr Baron, +leading me to a knowledge of your son, the Herr Finanzrath, from whom I +have learned that, in order to secure herself from fancied persecution, +my wife has taken refuge in a feigned name, and that she dwells beneath +your roof as Anna Mueller." + +The Freiherr stared at Sorr in blank amazement. "Good God, sir! what do +you mean? Are you mad?" he exclaimed. "Fraeulein Mueller a wife, and your +wife!" + +"Ask your son, Herr Baron," Sorr replied; "he will confirm my words." + +"Herr von Sorr speaks but the truth, father; it is my duty to attest +this. Frau von Sorr has seen fit to undertake to fill the position of +Celia's governess under a feigned name. I had, of course, no idea of +this when I engaged her through Frau von Adelung. I learned her true +name only lately and by chance, and I felt it my duty to acquaint Herr +von Sorr with her place of abode." + +When the first shock of his surprise had passed, the old Freiherr +looked from Werner to Sorr and from Sorr to Werner in a kind of fury. +He had no suspicion as to the truth of Sorr's story; he remembered +that, by Count Styrum's desire, no allusion was ever made to Fraeulein +Mueller's past; there could be no doubt that Anna was Sorr's unfortunate +wife, forced by a sad fate to fly from her husband. What the Freiherr +did doubt, what, indeed, utterly discredited, was the man's assertion +of an altered course of life. One glance at his bloated features, at +his watery, crimson-lidded eyes, proclaimed the fact that Sorr was +deeply plunged in debauchery and drunkenness. This man had never +aroused himself to a life of honest toil. It was no affection for his +wife that impelled him to seek her out. + +The Freiherr's mind was filled with vague suspicion as to the man's +motives, suspicion that attached in a degree also to Werner, to whose +last words he sharply rejoined, saying,-- + +"So you have been playing the spy here that you might betray the poor +thing's confidence?" + +"As Frau von Sorr never honoured me with her confidence I could not +possibly betray it," Werner replied coolly to his father's reproach. +"When I saw how great was her husband's misery, and how sincere his +resolution to amend, I judged it my duty to acquaint him with his +wife's retreat." + +"I owe the Finanzrath an eternal debt of gratitude for bringing me +hither," Sorr interposed, "and for promising to set the crown upon his +kindness by doing all that lies in his power to induce my beloved Lucie +to fulfil the duty that she owes to an unfortunate husband." + +The Finanzrath bit his lip. Sorr's words reminded him, as they were +meant to do, of the promise he had made the Russian to do all that lay +in his power to further his schemes. The part assigned him here was +odious enough, but the fear inspired by the Russian's threats conquered +his distaste for it. He had gone too far to retrace his steps, and he +therefore replied to Sorr, "I will certainly keep my word, although I +think there will be little need of any influence of mine. Frau von +Sorr, I feel assured, will willingly follow you; but should she refuse +to do so, my father will surely not sustain her in such a departure +from her duty. Castle Hohenwald cannot possibly be an asylum for a wife +who has deserted her husband in misfortune and refuses to return to +him." + +As Werner spoke these words he did not look up; he did not dare to meet +his father's eyes, and therefore he did not see the contempt that shone +in them as the Freiherr turned from his son to Sorr and said, sharply, +"What you ask of me, then, Herr von Sorr, is that I shall force this +unhappy woman to return to you. Is this so? Speak out, sir; I want a +candid reply." + +"Your words sound harsh, Herr Baron," was Sorr's humble reply. "I never +thought of force, but only that you would place no obstacle in the way +of an unfortunate man who only seeks to maintain his rights. I have +made an expensive journey hither from Munich in the confident hope that +it needed only an interview with my dear Lucie to induce her to take +her place once more beside me as my faithful wife whom I dearly love +and will never forsake. Surely the last sad months have atoned for my +wrong-doing. I have a right to demand that she should follow me when I +solemnly assure her that I have broken off all connection with Repuin. +She is my wife before God and man, and what God hath joined let not man +put asunder. You certainly, Herr Baron, would never protect a wife +against the claims of a husband." + +The Freiherr did not immediately reply. This Herr von Sorr inspired him +with a disgust which his evident and nauseous hypocrisy only served to +increase, and yet he could not but admit to himself that the man's +claim, as he represented it, was a just one. + +He rang the silver hand-bell upon his table and said to Franz, who +immediately made his appearance, "Beg Fraeulein Mueller kindly to come to +me as soon as she can." + +Then, turning to Sorr, he said, "I will not listen to another word from +you until I hear the other side of the question. I reserve my decision +until then. Not until I have spoken to Fraeulein Anna,--I always call +her so, and I have grown very fond of her under this name,--and until +she has confirmed your statement, will I accord it full belief." + +"I am convinced, Herr Baron----" + +"Not another word, Herr von Sorr! I will keep my judgment unbiassed. +You shall be confronted with the accused after I have first spoken with +her alone." + +"I have accused no one but myself, Herr Baron." + +"I attach no importance to that; it shall be as I say. I will hear what +Fraeulein Anna has to say; I will talk with her alone,--she shall not be +influenced by the presence of any one. I am sure that she will tell me +the whole truth." + +This arrangement was not at all satisfactory to Sorr. He feared that +Lucie might tell the Freiherr of his conversation with her on the +evening preceding her flight, and so destroy his web of specious +falsehood. He would at least make an attempt to prevent this. "I +entreat you, Herr Baron, to permit me to repeat in Lucie's presence +what I have told you. It wounds me that you should doubt my words. +Lucie's testimony shall prove to you that I----" + +The Freiherr harshly interrupted him, "I will not hear another word. It +shall be as I say! Werner, take Herr von Sorr out upon the terrace; you +can walk up and down there until I call you; I wish to be alone." + +"But, Herr Baron----" + +"What the devil, sir,--will you do as I say or not? I am still master +in my own castle, I believe, and I will not be contradicted; I wish to +be alone. Your place for the present is out there on the terrace. If +you refuse to obey my orders, the servants will show you the shortest +way out of the castle." + +When the old Baron fell into a downright rage there was nothing to be +done with him, as Werner knew, and as Sorr perceived; he did not dare +further to gainsay his will, and, with a low bow, he followed the +Finanzrath out upon the terrace. + +The Freiherr sat alone, awaiting with the greatest impatience Anna's +appearance; but the minutes passed and she did not come, nor did old +Franz return to explain the reason why. The Freiherr rang his bell +again, and Werner and Sorr, who had been awaiting this summons, +instantly entered from the terrace. + +The Freiherr received them with a good round oath. "I was ringing for +that old ass Franz!" he roared out to Werner. "Stay outside on the +terrace with your Herr von Sorr until I call you by name!" + +The two men were obliged to withdraw. The Freiherr rang his bell a +second and a third time without any result, until at the end of a good +half-hour Franz appeared, with the intelligence that Fraeulein Mueller +was nowhere to be found. She was not in her room; Fraeulein Celia said +that the Fraeulein had gone for a walk in the garden or park; but he had +searched for her there in vain, and the gardener had helped him, and +was sure she could not be either in the park or in the garden. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + +"Oh, my darling, darling Anna, how can I thank you?" Celia laughed and +cried and kissed her friend amid tears and smiles, dancing about her +room like some wild sprite. + +"Come, Celia; pray be reasonable, child!" Lucie at last admonished her. + +"Anything but that, dearest Anna, you must not ask that; I am half mad +with delight. My dear, good old father! How unjust I have been to him! +How could I keep anything from him? It was shameful! oh, if I only had +told him all about it the very first day when I met Kurt!" + +Lucie said nothing; but she had her own opinion as to whether the +result would have been a very happy one for Celia if she had told her +father of her first meeting with Kurt. The girl went on pouring her +innocent delight into Lucie's ears, and repeating that she owed it all +to her darling Anna. + +The castle clock struck four. + +"At last!" Celia exclaimed, and begged Lucie to make the greatest +haste, lest Kurt should have to wait. Her friend complied; it would +have been cruel to detain the girl longer than was necessary to hasten +along the broad road, down which Celia had so often galloped upon Pluto +to the appointed spot. + +They soon espied the light straw hat, and an instant afterward Kurt +hurried towards them. + +"I have fulfilled your wish, Herr von Poseneck," Lucie said, offering +her hand to the young man. + +"How can I thank you sufficiently for so doing! for relinquishing your +purpose of referring my request to the Freiherr von Hohenwald----" + +"No, no, dearest Kurt!" exclaimed Celia. "She did not relinquish it. +Yes, you may well be surprised, you unprincipled fellow, who would have +persuaded me to meet you again without the knowledge of my darling, +kind old father. But, oh, Kurt, we are so happy, and Anna has done it +all!" And the girl, amid tears and laughter, told her amazed lover of +the success of Anna's exertions in his favour. + +In his joy that there was no longer an insurmountable barrier between +himself and his love, Kurt gladly promised to obey every condition +imposed upon him by the Freiherr, declaring that never would he write +so much as one word to his darling except under cover to her father. + +When Lucie had explained to him all that she had promised in this way +on his behalf she took no further part in the conversation, wandering +along the grassy path a little in advance of the lovers, anxious that +Celia should enjoy to the full every moment of this short hour of +bliss, and lost in sad reflections as to her own future. + +"I beg ten thousand pardons!" + +Kurt and Celia, who had forgotten all the actual world, and Lucie, in +the midst of her sad dreaming, looked up startled. They had just +reached the spot where the footpath from Gruenhagen crossed the broad +road, and confronting them stood the Assessor von Hahn. He took off his +hat with an exceedingly low bow to Celia in particular. + +"I beg ten thousand pardons, Fraeulein von Hohenwald, for intruding +again, but I am discreet; I make no boast----" + +"There you are quite right, Herr Assessor, for surely there is not much +discretion in appearing where you have once been told that your +presence is an intrusion." + +The Assessor grew crimson at Kurt's words; he retreated a few steps and +said, in great confusion, "You wrong me deeply, Herr von Poseneck; you +will, I am sure, retract your hasty words when I tell you that my +presence here has nothing to do with you or with my respected cousin, +but with Madame--that is--I mean, I wish the honour of a few words with +Fraeulein Mueller. I learned in Gruenhagen, where I arrived half an hour +ago, that Herr von Poseneck had gone to the forest, and I suspected +that the two ladies would take their afternoon walk in the same +direction. Therefore, as it was highly important that I should speak +with Madame--that is, Fraeulein Mueller, I ventured to come hither." + +Lucie bestowed upon the Assessor a glance of anything but welcome, but +she could not refuse to respond to his look of appeal. "You have +attained your purpose, Herr Assessor," she said. "You probably bring me +a message from my friend Adele. The Assessor is an old acquaintance of +mine," she added to Kurt and Celia, who looked rather surprised, "and +is a constant visitor at the President von Guntram's." + +The Assessor's courage returned upon hearing Lucie acknowledge his +acquaintance, and he went on with much more confidence than before: +"Certainly, Madame--that is, Fraeulein Mueller, I bring you a message +from Fraeulein Adele, and not merely a message. I am not alone; there is +a gentleman in the shrubbery who wishes to speak with you. I brought +him at Fraeulein Adele's express desire." + +Lucie recoiled in terror. Had the gossiping Assessor betrayed her +secret? Had he brought hither either Repuin or Sorr? They were the only +persons who could have any interest in discovering her retreat. She +gazed towards the spot indicated by the Assessor, and, in dread of +encountering Repuin's detested form, moved closer to Kurt as if for +protection. "Whom have you brought here?" she asked. + +"I cannot mention any name, Fraeulein Mueller," the Assessor replied. "I +promised not to do so, and I am a man of my word. But I can assure you +that you will rejoice to see my honoured companion. He wishes to meet +you alone, therefore I pray you step aside to where he is awaiting you +in the forest only a few steps from here." + +"I will not go!" Lucie declared. "Whoever your companion may be, he has +no right to require that I should go into the forest to meet him." + +"You do not know of whom you speak, Fraeulein Mueller," the Assessor +said, with unusual earnestness. "I entreat you not to refuse. I assure +you you will rejoice to see my companion, who longs to clasp you to his +heart." + +Lucie shot at the little man a glance of flame. She turned in +indignation at such insolence to Kurt, saying, "I have nothing further +to say to this gentleman. May I beg you, Herr von Poseneck, to continue +our walk?" + +"But, Madame--Fraeulein Mueller, I would say--you place me in the most +embarrassing position; there can be no reason why you should not see my +honoured companion. I give you my word of honour that he comes by +Fraeulein Adele's express desire; he is the only man in the world whom I +would have conducted hither. I was so glad to meet you here in the +forest, and not to be obliged to go to the castle to find you, and now +you refuse to go a few steps to meet him when he has come so many miles +to see you. Do you mistrust me? I do not deserve it of you!" + +There was so much of honesty and good will stamped upon the Assessor's +face, he was evidently so aggrieved by Lucie's distrust of him, that +his words produced some effect upon her. She hesitated, and wondered +whether she were right in her refusal; but before she could reply an +elderly gentleman, the same whom the Assessor had received at the +railway station, emerged from the forest and hastened towards her. + +She gazed at him for a moment, and then, with a shriek of joy, threw +herself into his arms, and, clasping her own about his neck, kissed him +again and again. "I have you again! Thank God! thank God!" she cried. +"This is too much joy! Now I will hold you fast. You must not leave +your child again." + +The gentleman was much moved, and the tears stood in his eyes as he +returned Lucie's kisses. "My child! my dear, good child!" he whispered, +tenderly. "You are mine once more, and I shall know how to protect you +from your dastardly persecutors." + +"We are not alone, we must remember that," Lucie said, at length, +extricating herself from her father's embrace. + +The old man turned, with his daughter's hand still in his, and extended +his right hand to Kurt. "Forgive me, Herr von Poseneck," he said, "for +presenting myself so unceremoniously to Fraeulein Cecilia von Hohenwald +and yourself. I had hoped that my daughter would comply with our friend +the Assessor's request and come to me in the forest; but her natural +reluctance to do so is the cause why you are the witnesses of a meeting +between a father and daughter who have been separated for years." + +For a few moments the poor Assessor found himself upon a pinnacle of +glory. The modesty with which nature had endowed him was in danger of +great deterioration, so enthusiastic were Lucie's thanks to him for his +kind interest, so gratifying was the appreciation of his services by +his fair cousin and Herr von Poseneck. But alas, poor man! he soon +experienced the uncertainty of such a position, and felt himself no +better than the fifth wheel to a coach with the two couples, who +evidently desired to be left to themselves. Kurt and Celia paid him not +the least attention, and Lucie was so wrapped up in her newly-found +father that she soon seemed entirely to have forgotten Hahn's +existence. He was therefore fain to amuse himself by botanizing among +the forest flowers. + +Lucie clung to her father's arm as if fearful of losing him again +should she leave him for an instant. They walked on in advance of the +lovers, and as soon as they were out of hearing the daughter gave words +to her delight. "I am so happy, my darling father; I can scarcely +believe the evidence of my senses that I am looking into your dear eyes +and feeling your strong arm support me. Oh, father, how could you stay +so long away from your child? All would have been different if you had +been here!" + +"I could not have prevented Sorr from ruining himself and you," Ahlborn +gloomily replied. "Do not reproach me, my child. I did what I was +forced to do, and the result has crowned my work. When I left you +without even taking leave of you, I determined never to return unless +in possession of all, and more than all, I had lost. Even then I +suspected how bitterly we had been deceived in Sorr, and my only object +in life was to work for you, my darling, that your future might be +secure. With this one thought in my mind I went to America and plunged +into a life of toil, in which, when I might have faltered and fallen, +the thought of you sustained me. I added dollar to dollar with the +parsimony of a miser. I embarked, like a madman, in the boldest +speculations. All that I touched seemed to turn to profit. But why +dwell upon those wild years? I hate to think of them, for, although I +never stooped to what the world calls dishonesty, it galls me now to +remember how different was the system of mad speculation by which I +regained my lost fortune from the plodding industry by which I first +obtained it. + +"Three months ago I arrived in Bremen, and hurried to Berlin, where my +worst fears with regard to Sorr were confirmed. His reputation was +gone, his property lost; and I was told that he had removed with you to +M----. When I reached M---- it was too late, you had vanished +unaccountably, and Sorr, too, was not to be found." + +"Did not Adele tell you where I was?" Lucie asked. + +"I never thought of going to her, so wide-spread was the report that in +your despair you had destroyed yourself. I left M---- a broken-hearted +man; of what use was my wealth? My aim in life was gone. + +"I tried to divert my mind by travelling aimlessly hither and thither; +and at Frankfort-on-the-Main, seeing by the papers that a fine estate +on the banks of the Rhine was for sale, I purchased it, in hopes of +finding relief from my misery in the care of it. But the peaceful +solitude to which I had looked to soothe my pain only increased it, and +again I began my wanderings, which suddenly found their close in +Berlin. Last Friday I was sauntering aimlessly along the street there +when I met the Assessor von Hahn. Remembering that in former days he +was in the habit of frequenting our house, where he was one of your +adorers, I did not rebuff him when he recognized me and with a cordial +welcome on his lips walked along by my side. I soon wearied of him, +however, and paid no attention to the gossip he continued to retail to +me, until I was aroused from my absence of mind by the question, 'Have +you been to see your daughter yet?' If he were conscious that your +friends mourned you as dead, why ask so cruel a question? I begged him +instantly to tell me all that he knew of you, and this threw the little +man into the greatest confusion; my joy was unbounded when he assured +me positively that you were still alive, although he refused to reveal +to me your retreat, and referred me to your friend Adele. An hour later +I was in the train bound for M----, and the next morning I had an early +interview with your friend, who was in raptures at recognizing me. But, +ah, my child, what a tale she told me! My poor darling, to what a fate +did I resign you! Now, however, I know all,--all, for Adele even gave +me your last letter to her to read, entreating me to go instantly to +your aid, to carry you to my home on the Rhine, far away from Castle +Hohenwald, where, as you said, each moment was torture to you." + +"Did Adele say that?" Lucie asked, in surprise. "Did she not show you +my second letter, which she must have received almost simultaneously +with the first?" + +"I know nothing of any second letter; but your friend regretted deeply +that she had not yet been able to procure you the situation for which +you implored her, and added that she was upon the point of writing to +you, to insist that you should return to your old retreat beneath her +father's roof. We consulted together what was best to be done. We +agreed that you must leave the castle immediately, but in view of the +eccentricity of its lord, I judged it best to accept the friendly +offices, so frankly offered, of Herr von Hahn to procure an interview +with you, rather than to present myself in person to the Freiherr. + +"I telegraphed to the Assessor at A---- to meet me at the station +there, and as soon as I was able to procure a place in the crowded +trains came hither. He was waiting for me on the platform, and before +we left the station he pointed out to me two gentlemen who had arrived +by the same train as Count Repuin and the Finanzrath von Hohenwald." + +"Good heavens!" Lucie exclaimed. "Werner and the Count! This is, +indeed, wretched news. I feared it, I feared it, although I could not +conceive that the Finanzrath could be so basely treacherous. But let +Count Repuin come,--I am no longer defenceless; I will confront him +boldly in the presence of the old Freiherr." Then as she reflected that +her kind old friend was absolutely ignorant of her past, now probably +to be so misrepresented to him, she went on, in feverish agitation: +"But, oh! my father, there is a danger which you cannot avert. What if +my kind friend should be led to doubt me by the falsehoods that will +doubtless be poured into his ears? I will not lose his esteem and +affection; we must see him before the Finanzrath and the Count reach +the castle. Perhaps it is already too late. Protect me from them, +father, if they should be there, and stand beside me while I tell the +Freiherr my wretched story." + +But to this her father was not inclined to agree. Had it not been for +the presence of Repuin he would gladly have allowed his child to +acquaint the Freiherr with all her past, but he could not doubt the +Russian's close association with Sorr, and from her husband even +Lucie's father could not protect her. Should Sorr require her to follow +him, nothing remained for her save to elude him by a secret flight from +the castle without even bidding the old Freiherr farewell. Only when +beneath her father's roof could she thank Baron von Hohenwald for all +his kindness and explain to him the grounds for her sudden and secret +flight. + +When, however, Herr Ahlborn explained his wishes on this head to his +daughter, he encountered a determined opposition on her part; she was +so unwilling to leave without one word of explanation what had been to +her a dear asylum, that at last, trusting in Sorr's absence, the father +yielded to Lucie's entreaties and consented to accompany her to the +castle. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + +The time passed with incredible swiftness for all save for poor Herr +von Hahn. Celia had so much to say to her lover that when Lucie +reminded her that it was time to return she begged for "one more +quarter of an hour, dearest Anna!" and was only pacified by the +permission given to Kurt to accompany her to-day on the walk back to +the castle. + +Thus all turned their faces towards home. Celia wished the road were +miles long. She went first with Kurt, and Lucie and her father with +the Assessor followed them. The lovers paused at the gate of the +court-yard; Kurt could go no farther. As Celia was looking back for +Anna, her attention was diverted by the noise of a vehicle, and through +an opposite entrance came a carriage that drew up before the steps +leading into the castle hall. Two gentlemen descended from it,--one was +Werner, the other an entire stranger to Celia "Anna," the girl said to +her friend, who was still too far off to look into the interior of the +court-yard, "Werner has come, and he is not alone,--there is a stranger +with him." + +The intelligence did not startle Lucie; she had feared that the +Finanzrath and Repuin would reach the castle before her, but in another +instant she stood by Celia's side, and recognized in the stranger not +Repuin, but her miserable husband. + +"Sorr is there himself; you will not now return to the castle?" her +father, who instantly recognized his son-in-law, asked. + +Lucie did not reply; she was too much dismayed to appreciate at first +the result which a meeting with her husband in Castle Hohenwald might +bring about. + +"I yielded to your wish," said Herr Ahlborn, "when I supposed that +Count Repuin would be the Finanzrath's companion; but since Sorr +himself is here, doubtless with the intention of asserting a husband's +rights, you must not lose a moment, but must follow me instantly." + +"Only let me say one word of farewell, father." + +"No, you must not expose yourself to such peril." + +"What will the Freiherr think of me if I fly thus without a word? Herr +von Sorr will not venture to malign me if I confront him in the Baron's +presence." + +"But he will demand his rights, and, in spite of his baseness, he has +the law upon his side. You owe it to me, your father, as well as to +yourself, to come with me. Fraeulein Cecilia will carry your farewell to +her father, and you can soon write to him and explain everything." + +All that Celia, standing by in utter amazement at the words exchanged +between father and daughter, could understand was, that the stranger +with Werner, whom they called Sorr, threatened Anna with great danger, +from which her father was entreating her to fly, and that her friend +was unwilling to leave the castle without a word of farewell. Celia had +often pondered the mystery of her friend's past, and was firmly +convinced that whatever it might be Anna never could have been to +blame. + +"What are you saying?" the girl exclaimed, in great agitation. "Are you +talking of leaving Castle Hohenwald without one word of farewell to +dear papa and Arno? Oh, no, Anna! Indeed, you must not think of doing +so. Whatever may be the evil intent of Werner and his companion, papa +and Arno will know how to protect you." + +"Fraeulein Cecilia, do you really love my daughter?" Ahlborn asked, +earnestly. + +"Do I love her?" the girl rejoined. "She is my dearest friend. I owe to +her all the happiness of my life." And her glance sought Kurt. + +"Then, if you really love her, you will not try to persuade her to +enter the castle, when I assure you solemnly that she will by so doing +imperil the happiness of her life. Trust me, I implore you. You shall +soon hear from us and learn all that want of time now forces us to +conceal. Everything depends upon her leaving here with me without a +moment's delay. Would you yet persuade her to remain?" + +"No! no! you shall not stay, my darling Anna!" the girl exclaimed, more +impressed by the old man's tone and manner than by his words. "If your +happiness is at stake never think of us. I do not know how I shall live +without you now that Kurt and Arno are both going to leave us, but not +for worlds would I keep you. Go with your father, and I will tell papa +how sorry you are not to say good-bye to him, and that you will soon +write and explain everything." + +Lucie was deeply agitated. Her heart rebelled at the thought of leaving +the castle thus, but her reason told her that it was her only chance of +safety, and she yielded to Celia's unselfish entreaty. At Herr +Ahlborn's request the girl promised not to acquaint her father with +Fraeulein Mueller's secret departure until late in the evening, and to +state in answer to any inquiries concerning her that she had complained +of headache and had gone to take a solitary walk. + +The friends then took leave of each other with many tears, and Lucie, +with her father and the Assessor, struck into the foot-path leading +through the forest and village of Hohenwald to Gruenhagen. Kurt lingered +for one moment for a last embrace of his darling, and then, joining +Lucie, walked silently by her side. + +Lost in thoughts of Hohenwald and of what Arno would say when he heard +of her flight, Lucie walked on swiftly. Suddenly she paused with a +thrill of delighted surprise, for he of whom she was thinking stood +before her. + +Arno was on his way from the village of Hohenwald, and owing to the +windings of the path was close beside the two gentlemen, who were in +front of Kurt and Lucie, before he saw them. His surprise was great on +beholding the Assessor, with whom he had formerly been slightly +acquainted, and who now bowed profoundly, while his elderly companion +accorded him a reluctant greeting by slightly raising his hat. Arno was +about to accost them when he perceived, to his still greater +astonishment, at some little distance, Fraeulein Mueller accompanied by +Herr von Poseneck. + +There had been another meeting in the forest, then. It had doubtless +been arranged in the letter that had aroused his jealousy. His soul was +filled with bitterness. How great had been his folly in trusting Anna's +words rather than his own eyes! How she must have smiled at his futile +irritation when she persisted in reiterating Poseneck's praises! What +did she mean now? She suddenly stood still as she perceived him, and on +her lovely face there dawned a brilliant smile as she held out to him +both her hands. "What an unexpected pleasure!" she exclaimed. + +He did not take her proffered hands, and would have passed on with a +bow, but this she prevented. She took his hand. "We must not part thus, +Herr Baron," she said, with so kindly a look that in a moment his +bitter mood was changed; he carried her hand tenderly to his lips, and +she did not withdraw it. + +"You are displeased with me, Herr Baron," Lucie continued; "but you do +me great injustice. Now that I see you I can in some measure explain +the grief that my hasty departure from the castle causes me. I told my +father--but you do not know my dearest father yet. This, father dear, +is the Baron Arno von Hohenwald." + +Herr Ahlborn was by no means pleased at this meeting in the forest; it +must lead to explanations which he would fain have avoided. He uttered +a few phrases of conventional courtesy, and regretted that the +necessity for reaching A---- that very evening would prevent any +prolongation of the interview. "I shall not fail," he added, "to +communicate shortly by letter the reasons which make my daughter's +sudden departure from Castle Hohenwald an imperative necessity." + +All that Arno gathered from this was the fact--and it filled him with +dismay--that Anna was to leave Hohenwald. "What!" he cried, "are you +going, going to desert my father and Celia at the hour of their sorest +need? No, Fraeulein Mueller, I cannot believe this. Tell me you will +remain. My infirm old father and Celia cannot do without you, and +I--but no, I will not speak of myself, of the wretchedness that the +thought of not finding you here upon my return from the war would cause +me. I will plead only for my father and Celia. Stay with us! do not +forsake us!" + +"It must not be. I cannot!" Lucie replied, in much agitation. + +"Every moment is precious!" Ahlborn exclaimed, impatiently. "Farewell, +Herr Baron! Lucie, take my arm." + +"No, father; you must grant me a few minutes of private conversation +with Baron von Hohenwald. I owe him some explanation of my conduct." + +"Lucie, take care!" + +"It must be, father; I cannot help it. I will follow you in a few +minutes." + +"You are your own mistress," Ahlborn rejoined, grumblingly. "You must +do as you please, only I implore you to remember the danger that lies +in delay." + +He touched his hat to Arno, and then taking the Assessor's arm and +accompanied by Kurt, he pursued the path until one of its windings +screened Lucie and the Baron from their sight, when they paused and +waited. + +Lucie left alone with Arno, resolved not to leave him until she had +justified herself in his eyes, and yet she was irresolute how to begin. +Her cheeks glowed with shame at the idea of imparting to him the sad +mystery of her life, and yet the precious minutes were flying; +something must be said immediately. + +"And you are really going to leave us?" + +This simple question from Arno broke the silence and relieved Lucie's +hesitation. "I must, Herr Baron," she replied. "I had hoped to find a +home in Castle Hohenwald, but a sad fate has snatched it from me." + +"Am I the cause of your flight?" Arno eagerly asked. "Do you so dread +the few hours that are all I can yet pass in the castle? I leave it +to-morrow. Do you hate me so bitterly?" + +"I do not hate you," Lucie gently replied. And in her candid eyes, in +the pressure of the little hand that still rested in his, Arno saw that +she spoke the truth. "You are not the cause of my leaving Hohenwald. +Your brother, who is now at the castle, will tell you the reasons for +my flight." + +"Werner? You have confided, then, in him?" + +"No; an unfortunate chance betrayed to him my sad secret, and he has +made sad use of it. Even without his interference I should have +followed my father, who is restored to me after years of hopeless +separation, but I should not have been forced to steal away thus, like +a criminal, without one word of farewell to your father, who has +treated me with such paternal kindness." + +"You speak in riddles. I do not comprehend you." + +"I will solve them for you," Lucie sadly replied. "You will comprehend +all when I tell you that the man whom your brother has just introduced +at Castle Hohenwald is the cause of my misfortunes, is my miserable +husband, Herr von Sorr!" + +Arno fairly staggered beneath the blow; he dropped Lucie's hand and +gazed at her in horror. "You are--you--you are----" + +He could not finish the sentence; hope seemed slain within him; his +future was a blank. + +"Do not be angry with me," Lucie said, taking his hand again. "I +implore you not to be angry with me. I am so wretchedly unhappy. I +could not part from you without telling you the whole truth. I have +longed to do this so often, and I have bitterly repented ever coming to +Hohenwald under a feigned name." + +"Lucie, we are waiting!" Ahlborn called from the distance. + +"Must I leave you without one word of forgiveness from you?" Lucie +continued. She still held Arno's hand in hers and gazed at him with +eyes of sad entreaty. Hitherto she had suppressed all expression of her +sentiments towards him. Never in the intercourse of daily life at +Hohenwald had she for an instant relaxed in the stern watch and ward +that she kept over every gesture, every look that might encourage any +hope in his mind. But this was a supreme moment; they were parting +forever, and her heart clamoured for its rights. + +Arno was profoundly agitated. Heart and mind were filled with tumult. +Anna the wife of a wretch from whom she was forced to flee! He suddenly +comprehended why she had denied him all hope; and now, as he looked +into her imploring eyes and felt the soft pressure of her hand, the +thought thrilled him with sudden ecstasy that she returned his love, +that her lips and not her heart had rejected his affection, that she +had but fulfilled a duty. He drew her closer to him, and for an +instant, with a burning blush, she yielded to his embrace. + +"Lucie! Lucie!" came Ahlborn's warning voice, in more impatient tones +than before. + +"You love me!" Arno whispered, all else forgotten in the overwhelming +bliss of the moment. + +Lucie extricated herself from his embrace. "We must part!" she said, +sadly. "Fate divides us forever, but in this last sad moment let me +implore you never to lose confidence in me, whatever you may hear upon +your return to the castle!" + +"Lucie! it is time we were gone!" + +"I must go. We must part," she said. Once more Arno clasped her to his +heart and kissed her passionately. She did not resist, but in an +instant turned and hurried to her father. As she reached the winding in +the pathway she turned, waved her hand, and then vanished in the +forest. + +Arno gazed after her like one in a dream, conscious only that just at +the moment when the blissful certainty was his that she returned his +love, she was lost to him forever. She was the wife of another, and +Werner, his brother, had brought to Castle Hohenwald that other, her +unworthy husband, from whom she had been forced to flee under a feigned +name. In an instant he comprehended that it was his part to hasten to +his father and espouse Lucie's cause. As he entered the castle garden +he observed two persons walking to and fro on the terrace: one was his +brother, the other then was Sorr. + +The garden-walk wound among shrubbery, whence Arno could watch the man +for a while without being perceived, and disgust stirred within him at +the thought that a man so evidently steeped in low dissipation should +be Anna's husband. He felt that he hated both him and Werner, who had +brought him hither. Resolved to defend his love against them both, he +soon reached the terrace. + +Werner awaited his brother's approach, and intercepted his direct +entrance to the garden-room. A malicious smile played about his lips as +he laid his hand upon Arno's shoulder. "Are you in too great a hurry, +Arno, to spare me a word of greeting when we have not seen each other +for several days? I will only detain you for one moment, however, to +present to you in Herr von Sorr a guest whom you will doubtless be glad +to welcome when I tell you that he is so fortunate as to be the husband +of the beautiful Frau von Sorr whom we have learned to know by another +name. For reasons of which you shall be informed hereafter, Frau von +Sorr thought fit to select our house for her abode under a feigned +name. We know her as Fraeulein Anna Mueller." + +Werner had arranged his sentence so that its conclusion should be a +sudden revelation to his brother. He had exulted in the prospect of +Arno's amazement and horror at the intelligence that Anna Mueller was +Sorr's wife, but to his astonishment his brother did not betray the +slightest surprise, bestowing only a slight glance at the "guest," who, +hat in hand, but in evident confusion, stammered various conventional +phrases suitable, as he thought, to the occasion. + +Werner could not understand Arno's unlooked-for composure, and when his +brother coldly rejoined, "Frau von Sorr has already informed me of your +bringing this gentleman to Hohenwald," he hastily exclaimed, "You have +spoken with Frau von Sorr?" + +"Not long ago." + +"And she told you that I was at the castle with her husband?" + +"Yes." + +"She must have seen us then as we drove hither." + +"Very probably." + +"Why, then, does she not come to my father? She is evidently avoiding +us. Where did you see her? My father has been waiting impatiently for +her for more than half an hour." + +"Indeed? Then it will gratify him to learn tidings of her." + +And with these words Arno passed on into the garden-room; but in the +doorway he observed that Werner and Sorr were following him; he paused +therefore, and, barring the way, said, gravely, "The tidings that I +bring of Fraeulein Anna Mueller are for my father's ear alone." + +"Herr von Sorr certainly has a right to know where his wife is and what +you have to say to my father with regard to her." + +"The devil he has!" the Freiherr angrily exclaimed. "I told you before, +Werner, that you are to remain out upon the terrace with your Herr von +Sorr until I call you. No man in the world, and this Herr von Sorr +least of all, has a right to hear what my son wishes to tell me alone. +Understand that, Herr Finanzrath. Now go! I wish to be alone with +Arno!" + +Werner suppressed the angry retort that rose to his lips, and, +withdrawing once more, paced the terrace impatiently with Sorr. He knew +that when his father was as angry as at present there was nothing for +it but to obey. + +"What have you to tell me of Fraeulein Anna? I will still call her by +the name I love. I can hardly believe that she is the wife of that +low-looking scoundrel," the Freiherr said, when Arno had taken his +accustomed seat beside his chair. + +His son as briefly and as simply as possible told of his interview with +her in the forest,--how she had presented her father to him and told +him that she was forced to flee from her unworthy husband. He also +delivered Anna's farewell to the Freiherr, and her entreaty that no one +would judge her harshly, but wait until a letter from her should +explain all. + +The old Baron interrupted his son frequently with exclamations of +surprise and with questions, and when he had concluded, declared "It is +a most extraordinary story, and I can make nothing of it; but I am glad +you said nothing about her to those fellows outside, for Werner is +evidently hand in glove with this precious Herr von Sorr. What they +want I cannot imagine; perhaps you may guess when you hear that +fellow's story." The Freiherr then related as briefly as he could the +tale told him by Sorr, adding, finally, "I must do the man the justice +to say that he acknowledged that he alone was to blame in his quarrel +with his wife; he never accused her, and I might have put some faith in +his protestations if it had not been for the scoundrelly hang-dog look +of him. I don't believe one word of his repentance and change of life. +There is a screw loose somewhere in his story about Count Repuin. If he +had fought a duel with the Russian is it likely that Werner would bring +his friend's mortal foe here? I had hoped to hear the truth from +Fraeulein Anna, but now that she has gone, what's to be done I don't +know." + +"Celia may tell us something." + +"True, she may; that's an idea!" the Freiherr exclaimed. "She went with +Anna into the forest. Go, Arno, and bring the child here." + +Arno found Celia in her own room, and with difficulty persuaded her to +accompany him to her father's presence; where, until Arno finally told +her of his late interview with her dear Anna, she refused to give any +information with regard to Fraeulein Mueller's disappearance. Then, +however, she told the little that she knew; no more, indeed, than what +Arno had already learned, that Anna was forced against her will to +leave the castle instantly to escape a great peril, and that she would +shortly write and explain all. + +"We are no wiser than we were before," the Freiherr declared, when +Celia had finished speaking. "We know that she has fled, but we do not +know why or whither; there is some comfort in the thought that she is +with her father, and the question now is, what is to be done with those +two fellows outside. I must give them some answer." As he spoke, the +Freiherr glanced towards Werner and Sorr, and observed to his surprise +that they were no longer alone. A man, hat in hand, was handing Werner +a letter. "Is that not Hesse, our old Inspector?" the Freiherr inquired +of Arno. "Look, Arno, how agitated Werner seems; he must have received +some important intelligence; yes, here he comes again, without waiting +for a summons." + +Werner, followed by Sorr, now hurriedly entered. "I can wait no longer, +father," he said, approaching the Freiherr. "I must beg you to decide +instantly. Important information which I have just received forces me +to leave here immediately with Herr von Sorr. I trust Frau von Sorr +will accompany us. Surely you will not deny a husband his rights,--will +not compel him to have recourse to the law." + +The Freiherr did not reply. + +"I entreat you, sir, to delay no longer,--every moment is precious," +Werner went on. "Any long stay here is fraught with peril for me." + +"I will not delay you; go when you please." + +"Shall I have come in vain? Will not Frau von Sorr accompany her +husband?" + +"I have no right to detain her." + +"But you allow her to reside in the castle, while duty calls her to +follow her husband. You sustain her in her disobedience to duty by +permitting her to remain beneath your roof." + +"What a shameful accusation!" Arno cried, indignantly, but his father +interrupted him. + +"Hush, Arno!" he said, authoritatively. "I will have no disputing +between you brothers. My decision is made; I will not interfere between +Herr von Sorr and his wife!" + +"You will not shelter her, sir?" Werner asked. + +"No!" + +"Thank you. I expected no less of you." + +A contemptuous smile played about the Freiherr's lips as he rejoined, +"I am greatly flattered. Thus the whole matter is ended. You can find +Frau von Sorr, and tell her from me that I can no longer permit her to +stay in Castle Hohenwald. The rest is your affair, or rather that of +Herr von Sorr, whom I must now beg to leave me. I am far from well, and +will hear nothing further; therefore adieu to both of you. Find Frau +von Sorr, compel her to go with her husband, or do what you please, +only leave me in peace. Success to you, Herr von Sorr; adieu, Werner!" + +The old man leaned back in his chair, and by an imperious wave of the +hand dismissed his son. + +Werner left the apartment, followed by Sorr, whose fulsome gratitude +the Freiherr cut short by another impatient wave of the hand. As soon +as they had left the room, Werner, still accompanied by Sorr, hurried +first to the library where he hoped to find Lucie, and then up-stairs, +where the maid informed them that Fraeulein Mueller had not been seen +since four o'clock, when she had gone for a walk with Fraeulein Celia; +old Franz had searched both garden and park for her in vain. + +Werner burst into a rage at this information of the maid's. "Arno saw +her!" he exclaimed, when he was once more alone with Sorr in the castle +court-yard. "He knows where she is, and must tell us where to find +her." He then returned to the garden-room alone, leaving Sorr to await +him in the court-yard. The reception he met with was of the coldest; +his father swore he would not hear a word from him, Arno refused to +answer any questions, and Celia continued her performance of one of her +father's favourite sonatas without deigning even to look at him. He +dared not linger longer in the castle,--there was nothing for it but to +return to the court-yard, where the vehicle in which he had arrived +stood ready for departure. + +"We must go, Herr von Sorr," said Werner; "time flies. My father, +brother, and sister are evidently in league with your wife; they know +where she is, but utterly refuse to tell,--it would take hours to find +her, and every moment is priceless." + +"We cannot leave without my wife; I do not dare to confront Repuin +without her." + +"Then stay here; I am going," Werner resolutely declared. "I will not +imperil my freedom by a fruitless search, and besides we may chance to +meet her on our way. Will you come?" He opened the carriage-door and +sprang in. Sorr hesitated a moment, and then followed him; the coachman +whipped up his horses, and they galloped off at a rattling pace. + + +Not more than a quarter of an hour had elapsed when there appeared, on +the road to the castle along which they had so lately passed, a mounted +gendarme, preceding, by another quarter of an hour, an open barouche, +in which sat three gentlemen, two officers and a civilian. Colonel von +Schlichting, with his adjutant, Lieutenant von Styrum, and the famous, +or, as some would have it, the notorious police official, the +Geheimrath Steuber, from Berlin; a second civilian, his assistant, sat +on the box beside the coachman. + +The gendarme, when in sight of the castle, awaited the barouche, behind +which came a detachment of mounted dragoons, and reported that he had +seen nothing suspicious, no carriage either going towards or coming +from the castle. + +"The birds are probably not yet flown," the Geheimrath said, rubbing +his hands and chuckling. "The castle can be approached only in this +direction. I was afraid upon learning at the station that immediately +after our arrival a carriage and a horseman had left it at full speed +that they might have got wind of our coming, but now I rather think we +shall find the entire band of conspirators, including Count Repuin, +together." + +The Geheimrath was evidently elated at the prospect of a good haul. +There was a smile upon his ugly face, which, to Count Styrum, made it +look uglier still, and his view was shared by Count Schlichting. Both +officers were fulfilling a disagreeable duty; they had received their +orders from the highest authority, and were instructed if the arrest of +the Freiherr von Hohenwald were really unavoidable, to proceed with the +greatest caution and delicacy. Count Schlichting and Count Styrum, the +latter of whom was but just re-admitted to military service, had +personally been informed by their august commander how painful it was +to him to issue orders for a search of Castle Hohenwald, which might +result in the arrest of the Freiherr and his son Arno in addition to +that of the Finanzrath and Count Repuin, which had already been +ordered. Stern necessity alone had overcome considerations which would +else have prevailed even with the highest authorities, and both search +and arrests were confided to the charge of the famous Geheimrath, who +was at the head of all investigations of the treasonable combinations +still existing after war had been declared. Thus the police official +was, in fact, the leader of this expedition to Hohenwald, although for +form's sake he appeared as the colonel's assistant, and this galled the +old soldier, for the Geheimrath's past was more than questionable; he +owed his lofty position entirely to his cunning. Schlichting would +gladly have replied harshly to the exultation of the man who, with his +old, wrinkled face and large, prominent eyes glaring through round +spectacle-glasses, looked like nothing so much as a malicious and +evil-minded kobold, but considerations of duty kept him silent. Styrum, +however, felt bound by no such considerations, and when the Geheimrath +went so far as to stigmatize all the inmates of the castle as +conspirators he indignantly repeated the obnoxious word, and added, in +a deeply offended tone, "You would do well, Herr Geheimrath, to be +better informed before you apply such an epithet to the old Freiherr +von Hohenwald or to my comrade and friend, the Freiherr Arno. As to the +latter, I can vouch for his patriotism and devotion to his country; he +is incapable of treason, and there is nothing but unfounded rumour, so +far as I can learn, that can cause you to regard the old Freiherr as a +conspirator." + +The colonel nodded approvingly to the younger officer, while the +Geheimrath looked at him with a smile half of pity and half of contempt +as he replied, "It is the privilege of youth to trust and to hope; you +must not wonder, however, that with my experience I am readier to +believe in guilt than in innocence. This, however, shall not prevent me +from searching with equal vigilance for proof of the innocence as well +as of the guilt of those under suspicion. If your friend is, as you +believe, innocent, his fate is in good hands; I am terrible only for +the guilty." + +"And you believe that Baron Arno may be guilty?" + +"I believe nothing, Herr Count. I only know that there are +incontestable proofs that the Finanzrath von Hohenwald has treasonable +relations with Count Repuin and other French agents; that he has +employed leave of absence granted him from official duty to make +various expeditions from Castle Hohenwald to the large South German +cities, always returning thither again, and that in his letters he has +expressed the hope of winning over his father and brother to what he +calls the 'good cause.' I know further that he has lately developed a +feverish activity, and that this very morning he arrived at Station +A---- in company with Count Repuin, the most dangerous of all the +French agents, doubtless intending to visit Castle Hohenwald in order +to mature with their associates those arrangements that cannot be +confided to paper. Therefore you must not be offended, Herr Count, if +an old police official makes use of the word 'conspirator' in +designating these associates. If your friend Baron Arno is no +conspirator so much the better, but at present his case has an ugly +look, and I must warn you both, gentlemen, not to allow your belief in +his innocence to betray you into any action detrimental to the success +of our expedition hither." + +"We know our duty, and need no reminder that it is to be fulfilled," +the colonel haughtily replied. + +"I am convinced of it, and beg to assure you that no 'reminder' was +intended," Steuber rejoined, after which, leaning back in the carriage, +he made no further attempts at conversation. + +Arrived in the castle court-yard, the Geheimrath sprang out of the +barouche with youthful agility, and after a few whispered words to his +assistant, requested the colonel, who followed him somewhat less +briskly, to place guards at every point of egress from the castle into +the garden, and then to present him to the Freiherr von Hohenwald. "The +sooner the search is begun," he added, "the more secure we are of +results." + +With the best grace he could muster the colonel ordered Styrum to place +guards as required. + +Meanwhile, old Franz, hearing the clatter of the horses upon the stones +of the court-yard, made his appearance, staring in dismay at the +strangers who dared, against his master's commands, thus to invade +Castle Hohenwald. + +"We wish to speak with the Herr Freiherr von Hohenwald. Conduct us to +your master!" + +Franz gazed open-mouthed at the man who uttered these words in an +imperious tone. What, show a stranger into his master's room +unannounced, and no permission asked! It was inconceivable. + +"The Herr Baron cannot see any one." + +"He will see us!" + +"No; the Herr Baron has expressly ordered that no strangers are to be +announced." + +"You are not to announce us, but to conduct us to him!" And as he +spoke, the man with the spectacles had so threatening an air that old +Franz felt constrained to obey. "This way, then!" he said, sullenly, +leading the way to the garden-room, followed by the colonel and the +Geheimrath. + + +Fatigued and agitated, after Werner's departure the old Freiherr lay +wearily back in his rolling-chair, his thoughts busy with Anna, who had +so often sung him the very song that Celia was now beginning to play on +the piano. Arno sat beside him silent and sad, listening to his +sister's charming rendering of the well-known melody. + +"It is past; and all is so different from what I had hoped," the +Freiherr said, after a long pause, taking his son's hand and pressing +it. "She has left us, and all my hopes are crushed." + +"What were your hopes, father?" + +"It is useless to speak of them." Another pause ensued; the old Baron +sadly gazing at his son, who was again lost in thought. Then he spoke +once more, "Tell me frankly, Arno, am I wrong in thinking that our Anna +had grown very dear to you?" + +At this unexpected question Arno hastily started from his seat, and +paced the apartment to and fro, then paused and confronted his father. +"Why ask such a question?" he said, reproachfully. "What is to you, +father, or to any one, whether I loved or hated her? Our Anna, do you +call her? Have you forgotten that she is the wife of that wretch whom +Werner has chosen for his friend? She is Frau von Sorr! Do you know, +father, that at times I think the thought will drive me mad!" + +"I thought so!" the old Baron rejoined, taking his son's hand as he +stood before him. "It has been so great a pleasure to me to watch you +during these last few weeks. My Arno will be happy after all, I +thought. I dreamed of her as the lovely mistress of Hohenwald, and +now--now it is all over." + +Arno did not reply. Again he paced the room restlessly to and fro, +never heeding the unusual bustle that had arisen in the court-yard. + +The Freiherr too was only aroused from his brooding reverie by the +sound of footsteps in the hall and the sudden flinging wide of the +doors to admit Count Schlichting, followed by the Geheimrath Steuber, +while almost at the same moment steps resounded upon the terrace, and +two dragoons with drawn sabres stationed themselves at the glass door +leading to the garden. At this sight the old Baron's sadness was +converted into violent anger. "Thunder and lightning, Franz! How dare +you introduce visitors unannounced!" he exclaimed, furiously, to the +old servant, who stood in the doorway quite uncertain which to fear +more, his master or the terrible man in spectacles. + +"Don't scold your servant, old friend," said Count Schlichting, +approaching the Freiherr's rolling-chair and taking his reluctant hand. +"He conducted myself and this gentleman hither only upon compulsion. +And we do not intrude voluntarily upon your seclusion, but in obedience +to an august command, which, I am sure, will be respected by the +Freiherr von Hohenwald." + +The Freiherr gazed at the colonel with flashing eyes. He had not seen +him for more than fifteen years, and had not at first recognized him. +Now he remembered his old friend well, but his anger was not diminished +thereby, and he had to put the greatest restraint upon himself to +suppress another outbreak. He looked from the colonel to the +Geheimrath, and then out upon the terrace at the two dragoons stationed +there, and the case suddenly became clear to him. He was not surprised +that suspicion should attach to him in consequence of Werner's +intrigues. True, he had never contemplated being arrested, but his +anger died away when he reflected that the colonel was merely +fulfilling his duty as a soldier, and he had no fear of consequences, +for he was conscious of his innocence. + +Quickly regaining his composure, he returned the pressure of the +colonel's hand and said, "Those two blue fellows out there explain the +'august command' which brings my old friend here. It is not your fault +that you must fulfil your duty, which, however, may perhaps allow you +to inform me why the Freiherr von Hohenwald is arrested in his own +castle." + +"Not quite that yet, old friend,--no fear of that," the colonel +replied, kindly. "My orders certainly are to arrest the Finanzrath, +your eldest son, and Count Repuin, your guest, and to assist this +gentleman, the Geheimrath Steuber, from Berlin, in the execution of his +orders, which are to search the castle for treasonable matter. Until +this is over I must indeed beg you not to leave this room." + +"A request with which I shall have no difficulty in complying, since I +am, as you see, confined to my rolling-chair," the Freiherr replied, +with a smile. + +"I see it with regret; but this gentleman also,--Baron Arno von +Hohenwald, if I do not mistake,"--Arno bowed in silence,--"and the +young lady,"--the colonel greeted Celia with chivalrous courtesy,--"I +must entreat to remain here until my disagreeable duty is finished. The +first and hardest part of it, unfortunately, concerns your eldest son +and Count Repuin, for whom I am forced to make search." + +"It will be fruitless," the Freiherr quietly replied. "My son Werner +was in the castle, but he left it more than half an hour ago. Count +Repuin I do not know. He has never been my guest." + +"That is not true!" the Geheimrath exclaimed. "The Count certainly +accompanied the Finanzrath to Hohenwald,--both must be concealed in the +castle!" + +"Sir! how dare you accuse me of falsehood!" the Freiherr burst out; but +the colonel laid his hand upon the old man's shoulder and said, kindly, +"Be calm, old friend. The Herr Geheimrath has in his zeal for duty made +use of a wrong expression. He cannot mean to accuse of falsehood a +nobleman whom he has been ordered to treat with the greatest +consideration. He will apologize for his error." + +This the Geheimrath immediately did, conscious that he was in the +wrong, and never reluctant to make use of smooth words. Nevertheless he +maintained that both the Finanzrath and Repuin were probably still in +the castle, although without the Freiherr's knowledge. He chose his +apologetic phrases so well that the old Baron was entirely appeased, +and even condescended so far as to explain that a certain Herr von +Sorr, and not Count Repuin, had been his son's companion, and that they +had left the castle together about half an hour previously. + +"For this you have my friend's word," the colonel remarked. + +"The word of honour of the Herr Freiherr von Hohenwald will suffice +me," the police official rejoined. + +"My simple assertion must suffice you, sir," the old man burst forth +again. + +The Geheimrath looked keenly at him for a moment, and then said, with a +courteous bow, "It is the word of a man of honour, and therefore a word +of honour; it suffices entirely. May I now beg the Herr Baron to allow +me to proceed in my search of the castle?" + +"I have nothing to say; do your duty!" + +"For the present, then, Herr Baron, I take my leave, only requesting +that the colonel will accord me the assistance of his adjutant in my +search, if he would himself prefer remaining here with his old friend, +I hope shortly to be able to report to you the result of what I feel +convinced will be a fruitless investigation." + +This proposal was most welcome to the colonel, who rejoiced to pass the +time with his friend instead of assisting in searching the castle, a +duty that would have been extremely repugnant to the old soldier. He +therefore acceded to all the Geheimrath said, and Steuber left the +room. + +Outside, his first care was to despatch his assistant upon a fleet +horse, taken from one of the dragoons, to intercept the flight of the +Finanzrath and Repuin, giving the man the most minute directions as to +how this was to be done, and how he should procure the assistance +necessary to his success in so doing. + +Then he turned to old Franz, over whom two dragoons had mounted guard, +and demanded his guidance over the castle. Poor Franz was so completely +subdued by the martial array about him, and above all so terrified by +the glance of the eyes behind the spectacles, that he obeyed with +submissive promptitude. Encountering in the hall Count Styrum, who had +just concluded the posting of his dragoons, Steuber detained him as he +was about to pass on to the garden-room, and said, "May I pray you to +follow me, Herr Count? The colonel has permitted me to demand your +assistance in the search I am about to begin." + +Styrum would gladly have refused to fulfil so disagreeable a duty; his +pride rebelled against assisting in a search in his friend's house, but +the Geheimrath, who suspected what was in his mind, soothed his wounded +sense of honour by adding, "I do not ask you, Count, to take any part +in this search, which indeed I now believe will be entirely fruitless. +The aid I need, and which your superior officer permits me to require +at your hands, consists simply in your presence as a witness during my +search. Thus you are a substitute, as it were, for your friend Baron +Arno von Hohenwald, to whom you may be able to render essential +service. May I look for your kind compliance with my wish?" + +"I am ready," Styrum replied, and, with old Franz for a guide, they +betook themselves to Werner's apartment. + + + + + CHAPTER XX. + + +The Finanzrath, when he stayed at the castle, occupied a spacious room +in a retired wing, where, between the windows, stood his writing-table +with its many drawers and compartments. This immediately attracted the +Geheimrath's attention. Upon it lay an unopened letter, which Steuber +at once took possession of and coolly opened. Looking up as he did so, +he smiled at the expression of an outraged sense of honour on Styrum's +face, and then read the letter aloud. "Make no further attempt to win +over your father and brother,--it might be dangerous. Unfortunately, +some of our friends have been very imprudent. I have received +trustworthy information that many of us are under strict surveillance. +The greatest caution is necessary; a new associate could avail us +little,--one traitor might ruin us. Your brother's friend, Count +Styrum, has already applied for re-admission to the army; if your +brother should do likewise, he will rank among our foes, not our +friends. Therefore I must entreat you to acquaint neither your father +nor your brother with any of our plans. More when we meet; until then +be upon your guard!" "And this precious epistle is signed 'A,'" the +Geheimrath added. "It tells me nothing new of the Finanzrath or his +friends, but it hints strongly that neither the old Freiherr nor his +younger son knows anything of the Herr Finanzrath's schemes. Do you +still think I did wrong to open the letter, Count?" + +Without waiting for a reply the Geheimrath went on to search in the +most careful manner every drawer and pigeonhole of Werner's desk, but +his trouble was vain. The drawers were all unlocked, but not one piece +of written paper was to be found anywhere. "Hm! the Herr Finanzrath has +been expecting me," Steuber muttered, impatiently. "There is nothing +here, and I have searched everything except the waste-paper basket." +Thereupon he proceeded to examine all the papers it contained, +worthless scraps, one and all, until nothing remained except some small +fragments at the very bottom of the basket. Then, while the Count +looked on in impatient wonder, he carefully assorted these, perceiving +that they consisted of two kinds of paper, one bluish and stiff, the +other creamy and delicate, murmuring, as he did so, "There can hardly +be more than two notes here, or the number of scraps would be greater." + +Styrum's interest began to be aroused. Since the Geheimrath now seemed +inclined to believe in the innocence of Arno and his father he was no +longer so distasteful to the Count, who testified his awakening +interest by drawing a chair up to the table and closely watching the +arrangement of the fragments of paper. His attention flattered the +Geheimrath, who showed himself in the most amiable humour. "We will +first undertake the strong, bluish paper," he said; "there are fewer of +the scraps, and our work will be comparatively easy. I fear, however, +that we are very indiscreet; the writing here is a lady's, and I +suspect we have to do with a love-affair." In a short time the sheet +lay completely fitted together before the official, who rubbed his +hands with his peculiar chuckle and said, "It is no love-letter; I was +mistaken; but it is from a lady, and not even addressed to the Herr +Finanzrath, but to Fraeulein Adele von Guntram, in M----." + +"A letter to Adele!" Styrum exclaimed. "Do you know Fraeulein von +Guntram, Count?" "Certainly; the letter is addressed to my betrothed." +"Then the contents, which are quite incomprehensible to me, will +interest you all the more; perhaps you may divine from them how the +note came to be torn up in the Finanzrath's waste-paper basket." And he +read: + + +"What will you think of me, dear Adele, if a few hours after writing my +last letter I tell you not to heed the request it contained? I hope +soon to be able to let you know why I do this, but I cannot tell you +to-day. I cannot leave Castle Hohenwald, and so you are relieved of the +burden of looking for another situation for me. Farewell, dear; you +will soon hear farther from your + + "Lucie" + + +Styrum listened with the greatest attention, but, although his +betrothed had told him of the letter from Lucie in which she had +entreated that another position might be found for her, he could give +the Geheimrath no information as to why this letter, which had +evidently been written since, should be found in the Finanzrath's +waste-paper basket. + +Steuber tossed it aside and began upon the creamy-coloured scraps, over +which he worked diligently for nearly an hour. When the letter lay +complete before him he uttered an involuntary exclamation of delight. +"This," he said, "is a very important document; it puts me upon a fresh +scent. It is addressed to Count Repuin, care of Colonel von Berngberg, +in Cassel. Colonel von Berngberg has never before been suspected of +hostility to the government; this is a reward for all the trouble we +have had." Again the malicious twinkle of his eyes, the joy he +evidently felt at the implication in treasonable schemes of a man +hitherto thought loyal, disgusted Count Styrum, who, on the spur of the +moment, said haughtily "I must pray you, Herr Geheimrath, to spare me +the contents of this letter; any prying into official secrets is of +course extremely distasteful to me as a soldier and officer." + +Steuber looked up from his work for a moment and nodded kindly. "I +understand you, Count, but, unfortunately, I cannot relieve you from +the duty of listening. I am working under orders, and in the service +for the time of your superior officer, whom you now represent. Besides, +I will wager that you will not regret listening to the letter that now +lies before me. It was written by the Finanzrath, and afterwards, for +some unknown reason, destroyed by him; and it runs thus: + + +"I write in the greatest haste, my dear Count, to tell you that I have +received intimations, whether from a trustworthy source or not I cannot +say, that our correspondence is known and watched. It is better to be +careful: therefore do not intrust your letters to the post again. Send +them in the way you know of; it is more secure, although less speedy, +than the post. I will make one more attempt to win over my father and +my brother, but I tell you frankly that I fear it will be fruitless. My +father is no politician, and Arno is an idealist whose heart is set +upon a united Germany. If he should re-enter the service he will +probably fight against our friends. Indeed, he is so enthusiastic a +'patriot' that it is questionable whether it would be wise to attempt +to influence him. Always yours, + + "'W. Von H.'" + + +As he finished it the Geheimrath looked up to his companion with a +smile of triumph. "Are you satisfied now with my work, Count?" he +asked. "We may inform Count Schlichting that there can be no possible +pretext for arresting the Freiherr or his son Arno; not a shadow of +suspicion rests upon them. What do you think? For my part I consider +our search ended; there is nothing more to be found here. Let us go and +report to the colonel. My task at Castle Hohenwald is over." + + +Count Schlichting felt a sense of relief when the Geheimrath left the +garden-room and he found himself alone with his old friend and his +children. + +"This is but a sorry errand of mine here, Hohenwald," he said, seating +himself beside the Freiherr's rolling-chair; "but you must not take it +ill of me, since I accepted the part assigned me in hopes that you +would rather see a friend than a stranger, odious although his duties +might make him in your eyes. I am rejoiced that Werner got wind of our +coming and has vanished; now my hope is that that cursed Geheimrath may +poke his infernal nose wherever he chooses in the castle without raking +up any evidence against you and Arno." + +"Have you any doubts on that head?" the Freiherr asked, bitterly. + +There was a degree of embarrassment in the colonel's air as he replied, +"No, not that; but politics nowadays are puzzling. I have the greatest +confidence in you; but who can judge for others? Here's the Finanzrath +doubtless an excellent fellow in other respects, has dabbled in plots +and schemes which are now thought treasonable, but which may, at +another turn of the wheel, lead him to a ribbon and star. To-day a +warrant of arrest is out against him, but who knows whether in another +month he may not be held in high honour in Saxony and Southern Germany? +I should be very sorry if you, old friend, and your son, who fought the +Prussians bravely four years ago, had been led into any indiscretions; +but indeed I could not blame you, for, God knows, it is hard enough for +us Saxons to fight shoulder to shoulder with our former foes, against +those to whom we owe it that we are not to-day in the position of the +poor Hanoverians and Hessians. I am an old soldier, and go wherever my +king sends me; but I cannot say that this time I unsheathe my sword +with any enthusiasm." + +"I never rejoiced more to draw mine!" said Arno, whom the colonel's +expressions had evidently pained. "In 1866 I fought with bitterness, a +German against Germans, and I left the service with a savage hatred for +Prussia smouldering within me; to-day it is forgotten in love of +country, of the German fatherland, of which Prussia is now the +representative, standing foremost in the conflict with the arch-enemy +of German freedom, and as the defender of our German Rhine against +French greed of territory. If my brother can have forgotten the duty he +owes to his country, it is all the more incumbent upon me to do what I +can to wash away all stain of treason from the Hohenwald name." + +"That you will surely do, my dearest brother!" Celia cried, with +glowing cheeks. "Your fidelity will atone for Werner's treachery, and +our father will bless you for vindicating the honour of his name." + +The colonel looked at them with a smile as he stroked his gray +moustache, and said, "Aha, I see clearly that Steuber's long nose will +soon forsake Castle Hohenwald! You have cause to be proud of your +pretty daughter and your son, old friend; still, we will not judge +Werner; let every man be true to his own convictions. I hear with +pleasure, Herr von Hohenwald, that you wish to re-enter the army. I am +at your service in this matter; nothing would give me greater +satisfaction than to have so brave an officer in my regiment, and I +will, if you authorize me to do so, apprise the king of this when I +take him the news to-morrow of our fruitless errand to Castle +Hohenwald." + +This offer Arno gladly accepted, and it was thereupon agreed that he +should accompany the colonel to Dresden that he might immediately join +his regiment. All of the little party in the garden-room, in the +interesting conversation that ensued, quite forgot the object of the +colonel's visit, and were only reminded of it after a long hour by the +entrance of Count Styrum with the Geheimrath. + +While Arno was greeting his friend with cordial delight, Steuber set +the colonel's mind entirely at rest by his report, and by the request +that the dragoons might be sent back to A---- and himself relieved of +all further duty, since no possible suspicion could attach to any of +the present inmates of the castle. + +A quarter of an hour later the obnoxious official took his departure, +while the colonel and Styrum, upon the Freiherr's earnest invitation, +remained in the castle a few hours longer, that Arno might conclude his +preparations for leaving, and accompany them to A----, there to take +the night train to Dresden. + +The time for parting came. The colonel and Styrum took leave of the old +Baron and went down into the court-yard, where the carriage was in +waiting. Arno was left alone for a moment with his father and sister. +The old man was deeply moved. It evidently caused him an effort to +release his son's hand from the firm clasp in which he held it, while a +tear rolled down his wrinkled cheek upon his silver beard. "Farewell, +Arno! farewell, my dear son, pride and delight of my age," he said, +drawing his son gently down to him and, for the first time since that +son had grown to manhood, pressing his lips to his brow. "Farewell, +Arno!" he repeated. "Make me one promise before you go. If, when you +return, I am no longer here, be a father to my Celia. I place her +happiness in your hands. You must not sacrifice it to an hereditary +prejudice, but make good a promise I gave our Anna, and if you ever +meet Kurt von Poseneck in the war forget the family feud, and treat him +kindly. For Celia's sake look upon him as a brother, for I have +promised our Anna that when he comes back he shall be Celia's husband." + +Celia threw her arms around her father's neck and burst into tears, but +the old man gently put her away from him, and, paying no heed to Arno's +look of startled inquiry, lay back in his chair. "Go, children!" he +said, in a feeble voice. "You must leave me. This parting is almost +more than I can bear. Celia, go with Arno to the carriage. Farewell, my +dearest son! Your father's blessing be upon you in the coming struggle +for the fatherland!" + + + + + CHAPTER XXI. + + +Months had passed since the beginning of the war; the German hosts had +overrun France, and were girdling Paris with an iron ring, making its +surrender but a question of time, while upon the ruins of the empire +that had crumbled to decay at Sedan the young republic had been born to +pursue with the energy of despair the strife that had been bequeathed +to it by imperial policy. + +The pretty village of Assais was among the foremost to declare itself +devoted to the republic, following the lead of the Marquise de Lancy, +the widowed chatelaine of the castle of Assais, who, although a Russian +by birth, was an enthusiastic supporter of the new government. Towards +the end of September, however, the Marquise had departed for England, +leaving the castle in the charge of a cousin, the Baron de Nouart, who +had arrived at Assais only a short time previously in company with the +brother of the Marquise, a Russian count. The Baron was reported to +have been so busy in Germany in the French interest that an asylum in +the castle of Assais was exceedingly welcome to him. His reputation in +this respect stood him in good stead with the villagers, who otherwise +were by no means favourably impressed by the appearance and manner of +the substitute of their fair chatelaine, which were those of a man of +dissipated life given over to the vice of drinking. + +Assais had hitherto escaped any visit from the Prussian soldiery, but +its time of immunity had passed. One morning in October an officer of +Uhlans, with a small detachment of Prussians, spread terror in the +village by galloping through its principal street towards the castle, +where he demanded to speak with the Baron de Nouart. The Baron, who had +been apprised of the approach of the Prussians, had prepared to receive +them after rather a singular fashion. Retiring to his apartment, he had +donned a fiery-red wig, with a false beard and moustache of the same +colour, while a pair of dark-blue glass spectacles made the colour of +his eyes entirely undistinguishable. Thus disguised he appeared before +the young officer of Uhlans in the court-yard of the castle. The +officer scanned the strange figure before him rather curiously as he +asked whether he had the honour of addressing the Baron de Nouart, and +whether he could speak German. Upon being assured of the Baron's +identity, as well as of his inability to speak German, although he +understood it perfectly, the young man continued the conversation in +French, informing the Baron that a regiment of infantry and a squadron +of Uhlans were about to occupy Assais; that quarters must be provided +in the castle for the colonel, officers, and part of the men,--the rest +could be accommodated in the village. The more willing the inhabitants +showed themselves to receive the Prussian soldiers the less cause +should they have for complaint. Having delivered himself thus, and +having been assured by the Baron that the castle should be at the +disposal of the colonel when he arrived, the Uhlan departed with his +men to inspect the village accommodations. + +The Baron was as good as his word. Towards evening, when Colonel von +Schlichting, with his officers, arrived, the preparations for their +reception were far more complete than was required by the rules of war. +The Baron kept himself in the background, and was visible only to the +Uhlan commander and the colonel, who was by no means favourably +impressed with the man who, hat in hand, received him in the castle +court-yard and in execrable German declared that he would gladly do all +in his power for the comfort of the German officers, but must request +to be allowed to retire, as he was a very sick man, most of the time +keeping his bed by the physician's orders. His servile demeanour +disgusted Count Von Schlichting; but he was obliged to admit that he +did not promise too much, so admirable was every arrangement for his +comfort. + +At dinner, several of the officers expressed their surprise at finding +such luxurious quarters and such excellent wines in so secluded a spot, +and loudest in his praise was the Uhlan captain of horse, who had been +ordered with his squadron to the support of the Saxon regiment in the +work of ridding the surrounding country of the bands of franctireurs by +which it was infested. "There are no such quarters in all France!" the +captain cried, with enthusiasm; "such rooms, such a kitchen, and such a +cellar! Indeed, gentlemen, the Baron de Nouart deserves a toast for his +hospitality. He is not handsome, that there is no denying; but here's +to his health!" + +The Saxon officers joined, laughing, in the Prussian captain's toast, +and even the colonel did not refuse it, although he drank it with no +genuine cordiality. He turned to Count Styrum, beside whom he was +sitting at the large round table in the dining-hall. "Are you as much +pleased with our host, Count, as are our Prussian comrades?" he asked, +in a tone too low to be heard by the others; "although I must confess +that our reception here has exceeded my expectations, I am most +unpleasantly impressed by our host; he reminds me of some one whom I +have seen, I cannot remember whom." + +"That's odd," Count Styrum replied; "my own experience is the same. I +only saw the man for a moment, and at a distance, and yet it seems to +me that I have seen him somewhere formerly, though where I cannot for +the life of me remember." + +"Are you sure?" the colonel asked. + +"No, colonel; such fancies are very little to be relied upon. It struck +me, however, that the Baron beat a hasty retreat as soon as he espied +me, although I may have been mistaken there, too." + +"It is a singular coincidence, however, and I begin to think that +Monsieur may have some reason for requesting that we will in future +communicate with him through his factotum Gervais." + +The conversation was interrupted by Captain von Hohenwald, who came to +report that the men had been peacefully distributed among the +inhabitants both of Assais and of the neighbouring villages. Arno had +scarcely taken the place at table indicated to him by the colonel, with +whom he was a favourite officer, when the young Uhlan lieutenant, who +had brought the news of the approach of the regiment to Assais in the +morning, entered the dining-hall, and was presented by his superior +officer, Von Saeben, to Count Schlichting as Lieutenant von Poseneck. + +Arno's attention was at once arrested upon hearing the familiar name. +He had never yet encountered Kurt von Poseneck,--Von Saeben's squadron +had joined Count Schlichting's regiment only two days previously, Kurt +reported that he had made a reconnoissance in all directions and had +found no traces of the enemy. This information convinced the colonel +that, for the present at least, there was no risk in enjoying to the +full the repose and hospitality offered at Assais. + +And this the young officers certainly did. The best possible +understanding seemed to exist between the Prussians and Saxons, and the +hall resounded with mirth and laughter from the various groups into +which the large assembly soon divided. + +One of these consisted but of three, Count Styrum, Arno von Hohenwald, +and Kurt von Poseneck. They had withdrawn to a corner of the hall and +were engaged in earnest conversation. How much there was to hear and to +tell! Arno felt every trace of the foolish hereditary prejudice fade +within him as he looked at the handsome young fellow, who showed in +every word and glance his pleasure in thus meeting his Celia's brother. +Only from Celia's letters had Arno heard of Kurt, who had written of +his advancement to the old Freiherr. Now Kurt was not only begged for +the story of his experience since the beginning of the war, but Arno +drew from him the account of his first meeting with Celia, and of how +Frau von Sorr--Arno felt the blood mount to his cheek at the name--had +learned by accident of the intimacy between them. + +To that noble woman, Frau von Sorr, Kurt declared, glad indeed to make +a confidant of Celia's brother, did he owe it that his love for Celia +was no longer a secret. He had faithfully kept his promise never to +write to Celia, but he had written to Frau von Sorr two letters to be +forwarded to the Freiherr. One of these he feared had miscarried, as +Frau von Sorr had not alluded to it in her last letter to him. + +Arno's heart beat furiously as he asked, with all the indifference he +could assume, "You correspond, then, with Frau von Sorr?" + +"Yes. Frau von Sorr permitted me to write to her, and promised to +forward my letters to your father when there were any tidings of me to +be transmitted to Castle Hohenwald." + +"Then you know where Frau von Sorr is at present, and how she has been +since leaving the castle?" + +Kurt, all unmindful of the suppressed eagerness with which this +question was put, replied by giving a detailed account of Frau von +Sorr's departure from Gruenhagen for Berlin, whence she had retired with +her father to his beautiful estate, Kaltenborn, on the Rhine, not far +from S----, where she had found a secure retreat from her husband's +persecutions. On this score Herr Ahlborn was now quite easy, since Sorr +and the Finanzrath had both been obliged to flee the country as +proscribed traitors, and any return to Germany for them was impossible +until the war should be ended. In her last letter Frau von Sorr had +described her life with her father as all that she could desire, +telling Kurt that she, with various other women of S----, had +established a lazaretto for wounded soldiers, and that she had also +prepared accommodations at Kaltenborn for some few, for whom pure +country air might be specially desirable. She expressed a hope that +Kurt never might be wounded, but prayed him if he were and could +contrive it to be sure and be brought to her at Kaltenborn. + +"And this," Kurt concluded, "I shall certainly do, if an unlucky bullet +should chance to lay me up for a time. I honour that woman from my very +soul; she is an angel!" + +It was with difficulty that Arno restrained himself from chiming in +with Kurt's enthusiastic admiration; his respect for his sister rose on +the instant. What penetration and judgment she had shown in bestowing +her heart upon this excellent young fellow! As a reward he allowed Kurt +to read Celia's last letter,--a letter that transported the lover in +thought to the Hohenwald forest, so vividly did it bring his love +before him in all that makes girlhood bewitching. + +Thus the hours flew by unheeded until the three friends found +themselves alone in the spacious hall, when, as they were not weary, +Kurt proposed a short walk before retiring to rest, and they all +sauntered out into the autumn moonlight that was flooding the garden +and park. They walked on aimlessly until, emerging from a thicket of +shrubbery, they saw before them one of the wings of the castle. All the +windows here were darkened except two upon the ground-floor directly +opposite them. The friends paused and gazed involuntarily into the +apartment thus revealed to them. It was a large room, luxuriously +furnished. In a cushioned arm-chair, beside a round table in the centre +of the apartment, sat the Baron de Nouart, and on the table, at his +elbow, stood a glass and a half-empty bottle. + +Just as the officers emerged from the bushes some slight noise probably +attracted the Baron's attention. He raised his head, seemed to be +listening for an instant, and then arose hastily and drew close the +heavy curtains that had been open to admit the air. + +"Let us turn round," Kurt said, in a low tone; "the Baron may else +suppose that we wish to spy upon him." + +"Which would be a poor reward for the hospitality he has shown us," +said Arno. + +Styrum said nothing, but followed his companions, and not until they +had reached the open lawn before the balcony of the dining-hall did he +remark, "The Baron seemed in a great hurry to screen himself from +observation." + +"Naturally," Arno rejoined; "he had good reasons for so doing. Unless I +am much mistaken, that was no wine-bottle at his elbow; it held good +cognac. A fellow at such night-work hardly likes to be seen." + +"They told me in Nontron that he was an incorrigible drunkard; never +sober after noon," Kurt added. + +Styrum shook his head; natural as was this explanation of the Baron's +conduct, it did not satisfy him. "He may be a drunkard," he said, "but +I am convinced that he had other reasons for drawing those curtains so +quickly,--the same probably that made him turn away this afternoon when +he saw me. I have surely seen that man somewhere; he knows me and fears +my recognition. What else did you hear about him in Nontron, Kurt?" + +"Not much, but quite enough to justify any suspicion of his honesty. He +is said to be a distant relative of the widowed Marquise de Lancy, the +owner of the castle, where he made his appearance only a few weeks ago; +and although he is a zealous patriot, he is not, they say, a Frenchman, +but a Russian. They say, too, that he can speak German extremely well, +and yet this morning, when I addressed him in German, he could scarcely +reply in the same tongue, although he said that he understood it +perfectly. He is a suspicious character." + +"I do not see any reason thus far for your distrust of him," Arno +observed. + +"Nevertheless, the colonel shall learn what Kurt has told us," said +Styrum. "It is best to be upon our guard." + +The friends then separated and betook themselves to repose. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII. + + +It had been a weary day for the Baron Francois de Nouart; he had not +even been able to have recourse to his usual stimulant, so impressed +was he with the necessity of keeping every faculty upon the alert in +the trying position in which he found himself. That this Saxon regiment +of all others should have been ordered to Assais was a stroke of +terrible ill luck! Not until Gervais reported to him that all was quiet +in the castle for the night did he venture to seat himself comfortably +at the table in his room with the brandy-flask at his elbow. And even +then five minutes had scarcely elapsed when a slight noise causing him +to turn his head, he plainly saw through the open window the three +officers on the moonlit lawn, and that one of them was the man whom he +so dreaded, Count Styrum. He started up and closed the hangings +instantly, hearing distinctly as he did so Kurt's words, "Let us turn +round; the Baron may else suppose that we wish to spy upon him." Then +through a chink in the curtains he watched the three men disappear +among the bushes, his heart beating violently the while from fear of +detection. After watching some minutes longer he crept softly to +Gervais's room, and having received the steward's assurance that the +young Uhlan officer with his two friends had returned from the garden, +and that all three were now locked in their rooms, he made a stealthy +round of the castle. All was quiet, and he once more returned to his +room to seek the forgetfulness that he so craved. + +But the poor man had scarcely drained a few glasses of his favourite +beverage when he was once more disturbed, this time by a low tap upon +the window, which he had closed. Could it be a belated officer? Hardly; +he would not announce his presence thus. It must be some friend, who +for certain reasons did not dare to seek an entrance to the castle more +boldly. + +Again the knocking came, quicker and more impatient; with uncertain +steps the Baron went to the window, and, as he looked through the +curtains, uttered an involuntary exclamation of horror, "Count Repuin!" +and in an instant the curtains were drawn aside and the window opened. +"Are you mad, Count? Do you not know that the castle swarms with +Germans?" he whispered, in dismay. + +"Then give me your hand and help me to get in at this cursed window," +whispered Repuin, who stood without in the disguise of a peasant. +"Quick! Am I to stay here until the guard discovers me?" + +"I implore you to fly, Count. You will ruin both yourself and me; we +shall be shot if you are found in the castle." + +"I will not be found. Do as I tell you, and give me your hand!" + +The Baron had no choice but to obey. He extended his hand to the Count, +who seized it, and with but little difficulty clambered in at the +window, which was but a few feet from the ground. + +Scarcely had he closed it and drawn the curtains behind him when he +turned with a look of scorn to the Baron, "What a coward you are, +Sorr!" he said; "your hand trembles like a woman's. Shame on you! +Why, I do believe the fellow is drunk again. There stands the empty +brandy-bottle. I wonder whether there is enough sense left in your +drugged brain to make it worth while to talk reason to you." + +Repuin's insulting words made no impression on Sorr; he was too well +used to such from the Russian. But the fright that the Count's visit +caused him, and the sense of the danger with which it threatened him, +helped to sober him. He drank several glasses of cold water, and then +bathed his head and face, after which he was sufficiently himself to +turn to the Count and say, "What evil star brought you to Assais? Are +you resolved upon my ruin?" + +"Bah! what is your ruin to me!" the Count rejoined, contemptuously. +"You run no greater danger than I do. Are you sufficiently collected +now to understand me?" + +"Yes; what do you want?" + +"I wish to convince myself by personal information how matters stand +here in Assais; there is no confidence to be placed in the reports +circulating everywhere; these French make mountains out of mole-hills. +You must give me exact intelligence with regard to the enemy." + +"How am I to do that? Do you suppose that Count Schlichting makes me +his confidant?" + +"Ah, Colonel Schlichting is here, then?" + +"Yes; with his whole regiment, and a squadron of Prussian Uhlans." + +"Hm! They are too many for us as yet, then,--we must wait a few days. +Is Count Styrum here? I suppose so from your disguise; you look like a +scarecrow." + +"Yes, he is here, and also Arno von Hohenwald." + +"Baron Arno, my rival with your lovely wife. Let him look to himself!" + +"What can you do? The Germans are too strong for you." + +"Just at present they are, but in a few days we shall outnumber them; +victory has made them over-bold; they are venturing too far northwest, +and they imagine that they have to do only with some scattering bands +of franctireurs. I have learned enough for to-day, but you must +contrive to keep me informed of all that is going on here. For a +messenger you must employ the village maire, Fournier; his boy Louis +was shot a few days ago by some of these very Germans, and the man is +thirsting for revenge; he will do all and venture all to bring +destruction upon these men." + +"But they have placed their sentinels so that it will be impossible to +elude them, and, besides, how could anything of importance reach my +ears?" + +"Leave the eluding of the sentinels to Fournier, and for important +information we must depend upon Gervais; let him listen well. These +officers can have no idea that he understands German perfectly?" + +"Not the least; the colonel always speaks to him in execrable French." + +"Then let him be constantly on the watch for news, and let me hear it +instantly through the maire. May I rely upon you?" + +"You are playing a dangerous game, Count! We shall be discovered; and +if we are, we are lost, for Count Schlichting knows no mercy." + +"Then none shall be shown him." + +"He will need none. I implore you, Count, to moderate your zeal; you +will only plunge into ruin if you attempt to attack an enemy that so +outnumbers you. We, the maire and I, shall both be shot if we are +suspected of holding any communication with you." + +The Count gazed sternly at Sorr. For a moment he seemed to bethink +himself; then he said, laying a sharp stress upon each word, "I am +almost tempted to believe you capable of playing the traitor, Herr von +Sorr. I would not advise you to contemplate such a course; one step in +that direction and Count Schlichting shall learn by a letter from me +whom your clumsy disguise conceals. Remember you are closely watched. +If you are true to me you shall have your reward; but if you are a +traitor, by Heaven! you shall meet a traitor's death. If you should +escape a German bullet, a French one shall find its way to your heart. +Now you know where you stand. One more piece of advice: for God's sake +avoid that cursed brandy-flask for the next week at least. Come, be a +man, Sorr; promise me that you will not drink a drop for the next eight +days." + +Sorr promised, and Repuin took his departure, leaving, as he had come, +by the window. Sorr closed it softly behind him and stood at it for a +long while, dreading to hear a shot in the shrubbery, but all remained +quiet. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + +The next few days were gloomy with misty, rainy weather, and Count +Schlichting grumbled incessantly at the enforced idleness of his +command. Arno and Kurt employed the time in improving their knowledge +of each other, and passed many a pleasant hour together with Count +Styrum in exploring the park and gardens of the castle, which were +remarkably fine and spacious. On returning from one of these walks +about a week after their arrival at Assais, they found the castle +court-yard a scene of much bustle and excitement, and learned that +orders had arrived recalling the Saxon regiment to Nontron and +Chalus,--orders that had been received with enthusiasm, since they +pointed to a general massing of forces preparatory to a move upon the +French army of the north. The colonel came into the dining-hall with a +very cheerful countenance, and, taking his seat with the Uhlan captain, +Von Saeben, and several officers, drank a bumper to an energetic +continuance of the war, and to its speedy victorious termination. + +The Uhlan captain alone was depressed, and with good cause; for while +the Saxon regiment was to take up its march to Nontron on the following +morning, the squadron of Uhlans was to remain at Assais until further +orders, to prevent the formation of bands of franctireurs in the +surrounding country. Although this was an honourable service, it was +one that could be crowned by no laurels, and life in the castle, after +the departure of the Saxon officers, would be by no means attractive. +The captain's only hope was that the colonel might be right in +declaring that before many days the Uhlans also would be withdrawn from +so advanced a post. + +Kurt von Poseneck too was greatly disappointed at the prospect of +losing sight of Arno von Hohenwald. He had so rejoiced in the +new-formed friendship with his betrothed's brother, and now it was to +be thus nipped in the bud. As soon as was possible without +churlishness, Styrum, Arno, and Kurt withdrew from the circle of their +comrades on this last evening and passed together a farewell quiet +hour. When they separated Arno pressed Kurt's hand. "We shall perhaps +not see each other to-morrow," he said; "let us say farewell to-night; +only for a short time, I trust. When you send a letter to the Rhine +remember to send my greetings in it, and in return I will send yours to +Celia, and tell her that the greatest pleasure I have had during the +campaign has been to learn to know and to cordially like my future +brother-in-law. Farewell, Kurt!" + +The three had lingered longer together than they had intended, and when +they separated at the foot of the staircase leading to Styrum's and +Arno's apartments perfect quiet reigned throughout the castle. Kurt's +room was at the end of a long corridor on this second floor, and as he +walked along it his steps sounded so loud in the intense stillness that +he took care to make his tread as light as possible, lest he should +arouse his sleeping comrades. The corridor was very long, and his room +lay next to his captain's, the windows of both looking out upon the +court-yard. The night had grown cloudy, and the long window before him, +that would have given some light if the weather had been clear, was of +no use to illuminate the darkness around him, but Kurt cared little +since he could not possibly miss his door, the second from the end on +his right. He had reached about the middle of the passage when his +attention was roused by a noise upon his left; he thought he heard +approaching footsteps. He paused and listened; yes, he was right; a +door opened softly upon his left; he had a momentary glimpse of a +spacious, dimly-lighted apartment, and Monsieur Gervais stood before +him holding a lantern, the light of which fell full upon the young +officer. The man was evidently much startled, but quickly regaining his +self-possession, bowed with the courtesy he always displayed to the +Prussian officers, and offered to light the lieutenant to his room, +excusing himself for having, under the impression that every one in the +castle had retired to rest, extinguished the lights. + +He then preceded Kurt with his lantern, and only left him when he had +lighted the candle in the young man's room. + +Why had the Frenchman been so startled, so evidently frightened, at +first sight of a Prussian officer? and whence came Monsieur Gervais? +These were questions which Kurt asked himself as soon as he was left +alone,--questions which he could not answer. It occurred to him that, +confident in their numbers, the officers quartered in the castle had +neglected many precautions that prudence would have suggested. Not one +of them had hitherto thought it worth while to explore all the rooms +and passages of the huge old castle. All had been content with the +comfortable quarters assigned them by Monsieur Gervais, and had not +reflected upon the facilities that the other rooms might afford for +concealing spies and traitors. Kurt determined to use the first +unemployed hours of the following day in exploring the castle +thoroughly, and particularly in ascertaining whence the door led at +which Monsieur Gervais had appeared. As far as he could judge at +present, the large room, of which he had had a glimpse, must be +traversed to reach the wing built out into the park, at present +inhabited by the Baron de Nouart. + +With the determination to atone for a neglected duty he ceased to think +of Monsieur Gervais or of danger threatening him; he dwelt rather upon +Arno's last words to him; his heart beat at the thought that he had +accepted him as a brother-in-law, and Celia's lovely image accompanied +him to the land of dreams. + +He never suspected that Monsieur Gervais was standing outside his +bedroom-door listening with bated breath to every movement of the young +officer, and that his ear was not removed from the key-hole until the +long, regular breathing inside told him he had nothing to fear from the +Uhlan's wakefulness. The enemy slept. Monsieur Gervais could now pursue +his way unmolested, but he would guard against a second surprise. He +put the lantern on the floor, took off his boots, and in his stockings +glided swiftly to the grand staircase, which he mounted to the very +topmost story of the castle, then through a labyrinth of lumber-rooms +he reached the door of a retired apartment; here he knocked softly +three times; a bolt inside was drawn and the door opened. "Is all +secure?" was whispered in the steward's ear. + +"Yes; they are all asleep at last," was the whispered reply. "There is +no time to waste; take off your boots; you must go in your stockings as +I do." + +"Whither are you taking me?" the man asked. + +"Down-stairs and through the blue room to the Baron." + +"Why not down the back-stairs, as I came up?" + +"Because two sentinels were placed there this very after noon. Quick! +quick! we have no time to parley; the Baron has been expecting you for +more than an hour." + +The maire, for it was Fournier, of whom Repuin had spoken to Sorr, +obeyed. In his stockings he noiselessly followed his conductor, who +cautiously guided him down the grand staircase to the door of the blue +room, at which Gervais had appeared before Kurt. When it had admitted +them and was closed behind them, the steward gave a sigh of relief. No +officers were quartered in this wing; he paused and handed the lantern +to the maire, saying, in a low tone, "Now you can find your way to the +Baron without my help. I will slip back to my room in the darkness." + +"Are you not coming with me to the Baron?" + +"No; it is unnecessary; he knows all that I have been able to discover; +he will tell you what you ought to know. Farewell, Monsieur Fournier; I +will go and pray the saints to get you safely out of the castle." + +"I shall get off safely; at least these cursed Germans shall never +capture me alive, and woe to the man who attempts to detain me! I will +not die unavenged!" + +The two men separated, and the maire pursued his way to the door of the +Baron's room, where he found instant admittance. + +De Nouart was pacing restlessly to and fro; he had been awaiting +Fournier for more than an hour, and had begun to fear that some +accident had befallen him. "At last you are come!" he exclaimed. "I was +almost crazed with terror lest you had been discovered!" + +"No one suspects that I am in the castle." + +"Thank God! If I could but know you once in the forest and on the way +to our friends, I should indeed bless my lucky star! We have all taken +our lives in our hands, maire." + +"And what of that? To-day or to-morrow what matter? I would rather it +were to-day, but that I have some hope of vengeance upon these accursed +Germans." + +"You will have abundant opportunity for that," the Baron rejoined; "but +you have a long journey to make to-night." + +"Be quick, then; tell me my errand and let me be gone," the man said, +gloomily. + +"You can serve your desire for revenge upon your boy's murderers in no +way more surely than by carrying the important intelligence to Count +Repuin that the enemy is to depart to-morrow morning early for Nontron +and Chalus; the Uhlans only are to remain in Assais, and this probably +only for a few days. All this Gervais has learned from the colonel +himself. If Count Repuin has collected a sufficient force to make an +attack, he must be quick about it or he will find no foes in Assais." + +The thought that the hated Prussians might escape lent wings to the +maire's resolve; he leaped from the window, as Count Repuin had +formerly done, and vanished the next instant in the mist. Again, as +formerly, did the Baron listen, lest a shot should tell of the +discovery of the fugitive, whom in truth he cared for as little as for +that other, and yet for whose safety he trembled. His anxiety was +unnecessary, the deep silence of the forest was unbroken. + +He turned from the window and gave himself up to reflection upon the +dangers that encompassed him. Had he done right in apprising Repuin of +the intended departure of the Saxons? If the Count should make the +attack and be repulsed, would not Prussian vengeance first strike the +French inmates of the castle? It had been folly to incite the Count to +an attack! But no, whatever came of it he must keep his word to the +Russian. Prussian vengeance he might escape; the Russian's never. He +was bound body and soul to this man whom he hated; he could not free +himself from the chain. + +His head ached with the thoughts that crowded upon him; he was terribly +weary and exhausted. There was one way to cure this dull pain, one +means to scare away this terrible weakness; but he had promised not to +use it. A single glass of the fiery liquid in the flask on the +sideboard would send the blood dancing in his veins again; a single +glass! Repuin was far away, there was not the slightest danger +threatening for the moment; was he an utter slave to the Russian? No; +he would endure it no longer. He poured out a glass from the flask and +emptied it at a draught. Ah, this was strength and courage to face the +future! Another and another. He had not slept o'nights of late, now he +began to feel delightfully drowsy. By the time the flask was finished +he had slipped from his arm-chair to the floor, where he lay until the +following day. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV. + + +Early the next morning, immediately after sunrise, the Saxon regiment +fell back upon Nontron. The weather was superb, and had its effect upon +both officers and men, although Count von Schlichting felt it his duty +to warn Captain von Saeben before his departure that he must be upon his +guard against treachery. The old colonel did not like to leave so small +a force in so hostile a country, infested on all sides by franctireurs, +and not even the brilliant sunshine and the relief from inaction could +altogether dispel his regret at leaving them thus. + +Kurt von Poseneck was at some distance from Assais when the Saxons left +it. He had, with a command of about a dozen Uhlans, been ordered to +make a reconnoissance in search of franctireurs, and he could not, of +course, take leave of his friends. When he returned in the afternoon +Arno and Styrum had both gone, and Kurt found only his captain, Von +Saeben, and two comrades ready in the large dining-hall to partake of +the excellent dinner provided for them by Monsieur Gervais. + +Had the sun not shone so brilliantly the large hall would have seemed +gloomy enough, and even as it was the emptiness and quiet of the +apartment, where lately so much noisy gayety had held sway, had a +depressing effect upon the Uhlan officers, which Kurt's report was not +calculated to dissipate. Even Von Saeben looked grave, and was reminded +of the colonel's parting words. + +Kurt had nowhere found an enemy; if there really were bands of +franctireurs in the vicinity they had withdrawn into the forest of +Assais, which afforded hiding-places from which cavalry were powerless +to drive them. This forest was a sort of continuation of the castle +park, and if danger there were, it lay in the probability of an attack +upon the castle from this direction. That such a danger existed Kurt +was convinced by the behaviour of the country-people in all directions. +They had shown no open hostility to the Uhlans, but their demeanour had +been that of men looking forward to a time near at hand when they might +take revenge upon their foes. At all events this had been the +impression produced upon Kurt's mind, and Captain von Saeben so far +heeded it as to double the watch at various posts around the castle, +and to take other precautions to insure safety. + +Kurt withdrew early from the dinner-table, intending to write letters +in his room, and as he passed along the corridor towards it his resolve +of the previous night suddenly occurred to his mind. He was directly +opposite the door at which Gervais had appeared, and the steward was at +present busy in the dining-hall, which he could not leave for some time +to come. There could be no time more favourable than the present for +his exploration of this part of the castle. He tried the door at which +he stood: it opened easily; he entered, and closed it behind him. + +He found himself in a large room hung with blue, and somewhat dark, as +it was lighted by but one window; it was only a thoroughfare, as was +plain from the furniture, that consisted simply of cabinets placed +against the walls. Kurt went to the window, and found that he had been +correct in suspecting that the room led to the wing extending into the +park, in which were the Baron's apartments; before him was the lawn, in +front of the Baron's windows, and to the left was the park itself; he +could even see the path by which he, with his two friends, had on the +previous day visited the stables at the back of the gardener's house, +where the Baron kept a fine pair of riding-horses, belonging to his +cousin the Marquise. + +Which of the four doors that opened into this apartment should he +select? He tried the one nearest him; it was unlocked, and he entered a +room furnished with the greatest luxury, and leading by an open door to +a bedroom as gorgeously fitted up. A writing-table stood beside the +window, and an open portfolio, from between the leaves of which, as +Kurt took it up, fluttered a torn envelope, addressed in German to the +"Herr Count Repuin." Count Repuin! Kurt knew the name but too well. +Herr Ahlborn had at Lucie's request told him his daughter's sad story, +and this name was branded in his memory as that of Lucie's unprincipled +persecutor. And he found it here upon an empty envelope postmarked +Brussels. The connection was easy to divine, Repuin was the brother of +the Marquise de Lancy, and the former inmate of this room. But he had +not fled to Germany alone: Sorr had accompanied him. There suddenly +occurred to Kurt an explanation of the fact that Styrum, Arno, and the +colonel, to all of whom Sorr was personally known, had been puzzled by +the resemblance of the Baron de Nouart to some one whose name they +could not recall. If all this were as he suspected, if Repuin, the +proscribed French agent, were really the brother of the Marquise de +Lancy, if his tool, Sorr, were here in the castle in disguise, +certainly the greatest caution was necessary; there was danger of +treachery on every hand, danger that perhaps could be averted only by +the instant arrest of the Baron de Nouart. And yet, could mere +suspicion justify such an arrest? The man would have to be taken to +Nontron, and tried there by a court-martial, which, under the direction +of the pitiless Count Schlichting, could end but in one way,--death. + +Kurt thought of Celia's friend, of Frau von Sorr; the death of her +worthless husband would restore her to life. But in an instant he +spurned the unworthy thought. His friendship for Lucie should never +influence him where duty was concerned. This duty, however, bade him +reveal his discovery to his superior officer; it was for him to command +in this matter, Kurt's part was to obey. + +The light was dying in the west, he had not time to continue his +explorations thoroughly, and, after satisfying himself that this room +was connected with De Nouart's apartments by a winding staircase, which +led past servants' rooms, Kurt returned unmolested to the blue room, +whence he issued unobserved into the corridor leading to his own and +Von Saeben's quarters. + +He found his captain just returned to his room from a tour of +inspection of the posts about the castle, and quite ready to listen to +all that he had to say. Of course Von Saeben knew nothing of Repuin or +of Sorr. Kurt explained who they were, and their complicity in +treasonable plots in Germany, without in any way mentioning Frau von +Sorr. They were both proscribed French agents. + +"The address on the envelope is, after all, your only ground for +suspicion that the proscribed Count Repuin is one and the same person +with the brother of the Marquise de Lancy, and that the Baron de Nouart +is a German, and the Herr von Sorr of whom you speak," the captain +said, when Kurt had finished his narrative. + +"That and the resemblance observed by Count Schlichting, Count Styrum, +and the Baron von Hohenwald between the Baron de Nouart and some one +whom they had seen." + +"But neither of these gentlemen was reminded of Sorr. Count Schlichting +has told me that he has an excellent memory for faces, and should +recognize one that he had once seen, even after twenty years. Would he +not instantly have known Sorr?" + +"He probably never imagined that he should find him here in France +under the name of the Baron de Nouart. The Baron's avoidance of us, and +his pretended ignorance of the German language, seem to me very +suspicious circumstances." Kurt remarked. + +"And yet they are hardly sufficient to warrant my arresting him and +sending him to Nontron," the captain replied. "The colonel is an +excellent man, but he is fond of a short shrift, and apt to take +suspicion for certainty. If he should discover Sorr and the Baron to be +one and the same person, he would have the poor devil shot without more +ado; and it may be that, even although he wishes to avoid us, he does +not meditate treachery. I am not fond of courts-martial, Herr von +Poseneck, and I do without them when I can. Your discovery is certainly +of importance, and it behooves us to be more upon our guard than ever. +We have been imprudent in instituting no thorough search of the castle. +This shall be undertaken to-morrow, and if we find proof of the Baron's +guilt he shall be brought to justice." + + +All the officers, Kurt with the rest, retired early on this evening, +Kurt imagining that the fatigue and excitement of the day would insure +him instant repose. But this was not so; he lay awake hour after hour; +sleep fled his eyelids. In vain did he woo her by all familiar means, +counting slowly to one hundred, reciting mentally verses learned in +childhood; he could not banish from his mind his last conversation with +his captain. + +At last he sprang out of bed. Better to pace his room to and fro for an +hour than toss restlessly there. The moon was at the full. Kurt went to +the window, whence he had a clear view of the spacious court-yard of +the castle. Opposite lay the farm-buildings in which a part of the +Uhlans were quartered, the stalls being appropriated to their horses, +and back of those Kurt could in the brilliant moonlight get a view of a +portion of the broad road leading to the village. The court-yard was +empty; the two sentinels posted in front of the stables were slowly +pacing to and fro, their sabres resting negligently in their arms, and +one of them, as Kurt was looking, so far forgot his duty in his sense +of security as to lean against the house and rest. This was a culpable +want of the vigilance which the captain had enjoined upon the guards on +the previous evening. The lives of many might depend upon the +watchfulness of any one of the sentinels posted in the court-yard. + +Kurt left the window and dressed, not hastily, but quite leisurely; he +would himself go down to the court-yard and make an example of any +soldier not vigilant at his post. He needed no light; the moonlight was +all that he required. When quite dressed he sat for a moment, his head +resting on his hand, reflecting whether it were not perhaps best to +visit the sentries placed in the park, when he was suddenly startled by +a shot; another and another came in quick succession, and then followed +a sharp rattle of musketry, apparently in the very court-yard. + +Kurt rushed to the window. Where was the scene of repose and security +upon which he had looked out little more than a quarter of an hour +previously? A disorderly crowd of armed men, some hundreds strong, was +pouring in at the court-yard gates and rushing towards the farm +buildings and stables, while along the road from the village a dark +mass was moving quickly, the moonlight glinting here and there upon +polished rifle-barrels. In a few moments the assailants had attained +their end; the two sentinels were shot down, the doors of the farm +buildings and stables were forced; there were but a few scattered +carbine-shots in answer to the continuous rattle of musketry; victory +over the Uhlans quartered there was easy for such overpowering numbers. + +One glance sufficed to show Kurt the danger threatening the entire +squadron. All in the farm buildings were lost; it might still be +possible, however, to save the officers in the castle and the men in +the village, but not a moment must be wasted, for already about thirty +franctireurs had turned from the farm buildings and were advancing +towards the castle. Kurt's presence of mind stood him in stead now as +it had done formerly in America. He saw plainly that there was but one +course by which death or capture could be evaded,--flight. Resistance +to such an overwhelming force would be madness. He could not even rouse +his brother officers on the ground-floor of the castle; the +franctireurs would be there before him. The captain he could rouse, and +together they might escape into the side wing of the castle, through +the room explored so short a time since by Kurt, and thence into the +park. If they could succeed in reaching the stables behind the +gardener's house, where they had seen the horses, they might perhaps be +able to ride by roundabout ways to the village in time to save the +Uhlans quartered there. In an instant Kurt had girded on his sabre and +armed himself with a revolver; then opening the door of the captain's +room, he found Von Saeben just about to step out of it. He had been +unwilling, after his conversation with Kurt, to go to bed, but had +determined to inspect the various posts after midnight, and had thrown +himself into an arm-chair, where, however, he had slept soundly until +awakened by the noise of the struggle in the court-yard. He, too, had +recognized from his window, as Kurt had done, the folly of resistance +to so numerous a foe, but he was nevertheless about to go down to the +court-yard when Kurt rushed into his room. "You were right, Herr von +Poseneck," he said; "that villain Sorr has betrayed us! All is lost! +There is nothing for us but to die with our brave fellows; our place is +down there among them." + +He spoke as quietly as though he were inviting Kurt to walk with him in +the park; he awaited no reply, but was striding on to the head of the +grand staircase when Karl detained him. "There is nothing to be done +down there captain," he said; "the castle is lost, but we may escape to +the village and muster our men." + +"How? In one minute the rogues will be in the castle; the maire of the +village and Gervais--I recognized them both--are leading the band that +is evidently resolved upon capturing us in our rooms." + +"Still there is no need to throw away our lives,--we must make an +attempt to save our fellows in the village; perhaps escape is possible +through the side-wing." + +"Go on; I will follow you!" + +Not another word was spoken; Kurt hurried on, revolver in hand, the +captain close upon his heels. When the two officers had reached the +blue room they could plainly hear the blows of the franctireurs upon +the doors of the rooms on the ground-floor; in another instant the two +men had entered the room, closed the door behind them, and hurried +through the other apartments towards the side-wing. + +"Saved," whispered Kurt; "no one is quartered in this wing, we shall +encounter no enemy here." He was right; neither the Baron de Nouart nor +Gervais had dreamed that the German officers could escape through this +unknown wing and no precautions had been taken to prevent their doing +so. The wing was deserted and silent; the din of the struggle in the +court-yard sounded indistinct and muffled. Kurt, followed by his +captain, rushed down the winding staircase to the passage on the +ground-floor. By this the captain would have gained the park; but Kurt +again detained him. "That door can be seen from the court-yard," he +said, "and if we are perceived we shall have the whole rabble about our +ears. We must find a way into the park through the window of some one +of these rooms." He tried the first door they came to; it opened and +admitted the two officers to a lighter apartment. Here an unexpected +sight met their eyes. In an arm-chair before a table, upon which stood +his beloved brandy-flask, sat the Baron de Nouart. He had had recourse +to his favourite stimulant to steady his nerves while he sat in +terrified expectation of the attack. A revolver lay upon the table +ready, if he should be forced to take any part in the fray. + +When the door was suddenly opened and he saw before him the two +Prussian officers, Kurt with a revolver, the captain with a drawn +sabre, the Baron sprang to his feet and glared at the intruders with +lack-lustre eyes. He was half intoxicated, he could hardly stand +upright, but he still had sense enough to clutch at his revolver to +defend himself. + +But his hand never touched the weapon; before he could grasp it the +captain stretched him on the floor with a tremendous blow, delivered +with all his force, of his drawn sabre. He fell without a sound. + +"Is he dead?" the captain asked. + +"We cannot wait to see," Kurt replied; "at all events he cannot betray +us!" And he hurried to the window. The lawn between the wing and the +forest lay quiet in the moon light; not a man was to be seen. He +listened,--only the distant noise in the court-yard fell upon his ear. + +He opened the window and lightly sprang out; the captain followed him, +confiding himself blindly to Kurt's guidance. They ran with lightning +speed across the lawn, and then in the shadow of the forest to the +gardener's house. All here was quiet,--every one had hurried to the +court-yard; the stable-door was open; there stood the two noble horses, +their saddles and bridles hanging upon the wall. + +In less time than it takes to tell it the two cavalry officers were in +the saddle and galloping furiously by a back-road to the village. + +A savage yell resounded from the castle. From one of the lighted +windows of the wing several shots were fired, but the bullets whistled +harmlessly past the riders' ears; the bewildering moonlight prevented +the marksmen from aiming truly. + +"Our flight is discovered. The forest is our only chance. This way!" +Kurt cried, as he drove the spurs into his horse's sides and turned +towards a narrow forest road that led by a longer roundabout way to the +village. + +The captain followed; but just as he entered the woods several shots +again flashed from the castle window; he wavered in his saddle: a +bullet had struck him in the side; he grasped his horse's mane with his +right hand, and managed to keep his seat and continue his furious +gallop after Kurt. + +The fugitives succeeded at last in gaining the open beyond the wood, +but here Kurt first noticed his companion's convulsive grip of his +horse's mane and his failing exertions to keep himself upright in the +saddle. "Are you wounded?" he asked, anxiously. + +There was no reply. Loss of blood had produced unconsciousness, and +Kurt caught his captain in his arms just in time to prevent him from +falling from his horse. He dismounted with his lifeless burden, and, +laying it upon the grass beneath a tree, looked about for help. He +remembered that a mounted sentinel had been stationed here, where the +forest road ended in the open; but there was no horseman to be seen. He +could not have deserted his post; a brief inspection of the surrounding +field in the moonlight showed him that the soldier had been true to his +duty; he was lying dead in a pool of blood at a little distance; his +horse was nowhere to be seen, probably his murderers had carried it +off. + +What was to be done? Every moment of delay was ruin. The enemy had +discovered the flight of the two officers, there were horses enough to +be had for pursuit, and, although Kurt's short experience of his steed +had convinced him that he need not dread this for himself, he could not +desert his captain; how was he to be carried to a place of safety? Duty +called Kurt to Assais, where, as a few straggling shots informed him, +the fray had already begun, and duty forbade his abandoning his wounded +captain to the pursuing franctireurs. He could not delay, the moments +were priceless. "To Assais!" he exclaimed to himself. The outnumbered +Uhlans there needed a leader, who might perhaps save some few from +captivity and death; the captain himself would never have hesitated to +sacrifice his life for his men; had he been conscious he would surely +have ordered his lieutenant to leave him to his fate. + +He swung himself into the saddle again and rode towards the village, +but reined in his horse as he reached the top of a small eminence, +whence he had a full moonlit view of Assais. A dark mass of combatants +was heaving to and fro between him and the nearest houses of the +village, whence came a sharp rattle of firearms; the crowd parted, and +a portion of it approached him rapidly. His heart beat high as he +recognized it to be a detachment of Uhlans that had escaped from the +village and was now galloping towards him. There were but a dozen of +them, and as he rode to meet them with a thundering "Halt!" they obeyed +instantly, and an old sergeant, who recognized the lieutenant, gave him +an account of an attack upon the village, which had taken place almost +simultaneously with that upon the castle. The outlying guard must have +been fallen upon unawares and murdered by the villagers, as not one +shot had been heard from them. The Uhlans had been surprised in their +quarters by an overwhelming force of franctireurs,--ten Frenchmen to +one Prussian,--but in the general confusion this little band had +managed to get to horse and cut their way through the enemy. "If the +cursed Frenchman had only known how to handle their chassepots better," +the old man added, "not an Uhlan would have escaped." He did not fear +pursuit, "for the bumpkins had no idea of managing an Uhlan horse." + +The sergeant's tale convinced Kurt of the tragic fate of the +squadron,--probably for the most part surprised in their beds, murdered +or taken prisoner; all thought of rescuing them was vain. And yet the +young officer was sorely tempted to make one dash into Assais at the +head of the fugitives to rescue any of their comrades who might be +prisoners there. It cost him a hard struggle to decide to leave Assais +without one blow struck at the foe; but he knew that duty called him to +Nontron. He ordered three men to ride on before as quickly as their +horses could carry them to announce the fate of the squadron, and with +the rest he rode back to where the captain was lying, that he also +might be safely transported thither. + + + + + CHAPTER XXV. + + +There was savage revelry in Assais. It was the first victory that these +men, but lately mustered into service, had gained over the dreaded +Prussians,--a victory all the more brilliant since it had been won at +so little loss. Only two franctireurs had fallen in the short +conflict,--five or six had been wounded, and the Baron de Nouart had +been found dead in his room with his skull cloven. + +This was the entire loss suffered by the fortunate victors, who had +almost annihilated an entire squadron of those Uhlans of whose ferocity +such fearful stories were told. + +The light-hearted conquerors paid no heed to the fact that a couple of +dozen of the enemy and several officers had escaped; they had no fear +of the fugitives, they had not even attempted to pursue them. + +Intoxicated with victory, the exultant franctireurs rushed through the +village; the slight bonds of discipline that had restrained them at the +beginning of the attack were rent asunder, and Count Repuin, their +commander, with two or three French officers, attempted in vain to stem +the torrent; all commands were unheeded. + +The franctireurs associated the villagers with them in a search for any +Prussians that might still be concealed in the village, murdering any +such when found, and dragging their corpses through the mud with savage +yells, that made night hideous. Even women, drunk with the desire for +revenge, aided their husbands and sons in this ferocious work, +mutilating the dead in their fury and inciting others to the same +horrors. But there were exceptions; here and there a wife or maiden of +Assais risked her life to conceal some Prussian fugitive from the fury +of husband or lover. + +Count Repuin looked on aghast at the savagery of the insane mob, who +had thus thrown aside all law and order. He hated the Prussians from +his soul, he was their implacable foe; but this wholesale murder, this +cowardly mutilation of the dead, aroused his indignation; he felt that +he had conjured up spirits that he lacked the power to control. + +Again and again he attempted to restore some degree of order, but his +commands were received with shouts of derision, and he owed it to the +interference of some of his officers that the rage of the franctireurs +was not turned against himself. There were scowling looks accompanying +muttered curses of the foreigner who dared to intercede for Prussians, +and he was obliged to look on inactive at the murderous work. + +He was perhaps the only one of the victors who felt no joy whatever in +the victory. His plan had been to inspire his raw troops with courage +and confidence by an easy conquest, and he had intended to withdraw in +good order with his prisoners as soon as the victory was won. He +now withdrew, after a last vain attempt to restore order, to the +dining-hall of the castle, where, with one of his young officers, he +paced restlessly to and fro. At each outburst of exultation that +reached his ears from without he vented savage curses upon the +canaille, who did not deserve that a man of honour should command them. +He knew only too well that each hour as it sped past increased the +danger that the easy-won victory would be converted into a disgraceful +defeat. + +The officers of the squadron had escaped; the two lieutenants on the +ground-floor had probably been awakened by the first shots and had fled +into the forest, leaving their uniforms behind them; from these there +was not much to fear, but the captain and his companion, who had slain +the Baron de Nouart when he had probably attempted to impede their +flight, had also escaped, and upon two fleet horses. The shots fired +after them had been unavailing; they could reach Nontron in a short +time and summon the colonel, Count Schlichting, to the rescue. + +And then? Repuin cast a glance at the stiffened corpse of the Baron de +Nouart, which had been brought into the dining-hall and lay there on +the floor in a corner half covered with a piece of carpet. He thought +of his last conversation with him, of how he had been warned by him not +to attempt an attack upon a foe so much the stronger. "Count +Schlichting knows no mercy!" had been Sorr's words. Then the Count had +received them with a sneer; now, as he thought of the near future, they +filled him with horror. The colonel had already heard of the struggle +in Assais; he was even now at the head of his regiment on the way +hither from Nontron to rescue and to avenge. + +Repuin was innately brave; he could laugh danger and death to scorn in +the heat of battle, but the idea of being taken prisoner and shot in +cold blood by the hated Germans drove the blood from his cheek. He +turned to the young officer at his side and confided his fears to him, +commissioning him to make one more attempt with a few experienced +soldiers to assemble the men in some degree of order. + +The officer promised to do his best, but his efforts were fruitless +until it was too late. + +The franctireurs, scattered through the village, refused to obey +the bugle-call; they were engaged in a wild orgie with some of the +country-people. Wine flowed in streams, and there were loud shouts of +"Vive la France! vive la victoire!" that never ceased until a +breathless messenger spread the news through the village with the speed +of lightning that a German host was marching upon Assais along the +roads from Nontron and Chalus, and that it would be upon them in less +than half an hour. This intelligence sobered in an instant those drunk +with wine and conquest. Now they hurried to obey the bugle-call, but it +was too late! An orderly retreat was no longer possible. This Repuin +perceived, as from the castle he marked the close ranks of the +approaching enemy, who, thanks to the mad neglect and want of +discipline of the franctireurs, was so near that he would reach the +village before the scattered Frenchmen could assemble together. Were +not fugitives already scouring the fields upon the horses of the slain +Uhlans? Should a panic ensue, rescue would be impossible; there might +be something, an honorable death at least, gained from a stubborn +defence of both castle and village. + +The bitter conflict lasted several hours; the Frenchmen, so lately +taken from the plough and work-bench, the franctireurs, so despised by +the Germans, defended every house in the village, and last of all the +castle itself, with a courage and heroism worthy of better success. + +The same franctireurs who, scorning all discipline, had been converted +into a mob of murderous savages by victory over defenceless Uhlans +surprised in sleep, returned instantly to their duty when a hard battle +was imminent. The example of a few cowards who escaped upon the Uhlan +horses found no followers. The young men with the villagers fought with +desperate courage; even the wounded refused to yield, and fell fighting +to the last in a hopeless struggle against the superior organization +and numbers of the Saxons, who, although at heavy loss, stormed every +house in the village, and finally gained possession of the castle +itself. + +Only a very few of the French succeeded in escaping to the forest, +where they scattered; the rest atoned with their lives for their brief +period of conquest, and the crimes committed in Assais. + + +The conflict had been terrible, crushing for the conquered, and tragic +enough for the victors, who had sustained heavy losses. If the +franctireurs had been better marksmen and had not suffered from the +death of their leader, Count Repuin, early in the fray, they would have +prolonged the struggle, and the German losses would have been greater +still, for the French had the advantage of a sheltered position. + +The village of Assais, when the battle was over, presented a ghastly +spectacle. Among the dead and dying that cumbered its streets the Saxon +soldiers were searching diligently for wounded comrades, who were +carried to the castle, where the regimental surgeons had their hands +full. + +The wounded officers, of whom there were not a few, were carried into +the dining-hall, where pallets had been arranged, upon which they might +rest for the brief space of time that the regiment could remain in +Assais. Its work of vengeance completed, it must immediately fall back +again upon Nontron. + +The colonel's face was grimly sad as he entered the hall for a personal +inspection of the wounded. "We have suffered heavily," he said to Count +Styrum, who, with his arm in a sling, approached him. "Much noble blood +has been shed, and I take blame to myself for it." + +"What possible blame can attach to you, colonel?" + +"I might have nipped the treachery here in the bud. From the first I +mistrusted that Baron de Nouart and his tool Gervais. But for my +weakness they would both have been brought to a court-martial, and then +all their villainous schemes would have come to light, your arm, +Styrum, would have been free from a sling, and your best friends, +Hohenwald and Poseneck, would not be lying there severely wounded. How +is it with Arno? What does the surgeon say?" + +"He gives us good hope. The wound is serious; he is still unconscious, +but the surgeon says that he thinks careful nursing will bring him +round." + +"Careful nursing!" said the colonel. "And where is he to get careful +nursing in this God-forgotten corner of France? In two hours at the +latest we must take up our march for Nontron, and even there our +wounded cannot rest. I must send them on farther. What nursing can they +have in the nearest hospital? They are all over-crowded. And can +Hohenwald bear the transportation to a hospital?" + +"He can bear a farther journey than that if taken carefully. I believe, +colonel, that I can save Hohenwald's life if you will allow of my +undertaking his transportation to the only place where he will find +health for both body and soul." + +"I do not understand you, Count." + +"Upon a charming estate on the Rhine, near S----, a lady has +established a private hospital; beneath her care Arno will, I am sure, +recover." + +"Aha! I see, an affair of the heart. Who would have suspected it of our +misogynist? But S---- on the Rhine is far from here." + +"I will undertake to deliver him there safely with your permission, +colonel. My wound makes me incapable of service for some weeks, but I +have strength enough to superintend the transportation of poor +Hohenwald and of my cousin, Kurt von Poseneck, to S----. Your +permission is all that is needed, colonel." + +"That you shall have. All that I can do for your friends shall be done. +How is Poseneck?" + +"Doing fairly well. He has recovered his consciousness and can answer +for himself. His bed is the last; Arno's is next to the last." + +The colonel walked down the row of beds, accompanied by Styrum, saying +a few kind words to each of the wounded officers. He paused for some +minutes beside Arno's couch, gazing sadly at the pale, unconscious +figure stretched there. "My poor old friend!" he murmured. "It will be +a hard blow for him to learn that his darling son is severely wounded. +I must write to him. Better hear it from me than from the papers. It +ought to console him to know how his son has distinguished himself +to-day." + +"It will console him still further, colonel," Styrum observed, "if you +will add in your letter that by your permission I have taken Arno and +my cousin Kurt to Kaltenborn, near S----. He will be quite satisfied +that Arno will be preserved to him if he knows that he is to be tended +and nursed by one whom the old Baron honours and loves as he does Frau +von Sorr." + +The colonel turned hastily and looked in surprise at Styrum. "What name +did you say?" he asked, eagerly. + +"Fran von Sorr is the lady who has instituted a private hospital on her +father's estate of Kaltenborn." + +"And you wish to take Arno to her; you would confide him to Frau von +Sorr's care?" + +"Yes, colonel; Frau von Sorr lived at Castle Hohenwald for some time as +governess to Arno's sister; she is warmly attached to the family, and I +know that the old Freiherr holds her in high esteem." + +"And Arno?" + +"Esteems her no less than does his father." + +"Hm! After a different fashion, perhaps," the colonel said, with a +smile. "Be assured I will do all that I can to further your wishes. +And, by the way, what has become of that scoundrel Sorr? Has Poseneck's +suspicion been confirmed? Is the Baron de Nouart, whom Captain von +Saeben laid low with a sabre-stroke, found to be one and the same person +with Herr von Sorr?" + +"There he lies," Styrum gravely replied! "I have no doubt upon the +subject, although the features seem greatly altered. I saw Sorr only +once at a ball, but I remember him perfectly, and recognized the dead +man's face, although it is disguised by a huge false beard." + +The colonel turned and looked at the corpse of the supposed Baron. A +compassionate maid had washed the blood from the face, and in so doing +had loosened the false beard, which the colonel now tossed aside, and +all doubt as to the man's identity instantly vanished from the minds of +the two officers. + +"It is indeed he," said Schlichting; "he has reaped the reward of his +treachery, as has also Repuin, who was shot dead early in the +engagement. I think, Styrum, that both you and Herr von Poseneck will +agree with me that it is best so; we are spared the dealing out to them +the death of traitors." + +As he spoke he went up to Kurt's couch, and the young man was quite +able to express his thanks for the colonel's promised aid in +transporting him to Kaltenborn. The surgeon, however, at this moment +made his appearance and forbade further conversation, as Kurt's wound +was in the chest and he had suffered from loss of blood. Count +Schlichting therefore gave his hand a farewell pressure and left the +hall. + + +Several months have elapsed; how, during this time, those who have +played principal parts in our story have prospered may be gathered from +the following communications from the widowed Frau von Sorr to her +dearest friend: + + + "Kaltenborn, December 18, 1870. + +"Dearest Adele,--What weeks of suspense have passed since I last wrote +you!--passed amid hopes and fears, terrible distress, and yet happiness +unspeakable. I could not write; every moment that was not spent in care +of him seemed wasted in disloyal neglect. + +"At last the staff surgeon came to me yesterday with a beaming face and +the delicious words, 'Out of all danger!' Since then I have been in a +dream of happiness, and my first thought is to make you the sharer of +my joy. + +"That Arno is spared to me I owe entirely to the self-devotion of your +Karl. He has, I know, written to you how he obtained permission to +bring Arno and Kurt von Poseneck across half France to be nursed here +by me. But he has not, I am sure, told you at what an expense of +trouble and strength he with his wound did this. I never shall forget +the moment, now just six weeks ago, when he came to meet me below in +the hall. A messenger on horseback, from S----, had brought word that +three wounded officers, among whom was Lieutenant Kurt von Poseneck, +had been by their desire transferred to Kaltenborn for lodgment and +nursing, and that they would arrive in an hour at the latest. I was +ready to receive them, too glad to take charge of Kurt, and little +dreaming how near the other two were to my heart. I never can tell you, +dear Adele, of all that I suffered during those first few days. Count +Styrum's exertions in bringing his charge to this place had been +superhuman; his own wound, not serious at first, had been greatly +aggravated, and for a time he was utterly prostrated. But now the +dreadful days are all past when the angel of death lingered beside the +two so near to me, Arno and Kurt. As soon as your Karl recovered from +the disastrous effects of his journey he joined me in care of them, and +never shall I forget the consolation of his presence and his words. +When I gave up all hope of Arno's recovery, Count Styrum was always +ready to tell me how, in '66, he had recovered from a worse wound, and +to bid me rely upon his vigorous constitution. And during the long +hours when together we watched beside Arno's or Kurt's couch. Count +Styrum recounted to me the terrible events of which he was an +eye-witness at Assais. From him I learned the fate of my unhappy +husband,--that death had dissolved the tie that bound me to him. + +"It would be hypocrisy, dearest Adele, to attempt to conceal from you +that this knowledge brought with it a sense of relief to which I had +long been an utter stranger, and that I breathed still more freely when +I learned that I need no longer dread the persecutions of Count Repuin, +who also fell fighting at Assais. As to Herr von Sorr, I forgive his +sins against me, and when I think of him in future I will recall the +time when he certainly did not inspire me with terror." + + + "December 26. + +"Arno is making rapid strides towards recovery. To-day he was able to +sit up for an hour; his voice is clear and strong, and when he looks at +me his eyes sparkle, as they did once at Castle Hohenwald." + + + "December 30. + +"You see, dear, I write oftener. Kurt is nearly well; he took a walk in +the garden yesterday, and the doctor says he will be able to return to +his regiment in two weeks, when your betrothed also leaves us. I am +glad to know them so far recovered, and yet how we shall miss them! + +"Arno will chafe at being obliged to take no share in the glorious +termination of the war, but he must submit; the doctor says he cannot +possibly be fit for service for some months yet. I will confess to you, +dear Adele, that when the old doctor uttered this verdict I could have +kissed him. Arno had been so much pleased at his increasing strength +that he had entertained hopes of leaving Kaltenborn with your Karl and +Kurt, and of course he was disappointed at first. Then he looked at me; +I suppose my joy was evident in my face, for his brow cleared +instantly, and he said no more about leaving." + + + "Kaltenborn, January 15, 1871. + +"Adele, my darling Adele, I am the happiest woman in the world! I am +betrothed! Ah, how fair life is! You must hear all about it, although +no one else is to know of it for some time to come. Listen, I will tell +you all. Early this afternoon I was seated in my little drawing-room at +my writing-table, when I heard the door open behind me and some one +say, 'Excuse me, madame, I would not intrude. Modesty is a gift of +nature; I do not boast, but I possess it----' + +"Of course there was no need to turn round to recognize the good +Assessor von Hahn, my former admirer. Yes, there he was, and the oddest +figure imaginable. Had not the red cross on his left arm informed me in +what capacity he had come to the Rhine, I should have supposed him +dressed as a brigand for a masquerade; his costume, with a huge sabre +dragging at his heels, was so comical. + +"I could not but smile as I welcomed him to Kaltenborn, and told him +how glad I was to see by his red cross to what service he had devoted +himself. + +"'Yes, madame,' he said, twisting his moustache after his old familiar +fashion, 'I serve the fatherland; this very evening I must take up my +journey to France; duty demands it, and I am a slave to duty; I do not +boast, but I am so. I have stolen a moment on the way to assure you of +my devotion to you, and to bring you some news which will, I am sure, +surprise you. I have the honour of being in charge of supplies for some +of our hospitals in France. Early this morning, as my train was about +to leave the station at Minden, as I stood upon the platform, my +attention was attracted by an old gentleman who was berating a railway +official in no measured terms. The official had just informed him that +this was a train bearing supplies, and that no places could be procured +on it for passengers, and the old man's anger found vent in a good +round oath; he was ready to pay any price for places, and have them he +must and would. He was supported on the arm of an old servant in +livery, and beside him stood a young girl. I could not see her face, +but her figure was charming. I passed around her and recognized--but +surely, madame, you have guessed whom I recognized----' + +"I tried in vain to solve the riddle, mentioning the names of several +ladies known to each of us, but in vain. + +"'Wrong, madame; I am sure your astonishment will equal mine when I +tell you that I recognized in the young lady with the charming figure +my lovely cousin, Celia von Hohenwald.' + +"My astonishment was indeed great; the Assessor was delighted. 'Yes, +Celia von Hohenwald; she was with her father, my respected relative, +the Freiherr von Hohenwald. Fortunately, I met them upon the railway +platform at Minden, and was able to be of service to them.' + +"'The Freiherr von Hohenwald!' I exclaimed, now amazed indeed. I could +hardly believe that my dear old friend had left his forest castle, +where he had so long been confined to his rolling-chair, but the +Assessor eagerly went on to explain it all to me. + +"The Freiherr's health had improved wonderfully during the past summer, +as I knew from Celia's letters, but she had not told me that he had for +some time been able to walk in his beloved garden supported by old +Franz, and she herself had never dreamed that he would think of +undertaking a journey. He had heard first from Count Schlichting and +then from Kurt, as he told the Assessor, of his son's wound, and had +determined not to await his recovery, but to go himself to Kaltenborn, +that he might be near him. So, accompanied by Celia and old Franz, he +had set out, and felt better and stronger than he had done for years. +His desire to see his son again was intense, and hence his angry +outbreak when told that he could not leave Minden by this train. The +Assessor instantly offered both Celia and himself seats in his own +coupe, while old Franz was accommodated in a freight-wagon. The good +little man fairly glowed with enthusiasm as he described his delightful +journey and the charms of his fair cousin, to whom he has evidently +lost his too susceptible heart. + +"Arrived at S----, the Assessor instantly came by extra post to +Kaltenborn to announce the arrival of the Baron and his daughter, that +Arno might be prepared to meet them. They were, the Assessor concluded, +awaiting his return at S----, whither he was to carry intelligence of +Arno's condition and my father's permission to visit Kaltenborn. + +"You may imagine, dear, how happy the good Assessor's news made me. To +think of seeing once more my dear old friend and Celia! My heart beat +quickly as I went with the Assessor to Arno's room, where the little +man contrived with great tact to announce to him the arrival of such +dear friends. + +"My father was out walking, but I sent in his name a cordial invitation +to the Freiherr, and the Assessor took leave of all of us in a state of +the most amiable self-complacency. + +"After his departure I had too much to do in preparing for the +reception of my dear guests to leave time for reflection. I had just +finished arranging flowers in their rooms when their carriage stopped +at the hall-door. I really do not know how I got down-stairs, but I +found myself at the carriage-door. I felt Celia's ardent kisses, and +the next instant I was in the carriage and in the Freiherr's arms. He +kissed my forehead tenderly, and then, clasping both my hands in his, +held me off from him with a smile of perfect content on his dear old +face. 'You never thought, my dear child,' he said, 'that your old +adorer would leave his rolling-chair and come to look for you. I could +not help it; a longing for the sight of you and anxiety for my boy have +brought me here. No, not anxiety, for even when the Poseneck fellow +wrote me word that he was very ill I knew that my dear child's tender +nursing would preserve him to me; and so it was. I owe my Arno's life +to you.' + +"I would have disclaimed his praise, but he would not let me speak. 'I +know better about it than you do, child; his heart needed healing, and +I knew his body would follow suit. You alone could be his true +physician. But never blush about it; postpone that, dear child, until +you and I have had a private talk together. Thunder and lightning! The +will-o'-the-wisp has rushed directly into the Poseneck fellow's arms! +Here's a pretty business!' + +"The tone in which this outburst was uttered was far from grim, and the +words themselves were contradicted by the sparkle in the old man's eyes +as he looked out of the carriage. Kurt stood in the doorway with Celia +clinging to him. Clasped in each other's arms, for the moment the world +about the happy pair was forgotten; the Freiherr's exclamation recalled +Kurt to a sense of the present. He would have hurried out to the +carriage, but Celia only clasped him the closer, crying, amid tears and +laughter, 'No, no, Kurt, my dearest, I have you now, and you shall not +go; papa is not so angry as he pretends. Look how glad he is that we +are all happy together at last!' + +"'Let go the Poseneck fellow, you romp!' the Freiherr called from the +carriage. 'Let him come here, I want to look at him.' + +"Kurt sprang forward to offer his arm; before the Baron took it, +however, he scanned the young man with keen scrutiny. The result of it +must have been satisfactory, for he nodded complacently at Kurt, and +then, with his help and with Franz's support, descended heavily from +the carriage. + +"When I handed him his crutch-handled cane from the carriage, he +let go of Kurt's arm. 'You would, of course, rather conduct the +will-o'-the-wisp than the old father,' he said to Kurt, with a laugh. +'Give your arm to your Celia, then, for she is yours; I can't prevent +that. My child here will take me to Arno,' he added, nodding towards +me. + +"I was by his side in a moment; he put his arm in mine and, leaning +over me, whispered, 'Will you not promise, my darling, to support your +old father thus as long he lives?' + +"I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. I could not speak; but he needed +no reply, as he looked at me with a happy smile. + +"Thus we walked slowly through the hall, and were received at the door +of his room by Arno himself, leaning upon your Karl's arm, so strong +that he hardly needed its support. + +"As the old man embraced his darling son the tears rolled down his +withered cheeks; he held him clasped in his arms for a moment, and then +turning to me, said, with profound emotion, 'We owe this happy moment +to our Anna. She has been the guardian angel of those two,' pointing to +Kurt and Celia; 'softening my old heart until I gladly receive Kurt as +a son. She has restored you to life, Arno. The dark cloud that divided +you has vanished, serene skies smile above your future. Have you +nothing to ask at her hands, Arno?' + +"What Arno replied I cannot tell you. I felt his arm about me, his lips +upon mine, and heard the ecstasy in his whispered words, 'Mine,--mine +for all eternity!' + +"This was our betrothal. My dearest father joyfully gave us his +blessing, and Kurt and Celia, Arno and I have just passed the happiest +evening of our lives, in the circle of those dearest to us, where only +you, my own faithful Adele, were wanting. Count Styrum recounted to the +Freiherr his adventures in the castle of Assais, and the old Baron told +in his turn of how the danger that had threatened the Finanzrath had +fortunately been averted by the kind interference of influential +friends. Upon Werner's promise, made in writing, never to return to +Germany, the warrants out against him on a charge of high treason have +been withdrawn, and he is living in Vienna in great seclusion. The +thought of Werner, so different from his father, brother, and sister in +his whole character and nature, disturbed my happiness for a moment, +but only for a moment. One glance at Arno was enough to dissipate any +cloud called up in my mind by the remembrance of his unworthy brother. + +"Darling Adele, my heart is full. The shadows of the past lie behind +me, the future is brilliant with glorious sunshine. Farewell, my own +true friend; I know how you will rejoice with and for your Lucie." + + +Spring had again returned, and with it the blessings of peace to the +fatherland. In the latter days of May there was joy indeed at Castle +Hohenwald, where a double marriage was celebrated. Of course Lucie and +Arno, Celia and Kurt, were the happy pairs, and Count Styrum, with his +charming young wife, was present on the auspicious occasion. + + + + FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: Councillor of finance. It is best to give these titles in +German; they must always be awkward in English. A. L. W.] + +[Footnote 2: Forest-depths.] + + + + THE END. + + + + + + + SIGN OF THE CROSS + + By WILSON BARRETT + + _Player's Edition. Illustrated. Cloth, 75 cents_. + +A new edition, illustrated by scenes from the play. There is still a +live demand for this widely-known novel. + +"No romance of early Rome can equal it in any of the points of its +splendidly romantic conception, highly dramatic fervor, or its noble +and ignoble extremes of characterization. Religion, history, +literature, owe Wilson Barrett a great debt for his production of this +work, which is one that one may not hesitate to prophesy will endure so +long as literature itself may."--_Boston Courier_. + + * * * + + NEVER-NEVER LAND + + By WILSON BARRETT + + _12mo. Decorated Cloth, $1.50_. + +A dramatic and adventurous love-story of to-day, told by the author of +the famous "Sign of the Cross." + +The book is full of action and incident. Part of the scene is laid in +America and part in foreign countries. + + * * * + + J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA + + + + + AT THE MOORINGS + + By ROSA N. CAREY + + _12mo. 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In 'The Challoners' his happiest faculty, +that of putting smart society on paper, is shown to its best advantage. +He is at home with English people, and when he attempts to picture the +heights and depths of a father's despair when he sees his children +taking what is to him a plunge into moral perdition, his work is deft +and true and commendably sincere. An entertaining, well-written story, +with deep feeling in it."--_Chicago Record-Herald_. + +"'The Challoners' is conceived upon a plane that lifts it immediately +to the highest rank in fiction. One has to recall the works of Dickens, +Thackeray, and Reade to find a production of equal dignity and grasp. +Indeed, there is much in it that will bear comparison with George +Eliot's performances. It is impossible to read it without realizing the +great burden that oppresses the clergyman who sees his son and daughter +departing from the practices and rules he in his sufficiency has laid +down to govern them."--_The Index_. + + * * * + + THE IMAGE IN THE SAND + + 12mo. Cloth, $1.50 + +"The author of 'Dodo' has written a 'thriller.' It is a spiritualistic +story. Mr. Benson sets part of his story in the East, and part in +London, and tells it in a manner to keep the reader wide awake and +interested to the end."--_Globe_, New York. + +"Spiritualism, hypnotism, demoniac possession, white and black magic, +Oriental theosophy--all are found among the component parts of this +tale. The _denouement_ is decidedly original and highly imaginative. +Decidedly, 'The Image in the Sand' will not fail to make a strong +appeal to every one who has any love for the marvellous and the +unknown--or who appreciates a very well-written story."--_Brooklyn +Eagle_. + + * * * + + J. B. 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