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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/34995-8.txt b/34995-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..74d6c0e --- /dev/null +++ b/34995-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13367 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Too Rich, 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: Too Rich + A Romance + +Author: Adolph Streckfuss + +Translator: A. L. Wister + +Release Date: January 17, 2011 [EBook #34995] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOO RICH *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + 1. Page scan source: + http://www.archive.org/details/tooricharomance00stregoog + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + POPULAR WORKS AFTER THE GERMAN, + + AFTER THE GERMAN, + + BY MRS. A. L. WISTER. + + + +A FAMILY FEUD. After the German of Ludwig Harder. 12mo. Fine cloth. +$1.25. + +AT THE COUNCILLOR'S; or, A Nameless History. After the German of E. +Marlitt. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.75. + +THE SECOND WIFE. After the German of E. Marlitt. 12mo. Fine cloth. +$1.75. + +THE OLD MAM'SELLE'S SECRET. After the German of E. Marlitt. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.50. + +GOLD ELSIE. After the German of E. Marlitt. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +COUNTESS GISELA. After the German of E. Marlitt. 12mo. Fine cloth. +$1.50. + +THE LITTLE MOORLAND PRINCESS. After the German of E. Marlitt. 12mo. +Fine cloth. $1.50. + +THE GREEN GATE. After the German of Ernst Wichert. 12mo. Fine cloth. +$1.75. + +ONLY A GIRL. After the German of Wilhelmine von Hillern. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.75. + +ENCHANTING AND ENCHANTED; or, Fairy Spells. From the German of +Hackländer. Illustrated. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +WHY DID HE NOT DIE? After the German of Ad. von Volckhausen. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.75. + +HULDA; or, The Deliverer. After the German of F. Lewald. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.75. + + + * * * * * + +*** For sale by all Booksellers, or will be sent by mail, postage paid, +upon receipt of price by _J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., Publishers, +Philadelphia_. + + + + + + + TOO RICH + + + A ROMANCE + + + + + AFTER THE GERMAN + OF + ADOLPH STRECKFUSS + + + + + BY MRS. A. L WISTER + TRANSLATOR OF "THE SECOND WIFE," "ONLY A GIRL," "THE OLD + MAM'SELLE'S SECRET," "HULDA," "A FAMILY FEUD," ETC. + + + + + PHILADELPHIA + J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. + 1878 + + + + + + + * * * * * + Copyright, 1878, by J. B. Lippincott & Co. + * * * * * + + + + + + + TOO RICH. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +It was a very warm day in summer. The lindens on either side the broad +promenade drooped their thirsty dusty leaves above the pedestrians +sauntering beneath their shade. These loitered along as slowly as +possible, but the heat was really too oppressive, and many of them soon +turned into narrower and cooler side streets, resigning all attempts to +meet the various acquaintances who usually at noon thronged the gay +promenade of K----. Others indeed took refuge beneath the tempting +awning of some one of the various fashionable restaurants on the +promenade, where, secluded from the burning rays of the midday sun, +they refreshed themselves with ices, and were at leisure to recognize +and criticise all who drove, rode, or walked past. + +On a day like the present "Büchner's restaurant," famous for its +sherbet, and a favourite lounging-place with young sprigs of fashion, +was sure to be thronged. Here might be seen the officers of the various +regiments in garrison at K---- and numerous civilians whose rank +entitled them to such distinguished companionship, and here the choice +of amusements for the evening was discussed,--whether, in spite of the +intense heat, the charms of the lovely S---- were sufficiently great to +make the theatre endurable, or whether preference should be given to an +open-air entertainment at some favourite concert-garden. + +In the world of fashion it was eminently 'the thing' to pass half an +hour every afternoon on the veranda beneath the awning at "Büchner's," +and consequently in the afternoon the place was so thronged that +scarcely a seat was to be had at any of the numerous tables there, +while on warm days it was quite full at noon, for there could hardly be +a more commodious and pleasant point of observation on the entire +promenade. + +The guests at Büchner's were of the most select,--to see that they were +so was a chief care with the attentive head of the establishment, who +thought no pains lost which secured to him the custom of the officers. +He still recalled with vivid melancholy the war-time, and the deserted +aspect of his veranda while it lasted; he knew that he owed his +brilliant success in business to the officers and to please them he +displayed the greatest zeal. Was he not always on the watch to keep +away from the veranda any persons supposed to be obnoxious to these +distinguished guests? All such, even although there was still room +beneath the awning, were shown to seats far back in the inmost recesses +of the place. Only to the young officers and their intimates of the +first rank in society was it permitted to lounge indolently upon the +veranda, their cigars in their mouths, their chairs tipped back, and +their legs resting either upon other chairs or upon the wrought-iron +balustrade, in which graceful and easy attitude they could observe the +passers-by at their leisure. + +Thus elegantly posed on this same sunny noon, two young cavalry +officers were scanning, eye-glass in eye, the passers-by, negligently +returning the greetings of acquaintances, and, careless as to whether +their remarks were overheard or not, ruthlessly criticising in a loud +voice the occupants of the various equipages rolling by. + +In their immediate neighbourhood two infantry officers were seated near +the balustrade, scorning however the negligent attitude of the two +dragoons; one of them was reading a newspaper, while the other was +gazing out at the passers-by. + +"I believe you mean to learn that paper by heart, Leo," one of them, a +young fellow of about three-and-twenty, remarked to his comrade, his +senior by two or three years, and also in rank as the star upon his +shoulder indicated. + +The man thus addressed looked up with a smile, disclosing a handsome, +expressive countenance of a forcible manly type. His thick, fair +moustache became him well, concealing somewhat as it did the rather +hard outline of the mouth and thus softening a certain sternness of +expression which had characterized his face while absorbed in his +newspaper, but which vanished entirely as he smiled. The mild lustre of +large dark eyes made the handsome face still more attractive. + +"You're an awful bore to-day, Leo," the younger man continued; "we've +been sitting here full half an hour, and you have hardly opened your +lips. I cannot imagine what you find to read in that wretched 'Daily +Post;' it makes me yawn only to look at it; nothing would induce me to +read a line of it; 'tis full of such stupid stuff in these tiresome +times of peace." + +"You're mistaken; the proceedings in Chambers are extremely interesting +to-day." + +"The proceedings in Chambers!" the other cried, with comical dismay. +"Good heavens, the fellow is reading politics! Leo, Leo, as your true +friend, I must warn you: you are in perilous paths; read everything +else that you choose,--the trashiest novels, and even poems if you +insist upon it, but no politics; you will lose caste. Already you are +looked upon askance as a genius, more than half an artist; if it should +be whispered about that you are a politician you are ruined, Leo. An +officer with an interest in politics is a lost man; if my warning voice +has any influence Leo von Heydeck shall never fall so low. Throw the +paper away, my dear fellow, and be a man; let us follow the example of +our comrades the dragoons, Herr von Bertram and Count Waldheim, and +criticise the lovely ladies driving past; this is just the time for it. +Look! there comes the fairest of the fair, the richest of the rich, the +loveliest of the lovely, divine Eva Schommer!" + +Leo von Heydeck suddenly dropped his newspaper and glanced in the +direction indicated by his friend, but on the instant his face +darkened; he hastily looked around him to observe the effect produced +upon the group of officers beneath the awning by the approach of the +celebrated beauty, and then quietly took up his paper again and seemed +to become more than ever absorbed in it. He did not even look up as the +barouche in which the object of so much admiration sat rolled past. + +He was, however, the only one upon the veranda who accorded no notice +to the fair occupant of the barouche; every officer present gazed after +her with the greatest interest, and some few, who had enjoyed the happy +privilege of an introduction, saluted her with distinguished courtesy. +Among these fortunate individuals were the two dragoons, Herr von +Bertram and Count Waldheim; as soon as they were aware of the approach +of the equipage each started up from his negligent attitude and +standing close behind the balustrade bowed low as if to some princess. +Certainly no princess could have acknowledged their salute with a +slighter or haughtier inclination of the head than that with which it +was received in this instance. + +Carelessly leaning back among the satin cushions of the elegant +barouche of which she was the sole occupant, Fräulein Eva Schommer +seemed to receive the homage offered her but as a fitting tribute to +her beauty; no smile played about her pensive mouth as she thus +slightly bowed, and her large dark eyes scarcely deigned to rest for an +instant upon the two dragoons. Suddenly her cheek flushed a little, and +a degree of animation lit up her face for an instant as she shot one +fleeting glance at the figure sitting absorbed in the newspaper and not +even looking up as her barouche drove past. The next minute she turned +away her head and replied most courteously to the passing salutation of +a rider, who cantered on a blood horse past her equipage. + +Like an apparition the barouche drawn by its pair of thoroughbreds +flashed past Büchner's awning and was soon lost to sight as it turned +almost immediately into a cross street. With it the degree of +excitement which its approach had produced also vanished; the two +dragoons took their seats again, put their feet up upon the rail of the +balustrade, and balanced themselves after their old elegant fashion. + +The younger infantry officer, who had also sprung from his seat and +bowed to the lady most courteously without however receiving any +acknowledgment in return, now resumed his seat, and regarded his friend +still zealously perusing the newspaper with immense astonishment. "This +is too much, Leo!" he exclaimed. "There you sit and never even look up +as she drives past; have you a heart of stone? You were the only one +whom she looked at; the only one of us to whom she deigned a glance, +and you pore over your politics all the while as if you meditated +mounting the rostrum yourself. 'Pon honour, Leo, she did bestow a look +upon you which would have driven many a fellow who had chanced to get +it wild." + +"You must have been mistaken, Kuno," Leo replied, indifferently, +although his friend's words did not seem quite devoid of interest for +him, for he folded his paper and laid it aside; perhaps he had entirely +finished his perusal of the most interesting proceedings in Chambers. + +"Kuno von Herwarth is never mistaken," the young officer said, with +mock heroism. "I beg you to remember that I said, 'Upon my honour she +bestowed a look upon you,' which entirely forbids all possibility of a +mistake on my part." + +"Of course," Leo replied, good-humouredly. "I do not doubt you for an +instant. Why should the young lady not have accorded us a fleeting +glance? I only cannot believe that it rested especially upon me." + +"And why not? Were you not presented to Fräulein Schommer by her uncle +at the _fête-champêtre_ at Schönsee?" + +"True: the young lady was so gracious as to accede to her uncle's +request on the occasion, and I could not without discourtesy refuse to +be presented." + +"Refuse to be presented? Really, Leo, I cannot understand you. There is +not one of our comrades who would not think himself lucky if he could +contrive an introduction to Fräulein Schommer, and you----" + +"I do not join in the universal adulation, the nonsensical idolatry, +offered to the lady," Leo interrupted his friend. "I very unwillingly +consented to be presented to her, and was justly punished for my +consent by the negligent hauteur with which I was received. She +scarcely deigned me a glance, and received the few polite remarks which +I made to her after my presentation in so indifferent a silence that I +had no inducement to pursue a conversation evidently distasteful to +her. Afterwards, when by chance my seat was next hers in the boat upon +the lake, I again, as courtesy I thought required, said a few words to +her, to which however she returned such icy monosyllabic replies that I +gladly left her to her conversation with her neighbour on the other +side, the old Privy Councillor's wife, Madame von Sturmhaupt, with whom +she could talk fast enough." + +"Take care of yourself, Leo!" Kuno replied, with a laugh. "This +indifference of yours towards Fräulein Schommer does not seem quite +genuine. Else why should you be so offended by her cold reception of +you when you were presented to her?" + +"You are wrong; I am not in the least offended, for I do but share the +fate of all those who do not possess at least a million. Otherwise you +are perfectly correct in saying that I am not indifferent to Fräulein +Eva Schommer,--I do not like her! I will not deny that she is +handsome,--extremely handsome,--but her whole bearing is distasteful +to me. Pride or, to speak more correctly, self-conceit I always +dislike,--purse-pride is inexpressibly odious to me. But enough of +this, Kuno; do not let us talk of it: this at all events is not a fit +place for such discussion." + +"You should have thought of that before, Herr von Heydeck," Lieutenant +von Bertram interposed at this point. He had been an attentive listener +to the foregoing conversation, and now rose and approached Leo with +much arrogance of manner. + +Guido von Bertram was about as old as Leo von Heydeck; if mere +regularity of features constitute beauty he was the handsomer man, but +in his face there was none of the frank manliness which lent such a +charm to Von Heydeck. He evidently affected the man of extreme fashion: +the eye-glass stuck in his right eye, and the drawling tone of his +voice, were in harmony with his entire bearing. + +As he stood before Leo von Heydeck he adjusted the said eye-glass more +firmly in position, and scanned his opponent most offensively. Leo +looked up in surprise; he had been on terms of intimacy with the +dragoon in former years, but this intimacy had long since ceased. +Bertram's sudden interruption therefore took him quite by surprise; +before he could reply Bertram continued, emphasizing each word +as he drawled it out, "You have allowed yourself to speak in a +highly-offensive manner of a young lady with whom I have the honour to +claim acquaintance; I must beg you to retract all that you have said." + +The words were too distinct to be misunderstood. Leo perceived that +Bertram was endeavouring to step forward as Fräulein Schommer's +champion; the tone of the dragoon's voice and his words were so +insulting that Leo's eyes flashed angrily; but the next instant he +mastered his first impulse of indignation at the sudden attack and +admitted to himself that he had been indiscreet. He should never have +allowed himself to indulge in any criticism of a lady in so public a +place; he was ready to atone as far as was possible for such an +indiscretion. + +"I regret, Herr von Bertram," he said, quietly, "that words spoken in a +strictly private conversation with my friend Herr von Herwarth, and +intended solely for his ear, should have reached yours. I can assure +you that nothing was further from my thoughts than any insult to +Fräulein Schommer." + +"This excuse does not satisfy me, Herr von Heydeck. As you spoke +sufficiently loud for me involuntarily to overhear every word, your +conversation with Herr von Herwarth cannot be considered 'strictly +private.' You spoke of annoyance, of conceit, of purse-pride. Although +Fräulein Schommer is above all possibility of insult from you, I will +not suffer a young lady whose acquaintance I have the honour to claim +to be thus spoken of in a public place. I therefore require you +instantly to declare your expressions a calumny and to retract them +upon the spot." + +"Herr von Bertram, let me entreat----" Kuno von Herwarth exclaimed, in +dismay; but before he could proceed the dragoon interposed. + +"Lieutenant von Herwarth, I must protest against any interference upon +your part in this matter between Herr von Heydeck and myself. Since you +are a witness to this conversation, you may shortly perchance act the +same part in another affair, where you may congratulate yourself upon +occupying a neutral position. Therefore I must beg you not to interrupt +this conversation." Then, turning to Leo and raising his voice, he +continued: "You have heard my demand, Herr von Heydeck; I require +immediate compliance with it." + +Leo von Heydeck started from his seat at these insolent words; his +cheek glowed with indignation, his hand involuntarily sought his +sword-hilt, but he quickly recovered himself. He folded his arms, +looked down thoughtfully, and then, after a pause that lasted but for +an instant, he replied to his insolent opponent with perfect repose of +manner, looking him full and calmly in the face the while,-- + +"You have no right to make any such demand, Herr von Bertram. If you +are not bent upon a quarrel you will be satisfied by my reiterated +assurance that I had no intention of insulting Fräulein Schommer, and +that I regret that words which I had best not have uttered should have +been regarded as intentionally insulting. I hope this declaration will +satisfy you." + +"No, it does not satisfy me. As you do not retract your assertions, you +of course maintain them, and force me to assert myself! It is +dishonourable,--understand me, Herr von Heydeck,--I repeat, grossly +dishonourable to calumniate thus publicly a young lady who cannot +defend herself! It is a grossly dishonourable act, which I shall +chastise as it deserves!" + +Again Leo's eyes flashed, again his cheek flushed scarlet, but he gave +no words to his anger. One glance of intense scorn he cast at Bertram, +who stood insolently awaiting his reply, and then without a word he +turned and left the veranda. + +This extraordinary scene had arrested the attention of the other +officers present. Bertram's last words had been intentionally spoken so +loudly and with such emphasis as to be heard by all, and most of his +auditors were justly indignant. + +When the dragoon after Leo's departure went with a triumphant smile to +take his seat again beside his friend Count Waldheim, he was regarded +by his comrades with much disfavour, and expressions of their +displeasure reached his ears such as, "An insolent attack!" "An +entirely unjustifiable insult!" but he apparently cared little about +these utterances of opinion. Perfectly satisfied with his conduct, he +began to balance himself again comfortably on the hind legs of his +chair, and preserved his self-conceited smile even when Kuno von +Herwarth, without a word and with a glance of evident contempt, passed +by him to follow his friend. + +Count Waldheim however was far from sharing in his content; moving his +chair more closely to Bertram's side, he whispered, "What do you mean, +Bertram? You have got yourself into trouble, I am afraid, and, if you +will pardon the expression, you've committed a great folly." + +"Do you think so?" Bertram rejoined in as low a tone, twirling the ends +of his moustache. "I assure you I never committed an act of less folly +in my life, or one more entirely successful." + +"What! you were not carried away then by the impulse of the +moment?--you intentionally and designedly offered so deadly an insult +to Herr von Heydeck?" + +"Intentionally and designedly. I was not in the least irritated, but as +calm as ever I was in my life." + +"I understand you less than ever then. I am certainly not ignorant in +such matters, but I cannot conceive of provoking a mortal quarrel +without the slightest provocation. You know Heydeck's reputation as a +pistol-shot; he is famous for absolute certainty of aim and steadiness +of hand. Are you tired of life, Bertram?" + +"Not at all; it is in no danger from Herr von Heydeck," Bertram +replied, with the same serenity of manner. "Will you bet with me, +Count? I wager ten Friedrichs-d'or that Heydeck pockets my affront,--he +will not call me out. Eh?" + +"Impossible! You accused him of dishonourable conduct; he must resent +such an insult, and----" + +"Will you wager?" + +"If you choose; but you have lost already. In return I will act as your +second." + +"No need; Heydeck is too much of a coward to send me a challenge." + +"Heydeck a coward? You're dreaming, Bertram. Why, his thorough scorn of +danger got him the iron cross at Gravelotte. He is known throughout the +entire regiment for his cool courage in facing deadly peril. I know +what I am saying; one of my cousins serves in his battalion and is very +intimate with him." + +Bertram shook his head with a contemptuous smile. "I know him better: +we were at school together; I tell you he is a coward who will never +dare to call me out. You say he showed courage in the field? Bah! what +is courage in the field? Every plough-boy displays it. The coward +pushes on there because he is sure of a bullet through his brains if he +runs away. You will soon learn to your cost, as far as your purse is +concerned, that I am right, but even were I wrong, and he were really +to send me a challenge, I should perhaps be better pleased. Let me +explain, for I see you shake your head incredulously. I should be only +too glad to fight him if thereby I might succeed in gaining one word of +gratitude from the lovely Eva, and here I depend upon your friendly +services, Count." + +"Now I begin to comprehend," Waldheim said, in a tone of surprise; "but +the game you are playing, Bertram, is a dangerous one. Are you sure the +stakes are worth the winning thus? Fräulein Schommer to be sure is +handsome----" + +"Wonderfully handsome!" + +"And rich too, they say." + +"Two millions at least!" + +"Very fair; but remember, Bertram, Fräulein Schommer comes from a very +low grade of society. Her uncle, Balthasar Schommer, is a common fellow +who submits to his niece's petting and scolding like some favourite +puppy. I believe her father was a miner, and it is extremely doubtful +whether he could read or write his own name although he died the +possessor of rich mines and a millionaire. You ought to think twice, +Bertram, before you make up your mind to marry into such a connection." + +"But you visit at the Schommers', Count?" + +"Why not? The old fellow is common enough, but his wine, or rather the +fair Eva's, is capital; although really that makes very little +difference to me. All the world goes to the Schommers', and why should +not I follow its example? If I ever am tired of going there, I have but +to cease my visits and cut old Schommer when I meet him. Meanwhile I +like very well to talk and dance with the girl who is certainly very +lovely; but I never should dream of making her Countess Waldheim." + +"Nor should I perhaps, were I the wealthy Count Waldheim, but such +scruples are not for a poor Herr von Bertram whose debts are +considerably larger than his estate. That which you disdain I covet, +and I ask you for your assistance in obtaining it." + +"I really cannot see how I can be of assistance to you in so delicate +an affair." + +"Nevertheless you can. Let me be frank with you; I know you will not +abuse my confidence. You know Fräulein Eva,--you know how proud and +reserved she is. Between ourselves what Heydeck said of her was true +enough. I myself have often suffered from her pride. All my exertions, +the most delicate attentions to her that I could devise, have never +advanced me one step in her favour. I should long ago have relinquished +all pretension to it if she had not treated every one else--yourself, +Count, perhaps excepted--with the same coldness and hauteur which I +have experienced from her. She cannot be approached after any ordinary +fashion, but I hope that to-day I have found out a means of awakening +her interest. When she learns how slightingly Heydeck spoke of her, +that he was instantly called to account for his expression, and that I +was the champion who undertook to vindicate her honour, and defended +her at the peril of his life----" + +"You have just wagered that Heydeck would not challenge you; the peril +then is not so very great." + +"True, but she need not know that. The friend who tells her of the zeal +with which I undertook her defence might add for my sake that Heydeck +is famous as a perfect marksman, and that in case of a duel my life is +in the greatest danger." + +"And you ask me to be this friend?" + +"If you would so far oblige me, my dear Count, I should be forever +grateful to you. The charming Eva must take a deep interest in so +fearless a defender of her honour. She cannot treat him with the +cold formality which she accords to her other adorers. If once the ice +is broken, and the smallest opening made in her armour of cold +reserve,--if she admits me to the slightest degree of confidence, I +will take care of the rest. She is no woman if gratitude to her +champion is not at last metamorphosed into love. Will you help me, +Count?" + +"Hm,--the affair is not greatly to my taste," Count Waldheim slowly +answered; "but we have always been good comrades and I will not desert +you now; especially since I believe that you really stand in peril of +your life,--a peril foolishly incurred by yourself. I will call at the +Schommers' and see what I can do for you. She has just driven home, I +shall be admitted. Besides, I must leave you at all events. I confess I +am not comfortable here where every one is looking at us, and your name +is whispered at all the tables." + +"Very natural after what has passed." + +"But these whispers are by no means complimental to you, my dear +fellow; and in fact these comrades of ours are not far wrong in my +opinion. In your zeal to make yourself interesting to Fräulein Eva you +treated Heydeck badly." + +"Bah! he deserved nothing better." + +"I will not play your Mentor, but, I do not care to stay here and be +stared at any longer,--I am going. We shall meet at dinner at +the Casino, and I will report as to my visit at the Schommers'. +Good-morning." + +"I shall stay here for a while. _Au revoir_." + +And Herr von Bertram stayed, balancing himself as airily as before, and +gazing out upon the promenade, but nevertheless he was not quite +comfortable. He felt himself the object of universal observation; he +noticed that every fresh-comer--each officer who strolled into +Büchner's--was informed immediately in a low tone by some one of his +comrades of what had occurred. Among these new-comers were several of +his own intimates, but none of them, after hearing what there was to +tell, came near him or accorded his presence any acknowledgment save by +the most commonplace salutation. + +At last he rose, and walked through the rows of tables, bowing here and +there. He soon perceived how unanimous was the disapproval of his +comrades. His more intimate associates who had reason to expect that he +would address them evidently avoided him, and the other officers +returned his salutation in the coldest manner; some indeed turned away +and made as if they were so absorbed in conversation as not to notice +him. + +He bit his lip angrily and asked himself whether he had not a right to +demand an explanation of such conduct. Once when Baron Feldkirch of his +own regiment and his intimate acquaintance turned away with only the +salutation required in the service, he paused, half resolved to call +him to account, but he instantly reflected that it would only make +matters worse, and refrained. + +He hastily passed on, and felt wonderfully relieved when he reached the +open street; really he seemed to have been morally running the gauntlet +during the last few moments. + +Leo von Heydeck had only gone a few steps after leaving Büchner's when +he was joined by Lieutenant von Herwarth. The two young men walked on +together for a while in silence, each too busy in reflecting upon the +previous scene to care to continue their former conversation. + +Kuno von Herwarth was very angry; the unprovoked insult just offered to +his friend filled him with indignation against its author. He +remembered with much satisfaction the comments upon Bertram's conduct +which he had heard expressed upon all sides as he left the veranda, and +which were all indignantly condemnatory. Such a unanimous opinion on +the part of the corps of officers was very important. It made the +necessary consequences of the insult far less damaging to Leo than they +usually are in such cases to the insulted man. + +"Don't look so grave, Leo," Herwarth said at last "The affair is not so +black as you think; fortunately you are sure of your man. Give him a +distinct memento--a ball in the upper arm will do--and we shall +probably be able to hush up all talk of the duel, which would really be +best since the authorities are rather hard upon duelling just now. Of +course you will choose pistols? Wing the insolent fellow and have done +with him." + +Leo looked up at his friend as if awaking from a dream. "I cannot +answer you now," he replied. "I am not yet clear in my own mind. You +forget how often we have discussed this question. Must I bow now to a +prejudice against which I have hitherto contended with all my might? +Must I transgress the dictates of morality and my own profound +conviction and have recourse to arms to avenge words which, from the +lips of a scoundrel like Bertram, have really no power whatever to +injure me? You know my views with regard to duelling." + +"But you cannot rest calmly beneath such an insult," his friend +replied. "Remember, he accused you of dishonourable conduct, and he +would add, of cowardice, if you failed to demand satisfaction for the +insult! And what would your brother officers think of you?" + +"I know all you would say, Kuno," Leo replied, sadly. "I knew you would +reason thus, and that almost every one of my brother officers for whom +I have any real regard will agree with you. And this is just why it is +so difficult for me to come to a determination. I have a hard struggle +with myself to pass through,--give me time. Do not ask of me a decided +reply at once. This evening after I have taken counsel with myself you +shall have it, and I promise you that if I decide to bow to the +prejudice in favor of duelling you shall be my second." + +"If?" Herwarth cried, indignantly. "How can there be any 'if' in the +matter? Have you no blood in your veins? Mine boiled at that +'dishonourable,'--I could hardly keep myself from inflicting summary +chastisement upon the insolent fellow. And you to whom it was applied +can talk about an 'if' when the question is of the vindication of your +honour. Really, Leo, if I had not seen you in the field I might +misconceive you! And what will others, who do not know you as I do, +think of you? The mere thought of their calling you 'coward' makes me +furious! Make up your mind instantly, Leo! Do it for my sake! Upon my +life you owe it to me, for rely upon it I never will suffer mortal man +to call you coward, and in refusing to fight one duel yourself you'll +cause me to fight a dozen." + +"Coward!" How could the word fail of its effect upon Leo? His eyes +flashed, his cheek burned red to become pale the next instant, and for +a while he walked on beside his friend without a word. Then, when he +could command himself sufficiently to speak calmly, he said, "Your +words are harsh, Kuno, but I can forgive them for I know that you can +never think me a coward. Trust me, there is more courage required to +brave the condemnation of all who are dear to us than to use sword or +pistol. I do not yet know whether my courage now will stand me in +stead. I cannot yet decide what to do. Do not make the conflict with +myself in this matter harder for me than it is of necessity. If you +love me, Kuno, leave me for a while. Be sure I need all the powers of +my mind, all the strength that I possess, to come to a determination. +This evening you shall learn what that determination is." + +Leo paused, shook hands with his friend, and hastily turned and left +him. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +"Home!" + +This order came quite unexpectedly to the coachman. Fräulein Schommer +had already enumerated to him the various shops at which he was to +stop, and suddenly her plans were changed. Scarcely had the carriage +turned off the promenade into "Great Wilhelmstrasse" when she gave this +order, although she had not as yet purchased anything. + +The young lady held her parasol so closely before her face that it not +only shaded it but entirely concealed it; of course she did not +perceive the numerous bows and smiles of the acquaintances whom she +passed in her short drive home, but could resign herself undisturbed to +dreamy reflection. It was of no very pleasant description, as was plain +from the grave expression of her face, the defiant curl of her +beautiful lip, and the dark almost gloomy look of her black eyes. + +The carriage stopped before an elegant villa; the footman opened the +door of the barouche, but Eva stepped hastily from the vehicle, +scorning his proffered help, and hurried into the house, acknowledging +only by a haughty nod the respectful greeting of the porter who stood +in the hall. Neither did she deign to notice the footman, who followed +her awaiting orders up the broad carpeted marble staircase, until she +reached the landing, when she forbade him by an imperious wave of her +hand to follow her further, and opened a door leading into the interior +apartments of the villa. One of these she entered; it was a small room +elegantly and comfortably but by no means splendidly furnished, with +windows leading out into the garden. + +A young girl coquettishly dressed who was seated at her sewing, sprang +up as the young lady entered and hastened towards her. "You are +returned very soon, my lady!" she said, as she assisted her to lay +aside her hat and light summer wrap. + +"How often must I tell you, Nanette, that I detest that silly 'my +lady'?" + +The reproof was administered with tolerable severity, and was by no +means grateful to Nanette, as was shown by her look as she received it. +She had learned, however, to control herself. "I beg pardon, Fräulein," +she said, with a low courtesy; "I will try to remember, but 'my lady' +comes so naturally; and who has a better right to the title than such a +beautiful, rich lady as Fräulein Schommer?" + +"Hush!" Fräulein Schommer exclaimed, in an imperious tone. "I hate all +such speeches! If you really desire to remain in my service you must +remember once for all that I forbid all flattery as well as the title +'my lady.'" + +Nanette cast one more venomous glance at her mistress, and made a +deeper courtesy than before. The young lady, however, noticed neither +the one nor the other; she walked up to the mirror and repaired some +slight disorder in the arrangement of her magnificent black hair, +impatiently disdaining Nanette's proffered help as she asked, "Where is +Fräulein von Schlicht? In my room or in the garden?" + +"The Fräulein is on the veranda with her embroidery." + +At this reply Eva turned to her maid impatiently and asked sternly, +"Are you transgressing my orders intentionally, or do you not know that +I have especially requested that all the servants of my household shall +speak of Fräulein Aline von Schlicht as the 'Lady Aline'?" + +"I cannot possibly give a hired companion a higher title than my +mistress! I thought because----" + +"When I command you are not to think, but to obey," Eva interrupted the +girl; "and I require you to give Fräulein von Schlicht the title of +'Lady,' which belongs to her. Nor is Fräulein von Schlicht in my +service, as you appear to think; she is not my hired companion, but my +friend who does me the honour to reside with me, and as such you are to +respect her, and to obey her commands even more strictly than my own. +Any forgetfulness in this respect will be punished by immediate +dismissal from my service." + +Of course there was no answer to be made to all this: Eva would +have suffered none; she never noticed that Nanette's face grew +scarlet,--that an ugly expression of hatred disfigured the otherwise +pretty mouth,--nor that the maid's hand trembled as she opened the door +leading into the next room for her mistress to pass. Eva left the +apartment without even glancing at the girl. + +Nanette, as the door closed behind her mistress, clenched her little +fist and shook it menacingly, while her whole face showed the malice +that she felt. Suddenly her gaze fell upon the mirror, and she started +at the countenance reflected there. She stood before it and tried to +smile; at first in vain,--those hateful lines were too firmly fixed +about the mouth, but they must be banished. Nanette saw herself how +ugly they were, and what must be done she could do,--she was not +wanting in strength of will. + +After spending some time before the mirror, every trace of the +disfigurement which anger at the imperiously-administered reproof had +produced, vanished. She contemplated the reflection of her pretty face +and figure with immense self-satisfaction; she nodded pleasantly to +herself, and then stepping on tiptoe to the door leading to the next +room, opened it noiselessly a very little way so that through the chink +she could command a view of the apartment and of the veranda adjoining. + +She bestowed no attention whatever on the luxuriously furnished +drawing-room. It had interested her somewhat a few days before when she +had first entered Fräulein Schommer's service; she had then examined +admiringly the costly furniture and the splendid pictures upon the +walls, while a bitter feeling of envy of the possessor of all these +treasures had filled her soul. Since then she had dusted and arranged +them frequently and she no longer admired. Admiration had vanished, +envy still existed in full force. + +Nanette's attention was concentrated upon the veranda, upon which the +drawing-room opened by two tall glass folding-doors. Sitting there in +the thick shade of a leafy climbing vine was a young lady, her hands +for the moment resting idly upon some embroidery in her lap. Her back +was towards Nanette so the girl could not see her face, and the +distance was too great to allow of her understanding what she +said,--the low voice reached the listener's ears only as a gentle +murmur. + +Beside this young lady Eva was sitting on a garden-chair. She too was +gazing abroad into the garden with her back towards the maid. She spoke +also in her turn but in so low a tone that not one syllable could be +distinguished by the listener. In vain did she strain her ears: she so +longed to overhear what the ladies were talking about, but she soon +found that this would be impossible unless she could contrive to slip +into the drawing-room and conceal herself in the embrasure of one of +the windows. + +She could not lose so delightful an opportunity of learning from the +intimate conversation of the two friends what could have put Fräulein +Schommer into such an ill humour to-day, and her resolution was soon +taken. Cautiously opening the door a little wider she entered the +drawing-room and had just noiselessly advanced to the centre of the +apartment when Fräulein Eva suddenly turned round and flashed a look of +indignant surprise upon the detected eavesdropper, who stopped short +reddening with mortification, and uncertain whether to advance or +withdraw. + +"What do you want there?" + +This question, conveying reproof not in words but in manner, restored +to Nanette all her wonted self-sufficiency. She quietly stepped out on +the veranda before replying, and then said, "I heard you call, Fräulein +Schommer. What are your orders?" + +Eva was not misled by this reply. The maid's sudden confusion had +betrayed her, and she easily guessed for what she had been slipping so +noiselessly into the drawing-room. With undisguised contempt in her +look she said sternly, "That is a falsehood! You know that I never +call,--that I always ring for you when I have any orders to give. You +were listening!" + +"Oh Fräulein Schommer what an accusation to make! I assure you----" + +"Hush! Not a word! I will not be contradicted! Your colour your +confusion betrayed you. I will let it pass this time, but if ever again +I find you listening I shall dismiss you instantly!" + +"But, Eva dear, do not be so hard," her companion interposed. "What +possible temptation could Nanette have to listen to our conversation? +You are wronging her!" + +"Heaven knows I never wanted to listen!" Nanette cried, in an injured +tone. "I thought Fräulein Schommer called,--indeed, indeed, that was +why I came! I never listened in my life, and I would rather cut my +tongue out than tell a falsehood. I do not deserve to be accused of +such things! I am perfectly innocent, and it hurts my feelings very +much to have Fräulein Schommer suspect me so." + +Nanette put her handkerchief to her eyes, and from behind it came +inarticulate sounds that were really a creditable imitation of +suppressed sobbing, but her clever acting failed to impose upon her +mistress. Eva was not easily shaken in her convictions, and least of +all could Nanette's theatrical asseverations move her. + +"I will not hear another word!" she said as sternly as before. "You +know now what you have to expect if you are ever found listening again. +Go to your sewing, and if I want you I will ring for you!" + +This command was so imperative that Nanette did not venture another +word in self-defence,--a very successful sob was her only reply. While +she was passing through the drawing-room she kept her handkerchief up +to her eyes, but once more alone, with the door closed behind her, she +tossed it aside and for a few minutes gave herself up to the envious +rage that possessed her. When she had grown quite calm once more, and +had, by a glance into the mirror, assured herself that her pretty face +retained no trace of her agitation, she left the little room, leaving +the door open that she might hear any summons from the veranda, and +went into the hall. + +Here she found the footman who had attended his mistress during her +drive pacing slowly to and fro; he was a fine-looking young fellow, +with a fresh good-humoured face; his handsome livery became him +excellently well. + +Nanette gave him her friendliest smile. "Good-morning, Wilhelm," she +whispered, evidently pleased. He returned her greeting with undisguised +admiration in look and tone. + +"Don't speak so loud, Wilhelm. Fräulein Schommer need not overhear us +if I like to talk a little with you." + +"Would you like to talk a little with me, Nanette? That's kindly of you +now. I thought you never meant to take notice of me; you've hardly said +one word to me in the three days since you came, and when I was so glad +that we were going to have the same mistress." + +"What else could I do? Haven't I to sit in that little den all day long +just listening for Fräulein Schommer's bell? A pretty fuss she would +make if I chanced not to hear it!" + +"Come now Nanette, she is not so bad as you think,--a little strict +perhaps,--but mind your orders and you never hear a hard word from +her." + +"She's a fiend! a Zantuppy!" Nanette rejoined, pettishly. + +"A Zantuppy?" Wilhelm asked, astonished. "What is a Zantuppy?" + +Nanette regarded the ignorant fellow with condescending compassion. +"You have had no education, Wilhelm!" she said. "Every one who knows +anything calls every scolding woman a Zantuppy. I'd Zantuppy her if I +could with her proud and haughty airs treating us as if we were the +dirt under her feet!" + +Here she suddenly recollected how her anger disfigured her, and +compelling her features to a smile that contrasted strangely with her +words, she went on: "And to-day she's bristling like a porkypine; first +she scolded me for saying 'my lady' to her, and then for not saying it +to the stupid companion." + +"But that's nothing, Nanette; she doesn't like to be called my lady; +and if she wants us to bow and scrape to the lady Aline von Schlicht, +'tis easy done,--and the place is a good one. I've lived in the first +families; but such meals, and such perquisites! Rely upon it, Nanette, +you'll like it and thank me yet for helping to get you here. If +Fräulein Schommer gets out of bed the wrong side now and then never +mind it,--she's the right stuff at heart. She is a little out of sorts +to-day. I saw that when she so suddenly gave orders to drive home, +although she had not been to a single shop." + +"She is in a bad humour then? I knew it; she flew at me as if she would +eat me. What went amiss? Did anything vex her on the drive?" + +"Not that I know of. We had scarcely driven through the promenade when +she suddenly called out, 'Home!'" + +"Something's wrong. Perhaps she's in love. Did you meet any one who did +not seem pleased enough to see her?" + +"What queer ideas you have, Nanette! She never thinks of such +things,--never looks at a man. With all her millions she's twenty-two +and unmarried. She might furnish a worsted-shop with all the mittens +she's given the men, if she could collect them." + +"Of course any one as rich as she can give as many mittens as she +chooses; there are always men enough to hanker after money, but there +are some who don't care for it." + +"And that's true enough, Nanette," Wilhelm replied, with a grin. "Now +here am I, who never think of money when I see such a pretty face as +yours." + +Nanette rewarded the compliment with her best smile. "But then you're +different from most of these grand gentlemen. Still, some have ideas of +their own. Now there's Count Waldheim, whom I used to see every day +when I lived with the Privy Councillor's lady, Frau von Sturmhaupt. +This princess of ours might throw her millions at his feet and he +wouldn't stoop to pick them up. All the money in the world wouldn't +persuade him to look at any one who had not a 'von' to her name." + +"You're out there, Nanette. Count Waldheim comes here often, and likes +our Fräulein extremely well. It is 'charming Fräulein Schommer,' and +'lovely Fräulein Schommer,' and she treats him better than any of the +young men who come here." + +"Count Waldheim visits here?" Nanette asked, in surprise. "Well, I +wouldn't have thought it;--and our princess likes him? I'll lay my head +she's in love with him, and he wouldn't have her if she had shovelfuls +of money. I bet you she met him to-day when she was out driving, and he +never bowed to her." + +"Out again, Nanette! We didn't meet him, but we saw him; he was sitting +at Büchner's under the awning with Herr von Bertram, the nephew of your +old mistress, Frau von Sturmhaupt, and he bowed so low that he almost +bumped his nose against the bar of the balustrade. Fräulein Eva has no +heart-ache for him, nor for any of the rest of them; they all bow when +she drives past, as if she were a princess. Only one man sat still and +read the newspaper without looking at us; but he does not visit here, +and I don't think our Fräulein knows him." + +"Indeed! Who was he?" + +"Lieutenant von Heydeck of the infantry. Why should our Fräulein look +at the infantry when she can have cavalrymen by the dozens?" + +"That's just why she doesn't care for them. 'Tis sure to be Herr von +Heydeck whom she's vexed about. I don't know him. Is he handsome?" + +"I don't know; he looks like all the other infantry fellows. I never +trouble my head about him. What does it all concern us?" + +"It is just what does concern us!" Nanette replied, peevishly. "I'll +find out all my fine lady's tricks and teach her who I am! I tell you, +Wilhelm, we can do what we please with our masters and mistresses if we +only can find out their secrets; and to do that we must keep our eyes +and ears open and help each other, for what one doesn't see the other +may. So you must tell me everything that you learn, in or out of the +house, Wilhelm, and I'll put this and that together." + +Nanette's proposition did not appear to find much favour with Wilhelm. + +"I'll tell you what, Nanette," he said. "I'd like nothing better than +to please you, but you'd better leave me out of this. I've no fancy for +spying on my mistress. I do my work and no more bother." + +"But if I were to beg you, dear Wilhelm?" Nanette asked, tenderly +laying her hand upon his shoulder and looking sweetly into his +face,--indeed, she was extremely pretty. "If I were to promise you a +kiss," she continued, "would you refuse to do what I ask?" + +The bribe was so seductive that honest Wilhelm's principles were hardly +strong enough to withstand the maid's request, coming as it did from +lips so rosy and inviting. Her cause was half won when he asked, with +some hesitation, "But what do you want me to do?" + +"Nothing wrong, Wilhelm dear," the girl hastily answered; "nothing +wrong. I wouldn't ask it of you, but really we poor servants must stand +by each other if we wouldn't be trodden down into the very dirt. Is it +wrong in us to use the eyes and ears that God gave us? We are human +beings, and ought to know all that is going on around us. Keep your +eyes open when you drive out with our Fräulein, and never forget who +meets or speaks to her. And when you are waiting at table you can pick +up many a bit of information,--you must tell me what they talk about. +That's no wrong: you tell no one's secrets. If you'll only do this, +Wilhelm dear, I'll like you so much, and give you a kiss, or perhaps +two, for every piece of news you bring me. You shall have one now if +you'll promise to do as I say." + +The temptation was too great. Wilhelm could not resist. He gave a +prompt "yes," and for his reward took not one but a dozen kisses. +Nanette seeming nothing loth, he might have gone on receiving +prepayment for his services had he not been startled by a loud +exclamation behind him, followed by the words, in most distinct Saxon +German,-- + +"By Jove! Deuce take the fellow! A pretty household this! and in broad +daylight, too!" + +The speaker was an elderly gentleman, dressed with extreme elegance, +who had been contemplating the embrace from the staircase-landing, his +fine Panama hat on his head, and his hands resting upon his gold-headed +cane. He continued to observe the couple with a good-humoured smile, as +they stood as if spell-bound in dismay. + +When, however, Wilhelm had sufficiently recovered himself to recognize +the elderly spectator, he looked much relieved. "Don't be frightened, +Nanette," he whispered; "'tis only our Fräulein's Uncle Balthasar. You +won't tell of us, Herr Schommer? 'An honest kiss ne'er comes amiss.'" + +Herr Balthasar took the request in very good part, made though it was +rather familiarly than respectfully. He nodded good-humouredly to +Wilhelm, pinched Nanette's blooming cheek, and smiled broadly. "_A_ +kiss," he said,--"a kiss, to be sure, is all very well, but you took a +dozen, you deuce of a fellow. If I should tell my wife or my niece +you're both done for." + +Wilhelm seemed little disturbed by the threat. "You wouldn't be so hard +on us, Herr Schommer," he said; and his security was fully justified by +the good nature that characterized this uncle of his mistress. + +Herr Balthasar Schommer was a personification of good humour. It beamed +pure and unadulterated from his small gray eyes, it was distinctly +stamped on the broad smile of his large mouth. Whoever had once seen +Herr Balthasar knew that he could rely with certainty upon his thorough +goodness of heart. There was no guile in the man; his round face was +the mirror of his character. Try as the old gentleman would by twirling +the ends of his gray moustache straight into the air to give himself a +stern, martial air, no one was ever deceived by it. + +"I'll let you off this once, deuce take you!" he said, vainly +endeavouring to make his words sound stern and dignified; "but another +time take care. And you too, you little minx," he went on, turning to +Nanette; "for I can tell you that if my niece had seen you--ah, by +Jove!" + +Again he pinched the girl's cheek, then laughed heartily, and tapped +Wilhelm on the shoulder with his cane. Then with a farewell nod he went +into the drawing-room to find his niece. + +"Won't he tell?" Nanette whispered anxiously as the door closed behind +him. + +"Never!" Wilhelm replied in a tone of firm conviction. "Herr Balthasar +wouldn't for the world do an unkind thing by any one. Oh, he's a +splendid old gentleman!" + +"He's a foolish old fop!" Nanette rejoined, saucily; "looking at me so +and pinching my cheek. It's my belief he'd have liked a kiss himself." + +"Well, you might have given him one, Nanette; I wouldn't have been +jealous." + +Nanette's face grew dark, and she would have made some cutting +rejoinder, but she bethought herself in time that it behooved her to +keep Wilhelm in good humour, so she contented herself with saying, +"Thank you kindly for your permission, which I shall not need, however. +The vain old fool! He looks like a bedizened monkey in his light summer +costume. You can see with half an eye that he once weighed out sugar +and sold molasses. He can't hide that for all the big diamond in his +shirt-front. And then such language! 'Bai Chove!' and 'teuce of a +vellow!' at every third word. It is scandalous that a girl who has +always lived in the best families should have taken service with such +riff-raff!" + +In her zeal and irritation she had quite forgotten her resolution +always to be amiable when Wilhelm was by; one glance into his honest +face reminded her of this, and she forthwith controlled herself. None +too soon, however; for Wilhelm had just made the discovery that pretty +Nanette could be very cross and look almost ugly. + +"I don't know what you mean, Nanette," he said, with much less warmth. +"What has the good old man done to you? He is so good-hearted that I +should think no one could be angry with him." + +"I am not angry with him," Nanette answered, aware that she had made a +blunder, and anxious to repair it if possible. "I see he is a very +good-humoured old man; but when a girl has lived in the first families, +it is very difficult for her to become accustomed to low-bred manners. +If you were not here, Wilhelm, I could not stand it three days longer; +but for your sake I will stay, if you will keep your promise to me. We +have talked enough now, and I must go to my sewing, or Fräulein Eva +will know where I have been." + +She kissed the tips of her fingers to Wilhelm, whose irritation she had +thus quickly appeased, and returning to the small room adjoining the +drawing-room seated herself by the window and took up the sewing which +she had put down upon Fräulein Schommer's return from driving. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +"You really are too severe with poor Nanette," Fräulein Aline von +Schlicht said to the young heiress. + +Eva Schommer was conscious that there was justice in her friend's +reproof. Her impulsive temperament often led her to make use of hasty +expressions which she regretted afterwards, especially if she had been +actuated by anger, and she frequently seemed to show an insensibility +to the feelings of others which was by no means part of her character. +When she was irritated she would rebuke any omission of duty upon the +part of her servants with an undeserved severity, and she admitted to +herself that this had just been the case with Nanette. She had reproved +the girl upon mere suspicion as sharply as if the fault had been +proven. She was vexed with herself for her hastiness, but the dislike +with which Nanette's whole conduct had inspired her, and her conviction +that the girl had actually tried to play the part of eavesdropper, were +by no means weakened. + +"You are right, Aline," she said, sadly; "I am ashamed of myself, but I +could not help it. The girl is so odious to me that I cannot conceive +how I came to take her into my service. I really think it would be best +to give her a quarter's or even a half-year's wages, and dismiss her." + +"Do not be unjust, Eva. Has she given you any good reason to send her +away? Have you any right to break the contract which you tacitly +concluded with her when you engaged her as your maid?" + +"But I will not break it. I will indemnify her duly." + +"With money? Can it be done? If you send her away after three days in +your service, will it not be thought that she has been guilty of great +misconduct, perhaps even of dishonesty? Can money repair the harm done +to the girls reputation? How often you have told me how you despise the +wretched dross, and yet you propose to atone with money for the wrong +you will do poor Nanette by suddenly dismissing her from your service +without reason!" + +"I will not do it, my dear, good Aline!" Eva cried, kissing her friend +tenderly. "You are my good angel," she continued; "you are always +right; I see how unjust I should be. I was wrong to take the girl into +my service simply upon Frau von Sturmhaupt's recommendation and +Wilhelm's request, when, in spite of her pretty face and figure, I was +not at all prepossessed by her, but now that I have made the mistake I +must bide by the consequences. I should have trusted my first +impressions and not taken her into the house. My dislike to her, which +increases daily, may easily make me unjust to her. Her affected smile, +her hypocritical humility, and her whole manner, indeed, confirm my +want of confidence in her. I do not believe her even when she is +telling the truth. I suspect her always of some sly ulterior motive in +all she says." + +"Are you not unjust again, Eva dear? You are prejudiced against the +girl, and see faults in her which I fail to discover. To me she seems +amiable and willing. I have not known her to tell a falsehood. She is +neat, capable, and industrious, pleasant in her manner, and in short, +so far as I can judge from the few days she has been in your service, +she possesses all the qualities of an excellent lady's-maid. That she +is honest and trustworthy is proved by the excellent character she +brought you from Frau von Sturmhaupt, with whom she lived several +years." + +"Why did she leave if Frau von Sturmhaupt was satisfied with her?" + +"Nanette told you herself that as she has an old mother dependent upon +her, she was obliged to ask higher wages than Frau von Sturmhaupt--who +is by no means wealthy--felt herself justified in giving. I cannot see +that we have any reason to doubt the truth of this explanation. Is it +not natural that a poor girl should try to improve her condition?" + +"I cannot argue the matter, Aline. All that you say is perfectly +correct, and nevertheless something that I can neither explain nor +contend with convinces me that Nanette is false, that her amiability is +hypocrisy, and that she returns with interest my dislike. I know she +hates me, and that she will show me that she does so as soon as she has +the opportunity." + +"You will not allow such a vague 'something' to influence you?" + +"No, Aline; I will follow your advice. I will try to conquer my +prejudice--for I confess that my dislike of Nanette is prejudice--but I +cannot promise more. I will not testify towards her the dislike with +which she inspires me, but I cannot command my confidence, and I cannot +pretend to show her any." + +"She has no right at present to ask that you should. Your confidence in +her must be the result of faithful performance of her duties; and I +hope she will succeed in winning it, for you are too dear and good not +to resign a prejudice as soon as you know that it is unjust." + +"I will try, my darling Aline," said Eva, taking her friend's hand and +tenderly kissing it, "I will try, and perhaps I shall succeed since you +are with me, for you are, as I said, my good angel. When I look into +your kind, loving eyes, and hear your gentle words, I think I can be +better; my wild, impulsive nature grows calm. I am not dear and good, +as you call me, Aline. I know I am not, but I want to be so. When I see +your heavenly gentleness and repose, I feel how hateful are my hasty +judgments, my sharp hard words, my unfeminine obstinacy. I long to be +like you, but I cannot; I forget all my good resolutions as soon as I +am provoked. I know how odious this is, and, when I think of it, I +cannot conceive how you, who are so infinitely better and gentler than +I, can love me. Oh, if I could only be like you!" + +Aline returned her friend's kiss, and said, with a smile, "Who would +believe that the charming Eva could be guilty of such folly, that the +proud beauty whom all adore could wish to resemble poor insignificant +me, whom no one cares for except the friend whose affection blinds her? +No, stay as you are, dear, for as you are you conquer every heart." + +The lovely, gentle smile that had transfigured Eva's face as she had +caressed her friend vanished at Aline's last words, her dark eyes +flashed, and the lines about her mouth grew hard. "Yes," she said, +bitterly, "as I am I conquer the hearts of all the men who have set +their hearts on my wretched millions, the most unfortunate inheritance +which my good father could have bequeathed to me. He never dreamed, +while he laboured night and day to give wealth to his darling child, +that this miserable money would be the curse of her existence, +poisoning her very soul!" + +Aline looked at her, with a smile. "If your wealth is your greatest +misfortune," she said, gayly, "I am afraid you will find but little +sympathy for it among your heartless fellow-mortals, and that you will +be obliged to learn to endure with stoicism the burden of your +millions." + +"You too, Aline!" Eva cried, reproachfully. "Can you consider wealth a +blessing? I know perfectly well that others envy me, but if they +dreamed what misery this wretched money has brought me, how it daily +embitters every enjoyment of life, filling my mind with distrust and +suspicion, making me despise those about me, they would give me pity +instead of envy. Wherever I go I am received with delight and loaded +with courtesies. I? No, my millions! I represent to these sordid souls +their idol,--wealth. I am nothing to them but the heiress, and as such +beautiful, lovely, talented, fêted and caressed wherever I go. Have I +not known this from my earliest childhood? Gray-headed servants cringed +and yielded to every wish of the spoiled wayward child, finding all +that she did charming and attractive because she was an heiress. Can I +be happy in kindness shown not to me but to my money? As soon as I +appear in society all the men vie with each other in doing me homage. +One flatters me, another exerts all his wit to entertain me, a third +sighs and languishes at my feet,--and it is all a lie, all wretched +hypocrisy! These very men who flatter and woo me would never accord me +a moment's notice if I were poor. Oh it is hard to be obliged to repeat +over and over to one's self, 'You yourself are nothing; these wretches +adore your millions, not you!' What do they care although I treat them +with the greatest arrogance and contempt? I am rich, and all I say and +do is charming, and would be although I united in my one character +every possible vice. I despise them and show them that I do so, and +they adore me! They sue for my hand and not one thinks whether I can be +a faithful, loving wife. I bring the man whom I marry millions, and who +cares whether a heart accompanies them? The more persistently they pay +court to me the more I am humiliated in my own eyes, the more +thoroughly I hate these miserable, sordid men! Yes, I hate them so +thoroughly that even that vain aristocrat, Count Waldheim, and that +_blasé_ fop, Paul Delmar, seem delightful to me, only because I know +that they never think of marrying me; they at least are not to be +bought with my money. Waldheim's pride of birth protects him from such +degradation, and Delmar is richer than I; he wants none of my fortune." + +"Poor child!" Aline said, sadly. + +"Yes, you are right now!" Eva continued, with emotion. "I am poor, +terribly poor; in the midst of my wealth I am destitute of everything +that constitutes happiness. It is a sad fate, indeed, never to be loved +for one's self alone!" + +"Never, Eva?" Aline asked, reproachfully. "Do you mistrust me?" + +"No, never!" the girl cried. "You and dear old Uncle Balthasar are the +only people in the whole world whom I really love and trust with my +whole heart,--you two, and perhaps Aunt Minni, who, I think, gives me +as much affection as she can spare from her lap-dog Azor. If it were +not for you I should be desperate indeed in this cold heartless sordid +world!" + +"Because you see the world much more cold heartless and sordid than it +really is,--because you regard men with a suspicion that they do not +deserve. I cannot comprehend how you can be so mistaken as to believe +that every one who comes near you to show you kindness or preference +thinks only of your fortune,--that every man who wooes you desires your +money only. Look in your mirror, and if you are not blind it must tell +you that your beauty----" + +"Not another word, Aline! You argue against yourself. Is all their +homage paid to my beauty? Why, this is almost worse than if it were +paid to my wealth. How can beauty without mind and heart attract any +man of genuine worth? Because they all praise my beauty I despise them +the more. Has one of the crowd about me ever had an opportunity of +discovering whether I possess either heart or intellect? I scarcely +reply to their flatteries; I treat them with the cold contempt that +they merit, but they cringe all the more. Remember that fête at +Schönsee. I was in the worst of humours, and intentionally as +disagreeable as possible; you, on the contrary, were as charming, as +lovely, as--well, as you always are. You are much handsomer than I." + +"But, Eva----!" + +"Let me finish. You have brought this on yourself. I know that I am not +ill-looking, but I am not so conceited as to compare myself with you. +And that day you looked so lovely that I was positively enchanted with +you. The air had deepened the colour on your cheeks, your glorious blue +eyes were sparkling with pleasure, and as the wind played among the +golden curls on your forehead you looked like some angel just flown +down from heaven." + +"Oh, Eva, Eva!" + +"I will not be silenced; you shall hear me out. You were so lovely and +so gay, you talked so charmingly that all the women envied me for +having such a friend. And the men? they crowded about me, unamiable, +silent, repellant as I was, and neglected you who were all loveliness. +But no; now I recollect. Lieutenant von Herwarth did not neglect you; +but he was the only one who bestowed upon me no more than a due share +of attention, and therefore I liked him better than all the others." + +Aline's cheeks flushed crimson at this mention of Lieutenant von +Herwarth, and Eva laughed merrily. But it was her turn to blush when +Aline, recovering from her embarrassment, said, "Herr von Heydeck +certainly paid you no especial attention,--he and Herwarth make two; so +you see all the men do not deserve your censure." + +"I will except Herwarth for your sake!" Eva replied, gayly. + +"And Herr von Heydeck?" + +"I know him too slightly. I suppose he would have been like all the +rest, but I scarcely spoke to him when Uncle Balthasar presented him." + +"And he took it very ill of you, my dear," said a deep voice behind the +two girls. + +It was Uncle Balthasar who thus interrupted them; he had come through +the drawing-room without being perceived by the two friends, whose +faces were turned towards the garden, and he now stepped out upon the +veranda. Nodding pleasantly to his niece and raising his straw hat to +her friend, he drew a chair up to the table at which they were sitting +and took his place beside them. + +Uncle Balthasar was conscious of the possession of an important and +interesting piece of news, and he comported himself accordingly. He did +all that he could to assume a grave and dignified expression, +succeeding but ill however, for the good-humoured smile would not +resign its wonted place upon his face and shone through his affected +gravity. He twirled his moustache until the two ends pointed directly +upwards, then folded his arms and cast down his eyes reflectively, +never stooping to pick up his gold-headed cane, usually his favourite +toy, when it fell on the floor at his feet. + +The two girls exchanged a smiling glance of mutual understanding; they +knew Uncle Balthasar, and that he was longing to impart to them some +fresh piece of gossip. + +Eva, always ready to please him, opened the way for him by a question: +"You come from the city, uncle? Is there any news? You look so solemnly +important that we are dying of curiosity." + +Uncle Balthasar gave his moustache a fresh twirl and nodded with +exceeding gravity. "There is bad news," he said, slowly and seriously; +"yes, yes, my dear, very bad news, I can assure you. The thing occurred +as I tell you. I had just drunk my usual can, and was sauntering home, +when I met Count Waldheim, or rather he overtook me and tapped me on +the shoulder. 'Good-morning, Herr Balthasar,' said he. 'Count, your +most obedient servant,' said I. 'How is your niece to-day?' said he. +'Thanks for your kind inquiry; she is very well,' said I. And we went +on talking most sociably." + +Here he paused and looked thoughtfully at the mosaic top of the table +before him, pondering how to convey his news to his listeners in the +most impressive manner. + +But Eva misunderstood him; she thought he had finished, and she said, +laughing, "And is this your bad news, uncle?" + +Uncle Balthasar was quite offended by his niece's tone and words, and +gave vent to this feeling with all the sharpness in voice and manner of +which he was capable,--"I take your sneer extremely ill, my dear. I +take the greatest pains to consider how best to spare your feelings in +telling you what Count Waldheim has just told me of Herr von Heydeck, +and you sneer at me. My dear, you are wrong, very wrong." + +The merry smile vanished from Eva's face at her uncle's mention of the +name of Heydeck; she blushed and looked up at him eagerly. "Don't be +angry with me, uncle dear," she begged, "I did not mean to offend you. +Pray go on." + +"I am not angry," the kindly old man declared, "but you have quite put +me out. I wanted to spare your feelings, and now I really do not know +how to begin." + +"Spare my feelings? Has any misfortune occurred?" Eva asked, anxiously. +"But no, that is impossible! I saw Herr von Heydeck hardly half an hour +ago, under Büchner's awning." + +"Just so; it was at Büchner's that the affair took place. One of them +will of course be killed; probably Herr von Bertram, for Herr von +Heydeck is sure of his man at a hundred paces." + +"For God's sake what has happened? I pray you do not keep me in +suspense!" + +"Why you see, Eva my dear, I don't know very well myself. I only know +what Count Waldheim told me. He was there when Herr von Heydeck, under +Büchner's awning, abused you, and Herr von Bertram would not permit it; +and so they both went at it. The Count says there must be a duel, for +Herr von Bertram flew into such a rage that Herr von Heydeck must +challenge him and shoot him of course. But Herr von Bertram won't mind +giving his life for you in the least. That's what the Count said; and +he was coming to tell you all about it, but meeting me, he said I would +do just as well. He would send Herr von Bertram himself, who could tell +you everything. And that's all I know about it." + +And Uncle Balthasar, leaning back in his chair with an air of immense +satisfaction, picked up his cane, and lightly tapped with it his patent +leather boot-tips. + +Eva had listened eagerly to all he had to say, growing alternately red +and pale the while. When she heard that Herr von Heydeck had spoken ill +of her, her black eyes flashed and her cheeks burned with +mortification; when she heard that Bertram had been her champion, she +grew pale. That he--he whom of all her numerous admirers she most +hated--should have undertaken her defence, and against Heydeck! Her +heart beat violently: a mist came before her eyes; she sank back half +fainting into the arms of Aline, who kissed her brow tenderly and +compassionately. + +Uncle Balthasar, seeing the effect his narrative had produced upon his +niece, started to his feet. "Eva my dear girl, what is the matter?" he +cried, frightened out of his wits. "The doctor! where is the doctor? +Where is the bell? Send Wilhelm for the doctor!" + +In the wildest distress he ran hither and thither, perfectly uncertain +what to do; but his anxiety soon ceased, for Eva quickly recovered +herself and arose. "Compose yourself, uncle," she said, gently, "I am +not ill; the fright overcame me for a moment, but I need no physician. +I am quite strong again and ready for what must be done! This duel must +not take place!" She took from the table before her a little silver +bell and rang it violently. + +"What are you going to do?" Aline asked, with anxiety. + +"I do not know just yet; I only know that a duel must be +prevented,--prevented at all hazards." + +Nanette instantly obeyed her mistresses summons, and was devoured with +curiosity at sight of Eva's pale face and flashing eyes, although she +received her orders without any sign of interest. "Send Wilhelm," Eva +said, "to Lieutenant von Bertram. If he does not find him at home, let +him go after him, wherever he is, and beg him to come to me as quickly +as possible. I will await him here on the veranda." + +"But, Eva, you must not do this," Aline interposed. "What will Herr von +Bertram think of such an invitation?" + +"What are conventional forms to me when two human lives are at stake? +No, Aline, I shall follow the dictates of duty; nothing that you can +say will shake my resolution. Dearly as I love to follow your advice, I +cannot do so now. What are you waiting for, Nanette? Do you not +understand my orders?" + +"I thought perhaps the Lady Aline----" + +Eva was about to give vent to the irritation caused her by these words, +but she remembered in time her late conversation with Aline, and she +merely said, in a gentler tone than she was used to employ towards +Nanette, "I wish Wilhelm to request Herr von Bertram to come to me as +soon as possible. Make haste and carry him my orders. Go!" + +Then, when Nanette had left the veranda, she turned to Uncle Balthasar: +"Will you do me a favour, uncle dear?" + +"A thousand if you will, my darling. You know I do everything that you +wish," Uncle Balthasar hastened to assure her. + +"Then pray go to Count Waldheim. I am afraid Wilhelm will not find Herr +von Bertram, but Count Waldheim will surely know where he is. I must +see Herr von Bertram. Bring him to me, there's a dear good uncle!" + +"You shall have him, my pet, you shall have him! I'll bring him to you, +be sure, my poor little darling! I know where to find him. Count +Waldheim told me he was to dine with him at the Casino. You shall have +him; I'll bring him." + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +With feverish impatience Eva awaited the arrival of Lieutenant von +Bertram, an impatience all the more intense from her inability to +hasten his visit, accustomed though she were to an instant fulfilment +of her every wish. + +Eva was one of fortune's spoiled darlings; her father, who from being a +common day-labourer had become the possessor of mines and millions, +cherished an idolatrous affection for his daughter. Was she not an only +child, the very image of the wife whom he had wooed for very many years +only to have her snatched from him by death after one short year of +marriage? + +Karl Schommer was universally held to be a hard, cold, stern man, +capable of only one passion--avarice. One woman, she to whom he had +given his whole heart, knew what he really was. For her sake, to win +for his wife the daughter of his wealthy, purse-proud employer, +Schommer had laboured with superhuman energy, and embarked his first +accumulated earnings in speculation. Everything that he attempted +succeeded. He won wealth, and with wealth the woman whom he loved. Her +death was a terrible blow; it would have crushed him had he not been +sustained by a sense of duty. He had a sacred charge to fulfil in care +for the little motherless daughter whom his dying wife had put into his +arms with her last loving smile. + +To little Eva he henceforth devoted himself with all the unselfish +tenderness which he had shown to his early-lost wife. For her he +continued to labour with the same restless energy and with the same +success as heretofore. The child needed a woman's care; the anxious +father would not entrust it to a hired nurse, but he bethought himself +of his sister-in-law, the wife of his brother Balthasar, and he begged +her to take charge of his motherless little one. + +It was no easy matter for Aunt Minni to make up her mind to leave +beautiful Dresden, where she kept a thriving haberdasher's shop; but +persuaded thereto by her kindly husband, who loved his brother dearly, +she did leave it and undertake to preside over her brother-in-law's +household and to take charge of little Eva. + +Karl Schommer could not have provided better for his child's physical +welfare than by summoning his sister-in-law to his aid. Never was there +a more devoted aunt and nurse, and she was rewarded by seeing her +charge develop into a strong, healthy child. + +It was decidedly questionable however whether Aunt Minni's capacity for +undertaking Eva's mental culture were equally good; but of this Karl +Schommer thought not at all. His own education was very defective; it +never troubled him that his brother and his brother's wife were alike +uncultivated; it was enough for him that they loved his child almost as +tenderly as he did himself. + +There could hardly have been worse training for a child than that under +which the little Eva grew up, and but for her admirable natural +endowments of disposition and intellect, she must have been entirely +ruined by the constant and injudicious indulgence with which she was +treated. + +She was still very young when her father died; her home-education was +after this neither better nor worse than it had been before. She +tyrannized over the entire household, over her teachers and +schoolmates. Only one of these last would not bend before her: this was +Aline, her present companion. + +Aline was quite as clever as Eva; they were rivals for first honours in +school and out. Out of this rivalry there grew a friendship between +them that ended only with their lives. Aline was the daughter of a man +of rank, who occupied a high position under government, but who was +dependent upon his official salary for the means to support an +extremely expensive family. He died suddenly, and there was no course +open for his daughter but to turn her talents to account in earning her +own living. + +No sooner did Eva hear of her friend's misfortune than she sought her +out, and did not relax her entreaties and persuasions until the poor +orphan had agreed to live with her, occupying the position of a dear +sister. + +Since the day when Aline had obeyed the call of the young heiress and +dwelt beneath her roof a new existence had begun for Eva. She gladly +resigned herself to the guidance of her wiser and better-disciplined +friend, whom she often called her good angel, and to whom she clung +with intense affection. + +To-day for the first time she had refused to listen to her friend; but +for the first time also her heart had made itself heard. Were not two +human lives at stake? While she waited she passed in review in her +memory all her past intercourse with Bertram and Heydeck, she recalled +every word spoken to her by either. + +She had frequently met Bertram in society; his aunt, Madame von +Sturmhaupt, never omitted to invite Eva to every entertainment, large +or small, which she gave. The old lady appeared exceedingly fond of the +young heiress, whom she heaped with attentions; for Eva's sake she +often endured hours of ennui with Aunt Minni, upon whom she called at +least once a week. But for the most part she arranged these visits so +as to find Eva at home, and then Aunt Minni's taciturnity served her +turn well, for she could dwell without interruption upon the fine +qualities of both mind and person of her nephew, Guido von Bertram, +whom she described with enthusiasm as the cleverest, noblest, best, +bravest, gentlest, and handsomest officer in the entire German army. + +Only one thing was to be regretted, and that was his insensibility to +female charms; he might have made the most advantageous alliances, so +many charming girls had been absolutely thrown in his way by their +parents, but really her dear Guido, who was possessed of every +requisite to make a wife perfectly happy, must have a heart of stone in +his breast, if indeed--and here Madame von Sturmhaupt would heave a +melancholy sigh--an unfortunate passion had not steeled that heart +against all the rest of the fair sex. + +When the good lady reached this climax, which was sure to crown all her +descriptions of Guido, she would cast a meaning look at Eva. An +unfortunate passion! Poor Guido, he was so sensitive, so unselfish! The +mere thought that perhaps a wealthy girl might suspect him of being +mercenary would drive him wild; his aunt was sure that the fear of +laying himself open to such a suspicion would deter him from ever +confessing his love to a girl who had money. + +That was why he was so often sad and pensive. Yes, there was no doubt +of it, he was sick at heart with an unhappy love. + +Such talk was infinitely annoying to Eva, but do what she would she +could not avoid it, for with incomparable dexterity Madame von +Sturmhaupt would lead the conversation back into her favourite channel +whenever Eva contrived to divert it thence for a while, and at all the +dinners which she gave the doting aunt arranged that her Guido should +sit beside the heiress. + +On such occasions Herr von Bertram played to perfection the part which +his aunt had assigned him. Sometimes he conversed fluently with Eva, +endeavouring to let his light shine and to be witty and amusing, and +then again he would sit silent, gazing moodily on the ground or casting +long melancholy looks at the heiress. + +Guido was an excellent actor, and his aunt seconded him ably, but Eva's +keen insight, sharpened as it was by the distrust of others, which was +becoming her second nature, enabled her to see through their schemes. +She was not deceived either by the enthusiastic praises lavished by the +aunt or by the assumed melancholy of the nephew. All this love and +devotion were for her millions, not for herself; of this she was well +assured, and the better Bertram played his part the more odious he was +to her. She despised him as a hypocrite, and she detested him because +she could not avoid his attentions, since there was a reason, which she +thought an important one, why she did not like to refuse any of his +aunt's invitations. + +At every entertainment given by Madame von Sturmhaupt Lieutenant von +Herwarth was sure to be present, and the young officer was devoted to +Aline. Eva knew that her friend did not regard him with indifference, +although she had never questioned her about him, and for Aline's sake +she endured Bertram's odious attentions, for Aline's sake she accepted +all his aunt's invitations, while all the more did she detest Bertram +himself. And he--he of all others--had stepped forward to defend her +against Leo von Heydeck! + +There was a pang at her heart as she thought that Heydeck, as Uncle +Balthasar had said, had allowed himself to make offensive remarks with +regard to her. Was this conceivable? Yes, it was possible; his +arrogance was great; had he not conducted himself at the fête at +Schönsee with such hauteur and reserve as to provoke Eva to treat him +with even more than her usual coldness of manner? + +She had been really glad when her uncle Balthasar presented to her the +young officer of whom she had heard so much that interested her. Aline, +who learned it all from Lieutenant von Herwarth, had told her that he +had distinguished himself as much for bravery and scorn of death in the +field as for humanity and kindness shown to the French peasantry. To +Herwarth, as he told Aline with enthusiasm, Leo von Heydeck was the +very ideal of a nobleman and officer. Herwarth could not say enough of +him, and Aline repeated faithfully to Eva all that he told her. + +Thus an interest in Leo was awakened in Eva's mind before she saw him, +and when they did meet, his manly bearing, his noble, expressive face, +answered to the impression of him already existing in her imagination. + +But Eva was a spoiled child of fortune. Accustomed to servile homage +from her numerous adorers, Leo's dignified quiet demeanour when they +first met, had seemed to her offensive, and she had resented it by an +increase of cold reserve on her part. And Leo hated her for it! Eva +knew it. She had watched him that day, and had detected him regarding +her with mistrust and dislike. And to-day!--he had recognized her; +their glances had met for one instant as he looked up from his +newspaper, but he had immediately and intentionally averted his eyes; +he was the only one there who had not accorded her even the simplest +salutation. + +Yes, Leo von Heydeck hated her, Eva knew it, and meant to give hatred +for hatred; she could have no effect upon him to prevent the duel, for +she never could so humble her pride as to address even the merest word +of friendly appeal to him. But she could prevail with Herr von Bertram. +True, it was very irksome to her to ask a favour of him for which she +should owe him gratitude, but a higher sense of duty forbade her to +yield any weight to this thought. This duel must not take place! + +Eva remembered her uncle's words, that Heydeck was an unerring +pistol-shot; she had formerly heard the same thing from Aline. +Heydeck's brilliant skill with this weapon had contributed to win him +Herwarth's enthusiastic admiration. + +A duel with deadly consequences! The idea was so horrible that it +banished every other consideration. A nameless, feverish horror +possessed the young girl; in imagination she saw the fatal combat: she +saw the foes stand opposite each other; the signal was given, the shots +were fired, and one sank on the ground with a bullet through his heart, +but this one was not Bertram, but Leo von Heydeck, whose pale face, +convulsed with the death-agony, seemed to hover before Eva's eyes. + +The horrible waking dream was so vivid that Eva screamed aloud, and +only recovered herself when she felt Aline's gentle arm around her and +heard the kind voice in her ear begging her to be calm and composed +once more. + +"You must control yourself, Eva," Aline said, gravely; "you cannot +receive Herr von Bertram while you are in this agitated state. It was +wrong to interfere as you have done, without due reflection, in an +affair between these two men. But now that you have gone so far you +must show no weakness when the lieutenant comes. You must not receive +him until you are entirely mistress of yourself. It would be better to +let me speak with him; tell me what you desire he should do; you really +are not in a condition to see him." + +"No, Aline, I must see him; he will not refuse my request; I will +implore him to give up this wretched duel; I will not rest until he has +given me his promise, even although I should beg for it on my knees." + +"He cannot grant it; his honour as an officer is at stake. Take my +advice, Eva, let me speak with Herr von Bertram; if it is possible to +prevent this duel I promise you it shall be done, but pray do not you +appear in the matter. It is bad enough to have your name mixed up with +a scandal, which is town-talk by this time. Do not furnish any further +food for gossip." + +"What is town-talk to me? Let gossip say what it will of me, I do not +care. Do not try to shake my resolution: it is perfectly firm; I shall +see Guido von Bertram, and force him to put a stop to this unhappy +duel, but I promise you to be calm, and to control myself. You shall be +present at the interview; I will look at you if my anger threatens to +master me; but, dearest Aline, do not talk to me, leave me to myself; +do not confuse me with entreaties now, when I must be calm and clear in +my own mind if I would obtain what I desire." + +"As you please," Aline replied, disappointed; "I will not thrust my +counsel upon you." She took up the embroidery which she had laid aside, +and worked away industriously, but from time to time her eyes anxiously +followed Eva, who was restlessly pacing the veranda to and fro. + +An hour elapsed. Eva's state of expectancy had become almost +unendurable, when at last Uncle Balthasar's loud voice was heard at the +other end of the drawing-room. + +"Come in, come in, Herr von Bertram, Eva is awaiting you on the +veranda." + +Eva pressed her hand to her throbbing heart. + +"Be composed, Eva," Aline whispered. + +"This way, pray, Herr von Bertram," Uncle Balthasar was heard saying, +and the time consumed in traversing the drawing-room was sufficient to +restore Eva's self-possession. She was only very pale when the +lieutenant presented himself upon the veranda, followed by Uncle +Balthasar. The hand which she rested lightly upon the back of her chair +as she arose to receive her guest trembled a little, but Aline alone +perceived this; even to Uncle Balthasar his niece appeared perfectly +calm and self-possessed. + +So thoroughly had she regained her self control that she greeted +Bertram with a slight smile, offering him her hand, which he kissed +with perhaps more warmth than custom warranted. This, however, Eva did +not seem to notice; she did not withdraw her hand until he relinquished +it, and then motioned him courteously to a seat. + +Guido obeyed her invitation silently; even he, whose heart was not wont +to be easily thrilled, perhaps because, as both his friends and foes +averred, he really did not own the article, could with difficulty +suppress his agitation; he knew that a decisive moment was at hand. + +On the way to the villa, Uncle Balthasar had told him, after his easy, +good-humoured fashion, how Eva had been quite beside herself with +terror when she heard of the impending duel. She had been half dead +with fear lest Herr von Heydeck should kill the man who had defended +her so stoutly. She had declared that she would prevent the duel at all +hazards. + +Guido could not but suppose, from Uncle Balthasar's words, that Eva's +terror and her intense desire to prevent the duel arose from fear lest +his life should be in danger, and in fact this was the old man's +belief. He himself had a certain regard for the handsome young officer. + +For months Guido had eagerly pursued his scheme of winning the hand of +the wealthy heiress. Hitherto he had been hopeless of success. Eva had +treated him with such cold reserve that he had frequently declared to +his aunt that he would relinquish his pursuit of her, he was but +wasting time, and his persistence had been owing to Madame von +Sturmhaupt's earnest entreaties. + +The old lady frequently told him that Eva's repellent manner and her +coldness were only feigned. She wad too proud to be easily won; in the +end, she would surely grant his suit. If Eva really disliked him, she +never would accept, as she did, every invitation to her, Madame von +Sturmhaupt's, house, since she knew she should meet him there. Her +readiness to accept these invitations was the surest possible proof +that she liked to meet him, and that her coldness was only a cloak for +the preference she secretly entertained for the handsome lieutenant. + +Such views harmonized so entirely with Guido's wishes that he could not +but lend them a ready ear. Still, he was not convinced, and every fresh +repulse of his attentions on Eva's part awakened fresh doubts in his +mind. + +He had resolved more than once to put his fate 'to the touch' and 'win +or lose,' so unendurable did these doubts seem to him, but his prudent +aunt besought him to have patience. Undue haste in declaring himself +would, she said, lose Eva to him forever. The heiress was proud, +wayward, and self-willed, full of whims and contradictions, and these +might easily influence her to say 'No' when she really meant 'Yes.' He +must wait for the right moment, and in the mean time his aunt promised +to advise him of everything that occurred at the Schommers', so that he +should on no account lose this right moment. + +It had come in a manner which the aunt had never dreamed of. After +Uncle Balthasar's communications, Bertram could not doubt that Eva was +impressed with profound gratitude for his defence of her against +Heydeck's insults, and filled with tender solicitude upon his behalf. +The smile with which she received him, in contrast to her former cold +greetings, confirmed Uncle Balthasar's words. She had not even shown +the slightest displeasure when he had bestowed so warm a kiss upon her +hand. Certainly there could be no more favourable moment than the +present for a formal declaration of his sentiments. He must use to his +advantage her solicitude for his safety, her gratitude, her emotion; +the next minute should be decisive! + +"You have kindly acceded instantly to my desire to see you, Herr von +Bertram," Eva began the conversation, after Uncle Balthasar had +withdrawn. "I thank you for so doing, and I hope you will as kindly +grant the great favour which I am about to ask of you." + +"Be assured of it, Fräulein Schommer. Do you not know that I desire +nothing more earnestly than to fulfil your behests?" + +"You promise fairly, Herr von Bertram; I hope not too fairly." + +"Put me to the proof. You can ask nothing, dear lady, that I can deny +you." + +It was the first time that the lieutenant had ventured to make use of +such warmth of expression. Eva's pale cheeks flushed crimson, her eyes +flashed angrily; but bethinking herself how unadvisable it was to +provoke the man, she overlooked the familiarity of his address which +she would else have resented instantly. + +"I am going to put you to the proof, Herr von Bertram," she replied, +gravely. "My uncle learned to-day from Count Waldheim that there has +arisen between Herr von Heydeck and yourself a quarrel of which I am +the unhappy cause. More my uncle did not learn; wherefore I beg you to +tell me all about it." + +Guido found it difficult to suppress a satisfied smile and in its stead +to express upon his features painful regret, but he managed it very +successfully. With a sigh, he said, "After what Herr Schommer said to +me, I almost expected this demand from you; but it is, I confess, +extremely difficult for me to comply with it. My friend Count Waldheim, +with the best intentions of course, was excessively indiscreet in +mentioning to Herr Schommer what had just occurred beneath Büchner's +awning. I am greatly pained that you, my dear Fräulein Schommer, should +thus have learned what never should have reached your ears." + +"Since it has reached my ears, and, but for Count Waldheim's +communication, might have reached them too late, I refuse to be +satisfied by vague declarations. I wish to know just what happened, and +therefore entreat you to tell me the truth,--and the whole truth." + +"I promised to fulfil your desire, and, hard as it is for me, I must +keep my promise. As Count Waldheim told your uncle, there is a quarrel +between Lieutenant von Heydeck and myself,--a quarrel which Heydeck +provoked by the insolence with which he dared to speak of you, my dear +Fräulein Schommer." + +"This explanation does not suffice me. I must know--I have a right to +know--exactly what took place. You took upon yourself the office of my +champion. Herr von Bertram, I must know what acts or expressions of +Herr von Heydeck's gave you a right to do so. I desire you to repeat to +me word for word, if possible, what was said." + +There was no encouragement in the tone in which Eva uttered these +words, especially when she spoke of Guido's right to champion her. The +lieutenant's lofty hopes were suddenly dashed to the ground, for there +was certainly no gratitude, no tender solicitude as to the issue of the +strife in Eva's manner; no, the air with which she regarded him as she +made her demand seemed almost hostile. + +"You ask much of me," Bertram said. "My tongue rebels against repeating +the miserable words that scoundrel used." + +"But I require it. Remember your promise!" + +"I obey, though with a heavy heart. You remember, dear Fräulein +Schommer, that you drove past Büchner's to-day. You probably did not +notice that Herr von Heydeck was ill-bred enough not to salute you. +That irritated me, but my indignation was aroused when the man +discussed you aloud with his friend, Herr von Herwarth, in the most +offensive manner." + +Aline von Schlicht had hitherto been an attentive although silent +auditor of what passed. Now she suddenly turned to Bertram, and with a +sharpness and decision hardly to have been expected from so gentle and +retiring a young lady, said, "That cannot be true! Herr von Herwarth +never would have taken part in any 'offensive' discussion of Fräulein +Schommer. I know from himself how greatly he respects her----" + +"I envy Herr von Herwarth so fair a defender," Bertram replied, +smiling, "and I willingly affirm that not the slightest reproach can +attach to him,--his expressions were perfectly respectful. I spoke only +of Heydeck----" + +"Proceed! proceed!" Eva impatiently interrupted him. "What were the +offensive words used by Herr von Heydeck?" + +"I obey your behest, and will repeat his words as exactly as I can +remember them, although I cannot possibly reproduce the arrogant tone, +which was more insulting than the words themselves. He first told Herr +von Herwarth that it was much against his inclination that he had been +presented to the 'fair princess,' as he expressed it, in silly +adoration of whom he never could join----" + +"Why was he presented, then?" Eva angrily interposed. + +Guido shrugged his shoulders, and continued: "He then proceeded in the +most reckless fashion to tell of how Fräulein Schommer had treated him +with contemptuous discourtesy, and at last dared to declare that +Fräulein Schommer was odious to him,--he hated her arrogance! her low +purse-pride! These are his very expressions!" + +Eva grew deadly pale; the little hand still leaning on the back of the +chair trembled convulsively. It was not anger that thus moved her, but +pain, real pain, as she exclaimed, "Purse-pride! low purse-pride! I, +purse-proud! Oh, if he knew how I loathe and despise the wretched +money! But I will not complain; it is my destiny to be made miserable +by this unhappy wealth. Go on, Herr von Bertram. What happened next? I +must know all." + +Bertram continued, thinking this the best possible opportunity to +present himself to the young girl in a favourable light: "I was +profoundly indignant at so contemptible an insult publicly offered to a +lady whom I esteem highly. I instantly required Herr von Heydeck to +retract his expressions. He refused to do so, and of course forced me +to brand him as guilty of dishonourable conduct." + +"And he? How did Herr von Heydeck resent your insult?" + +"How could he resent it? Conscious of his guilt, he received my words +in silence; he left Büchner's, followed by his friend, Herr von +Herwarth." + +"And who authorized you to stand forth as my champion?" Eva asked, when +she could collect herself. + +This question was so sudden, and as she put it Eva's eyes flashed such +angry menace at the lieutenant, that for an instant he knew not what to +reply, and could only stammer out, "But--dearest Fräulein Schommer, +what could I do? Had I not a right, was it not my duty, to resent an +insult offered you so disgracefully--in public?" + +"No! You had as little right to do so as you have to annoy me by +repeatedly addressing me as 'dearest' Fräulein Schommer. You can hardly +expect me to be grateful to you for thus, by your officious +interference, making my name the theme of common gossip throughout the +city!" + +"But that fellow's insult?" + +"Would have been forgotten as soon as it was uttered. Who cares, since +I do not, whether or not Herr von Heydeck hates me and thinks me +haughty and purse-proud? You had no right to accuse Herr von Heydeck of +dishonourable conduct because you overheard him make use of certain +expressions in conversation with an intimate friend. If my reputation +should suffer in this matter it is your fault, not his. He has done me +no injury; you have grossly insulted me!" + +Bertram angrily bit his lip; he saw his fairest hopes shattered, and by +his own fault; unconquerable dislike of him flashed in Eva's black +eyes; he felt that she never would forgive him. This was the end of all +his schemes for winning the hand of this beautiful heiress. + +With rage in his heart he turned to go, and would have left her +presence without another word, but a delicate hand laid on his arm +detained him. "You must not leave me yet, Herr von Bertram," said Eva. +"I have much to say to you; you have not even heard the favour I am +about to ask of you. Forgive my irritation; I did not mean to offend +you, and if I have done so unintentionally, you must ascribe it to the +natural agitation produced by this unfortunate occurrence. Do not go. +Must I remind you of your promise?" + +What transformation was this? The angry sparkle no longer shone in the +beautiful eyes; a smile played about the lovely mouth; the young girl's +words contained no menace, but a gentle entreaty. Bertram looked at her +in amazement; he could not understand the change, nor did he dream of +the mental struggle through which Eva had just passed. + +Her hasty temperament had led her against her will into a frank avowal +of her sentiments, but scarcely had the words left her lips than she +saw the mistake she had made. She wished to prevent the impending duel; +this could only be done by an appeal to Bertram, and she had so +offended him that he had turned to leave her. He must be appeased if +she hoped to attain her end, and therefore she smothered the dislike +she felt for him, therefore she smiled and spoke gently. + +It had the desired effect. Bertram's anger passed away; he was induced +to take a seat and to listen to her request. + +"I must recur once more to this unfortunate quarrel," Eva continued. +"You tell me that Herr von Heydeck received your insult in silence, and +immediately afterwards left the veranda. Tell me frankly, do you +believe that the quarrel will have no further consequences?" + +"No; I do not." + +"And what will happen now?" + +"What Herr von Heydeck will do of course I cannot foresee. I only know +what a man of honour would do in his place." + +Again Eva's cheeks flushed: "Herr von Heydeck is a man of honour! No +one dares to doubt it!" + +"I dare to doubt it, Fräulein Schommer," Bertram rejoined, with a +scornful laugh. "I knew what I was saying when I spoke to him as I did, +for a man who does not hesitate to calumniate an unprotected woman has +no sense of honour!" + +Eva, mindful of how necessary it was for her to keep her temper, made +no reply to this remark, but asked, in as quiet a voice as she could +command, "Do you think that Herr von Heydeck will accept your insult +without resenting it?" + +"I do not know; but in any case he cannot escape punishment for his +unworthy conduct. If an officer should pocket calmly an accusation of +dishonourable behaviour and not challenge his accuser, he would be +outlawed from the corps of officers as a coward. Perhaps this will be +Heydeck's fate. But if he is really brave enough to challenge me, I +shall chastise him as he deserves for unworthy words with regard to a +lady for whom I have the highest esteem, although I am so unfortunate +as not to find favour in her eyes." + +"A duel," Eva said, sadly, not noticing his last words, "a mortal +combat, on account of a few thoughtless words." + +"A duel will ensue if Heydeck has the courage to challenge me, which I +very much doubt." + +"You need not doubt it, Herr von Bertram. Herr von Heydeck has proved +upon the field that fear is unknown to him; he will call you to +account. Do you know that his skill with the pistol is unerring; that +he never misses his aim; that your life will be at his mercy?" + +"I also know no fear, Fräulein Schommer. If it should be my fate to +fall in this duel, I shall die content, for my life will be a sacrifice +to my duty as a man of honour. Were the consciousness mine that you +would give a kindly thought to my memory, I should meet death +joyfully." + +Bertram spoke these words with immense pathos, looking earnestly at Eva +the while. To his chagrin, however, he could not but see that his +display of feeling produced no effect whatever upon the obdurate +beauty; indeed she scarcely seemed to hear what he had said. She gazed +thoughtfully before her for a few minutes that seemed like hours to +Bertram, and then, looking up at him, said hastily and with some +agitation, "This duel must not be, Herr von Bertram. You can prevent +it, and I now remind you of the promise you made me at the beginning of +our conversation." + +"I do not understand you, Fräulein Schommer. It does not depend upon +me, but upon Herr von Heydeck, to accept my reproof calmly without +sending me a challenge." + +"But you can so arrange matters that it need not be incumbent upon him +to challenge you. I have read that if, in such cases, the offending man +retracts what he has said and begs pardon of him whom he has offended, +the quarrel is made up and never proceeds to a bloody issue. It is in +your power thus to prevent any combat with Herr von Heydeck. Tell him +that you recall your offensive remarks, and ask his pardon; there will +be then no reason for his calling you out. Remember your promise, Herr +von Bertram; I implore you, speak a conciliating word. You can do it, +for Herr von Heydeck did not insult you, but me, and I forgive him. +Remember that I never could have another happy moment if I thought that +I had been the cause of mortal strife between two human beings. The +blood spilled for me would cleave to me like the curse of Cain. Be +magnanimous, Herr von Bertram, not towards your enemy, but towards me, +I pray you, I conjure you. Make me the sacrifice of the pride which +prevents you from speaking the conciliating word." + +The first impression produced upon Bertram by Eva's words was that of +immense surprise, her request astounded him; was it prompted by fear +for his life? No, assuredly not, he had not forgotten the look of +hatred which he had seen in her eyes a few moments before. + +Suddenly another idea flashed upon him. Eva had defended Heydeck with a +warmth she had never as yet shown to any one besides. Was it his life +and his future for which she trembled if he should make up his mind to +fight? Her tender consideration was, then, all for Heydeck; for him her +intense desire that the quarrel should have a peaceful conclusion. She +loved Bertram's enemy, hence her sad surprise entirely devoid of anger, +when she heard that he had called her purse-proud. She loved Heydeck, +who despised her! For an instant, but only for an instant, this thought +filled Bertram with savage indignation; the next moment he smiled, for +there occurred to him with the swiftness of thought a scheme whereby he +might turn this love to his own account. New hopes immediately sprang +to being within him; he would not try to win Eva's heart. What did he +care for the girl's heart? She might give her hopeless, unrequited +affection to whomsoever she chose if she would give her millions to the +husband whom she hated. + +Bertram needed but a few moments to decide how to act. Fortunately Eva +gave him these few moments to ponder upon her request, and when he +replied his mind was entirely made up. "You do not dream what you +require of me, Fräulein Schommer," he said with great gravity. "You ask +nothing more or less than the entire annihilation of my future. I spoke +the words in question to Heydeck in a public place before numerous +witnesses; they must be retracted in the same manner before Heydeck can +be justified in not fighting me." + +"Do so, Herr von Bertram,--I implore you, do so!" Eva begged afresh. + +"And if I do so, what have I to expect? I will tell you, Fräulein +Schommer; it is right that you should know the full extent of the +request you have made of me. After I have made a public retractation +all my comrades who have hitherto been my friends will fall away from +me and despise me. 'He is a coward,' they will say; 'afraid evidently +of Heydeck's well-known unerring aim.' My honour is lost, and with it +my future career. I must leave the army, my comrades disdaining to +serve with me! I am poor, Fräulein Schommer. You, rolling in luxury, +have no conception of what it means to be poor. Having left the +service, I must accept any, even the meanest, position that can insure +me sufficient income to maintain a wretched existence, if indeed I do +not have recourse to a bullet through my brains to end a life that has +been such a wretched failure. This is my future if I fulfil your +request. To-day the world stands open to me. The highest honours that +crown a military career may be mine. In a few years I shall be captain +and in a condition to offer my hand, without exposing myself to the +charge of mercenary motives, to the lovely girl to whom I long since +gave my whole heart. These hopes you ask me to destroy with my own +hand; for how could I, a beggar, degraded in my own eyes and those of +the world, ever venture to aspire to one heaped with all that can make +life desirable? I should, and justly, be repulsed with scorn. Have you +a right to require this sacrifice of me? I have given you my promise, +and if you require it I will keep it, for there is nothing that you can +ask which I will not perform, but before I do so, before you ask the +sacrifice of my entire future, you must know what are the delicious +hopes which you thus annihilate. It is you, Eva Schommer, whom I have +loved passionately from the first moment when my eyes were gladdened by +the sight of you. I have religiously concealed this love, for what +right had a poor dragoon to reveal it? The thought that you might +suppose I wooed you for your wealth, and not for your sweet self alone, +would have driven me frantic. Therefore I was silent; therefore I +curbed the wild desires of my heart. I resolved to wait until with, +increase of rank I could offer you a position not unworthy of you. Yes, +Eva, I love you with an intensity of which you cannot dream, and hence +my right to step forth as the champion of your honour; hence the wound +I felt when you so harshly rebuked my presumption. It is but just that +I should tell you all this. Now decide my fate; it is in your hands. +Ask of me my life, or, what is infinitely more dear to me, my honour, I +will sacrifice everything to you." + +He ceased, and awaited Eva's reply. Possessed of histrionic talent by +no means contemptible, conscious that this was a decisive moment in his +life, he was really agitated; and this agitation lent to his words and +manner an appearance of reality that could not but impress Eva with a +belief in their sincerity. As he spoke, she grew very pale; she was not +surprised,--she had long foreseen with annoyance that she should some +day be obliged distinctly to reject his proffered affection; and yet +she had not looked for a declaration of it just at this time. + +What should she say to him? Had she a right to require of him the +sacrifice of his entire future? And yet, if she did not do it, this +terrible duel, sure to end in the death of one of the combatants, would +inevitably take place. It was her sacred duty to prevent this. Bertram +had given her a glimpse of a way in which the right to ask him to +relinquish his entire future would be hers. + +Sacrifice for sacrifice! Her heart seemed to cease beating at the +thought. Never had the handsome dragoon been so utterly detestable to +her as when he was pouring forth his glowing assurances of affection. +But could she hesitate to sacrifice herself? Two human lives depended +upon her decision. And what did she resign? A happy future? No! None +such could be hers with this curse of wealth cleaving to her. What did +it matter in the end whether she gave the hand so coveted to Bertram or +to another? were not all her wooers alike indifferent to her? They all +coveted her millions, and set no store by the poor girlish heart +hungering and thirsting for true affection. Bertram was no worse than +the rest; perhaps somewhat better,--at least he was willing to make a +sacrifice for her. Certainly his protestations of love had seemed +genuine. + +And yet, another image would rise before her mental vision,--was there +then one to whom she was not so entirely indifferent,--one lost to her +forever? Fie! she would not think of him: he was her enemy; he hated +and despised her, although he hardly knew her. + +"Is there no other way, no honourable way, in which this duel can be +avoided without imperilling your future?" Eva asked; her mind was +already half made up to sacrifice herself, but she hesitated to say the +fatal word. + +"None." + +"And you will keep your promise, Herr von Bertram? You will sacrifice +your future to me if I desire it? You will make the public retractation +which will prevent the duel?" + +Bertram hesitated for one instant. He had read Eva's countenance; he +hoped that his scheme had been successful, but he was not quite sure. +It was possible that she might require of him the fulfilment of his +promise and yet refuse him her hand! And, if she did, was not a hasty +promise better broken than kept? Is it not the brave whom fortune +favours? "I will! I swear it by my honour! In your hands lies my fate!" +he cried, with well-feigned enthusiasm. + +"I accept your promise, Herr von Bertram, and requite it by my own, +that, as far as in me lies, I will try to repay the sacrifice you make +to me. If you succeed in avoiding this duel, then, Herr von Bertram, I +promise to deny you no request you may make of me." + +"Eva, what are you doing?" Aline here interposed. "I adjure you to +consider what you are saying, and the possible consequences of such a +promise!" + +Aline knew that her interference was hardly consistent with delicacy, +but her friend's happiness was at stake, and speak out she must at all +hazards. + +"I have considered, and I know what I promise," Eva replied, calmly, in +a clear, firm voice. Having once forced herself to embrace a +resolution, she would not shrink from putting it into action. + +Bertram could have shouted for joy, but he perfectly understood how to +retrain any excessive exhibition of delight. "Have I heard aright? Can +I trust my powers of comprehension, dearest Eva?" he said, with the due +amount of rapture beaming in his eyes, as he took her hand and kissed +it eagerly. "I hardly dare to believe it. Will you make me the happiest +of men? Will you grant any request of mine, even one for this lovely +hand?" + +"Any one!" + +Aline lost her self-possession entirely. She seemed to see the friend +whom she loved about to plunge into an abyss from which she must rescue +her. Greatly agitated, she arose, and interposed. "You are going too +far, Eva!" she said, indignantly; "you must not purchase the prevention +of this duel at such a price; and you, Herr von Bertram, if you are a +man of honour, will not accept such a sacrifice,--you cannot thus take +advantage of the misery of a weak girl. I know that Eva does not love +you----" + +Eva interrupted her friend. "Stay, Aline!" she said, in a tone so stern +and decided that it forbade all further contradiction. "Even from you I +cannot suffer any interference with my freedom of action. I will +deceive no one,--certainly not Herr von Bertram," and she turned to the +dragoon: "Aline has told you that I do not love you; she has told you +the truth! I can give you my hand, if you demand it. I cannot give you +my heart, but," she added, with a sad and bitter smile, "that will be a +matter of perfect indifference to you." + +"Can you for an instant doubt what to reply, Herr von Bertram?" Aline +again interposed. Eva's harsh words had daunted her for a moment, but +anxiety for her friend gave her courage to make one more attempt to +save her. "Can you, if you are a man of honour, still ask Eva's hand of +her?" + +"Aline, I forbid you----!" + +"You are certainly the mistress and I the servant, I know that, Eva. +You often forget this; I never do! But now, the duty I owe to my +mistress is lost in that which I owe to my friend. You must not +obstinately persevere in making your whole future life unhappy, and if +I cannot prevail with you to refrain from making such a sacrifice, I +must appeal to Herr von Bertram, to his honour, which forbids his thus +bartering for your hand. What hard-driven bargain for money could be +half so disgraceful? You cannot accept this sacrifice, Herr von +Bertram, for you can never succeed in winning Eva's heart!" + +A mocking smile hovered upon the dragoon's lips, but he suppressed it, +and said, in the quiet tone of perfect conviction, "You are wrong, +Fräulein von Schlicht! I shall win this noble heart; it will be +conquered by my devoted affection. I am conscious of sufficient force +and courage to enable me to win it, and therefore, knowing that I shall +succeed in making her whom I love a happy wife, I claim the dear hand, +although she gives it to me without her heart. Yes, dearest Eva, I hold +you to your promise. I claim your 'yes'----" + +"You are not yet justified in doing so. My promise was coupled with a +condition," Eva said. She had listened with cold indifference to +Bertram's words. She had no faith in this triumphant love; his mocking +smile, fleeting although it were, had not escaped her, and had +confirmed her in the conviction that he coveted only her hand and her +fortune, and not her heart. + +The dragoon was nothing daunted by her coldness; he was determined not +to let the fortunate moment slip from his grasp. + +"Your condition is fulfilled," he replied; "I give you my word of +honour that the duel you so dread shall not take place. As soon as I +leave you I will go to my friend Count Waldheim, and beg him to summon +Herr von Heydeck to meet me at Büchner's there to receive my apology +for whatever offensive words I may have used towards him." + +"What if, nevertheless, Herr von Heydeck persists in his challenge, +since spoken words cannot be made unspoken?" + +"That is not conceivable, but should it be so, I still promise you that +there shall be no duel. I will repeat my apology, and, moreover, +declare that I will accept no challenge. You have promised, dearest +Eva, to atone to me, as far as you can, for the sacrifice of my honour +which I make to you. You can thus atone if I may carry from your +presence the 'yes' I long for. If I leave this house your future +husband, I can say to my comrades that I am bound by a promise to my +betrothed to avoid a duel with Herr von Heydeck. This statement, which +will then be strictly true, will greatly modify public opinion with +regard to my behaviour towards Herr von Heydeck. Be magnanimous, +dearest Eva; give me this precious 'yes' now, that I may leave this +house to fulfil your wishes, your promised bridegroom." + +"Do not do this, Eva!" Aline entreated. + +"And why not? What difference can it make whether what must be happens +now or this evening?" Eva said, in a hopeless tone. "I am ready, Herr +von Bertram, to accede to your wishes, but upon certain conditions----" + +"I will fulfil any conditions that you can impose upon me----" + +"By their non-fulfilment, Herr von Bertram, I now declare here, in the +presence of my friend, you will forfeit the right to claim my promise. +I allow you to make known our betrothal, I will present you as my +betrothed to my uncle and aunt, but I require on the other hand that +you should never lay claim to any of a lover's privileges, never +venture to annoy me with professions of affection, or to look for any +such from me; also, the time of our marriage must be appointed by +myself alone, and you are upon no account to venture to influence me to +shorten the period of our engagement----" + +"You are cruel, Eva." + +"I cannot be otherwise; let there be truth between us. I have told you +that I do not love you, and that only a sense of the duty I owe you in +atoning for the sacrifice you make me induces me to give you my hand. +But my indifference would become hatred should you force me to endure +caresses which I abhor,--the first attempt to do so dissolves our +engagement and sets me free! Do you accept my conditions, Herr von +Bertram?" + +"You are very, very cruel; but I cannot say no." + +"You agree, then, to my conditions?" + +"Yes." + +"So be it! Aline, let me present to you my betrothed. Follow me, Herr +von Bertram; I will conduct you to my uncle and aunt." + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +Before Leo von Heydeck returned to his apartments he took a long walk +in the park. He wished to be alone to hold communion quietly with +himself, that he might come to a decision with regard to his future +conduct. He knew that he had arrived at a crisis in his career. + +Forced, against his inclination, by a stern father, Colonel von +Heydeck, to embrace the military profession, he had, notwithstanding, +become reconciled to it during the war with France, which he had +entered into with patriotic enthusiasm, and in which he had greatly +distinguished himself. + +Esteemed and beloved by his comrades, he had never before now found +himself in a position either to send or to receive a challenge. He had +always considered duelling as a savage relic of mediæval barbarism; but +the insult offered him intentionally in the presence of numerous +witnesses, by Herr von Bertram, was certainly cause sufficient, if any +such could exist, to justify the savage practice. + +As he slowly sauntered along the secluded alleys of the park he weighed +and pondered every argument for and against his yielding in this case +to military prejudice. He had a hard struggle with himself to undergo, +but by the time he reached his home he had made up his mind,--he would +be true to his convictions and yield no jot to public opinion. + +On the stairs he met his servant who surprised him with the +intelligence that Colonel von Herwarth was in his apartment, where he +had awaited him for a quarter of an hour. + +Colonel von Herwarth, the commander of his regiment? What did this +visit portend? Had he heard already of the scene at Büchner's? + +Leo paused for an instant, and his heart beat undeniably faster. He +foresaw that the ensuing conversation with the man who was alike his +superior officer and his paternal friend would be of great importance +to him; he must be perfectly prepared before it began. Once more he +passed in mental review the reasons for the resolution he had taken. He +never wavered; for the first time in his life an opportunity was +offered him to step forward boldly and frankly in vindication of a +principle. Firm in his purpose to do so he entered the room. + +The colonel had not found the time spent in his young officer's room +long. He had been much interested in what he found there, where there +was nothing except the weapons, arranged upon a wall with an eye for +artistic effect, to remind one that this was the abode of a soldier. +The apartment might rather have been taken for a scholar's study or an +artist's studio. + +One side of the room was entirely covered with book-shelves, the +contents of which would hardly have tempted the lovers of light +reading, and the writing-table was loaded with books and papers in true +scholarly disorder; while quantities of sketches in oil, framed and +unframed, occupying every available spot upon the walls, and a large +easel in the centre of the room, upon which was an unfinished picture, +betrayed the artist. + +Before this picture, a portrait of a beautiful girl, the colonel was +standing, attentively surveying it, when Leo entered. The dress was +only sketched in, but the face was nearly finished; at least so the +colonel thought, as he admired the delicate features and the glorious +black eyes that seemed to gaze into his own. + +Leo's entrance aroused him from its contemplation; he turned and held +out his hand. "I have been awaiting you for some time, Herr von +Heydeck," he said; "but I do not regret the quarter of an hour spent +here, since it has given me an opportunity of admiring your artistic +skill. I knew you were fond of the brush, but I had no idea that you +had reached such a pitch of perfection in the art. What a brilliant +sketch this is! I am sure I have seen that face somewhere. Who is she? +I surely know that girl." + +"Scarcely, I think, colonel," Leo replied, unable to conceal a certain +embarrassment. "It is but a daub,--just begun, and not at all like. You +never would recognize the original from seeing this thing." + +"And yet--and yet--I surely remember having seen that, young girl +somewhere." + +"Probably some chance resemblance, colonel. There is no trace of +likeness in this portrait; it is only a slight sketch from memory. If I +had known that I was to have the honour of a visit from you, I should +not have left it upon the easel. Permit me to remove it." + +He took the picture from the easel and leaned it with the face against +the wall,--the colonel shook his finger at him, with a smile: "You are +in a great hurry to hide it away. Have I, perchance, been indiscreet?" + +"Not at all, colonel," said Leo, trying unsuccessfully to appear easy +and unembarrassed. "I do not know the lady at all. I met her once in +society, and hardly exchanged a couple of words with her." + +"In spite of which she has made so profound an impression upon the +artist that he has painted a charming portrait from memory. But I will +not meddle with your secrets, my dear Heydeck, I have come upon other +and serious business. You will guess what it is when I tell you that my +nephew, Kuno, has been with me. He came to confide, not in Colonel von +Herwarth, but in his uncle; and so I come to you, my dear Heydeck, not +as your colonel and superior officer, but as your true friend, to +discuss this miserable matter in which Herr von Bertram's brutal +insults have entangled you. Give me your hand, Heydeck; I trust you are +convinced that I have your welfare at heart!" + +"I certainly am, colonel." + +"And there is good reason why it should be so; not because you saved my +life at Gravelotte at terrible risk of your own,--that was your duty, +and I would have done the same in your place,--but because you are the +best officer in my regiment, and a fast friend to that feather-headed +nephew of mine, Kuno, whose admiration and affection for you prevent +his getting into many a scrape. You see my friendship for you is rather +selfish, but none the less genuine. + +"To business, then! Kuno tells me that you have got into your head some +romantic and entirely incomprehensible ideas about the immorality of +duelling, and that in consequence you are in doubt as to calling out +Herr von Bertram. Is this true, my dear Heydeck?" + +"Not quite, colonel. I am no longer in doubt; I have decided: I shall +not challenge Herr von Bertram." + +The colonel, who had been pacing the room to and fro at Leo's side, +suddenly stood still. "The devil you won't!" he exclaimed. "Why, it's +worse than I thought! Kuno was right, then! Do you know the fate of an +officer who allows himself to be accused of dishonourable conduct?" + +"I do, colonel, and therefore I am resolved to send in my resignation +immediately." + +"Why, forty thousand dev---- No, no, I will not swear; I will +be calm. Only tell me, are you stark, staring mad? Send in your +resignation!--you, before whom there is the most brilliant career? You +must not! 'Tis impossible!" + +"I must, colonel, and I rely upon your help in the matter, for this is +the only way in which mischief among my comrades can be prevented." + +"But, deuce take it! why don't you send a bullet through that scoundrel +Bertram, as any other brave officer would do, and settle the matter +reasonably?" + +"Because my principles forbid duelling. My mind is made up, colonel. +Pray do not attempt to shake my resolution, for I give you my word of +honour that I will not fight a duel." + +"There it is!" cried the colonel, in despair. "All's over now! Unhappy, +misguided young man, what have you done?" + +"My duty, colonel; I but fulfil a sacred obligation. You, at least, +will not believe that I am actuated by cowardice." + +"Cowardice! You? I'll fight the man myself who accuses you of cowardice +in my presence. Your courage has been proved a hundred times in France, +as I can testify. No one can accuse you of cowardice,--that's not what +vexes me; but you can't stay in the service for all that! What would +become of the corps of officers if these cursed democratic ideas of +yours were to find acceptance among us? But you have declared upon your +honour that you'll not fight, and there's no use talking any more about +it. You must send in your resignation, and I'll see that it's accepted. +That's all I can do for you now. Sit down this moment and write it, +and I'll take it with me and attend to it." + +Leo did so. While the colonel walked up and down the room, muttering +curses, not loud, but deep, upon the 'd----d democratic nonsense,' Leo +wrote his resignation, and handed it to his superior officer. + +The colonel read the paper through. "It is all in order," he said, "and +shall be attended to. There is nothing else to be done now; but +confound that scoundrel Bertram! and deuce take me if I don't find some +way to reward him for his share in this business! I believe the dog +knew your craze about duelling. Did you ever mention your cursed +democratic ideas in his presence?" + +"Of course he knows what my opinions are: we used to be friends." + +"I thought so. The confounded coward could play the hero cheaply; but +I've not done with him yet. He shall find it no joke to have driven my +best officer from the service. But that will not bring you back again. +I see well enough that with your principles you had better resign. And +you had best leave K---- as soon as possible. Take a journey to get out +of the way of all the gossip and fuss there will be. I'll give you a +leave upon my own responsibility,--and goodbye. I can't help loving +you, my dear fellow, though you are such a d----d democrat; and if ever +you need a true friend, remember Oswald von Herwarth, who never will +forget you at Gravelotte." + +The old officer cleared his throat violently, and indignantly winked +away a suspicious moisture from his eyes; then, pulling his cap low +over his forehead, he stamped down-stairs without one more word of +farewell. + +Scarcely was Leo alone than he took up the picture which he had leaned +against the wall, replaced it upon the easel, stepped backwards from +it, and regarded it sadly. "So you send me out into the world!" he +murmured. "It is your revenge upon me for my cowardly words of you in +your absence; for it was cowardly so to do violence to myself. Your +punishment is hard, but just. Now that I dare once more to gaze into +the depths of those dark, girlish eyes, why are they not scornful and +angry, but sad and dreamy?" + +He stood for a while so lost in thoughts of the few moments he had +spent in Eva's presence, and in contemplation of the picture, that he +did not hear the door behind him open. + +An aged officer, leaning heavily upon a stout bamboo cane, entered the +room, and, standing still, gloomily surveyed the young man lost in +revery before the picture; then as he glanced at a mirror hanging on +the wall opposite the door, he saw reflected in its depths his own +image and his son's. He was startled; the astonishing likeness between +them, which he had never before admitted, struck him forcibly and +painfully at the moment. + +"So like, and yet so different!" the old man thought, "Yes, he is my +son. I could not disown him if I would. My only son,--so like me,--and +that he should disgrace our name,--'tis maddening!" + +He stood for a moment silently watching his son, and then struck the +floor violently with his bamboo cane. "Halloo, Herr Leo von Heydeck!" +he cried. "Colonel von Heydeck requests the honour of a few words with +you!" + +Leo turned in surprise. "What, father, you here?" he asked. One glance +at his father's gloomy face told him plainly enough that the old man +was perfectly aware of the events of the last few hours, and had come +to call his son to account. Confused and annoyed, Leo bent his looks +upon the ground. + +"You did not expect a visit from me?" the colonel asked, +contemptuously. "You had indeed no right to do so, for old Colonel von +Heydeck has never had anything to do with scoundrels!" + +"Father!" + +"Why, don't you like the word? I should not have thought you would +notice it! I have just seen the Herwarths, uncle and nephew, and I know +everything. 'Tis the second time a Heydeck has tamely borne such an +insult,--first my vagabond of a brother, and now you, my only son!" + +The old man sat down, and continued: "I was on my way here to +remonstrate with you when I met your colonel; he told me you had +declared upon your honour that you would fight no duel, and that there +would be no use in anything I could say; that he had your resignation +in his pocket, and was going to attend to it. He spoke warmly in your +behalf,--my heart was touched by it; you have him to thank that I do +not bestow my curse upon you, as once I did upon my coward of a +brother, but that I am come to you to ask, 'What are you going to do +now?'" The old man looked about him in his son's room, to which this +was his first visit, and frowned, as he went on: "If you have one +single spark of affection for your old father do not disgrace our name +by a Heydeck's painting pictures for money. I know you will answer me +that you cannot live on air, or beg, or steal, and that I cannot +support you, since my pension barely suffices for my own wants. I know +this is what you will say, but I have a proposition to make. Leo, you +must marry!" + +Certainly this proposition was the last that Leo expected from his +father. "I marry?" he exclaimed, with a side-glance at the easel. +"Never! How could I dream of it now when I am about to enter upon a new +life, in which the struggle for existence will be hard enough with only +one to provide for." + +"All the more reason why this new life should never be sullied by any +occupation unworthy a nobleman," the colonel replied, quite unmoved by +his son's words, "Hear me quietly; we must understand each other, and I +have much to do to-day besides. Your colonel has promised that your +resignation shall find honourable acceptance. I myself will see to it +that Herr von Bertram does not go unpunished for an insult offered to a +Heydeck!" + +"What do you mean, sir?" + +"That's no affair of yours; you are not my guardian. If you claim a +right to publish your convictions in direct opposition to universal +opinion, I, old man as I am, surely have a right to do as honour bids +me. I shall do so, and shall see that the name of Heydeck is not +sullied; it is your part, as far as in you lies, to keep it clear from +stain." + +"What do you require of me?" + +"Before I tell you I must, that you may understand me, give you some +information concerning the past of a certain member of our family. You +know that I have a brother of whom I have never spoken to you; I am +going to do so now. We were two merry boys together,--Ferdinand two +years younger than I,--and we were very fond of each other, although we +were utterly dissimilar physically and mentally; he was a bookworm, +excellent at learning, while I was a wild, wayward fellow, fonder of my +rifle than of any book. When we left school he wanted to pursue his +studies, while I was bent on entering the army. Our father was a stern, +harsh man, and would not suffer any son of his to be a quill-driver. +All Ferdinand's entreaties, and even the tears of our mother, whose +favourite he was, were of no avail; he had to don the uniform. To the +last moment he implored my father not to force him to embrace a +profession which he hated, but my father contemptuously turned a deaf +ear, and did not even bid him good-bye when he left us, nor indeed did +I, for I was vexed with him for his womanish conduct. + +"And so Ferdinand became a soldier, and the reports received of him +from his colonel, an old friend of my father's, were extremely fair. He +was no favourite in the corps of officers: he was too staid and grave, +he was even accused of miserliness, but he did his duty, soon became +ensign, passed a brilliant examination, and scarcely a year after +entering the service gained his epaulettes, while I was two full years +gaining mine. + +"Several years went by; then we met on some great occasion. I had been +delighted with the prospect of seeing him, but I soon found that we +did not suit each other. He had grown more staid, I was wilder than +ever,--no two brothers could be more different. All our comrades said +so. I heard remarks of theirs about Ferdinand that made me furious, and +yet I could do nothing to contradict them, for there was no positive +expression of opinion in what was reported to me,--it mostly consisted +of vague sneers from which I drew the worst conclusions. + +"Ferdinand was as unpopular as possible; the officers of his regiment +accused him of unsociability, and declared that instead of living with +them he was always shut up in his room, poring over his books, and that +he hoarded every penny of his pay. But they found fault with him +chiefly because he never took part in any social entertainment unless +he knew that gaming would form part of it. Play was his only passion; +his stakes were never large, although when he had a decided run of luck +he would play a little higher than usual, but then only with extreme +caution. It was owing to this caution that he won with great +regularity. + +"My head used to spin when I heard my comrades talk of Ferdinand and +his never-failing luck at play, using expressions too vague to admit of +a reply, but easy enough to understand. I made up my mind to speak +frankly with him upon the subject, but before I could do so the +catastrophe occurred which separated us forever. One evening we were +both present at a gay gathering; Ferdinand knew that the thing would +close with play. A young officer of hussars, a Herr von Kleinschmidt, +kept the bank, and was unfortunate. He lost considerable sums and it +vexed him, but it irritated him still more that Ferdinand, whom he +could not bear, played with his usual caution and met with his usual +success. Every time Ferdinand won Herr von Kleinschmidt made some +cutting remark, and his observations were all the more bitter as +Ferdinand scarcely seemed to hear them. Others won far larger sums than +he, but he alone seemed to excite the venom of the angry bank-keeper; +he followed Ferdinand's play with suspicious eyes, and suddenly, when +Ferdinand had won several times upon the same card, the irritated +officer threw his cards upon the table. + +"'So long as Herr von Heydeck plays I will not draw another card,' he +said, angrily; and then, with a contemptuous glance at Ferdinand, he +continued: 'I am not a gamester by profession, and am not sufficiently +skilful to enter the lists against a man who makes gaming his study and +knows well how to assist his luck. I hold such play dishonourable, and +the man who practises it guilty of dishonourable conduct.' + +"This was followed by dead silence throughout the room. All eyes were +riveted upon Ferdinand, who stood by the card-table ghastly pale, +biting his lips. He replied not a word, but gathered in the money he +had won with a trembling hand and left the room. His comrades gave way +before him, seeming to avoid him as he passed out from among them. + +"When I heard such disgraceful words applied to my brother I grew +almost wild with rage. I was on the point of rushing upon his insulter, +but a friend restrained me. 'You can do nothing, Heydeck,' he whispered +in my ear. 'Your brother's honour is lost if he leaves you to defend +it.' + +"I saw that he was right. It was hard to bridle my fury, but I did it. +I followed Ferdinand, and overtook him near his lodgings. 'I am your +second,' I said to him. + +"He made no reply, and, as I looked at him as we passed beneath a +street-lamp, I saw his lips quiver spasmodically; his cheeks were +ashen, his eyes without lustre; he looked fearfully. + +"I went on talking to him, and asked him how I should word his +challenge, but still he did not answer me; and when we reached his +apartments he threw himself upon a lounge and sobbed like a child. My +brain reeled; I did not know what to think of his condition, for it +never occurred to me that fear, pitiable disgraceful cowardice, could +turn a Heydeck into a whining baby. I would not believe him when at +last he composed himself sufficiently to tell me, his teeth chattering +the while, that he could not fight,--could never summon sufficient +courage to stand in front of a loaded pistol. He was beside himself, +not with the thought of the insult that had been offered him, but with +fear! + +"He was a coward, an infamous coward; he confessed it to me, and cried +like a child, cursing his father's harshness that had forced him to +enter the army against his will, and that now condemned him to +dishonour, for he could not fight. + +"I stood as if turned to stone. I had never dreamed of the possibility +of such cowardice. I left him with contempt, and I have never seen him +since. The next morning I heard that he had sent in his resignation and +was gone; whither I did not learn until long afterwards." + +The colonel paused in his story and bent his gaze gloomily upon the +ground. Memory was a greater pain to him than he cared to show. + +For Leo his father's narrative possessed an absorbing interest. He had +frequently heard allusions made to the irreconcilable quarrel that had +existed for many years between his father and his uncle, but this was +all he had ever known concerning it. Now the veil was lifted from the +mystery; this explained the scorn and hatred with which the colonel +mentioned the name of his brother, who was now a wealthy man, living +somewhere in the Tyrol. But the story had produced upon Leo an effect +which the narrator never intended. The young lieutenant was firmly +convinced that his father had been mistaken. His uncle Ferdinand had +never refused to fight a duel from cowardice; it was impossible! Had he +not passed through the same struggle with himself which his uncle had +formerly undergone? Small as was the old colonel's comprehension of his +son's motives to-day, it must have been infinitely less with regard to +his brother's motives in his hot-headed youth. Would he not have +suspected Leo of cowardice if his colonel had not borne such +enthusiastic testimony to the young officer's bravery? + +Leo was most desirous to hear the rest of the story, but he did not +venture to interrupt the old man's gloomy reverie. He sat silent until, +after a long pause, the colonel at last struck the floor violently with +his cane, and, lifting his head, said, in a loud, harsh voice, "What +good will thinking of it or regretting it do now? What is done is done, +and there's no help for it. The grave will not give up its dead. My +cowardly vagabond of a brother has burdened my soul with another's +blood! I can see him now, the handsome young fellow, curveting over +the field at a review, with his dolman fluttering gayly over his +shoulder,--and then it's all changed: I see only his pale face as he +lies dying with my bullet through his lungs. He forgave me; he knew I +could not help it. I could not endure that a Heydeck should tamely +suffer disgrace. With his dying breath he declared me a man of honour +whom he greatly esteemed, and he died in my arms. + +"I can forgive Ferdinand everything but this, that he should have +forced me to shoot down that fine young fellow and rob a poor mother of +her only child! No, I can never, never forgive him! But enough of this; +I did my duty then, and I will do it again, only I hope the bullet this +time will not enter the youthful breast heaving with gay love of life, +but bring rest to the weary old cripple." + +Leo would have interposed here, but his father gave him no opportunity, +and continued,-- + +"Let us finish this once for all. Do not interrupt me. I was sentenced +to one year's imprisonment. As soon as I was free again I hastened to +my father's death-bed. He gave me his blessing, and left his curse for +his unworthy son, whom he would have disinherited had he possessed +anything in the world save his honourable name. For a long time I heard +nothing of Ferdinand. After my father's death a letter arrived from +him; I never broke the seal, but returned it to him with, 'Unopened. +Hans von Heydeck,' written on the envelope. The letter bore the +official stamp of a Hungarian town. Some years afterwards a friend who +had been travelling in Hungary told me that he had met Ferdinand in +Pesth; that he was living there as tutor with a wealthy Hungarian +noble; and after several more years I learned that he had purchased +large estates in the Tyrol,--having become a very wealthy man by his +marriage with a rich tradesman's heiress; that his wife had died about +a year after her marriage in giving birth to a son, who had not long +survived his mother. Ferdinand, therefore, was the sole possessor of +great wealth, which, however, he did not seem to enjoy, as he lived the +life of a hermit in his lonely castle, which he left only for a few +weeks in the year, when his shattered health made a sojourn at one of +the baths desirable. + +"My last indirect news of Ferdinand I had about ten years ago. He had +married some time before a very beautiful girl of an ancient and noble +family. This second wife, however, whom he was said to have loved most +devotedly, also died after a short time, leaving him an only child,--a +daughter. He had been inconsolable for her loss, and was leading a more +retired life even than before, scarcely ever leaving his castle, +Reifenstein. Buried in his books, he repelled all advances from his +neighbours, and was regarded in all the country round as a proud, +inaccessible aristocrat. He had become a Catholic, and observed with +great rigour all the duties and fasts of his church, although, in +accordance with a promise made to her Protestant mother, he brought up +his daughter in the Protestant faith. + +"After this indirect intelligence, which I had some time since from a +friend visiting in the Tyrol, I heard nothing farther of my brother +until I received a letter from himself, about a week ago. At first I +was undecided whether to break the seal or to return it to him +unopened, as I had done by the first I had from him. At last I opened +it, and yet, after I had read it, I was more undecided than before. The +memory of the disgraceful past prompted me to burn it, while reason +bade me give it to you. Since I received it I have always carried it +about with me. Now I am glad that I did not burn it, since that has +happened which I never could have anticipated. + +"I was convinced that an honourable career was assured to you; that, +without any outside aid, you would have attained the highest military +honours. All that is past. Here is your uncle's letter; read it +yourself." + +Leo took the letter which his father handed him, and eagerly ran +through it. It was as follows: + + +"More than thirty years have passed since that miserable evening which +exiled me forever from my native country. Are you still implacable, +Hans? My first letter to you, begging your forgiveness, was returned to +me unopened. Will this one share the same fate? If it should, we are +parted forever. For humbled as is my pride I cannot, for the third +time, offer in reconciliation a hand that has been twice rejected. But +no; I know you will read these lines. These long years must surely have +softened your hard judgment. You will remember sadly, as I do, the +happy days of childhood, and no longer think with hatred and aversion +of the brother whom you once loved so tenderly. + +"Let us now, as old men, Hans, forget what occurred in that wretched +night. Let us reflect that we, brothers, are the last of the noble race +of the von Heydecks, and resolve together to do what we can to revive +the half-extinguished lustre of our ancient name. + +"Daring the thirty melancholy years which I have passed in exile,--by +my father's curse an outcast from my family,--the consciousness of +being a Heydeck has upheld me and saved me from much degradation to +which want might have compelled me. + +"You can never dream of the suffering I brought upon myself by +refusing, as I did, to comply with a custom so long upheld by +aristocratic authority. All the wretchedness of my life has been the +consequence of the events of that night which drove me forth from my +parents,--from you and from my country. My punishment has been bitter! + +"At first I became tutor in the family of a Hungarian magnate; then I +entered that of a wealthy banker. In this dependent position I was +subjected to humiliations of every kind. My blood boils now at the +remembrance of how I was forced to yield to the whims of others: to +humour dulness on the one side and intellectual superficiality on the +other. It was a terrible ordeal! After some years, I became acquainted +with a young and beautiful woman, the wealthy widow of a manufacturer, +who had left her all his property. Her beauty attracted me, her wealth +allured me! I was fearfully punished. She made my life a hell on earth. + +"I Was foolish enough at the time of our marriage to allow myself to be +persuaded to sign a paper giving to her the entire right of disposal of +her property, and of bequeathing it as she chose in case of her death. +I had sold myself, and did not even receive the proceeds of the sale! I +actually believed that love would bend my wife's wishes to my will, and +went so far, in my devotion to my bride, as to change my faith for her +sake,--I became a Catholic! + +"My punishment was sure and speedy. My wife reduced me almost to +despair. While she scarcely allowed me sufficient means for the bare +necessities of existence, she indulged in the wildest extravagance. I +had to resign my beloved studies to accompany her to balls and +masquerades, to concerts and the theatre. If I did not go with her she +found some other escort. It was a horrible time! I was pursued by +continual dread lest my wife might dishonour me. And I had to endure it +all, for if I had attempted a separation I should have been a beggar. +Death came at last to relieve me from my wretched thraldom. She died a +few months after giving birth to a son, and on her death-bed she +testified her hatred of me. She made a will which gave every penny +which she possessed to her son; to me she left nothing. As during her +life I lived but by her bounty, I was, after her death, to be dependent +upon that of her son. I say hers, for I never believed him to be mine! +She died with a smile of satisfied hatred upon her lips. She thought me +crushed forever; but she had forgotten to appoint a guardian for her +child, and this was my salvation. In the eye of the law I was his +father, and as such his natural guardian. Moreover, when after a short +time he died, I was his heir. + +"I will say no more, dear Hans, of that horrible time. I was a prey to +the stings of conscience. The thought that I had sold myself for gold +never left me. I was doubly dishonoured! + +"Henceforth I lived solitary and alone, given over to my historical and +scientific studies in my old castle in the Tyrol, until my health +obliged me to try the waters at Carlsbad. There I became acquainted +with a charming girl, Countess Hilda von Sarnstein. I won her hand, and +she came with me to the Tyrol. She was an angel. If the memory of my +miserable past had not still poisoned my existence I should have been +the happiest man in the world while by her side. She left me all too +soon; but in my Hilda I have her living image. My daughter is my sole +joy and pride; her gay, happy temperament enlivens as far as is +possible my melancholy retired existence. When I hear her joyous +laughter, I forget for a moment the wretched past. My dearest wish is +to make her happy; and it is in the hope of doing so that I have for +years nourished the scheme which I now tell you. I am rich; after my +death all my property will devolve upon my child, who will bring it to +her future husband. Shall it go to a stranger? Affection for my kindred +has always filled my heart. In the saddest times of my life I +remembered with loving fidelity my home and my parents, of whom I +always contrived to procure tidings until their death; since when I +have followed your career, Hans, with the deepest interest. I have +never lost sight of you or yours. + +"When a son was born to you, I rejoiced with you that our noble name +would once more have a worthy representative. I could have wished that +he had been a scholar instead of a soldier, but I am nevertheless proud +of my nephew, the last genuine Heydeck. I have taken pains to learn all +that I could of him, and I know how brilliantly he distinguished +himself in the French war. + +"I have often told my Hilda of you and of Leo; her blue eyes sparkle +when she hears his name; she is proud of her cousin, and loves him +without ever having seen him. Could I but see Leo and Hilda man and +wife! I conjure you, Hans, forget what parted us; help me to provide a +happy future for our children. We old people could depart in peace if +we knew our name thus destined to flourish worthily. + +"Answer me, Hans, as soon as you can, or better still send your Leo to +me at Castle Reifenstein; he will be received with open arms by your +brother, + + "Ferdinand." + + +Leo dropped the letter, which he had read with the greatest attention. +"Now I understand you, father," he said, sadly. "You desire me to +accede to my uncle's proposition that I should go to the Tyrol and sell +my freedom." + +"Yes, that is what I desire," the colonel burst out; "but I see that +you are minded to reject also this last means of securing to our family +a dignified independence in the world!" + +"Is it honourable to accept the gift of wealth at the hands of a man +whom you have always heaped with opprobrium?" + +"You have no right to condemn him as I do, since you have followed his +example. I have had hard work to make up my mind; but now that it is +made up, I will not yield one jot! Yesterday, I thought my son's +marriage with the daughter of my wretched brother a disgrace; to-day, I +see in it the only possible means of avoiding the shame of having the +last Heydeck depend for existence upon quill-driving or daubing. I give +you my honour that we are separated forever, you and I, if you do not +set off for the Tyrol and your uncle to-morrow! Now you know that there +is no use in one word more. Make your decision, and let me have it in +writing. I will not see you again before your departure!" + +The old man arose to leave the room, and Leo did not attempt to detain +him. He knew perfectly well that after the colonel had given 'his +honour' no power on earth could induce him to alter his determination. + +Leaning heavily on his bamboo cane, the colonel hobbled to the door, +opened it, and stood pondering for one moment upon the threshold. Then +he turned once more to his son, and, in a much gentler tone than he had +hitherto used, said, "We part, Leo, certainly for a long time, perhaps +forever. If you hear that sudden death has overtaken me, do not think +hardly of your old father; but if you have a spark of love for me obey +me and go to the Tyrol!" + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free +to indulge in his own reflections. What troubled him most was his +father's resolve to fight Bertram. It was but too certain that the +obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as +possible. In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the +man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he +thought only of how this duel might be prevented. + +A sudden idea flashed upon him, showing him he hoped a means of +attaining this end. In the greatest haste he changed his dress, laying +aside his uniform forever,--since he had already handed in his +resignation and received leave of absence, he no longer considered +himself as belonging to the service, and he hoped, moreover, in the +dress of a civilian to escape immediate recognition on the part of his +former comrades. + +Once more he paused before the picture on the easel, and murmured as he +gazed at it, "All this is your work. You drive me forth into the world; +you have destroyed all my hopes; and yet I cannot chide you,--not even +although you turn from me those dark, enchanting eyes! Farewell! I dare +not gaze longer into their depths: they bewilder my heart and soul, and +now I need every faculty I possess to help me to carve out my future. +Farewell, forever! I must see you never again!" + +After one long, last look, he took the portrait from the easel and +leaned it with its face against the wall. Then he hurriedly left the +room and the house. + +In the street, seeing Count Waldheim in the distance, and wishing to +avoid all discussion of his affairs with any one for the present, he +turned in an opposite direction, called a fiacre, and was driven +rapidly to a retired and extremely handsome villa in the suburbs. Here +a footman in rich livery instantly appeared, opened the carriage-door, +and evidently had been taught to regard Leo as an honoured guest. + +"Is Herr Delmar at home?" + +"To you, Herr Lieutenant, but to no one else. My master is at dinner, +but he has given orders that you are to be admitted at all hours. I +will announce you immediately." + +"No need, I will announce myself." + +"As you please, Herr Lieutenant; my master dines in the garden-room." + +Leo nodded in answer to the man's low bow, and then hurriedly passed +through the hall and several antechambers on his way to the familiar +garden-room. He paid no heed to the more than princely luxury of the +surroundings, scarcely even glancing at the splendid pictures with +which the walls were hung, but hurried on. + +Surrounded by rare tropical plants, in a room the walls of which were +almost entirely of glass, but kept perfectly cool by the constant play +of a fountain, a table was spread, at which sat Herr Paul Delmar, with +a liveried servant behind his chair. + +The lord of this magnificent villa, of several other princely estates, +and of a capital of several millions, was a young man thirty years old +at most,--not strictly handsome, but of an interesting, cheerful +countenance, in which sparkled a pair of brilliant black eyes. The nose +was too large and the skin too sallow for beauty, otherwise the +features were admirable, and the whole bearing and air of the man +extremely attractive, especially when the face was lit up by the +frequent half-kindly, half-ironical smile. + +"Is that you, Leo?" he cried to the new-comer. "A rare guest, indeed; +sit down. A place for Herr von Heydeck," he gave orders to the servant. + +"No, no, Paul, I cannot; thanks," Leo replied. + +"Have you dined?" + +"No, but----" + +"Then I'll take no excuse. Not on your account, Leo; you know how +selfish I am,--my own comfort is my chief care. Nothing would taste as +it should with you sitting there fasting and hungry." + +"But I'm not hungry; I assure you I have not the least appetite." + +"But I have, and you shall not spoil it by sitting there eating nothing +and watching me. There is nothing in this world of more importance than +a good dinner; I pity any man who does not know how to appreciate so +refined an enjoyment. A bad dinner is the greatest of losses: it can +never be repaired,--it has gone forever! He only who knows how to eat +appreciates the full value of life. Here is your plate, Leo,--my Jean +is an active fellow,--and now take your soup; season it as you like it, +and, for heaven's sake, look like a reasonable being. Such a long face +as yours is as bad for the soup as if the cook had over-salted it." + +Delmar set his friend an excellent example, which Leo gradually +followed. The events of the day had made him forget his dinner and turn +from the idea of food, but youth and health soon asserted themselves, +and to his host's satisfaction he did ample justice to the admirable +repast before him. + +During dinner he did not touch upon what he had come to say,--he knew +that his friend disliked all disturbing emotions during his meal-times, +and as he wished to secure his entire and undivided attention he waited +until the servant had brought coffee and retired before he began. "I +have come to you to-day, Paul, to ask you to help me." + +"Indeed! I shall be only too delighted; but I mistrust you,--you know +it is an old quarrel between us that you always give and never accept." + +"To-day I will accept, and a great service from you too,--if you will +do it for me." + +"Anything in my power, Leo, is done for you before you ask it. You +could hardly ask too much, as you know." + +"I knew what you would say, Paul," the other cried, grasping his +friend's hand cordially. + +But Paul withdrew it with a smile. "For heaven's sake don't be +sentimental," he said; "and pray don't imagine that I stir a finger for +you out of consideration for you. Everything that I do, I do solely for +my own sake. It gives me pleasure to do something for you,--it disturbs +the tedious monotony of existence. I may perhaps hit upon something +entertaining; that is why, and only why, you could hardly ask too much +of me! You know very well that I am an incorrigible egotist, and +therefore, and because I am devoured by curiosity, tell me what you +want." + +"You shall learn, you miserable egotist, whom gross selfishness drives +to any amount of self-sacrifice for a friend; but before I tell you you +must know what has happened to-day." And Leo described calmly and +frankly the events of the day. + +When he repeated his expressions with regard to Eva Schommer Delmar +gave a nod of assent, and said, "A severe but perfectly correct summary +of the heiress's character. I met her to-day just as you were +discoursing so amiably about her. I rode past her carriage and had a +most gracious bow. The fair Eva knows that my millions outnumber her +own, and esteems me accordingly. You are right, Leo; pride of purse is +more disgusting than pride of birth. Fräulein Schommer is an odious +creature." + +Paul gave one keen glance at Leo as he spoke, and noticed that the +latter suddenly flushed as he replied, "Certainly _you_ have no right, +Paul, to speak thus of Fräulein Schommer. I did not know that she had +injured you." + +"I am not speaking of myself. I was only confirming your judgment, your +own words." + +"Which I acknowledge to have been hasty and unjust. You do not dream, +Paul, what disastrous results they had for me. Listen!" + +Paul smiled and nodded, promising not to interrupt again; but he did +not keep his word, for when his friend described Bertram's +interference, and repeated word for word what he had said, he started +up in violent agitation, threw away the cigar which he had just +lighted, and exclaimed, "What! the scoundrel dared to accuse you of +dishonourable conduct? Is the fellow mad? And what did you do, Leo? +Struck him across the face with the flat of your sword I trust as he +deserves. At all events, I hope you were not insane enough to challenge +a rogue who could not insult you?" + +"You know my principles with regard to duelling." + +"Of courage; but who thinks of principles in such a case? I envy you +the capacity to do so. Fortunately then you did not challenge him. Of +course you gave him a suitable memento of the occasion? Go on, Leo; I +will control my cursed temper if I can and not interrupt again." + +He lighted another cigar and leaning back in his chair kept his word +this time. With exemplary patience he listened while Leo +circumstantially related all that had occurred: his conversation with +Colonel von Herwarth, his resignation from the service, and then his +interview with his father, finally giving Delmar his uncle Ferdinand's +letter to read. + +As the story went on Paul was strongly tempted to break his promise. He +moved uneasily in his chair when Leo told of his resignation, and when +he heard that the old colonel proposed calling out Bertram he was on +the point of bursting into a rage, but he controlled himself, and +suppressed all comment. On the other hand, he quite chuckled over the +old colonel's command that his son should forbear to earn his living by +honest labour, and instead rescue the family honour by a wealthy +marriage. And he read through Ferdinand's letter without a word. + +"Now, Paul, you know everything," Leo said in conclusion, "and you must +have some suspicion of what I want of you. It lies in your power to +prevent any duel between my father and Bertram. You once hinted to me +in confidence that you were privy to some disgraceful conduct of +Bertram's. You have but to tell my father of this, and his principles +will forbid his calling out a scoundrel. This is why I am come to you. +I am sure you will relieve me of this anxiety, which is the worst that +I have to endure at present." + +Paul leaned back comfortably in his arm-chair and blew forth several +artistically-formed rings of smoke, then sipped his coffee and +proceeded to blow forth more rings, as was his custom when buried in +reflection. + +His silence troubled Leo. "You do not answer me, Paul. Can you not or +will you not help me? I remember you were with Bertram a great deal +last winter, but I never really regarded you as his friend." + +"Friend of that scoundrel? I wouldn't give that for his friendship!" +And he snapped his fingers. "He was my slave," he continued. "I paid +him well, that I might get rid of him when I did not want to use him +any longer, and I will do it now! Cast the shadow from your brow, you +anxious, heavily-principled son of a hot-headed father. This +nonsensical duel is out of the question. I promise you that I will +prevent it. I settled that in my mind instantly, and it seemed such +child's play to me that I had ceased to think of it. I was thinking of +you, Leo; the fact is that I am more and more convinced that you are +the strangest, most enigmatical human being on God's earth. I regard +you as I should some fabled monster of prehistoric times. We have grown +up together, I thought I knew you, and yet you are continually taking +me by surprise." + +"I really cannot see what eccentricity of mine has just at present +provoked this rather unflattering outburst," Leo remarked, not very +well pleased. + +"I suppose not; the fact is it is useless to be surprised at you, for +you are made up of eccentricities and never do anything like other +people. You are an artist and a scholar, opposed on principle to war, +nevertheless you became an officer in the army, and behaved like a hero +in the field. You have a friend--a millionaire--who desires nothing +more ardently than to serve you, and you live with the greatest economy +upon your meagre pay, denying yourself every enjoyment, although I +confess you never look like a poor man. You are a democrat of the +purest type, and yet get along delightfully with your aristocratic +comrades without ever being false to your principles." + +"I should have thought all this was nothing new to you." + +"True; but to-day you have capped the climax of your inconsistencies. +You say yourself that it pains you to send in your resignation, and yet +you do it, although you could by a single word have crushed to the +earth the infamous coward who insulted you, and who of course knew that +you would not call him out. You cannot fight a scoundrel any more than +can your father. You might have done for yourself what you have done +for him." + +"That would have been cowardice, and a falsehood besides; for I refrain +from calling Bertram out not because the fellow is a scoundrel, but +because I consider duelling criminal. I will never disgrace myself by +hypocrisy and a denial of my principles." + +"Heroism! extraordinary, antediluvian heroism! I repeat, I regard you +with admiring awe, Leo; although I, poor grovelling earth-worm that I +am, cannot climb to your sublime heights. And this is just why I am so +infatuated about you,--for if you were like me! should find you as +desperately tiresome as all the rest of the world,--and why I am +anxious about you, for with your prehistoric truth and honour you'll +hardly have much luck in this present world. Just now for example, you +are in a charming little scrape, and I am really anxious to know how +you will pull through it. You have sent in your resignation and have to +begin life with nothing, or next to nothing. Tell me frankly how much +money you have laid by, for I am convinced that you are an admirable +economist and have contrived to lay by something." + +"No, I have laid by nothing, but I inherited from my mother about two +thousand thalers which I have never touched, and which will be amply +sufficient to support me until I have arranged my future existence." + +"And you are going to diminish that pittance? Will you not at last be +reasonable, Leo, and see that you can give me no greater pleasure----" + +"Not a word more, Paul! You know that you can never offend me except by +offering me money." + +"I am dumb, but I cannot suppress the remark that you are a greater +egotist than I. What the deuce is the good of my money if the man whom +I love best in the world will never take a penny of it, and looks as if +he would bite me if I so mach as mention his doing so? But there, I am +dumb. I must take you as you are. You will live on your two thousand +thalers then until you have arranged your future existence,--what sort +of an existence? I am greatly mistaken if you contemplate acceding to +your amiable uncle's proposal." + +"Never! the mere idea of marrying for money disgusts me!" + +"I thought so. For my part, my sentiments are expressed in the saying, +'Wealth is no disgrace, and poverty no virtue;' but you would of course +refuse your cousin Hilda's hand, just because she happened to be +wealthy." + +"No; if I loved her and was loved by her, I should, although I admit it +would be difficult and against the grain, try to forget that she was +rich; but I do not love her, and I never can love her!" + +"You don't know her yet. To be sure, judging from her father, whose +letter is not exactly instinct in every line with delicacy of +sentiment, there is not very much to be expected of her; but she may, +nevertheless, be an extremely charming girl." + +"And if she were,--if she were possessed of the beauty and amiability +of an angel,--still I could never love her!" + +"In--deed, in--deed? You seem surprisingly secure in your knowledge of +yourself. Hm! I suspected as much. I remarked, you may remember, that +you were in a deuce of a scrape. You'll have, at all events, to +sacrifice some one of your principles, for I suppose you number filial +duty among them. Do you forget that your father threatens to disown you +if you sully his name by quill-driving or daubing canvas for a living, +and if you do not start to-morrow for the Tyrol to see your uncle? Take +one piece of advice from me, Leo: obey this last demand of your +father's. Go to the Tyrol and make your uncle a visit,--you bind +yourself to nothing by doing so. It cannot hurt you just to look at +your cousin Hilda--the name sounds really very pretty--besides, it is +best for you to be out of the way for the present of all the gossip +that there will be here. Nothing surely can be more beneficial to your +art than a sojourn among the glorious Alps. Be reasonable for once, +Leo. Time is everything to you now. In time your father, even though he +be as thick-skulled as yourself, must listen to reason, and see that a +Heydeck can work without disgrace if he has not money enough to live +upon." + +Paul's advice was so reasonable that Leo could not but accept it. +Undesirable as nearer intercourse with his uncle and cousin must be, +judging from the letter which had produced a very unfavourable +impression, he could not but feel it his duty to conquer his aversion +to the journey which his father had enjoined upon him. Paul was right; +it was very desirable to gain time, for only with time was there any +chance of combating successfully the old soldier's prejudices. And so, +after a short pause of reflection, Leo declared that he would follow +his friend's advice and set out for the Tyrol the next morning, if +Delmar would first assure him that the duel between the old colonel and +Bertram should not take place. + +"You may be certain of it this very evening," Delmar said, highly +delighted. "My slave is bound to me by such fetters that if I choose he +will ask your pardon on his knees!" + +"That I do not desire." + +"What you desire does not concern me at present, but that I fulfil my +promise and make this crazy duel impossible for your father, and that +shall be done immediately. Do me a favour in return, I pray. Take me +with you to the Tyrol to-morrow." + +"You want to go to the Tyrol with me?" + +"Yes, I do; it is horribly tiresome and stupid here in K----. I cannot +stand it any longer. I want to breathe Alpine air." + +"But, Paul, we cannot possibly travel together. Remember I must husband +my means and travel third-class, and stop at second-rate inns." + +"I will travel third-class with you; it will be a change, and much +cooler and pleasanter in summer." + +"But the second-class hotels? Do you forget what you said only a little +while ago about a bad dinner?" + +"For heaven's sake don't call me to account for all the nonsense I +talk! In short, I want to go with you. We will travel afoot, student +fashion, and sketch and amuse ourselves as we can. Of course you will +have to stay with your uncle at Castle Reifenstein, but there will +surely be a tolerable inn somewhere near, where I can take up my +quarters. I want to be at hand to see what becomes of you." + +"Do you insist then upon making this sacrifice for me, Paul?" + +"For the love of heaven don't grow sentimental again! I have no idea of +making any sacrifice for you. I am not thinking of you, but of myself. +I shall like the joke of it, of travelling afoot instead of _en +millionnaire_, I wish to study life in its various phases, with you for +my companion. On the whole, you see, you are a very entertaining +fellow, that is all. Pure selfishness,--nothing else, I assure you. So +now go home and pack your portmanteau, that we may start early +to-morrow, while I look for our mutual friend at Büchner's, where he is +sure to be at this time, and where I propose to rattle his chains in +his ears." + + +Bertram had at last attained the summit of his hopes. The lovely +heiress, Eva Schommer, was his betrothed; his dearest wish was +fulfilled, and yet he could not thoroughly enjoy his good fortune. He +listened most amiably to the congratulations of the astonished and +delighted Uncle Balthasar, and to those also of Aunt Minni, who was +less astonished and less delighted, or at all events refrained from any +distinct expression of astonishment and delight. He reciprocated +good-humoured old Balthasar's expressions of esteem and good will, but +yet he could not help feeling as if the betrothal in some way were not +genuine. + +And yet Eva, her resolution once taken, accommodated herself to her +position with much more readiness than Bertram would, from what she had +said to him, have supposed possible. She received her uncle's and +aunt's congratulations pleasantly, and when Uncle Balthasar suggested +that she should address her lover familiarly by his Christian name, and +seal their betrothal with a kiss, she refused it is true, but not +unkindly and with a smile. She gave Bertram permission to make the +betrothal public after the usual fashion, by sending cards to all their +acquaintances, but insisted that all congratulations should be +addressed solely to him, positively refusing to receive the usual +congratulatory visits. The next day, if her kind uncle Balthasar was +agreed, she meant to leave K---- for several weeks or even months. + +At this unexpected intelligence Uncle Balthasar opened his eyes in +astonishment. "Good gracious, Eva my dear," he said, "the thing is +impossible! You can't think of going alone, and how are we all to be +ready by to-morrow?" + +But Eva declared that it would be very easy. She had long desired to +see Switzerland or the Tyrol, and very little luggage was necessary for +a journey to the mountains. Nanette and Wilhelm could easily get +everything ready in the course of the evening: she herself and Aline +might assist; and, if her kind uncle and aunt would only not say no, +nothing should hinder their departure by noon the next day in the +express train. + +When did Uncle Balthasar ever say no to any request of his niece's? He +could no more do so than could Aunt Minni, who with a gentle sigh +resigned herself to her fate, and only asked meekly whither they were +going; a question which Eva could not answer. She begged her uncle to +decide where to go,--it would perhaps be best that he should consult +with Aline,--there was the whole evening in which to make their choice. + +Eva never asked Bertram's advice as to their destination, and when, +with some hesitation, he asked whether it would not be possible to +postpone for one day their departure, in order that his aunt, Madame +von Sturmhaupt, might express to Eva the pleasure she would so surely +feel in her nephew's betrothal, he received from Eva so quiet and firm +a refusal by way of reply, that it was plain to see that he was not to +found upon the fact of his betrothal any right to make requests. +She declared positively that she would receive no congratulatory +visits,--not one. Her intention to leave K---- on the morrow was, since +Uncle Balthasar had given his consent to the plan, unalterable, and +would assuredly be put into execution. + +This was very sharp and decided, but the effect of it was a little +softened when Eva kindly added that she hoped Herr von Bertram would +spend this last evening before her departure in her home-circle, and +that when he returned with the intelligence that his quarrel with Herr +von Heydeck was satisfactorily adjusted, he should learn whither they +intended to go. + +This was a distinct dismissal and reminder that his promise was yet to +be fulfilled, and Bertram thus understood it. + +He kissed the hand which Eva extended to him, did the same by Aunt +Minni, and took his departure, refusing Uncle Balthasar's offer to +accompany him, on the ground that only the absence of all formal +ceremony on the old man's part could make him really feel like a member +of the family. + +But this was not his reason for desiring to leave the room alone; he +had a presentiment that he should find Nanette in the antechamber, +and he had good grounds for wishing to see her alone. He was not +deceived,--the first thing that met his eyes as the door of the +drawing-room closed behind him was the waiting-maid, who was busy very +near the door. She greeted him with a low courtesy; her face was +crimson, and she regarded him with a malicious smile as she whispered, +"I give you joy, Herr Lieutenant----" + +"You have been listening!" + +"Of course; what was I here for?" she replied, pertly. + +"I am not blaming you, my dear; quite the contrary." + +"Oh, indeed, I'm not going to listen for you. It is bad enough without +that to have brought me here to this proud Zantuppy. I hate her, I do! +And I'll not stand it long in this low place, let me tell you! 'Tis a +sin and a shame that I must look on while you betroth yourself to the +creature, and you asking me to help you, too!" + +In her agitation Nanette forgot to whisper, as she had done when she +first addressed Bertram. She did not speak loudly, although +sufficiently so to cause Bertram fear lest she should be heard in the +drawing-room. + +"Do be quiet; speak softly, my dear girl," he begged, seizing her hand. +"You know it is only out of love for you, and that I may be able to +provide more handsomely for you, that I am forced to make a wealthy +marriage. But we cannot talk here,--we may be discovered at any moment. +Come early to-morrow to my aunt's; I will be there. Keep your eyes +open, my dear child, for both our sakes. Farewell, my little darling, +till we meet." + +He looked cautiously towards the door: it was tightly closed; he then +snatched one kiss from the extremely placable Nanette and was gone. + +This meeting with Nanette did but increase his anxiety of mind. The tie +that bound him to Eva was as yet but weak and frail; until the +betrothal was publicly known it might easily be dissolved, which it +certainly would be if Eva's desire with regard to the quarrel with +Heydeck were not fulfilled. It was of the first importance that this +tie should be made firm and indissoluble, and to this end he must act +with energy and promptitude. + +He decided upon a plan of action as soon as he left the villa, but he +did not proceed to its execution with any very great satisfaction, for +he was staking his whole future upon a single card. He had made an +appointment with Count Waldheim to meet him at the Casino, and thither +he betook himself. This interview with Waldheim was the first step in +the carrying out of his scheme; the first, and by no means the +easiest,--he dreaded it. + +Waldheim was a gay young officer, but a man of stainless honour, +wherefore Bertram considered him a most important ally. He dreaded +greatly lest he should refuse him his support. + +When he reached the Casino he found to his satisfaction that it was +nearly deserted. Count Waldheim sat solitary at a table in the large +dining-hall, a cup of coffee before him, reading a newspaper. He had +remained there solely to redeem his promise to Bertram. "You have +sorely tried my patience," he grumbled, when the man he had been +waiting for at last appeared. "I have been bored here for more than an +hour." + +"You will forgive me I know, my dear Count, when you learn that the +hour has brought me the fulfilment of my dearest hopes. You are the +first to learn from me the intelligence of my betrothal to Fräulein Eva +Schommer!" + +"Ah--I give you joy!" + +The wish did not sound quite cordial, preceded as it was by a +long-drawn-out 'ah,' not at all flattering in emphasis; but Bertram +took no notice of this. He knew Waldheim's opinion of the connection, +and he refrained from saying anything to induce a further expression of +it. + +"I am a fortunate man," he continued; "and to you, to your friendship, +I owe my good fortune. Everything has happened as I had anticipated it +would. After your speaking, according to your promise, to Balthasar, +Eva sent for me. I should never have dared to declare myself to her if +she had maintained her former cold reserve, but in this interview her +pride gave way,--her heart betrayed itself. Her agitation, her maidenly +terror, lent me courage. I confessed my love for her; she did not +reject it, and thus I may thank you for my present happiness." + +"You do not owe it to me, but to your own skilful play," the Count +replied. "I only hope you will be as content in the end as you are at +present; that you will not find Herr von Heydeck's friend waiting for +you at your rooms." + +"No fear of that; but indeed, to speak frankly, I am now extremely +sorry for my attack upon Heydeck. I wish I could recall it." + +"What! when it has been the means of your betrothal?" + +"Yes, in spite of that, for I cannot but feel that I have done very +wrong. I have attacked a man who possesses no means of defence. I +thought Heydeck a coward, and was content to insult him, but I have +learned better. He will not challenge me; he will bear my insult +unavenged; not from cowardice, but because his principles forbid his +fighting a duel, and he will sooner endure any disgrace than be false +to them." + +"Impossible! you are dreaming!" + +"No, I am sure of what I say,--sure. If you doubt it ask Heydeck's best +friend, Herr von Herwarth, who will confirm my words." + +"Did Herr von Herwarth give you this extraordinary piece of +intelligence?" + +"No; I learned it from another source quite as trustworthy. I am not at +liberty to say more with regard to it, but I am in a most embarrassing +position. I have mortally insulted a man whose principles forbid his +avenging the insult, which will consequently ruin his future career. He +will be forced to leave the service in disgrace, and he has no fortune. +In spite of his strange ideas Heydeck is an excellent officer. I cannot +reconcile it to my conscience that I have been the means of driving so +good an officer from the army. Advise me, my dear Count, what to do in +this case." + +Count Waldheim listened with increasing surprise to Bertram's words. "I +advise you?" he replied. "I am utterly confused by the contradictory +statements you make. Heydeck is an excellent officer and no coward, and +yet his principles require him to prefer disgrace to duelling. This is +incredible--a contradiction in terms. And then your sudden regret, this +tender consideration for the man whom, saving your presence, you +wilfully and grossly insulted to serve your own purpose. I cannot +understand you nor advise you." + +"I feared so, for unfortunately the whole matter is so strange that my +regret must seem incomprehensible. Who can advise me if you, who saw +the whole affair, cannot? I cannot be the ruin of this unfortunate man. +He is capable of putting a bullet through his brains in his despair, +and if by my fault he should do so I never should forgive myself. If +you will not and cannot advise me, I must follow the dictates of my +conscience. I must retract my offensive expressions to Heydeck in the +presence of witnesses and ask his pardon." + +"This then is what you wished to lead up to by the extraordinary story +you have been telling me, Herr von Bertram," the Count said, with +undisguised contempt in voice and look. He arose and buckled the belt +of his sabre. "Do what you think best, or, as you are pleased to +express it, 'follow the dictates of your conscience,' but pray do not +require me or your other comrades to believe that Herr von Heydeck's +unerring aim with a pistol has no share in your magnanimous resolve!" + +Casting a last contemptuous glance at Bertram, the Count was about to +leave him, but the dragoon detained him. "You must not leave me thus, +Count Waldheim," he said, "with a suspicion in your mind of my courage +and integrity. The disgraceful doubt which you have expressed gives me +a claim upon your honour to see that justice is done me. I now request +you to see Herr von Heydeck and learn from his own lips the +confirmation of what I told you. If he announces his intention of +calling me out for insulting him, I entirely resign all thought of +begging his pardon. I shall gladly accept his challenge, and rely upon +the fulfilment of your promise to act as my second. If, on the other +hand, he confirms what I told you, and will not send me a challenge +because his principles will not allow of his doing so, you will tell +him from me that I shall await him at Büchner's to retract my words in +the presence of witnesses. Only by fulfilling this my request, Count +Waldheim, can you atone for the shameful suspicion which you have +expressed of an old friend and comrade." + +Bertram had his voice and countenance under perfect control, and was +moreover, as we have said, an excellent actor. His simulated +indignation would have deceived a much keener observer than honest +Count Waldheim, and it produced the effect he had intended. Waldheim +felt ashamed of his hasty judgment; he acknowledged that he had sinned +against friendship for a comrade, and, in his regret for having done +so, he consented to do as Bertram requested, which in any other case he +would hardly have done. He promised to find Heydeck, and either to +bring him to Büchner's or to return to Bertram with the intelligence +that he might expect a challenge. + +With a pressure of the hand, which the Count returned but half +cordially, Bertram bade him farewell, and took a long and roundabout +way to Büchner's, where the momentous interview was to take place. + +When he reached the restaurant most of the tables beneath the awning +were already occupied by the officers of the various regiments in +garrison at K----. Many of those present had been witnesses of the +morning's occurrence, and all were perfectly informed of what had taken +place. The affair had made a great stir among the corps of officers, as +Bertram could plainly see by the gloomy looks with which he was +regarded by his comrades, some of whom took evident pains to avoid +seeing him, that they might not be forced to return his salute. + +His self-satisfied mood was somewhat impaired by the annoyance that the +evident avoidance of his comrades caused him. He would have liked to +turn away and leave the restaurant, but he had promised to wait for +Count Waldheim and Heydeck. He looked round to find a seat. If any +table had been quite unoccupied he would have seated himself at it; but +there was not one such to be found,--a few single seats were empty, and +towards one of these he made his way. It was at a corner table, and two +of the officers of his own regiment, and his personal acquaintances, +were already seated at it. + +He approached, and, nodding with his usual easy familiarity, he asked, +without noticing the icy acknowledgment of his greeting,-- + +"Is this chair taken?" + +"No," was the reply, "nor the table either; we are just going." And the +two men arose and with a brief salutation left the table, although +their coffee-cups were scarcely half emptied. That they left simply to +avoid Bertram's society was evident, since they stopped near another +table, and, entering into conversation with some acquaintances, ordered +a waiter to bring chairs. Thus they did not leave the place, but took +their seats at another table. + +Bertram bit his lips in a rage, but he was powerless to resent the +silent contempt of his comrades. He could not demand satisfaction for +cold glances and slighting acknowledgments of his salute. He was +excessively uncomfortable among these men whom he had been wont to call +his friends, but who avoided him as they would not have done had they +been strangers. The minutes passed on leaden wings; he cast many an +expectant glance towards the promenade outside, but full half an hour +elapsed before Count Waldheim appeared--alone. The Count's humour was +apparently none of the best: his brow was dark. He came up to the table +at which Bertram was sitting, but did not take the chair which the +dragoon pushed forward for him. As he stood beside it he said,-- + +"I did not find Herr von Heydeck at home; his servant told me that he +had gone out just before, in plain clothes; whither he could not say, +nor did he know when his master would return. From there I went to Herr +von Herwarth, whom I found at home, and I asked him frankly if he knew +anything of Heydeck's intentions with regard to your affair." + +"Well? He must have confirmed what I told you." + +"He did and he did not. At first he seemed unwilling to speak out. He +believed Herr von Heydeck had not as yet made up his mind. He displayed +a certain hesitation, a reserve, which I only overcame by extreme +frankness. I asked him directly whether it were true that Herr von +Heydeck was opposed to duelling from principle, and he admitted that it +was so, but expressed the hope that in this case his friend would prove +false to his principles and comply with the law of honour. I thought +myself justified after this in telling him exactly what had passed +between us, and it was well that I did so, for Herr von Herwarth is a +man of honour, and quite agrees with me that this matter can be +honourably adjusted only by a duel. He promised to find Herr von +Heydeck, and to use all his influence with him to induce him to +repudiate his extraordinary principles, and only in case he should +prove unsuccessful is he to tell him that he will find you here, +prepared to make him full reparation. I hope I have acted according to +your wishes, Herr von Bertram." + +This was not precisely the case, but Bertram dared not confess that the +insistance upon the duel was not at all according to his wishes, and he +thanked Waldheim warmly for his services. + +While engaged in conversation with the Count, he had not noticed that +there had suddenly arisen an unwonted stir among the military men +assembled at Büchner's. All eyes were turned towards an aged officer, +who had just appeared beneath the awning. He was standing at the +entrance, leaning on a stout bamboo cane, scanning the assemblage; his +grave stern glance passed from table to table, apparently seeking some +one whom he could not readily distinguish among the numbers of officers +present. + +"Gentlemen, does either of you know First Lieutenant von Bertram?" the +old man asked of two young infantry officers, who were seated at a +table playing dominoes. + +Before either could reply, Paul Delmar, who had appeared beneath the +awning simultaneously with the old man, answered, "Do you wish to speak +to Herr von Bertram, colonel? Yonder he sits beneath the awning, but in +the farthest comer. Count Waldheim is standing beside him." + +"My old eyes are not worth much," growled the colonel. "Sir, I thank +you. Your face is familiar to me, but just at present I cannot recall +your name; my memory leaves me in the lurch. 'Tis the curse of old age; +my senses fail me, and even my memory forsakes me." + +"It is many years, colonel, since I had the honour of seeing you, and I +may well be changed since then. I went to school with your son, and as +his friend used to be continually at your house. My name is Paul +Delmar." + +"Ah, little Paul, son of the wealthy banker. It is indeed long since I +saw you last. And you know Herr von Bertram?" + +"I do, colonel." + +"Then do me the favour to conduct me to him and introduce me. I have +something to say to the gentleman, and I know him but slightly, or +rather not at all. Will you oblige me?" + +"Certainly, colonel; this way, if you please." + +Delmar led the way, the colonel following slowly. Every step evidently +caused the old man pain, but he mastered it and walked on, leaning +heavily on his cane, and saluted respectfully on all sides by the +younger officers, who looked after him with unfeigned sympathy. + +When he reached the table at which Bertram was sitting, Delmar said, by +way of introduction, "Herr Premier Lieutenant von Bertram, Colonel von +Heydeck." + +Bertram sprang up and suddenly became very pale at sight of the old +officer, whose approach he had not noticed. A grim smile hovered upon +the old man's lips as he remarked the impression he produced; his tall, +slightly bent figure straightened itself proudly as he gazed scornfully +at the dragoon, whose glance could not meet the eyes so bent upon him. + +"I have asked for an introduction, Herr von Bertram," said the colonel, +in a loud voice that was distinctly heard everywhere beneath the +awning, "that I might call you to account for a scoundrelly----" + +"Stay, colonel! You must not go on!" Paul Delmar interrupted the old +man at this point. + +"Sir, by what earthly right?" the colonel burst out, angrily. + +"I appeal to your honour, colonel. I am firmly convinced that it is an +unalterable axiom of yours that no man of honour can fight with a +scoundrel whose word is worthless, and it is one of my axioms that no +man of honour has the right to quarrel with a scoundrel with whom he +cannot fight. Herr von Bertram is no opponent for you. You can no more +fight with Herr von Bertram than can any words spoken by him insult +your son; and, besides, there shall be not the smallest provocation for +your challenge, inasmuch as the gentleman will instantly declare before +all present that he recalls every offensive word addressed to your son +this morning, and that he humbly begs pardon for having uttered them." + +Paul's words produced a truly magical effect. Bertram upon whom all +eyes were fixed, stood, with downcast looks, like a condemned criminal +incapable of any reply, the consciousness of guilt so manifest in his +countenance that even the unsuspicious Count Waldheim was disgusted +with his friend's cowardice, and stepped back leaving him standing +alone. + +The colonel was thunderstruck. That a civilian should dare to treat an +officer thus in a public place transcended his power of belief; his +amazement deprived him of utterance. He looked from Bertram to Delmar. +What to think of it all he did not know. But one thing was perfectly +clear,--that Herr von Bertram must be a scoundrel, with whom no man of +honour could condescend to fight. + +Delmar allowed several seconds to pass to give the old officer time to +collect himself, and then continued: "Let me beg, colonel, that you +will allow me to say several words to Herr von Bertram in private, +after which you shall receive from him any satisfaction you may desire. +Herr von Bertram, have the kindness to step into this empty room with +me. You cannot but desire that what I have to say should be said in +private. Go first, if you please." + +Paul motioned towards the glass door of a room frequented by Büchner's +guests in winter or in rainy weather. Bertram entered it, and Delmar +followed him. They were quite alone in the large, empty room, and could +speak in low tones without being overheard, although a hundred eyes +were watching them through the wide folding-doors and open windows. + +"You have heard what I require of you, Herr von Bertram," Delmar began +the short interview. "I advise you to comply immediately, or you will +force me to produce a certain worthless note, in which you promise to +pay upon your word of honour, and to prove that you have broken that +word by showing a certain check, bearing the signature of Count +Waldheim, which I should like to have him verify." + +"What have I done, Delmar, to provoke you to treat a friend with such +cruelty?" Bertram asked, in despair. + +"Do not profane the word _friend_," Delmar replied, sternly. "I never +honoured you with my friendship, as you well know. I never concealed my +contempt for you. I bought you with my money. It amused me for a while +to be introduced to certain exclusive aristocratic circles which were +closed to me in spite of my wealth. I made use of you for this purpose. +When you presented me everywhere as your dearest friend, you knew +perfectly well why you did so. I never said one word to you that could +justify you in calling me your friend. But of what use are these +explanations? They are entirely unnecessary between us. I ask now, are +you willing to make the humble--I repeat the word--humble apology which +I require, outside, beneath the awning? Decide quickly. I can give you +no more time." + +"If I do so, will you promise me to show no one my note and the check?" + +"I will promise you nothing, except that in the case of your refusing +to comply with my demand I will show both publicly." + +"But by so doing you will destroy all chance of my ever paying you. You +will lose ten thousand thalers." + +"Which you never will pay in any case while you live!" Delmar replied, +with a smile of contempt. + +"Which I certainly will pay, and that shortly. I have been betrothed +to-day to Eva Schommer." + +"Indeed? I congratulate you. I never had an exalted opinion of the +lady, but I should not have thought she would have chosen exactly such +a husband." + +"You see now that I can pay my debt as soon as I am married to the +heiress, but if you ruin me----" + +"You will be sent to jail as a forger, and will never refund the money +which I once foolishly lent you and which I considered lost long ago. +True, but that is a matter of entire indifference to me. I require you +to obey me! Make up your mind! Do you hesitate? Well then your fate is +decided!" + +Delmar turned towards the door, but Bertram seized his hand, and cried +in a tone of entreaty, "Have pity upon me! Do not ruin me! I will do +what you ask,--only let me make the apology in a less humiliating +form!" + +"Not a word shall be changed. I insist upon a humble apology!" + +"I will make it, but let me add that my betrothed has requested me to +do so publicly." + +Delmar laughed aloud. "A request as modest as it is extraordinary. For +the sake of its oddity I will grant it." + +Bertram's face, as he returned beneath the awning, followed by Delmar, +was ashy pale, and there was a strange flitter in his eyes, but his +demeanour was calm and composed. He stepped up to Colonel von Heydeck, +who was awaiting his return with the utmost impatience. + +"Colonel von Heydeck," he began in a low voice. + +"Louder," said Delmar. + +Bertram obeyed; he raised his voice so that it could be heard by most +of those present. "It is my duty as a man of honour, Colonel von +Heydeck, to atone for a wrong committed in my haste this morning, and +this is the more incumbent upon me, as I have been earnestly entreated +by my betrothed, Fräulein Eva Schommer, to do so." + +A murmur was heard among the officers present. "Betrothed to the lovely +Eva Schommer! Impossible! Scandalous! Poor girl!" These and similar +expressions were uttered so loudly that for a moment they interrupted +what Bertram had to say, but when curiosity had got the better of +surprise, he continued: "This morning I grossly insulted your son in +this place; I herewith retract the offensive expressions I then made +use of, and publicly beg his forgiveness." + +"Humbly!" Delmar interrupted him. + +"And humbly beg your son's pardon," Bertram obediently repeated. + +"Disgraceful! Infamous! Shameless! The fellow must leave the service!" +Such exclamations were heard on all sides, no longer muttered in low +tones but spoken aloud in disregard as to whether or not they were +overheard by Bertram. The officers retreated from about their late +comrade as from some plague-stricken wretch whose vicinity was +contagion, and Bertram, with Paul Delmar and the old colonel, was left +standing in the centre of a wide circle. + +"Are you entirely satisfied, colonel?" Paul whispered to the old man. + +"You were right, the fellow could insult neither my son nor myself," +the colonel replied, not deigning another glance at the lieutenant. +"Come, my young friend, give me your arm, I need some support, and I +may well look to you for it, for you have just done me a most important +service. I should like to thank you, but not here with these hundred +eyes upon us. Let us go outside and walk a while beneath the lindens." + +And leaning on Delmar's arm, the colonel hobbled towards the entrance, +the young officers saluting him respectfully as they made way for him +to pass. + +Thus Bertram was left alone, shunned by every officer and stared at by +every civilian present. He felt that his fate was sealed, but he would +nevertheless make one more struggle against it. His last hope was in +Count Waldheim, who was standing at a little distance in conversation +with two other dragoons. Bertram approached him, and the Count did not +retreat, but with a haughty air awaited the address of his former +friend. + +This was a good sign. He was not too angry then to be appeased. Bertram +relied upon his smooth words, which had so often imposed upon the +Count's guileless good nature,--he summoned all his impudence to his +aid, and succeeded in assuming an air of entire nonchalance as he said, +turning to Waldheim, "That was a hard duty to fulfil. Come, my dear +Count, let us go to Herr von Herwarth that he may confirm what I know +to be true. The fulfilment of my intention of which you were informed +and of which you approved, has been hastened by the appearance of the +old colonel, for my conscience would never have allowed me to quarrel +with one so aged and so honourable. I should----" + +"I beg you, sir, to spare me any further remarks," Waldheim said, +interrupting the flow of Bertram's speech; "I forbid you ever to +address me again. I awaited your approach solely for the purpose of +saying this to you. I should else have followed the example of my +comrades and turned my back upon you with contempt." + +"Count Waldheim, you shall answer to me for this. I demand +satisfaction----" + +"You have lost all right this day to demand satisfaction of any +gentleman; the only weapon I should use upon you is a horse-whip." + +The Count spoke so loud that his words were heard by all the +by-standers. "Bravo!" they exclaimed, while Bertram, trembling with +rage, half drew, his sabre from its sheath. His brother officers, +however, closed in a group around Count Waldheim, as if to shield him +from attack. + +Bertram stood alone. He might have had the courage to reply to +Waldheim's mortal insult by a cut with his sabre; but he could not +brave such numbers of antagonists. With an oath, he dashed the sabre +back into its scabbard, cast a glance of deadly hatred about him, and +strode away. Behind him he heard scornful laughter and loud expressions +of contempt, but he did not venture to heed them or to look back. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +In the heart of the Tyrol, where the Rothwalderbach and Schwarzenbach +unite to form the waters of the Tausenser Aar, lies the village of +Tausens; it is the centre of the most retired portion of the Tyrolean +highlands. + +In former years, before there was any railway near, scarcely a single +stranger ever visited Tausens, although the village is only about four +leagues distant from the nearest town, which is reached by a very good +high-road. Since this town, however, has been provided with a railway +station the village is somewhat more frequented, although even now its +visitors are still confined to a few stout Alpine explorers, who pass +through Tausens to wander up the Schwarzenbach valley and find a path +over the lofty Schiechjoch to the Zillerthal, or who seek the Tauern +mountain group by the way of the Rothwald valley. + +The inhabitants of the valleys look after such pedestrians with +a smile,--they cannot imagine what these fellows, with their long +mountain-staffs and ice-picks, their knapsacks on their backs, and +their hob-nailed shoes, according so ill with their city costume, can +want among the mountains. That these people from the city should +undertake such difficult and wearisome expeditions for pleasure, that +they should at peril of their lives ascend the most inaccessible +mountain-peaks to find a passage to a place which they could otherwise +reach much more quickly and easily, seems to these honest countryfolk +so silly that they have but one explanation for it, doubtless a +harmless insanity; and they call these restless, indefatigable climbers +of glaciers and snow-peaks, Bergfaxes (mountain fools). They are very +fond of the Bergfaxes nevertheless, for they always need guides and +carriers for their mountain expeditions, and are willing enough to pay +their guilders for service rendered, thus bringing some cash at least +into the retired valleys. + +With the exception of the Bergfaxes, who sometimes take up their abode +in Tausens for a few days to make the ascent of the Drei Maidelspitz or +the Weisshorn from the Schwarzbachthal, or of the Spitzhorn from the +Rothwalden, and who finally depart for the Zillerthal over the +Schiechjoch, scarcely a traveller ever visits Tausens, although its +magnificent situation makes it well worthy of a sojourn. + +The view from the platform in front of the inn, which is also the +post-office, is magnificent, and enchantingly lovely. Towards the south +the eye revels for leagues in the broad green fertile valley of the +Tausenser Aar, lying between two fir-clad mountain-ranges, and closed +in in the far distance by the jagged and rocky peaks of the Dolomites. +To the northeast lie the beautiful forests of the Rothwald, with the +snowy pile of the Spitzhorn for a background, and to the northwest the +two glorious glaciers of the Maidelspitz and the Weisshorn. + +In this wondrously lovely country the ancient castle of Reifenstein is +a most striking object, commanding as it does the entire panorama of +mountain, river, and valley. The glorious old pile is still in +tolerable repair,--a careful hand has stayed the ravages of time, which +have buried in ruins so many of its contemporaries. Some of the old +walls are crumbling, it is true, but the main structure is in thorough +repair, and two huge round towers are propped from decay by a modern +substructure. Although in the interior these towers are so ruinous that +their summits are inaccessible, their massive masonry defies the +tempests that rage against them from the south and northeast, and will +still for coming centuries bear witness to the despotic sway once +exercised over the three valleys by the lords of Reifenstein. + +The reason why, in spite of the great beauty of the view from Tausens, +to which Castle Reifenstein adds its charm, so few travellers in +comparison visit the village, is partly that such comfort can hardly be +expected here as is to be found in the more frequented parts of the +Tyrol, and partly that the passage of the Tausenser Aar valley is +rather tedious, and tourists prefer to reach the chief points of +interest among the mountains by railway. All the more welcome are the +few who visit Tausens, all the more cordially are they received by mine +host the postmaster. + +It was always a holiday for Hansel, as he was called by his friends in +spite or his dignified position as postmaster, when a traveller came to +Tausens; not because he reckoned upon the gain it would bring him,--he +cared little for that, for the couple or so of guilders were of but +small account to him. His inn was frequented sufficiently without the +tourists; its comfortable room was never empty of guests, for the +peasants from all the three valleys came by choice to the Post at +Tausens, where the best wine was to be had for miles around. Their +marriages and their burials were celebrated at the Post. To the Post +came every evening, in winter as in summer, the gentlemen of the +place,--the district judge, his associate, the collector, and the +forester. These constant guests were far more profitable to the +postmaster than any traveller could be, and besides he possessed many +an acre of meadow and pasture-land, a good strip of forest, and some +beautiful alms.[1] He was accounted a wealthy man in all the country +round, but his pride was hurt that so few strangers came to Tausens, +while in the Zillerthal and in the Pusterthal the inns were filled to +overflowing with tourists during the months of July and August. This +vexed the worthy Hansel; he had so often heard the judge and the other +gentlemen in his best parlour say that the natural beauty of Tausens +made it well worthy to attract strangers, and hence the small number of +tourists that came his way seemed to him like an unmerited neglect of +his native place. The idea that he could conduce to render the village +more attractive never occurred to him. He would have indignantly +rejected any suggestion that he should modify or change the ancient +customs of his inn for any stranger in the world. + +He was standing at his inn-door on a certain beautiful day in July very +much out of sorts. The day before he had been in Niederdorf, where he +had found the inns so crowded that not another traveller could be +received there, and a very grand gentleman had been forced to sleep in +a hayloft, because there was no bed to be had. And he had heard that +the inns at Sandro, Schleuderbach, and Cortina were just as full, not +to mention Brunneck, where for a week every little farm-house had been +filled with tourists. + +The whole valley of the Puster was filled with visitors, and not a +single one, not even a Bergfax, had come to Tausens! Thoroughly vexed. +Hansel blew the smoke from his pipe in short angry puffs; he swept the +landscape far and wide with his glance, but it was deserted everywhere, +not a traveller was to be seen. + +He turned away in disgust, and was about to enter the house, when +suddenly the frown cleared away from his brow. He had accidentally +overlooked the Schwarzenbach valley, thence, where he had least +expected them, were coming the desired guests; his sharp eye recognized +them in the distance. From his point of view he could see but a short +stretch of the valley-road which followed the many windings of the +rushing, gurgling Schwarzenbach, but walking along this very stretch he +discovered three city-clad gentlemen, followed by two peasants. The +gentlemen carried long alpenstocks, and were walking briskly down the +valley towards the village,--the peasants were loaded with portmanteaus +and plaids. + +From the point which the travellers had reached they had a glorious +view of the valley of the Tausenser Aar and of the village. They +paused, and one produced a glass and looked through it. For a while +they stood drinking in the beauty around them, and then they strode +onwards, vanishing in the Lerchenwald, through which the road ran. + +But Hansel had seen enough; he rubbed his hands gleefully, and called +loudly into the house, "Nannerl! Nannerl!" + +The inn-maid, a fresh, buxom lass, came running at his call. From the +tone of his voice she judged that strangers were to be received, and +she gave her smooth hair a stroke and twitched down her blue apron as +she ran. When however she found no one but Hansel himself, she said, +peevishly, "Here I am. What are you shouting for? There's no one here!" + +"But they're coming,--three Bergfaxes on the way from +Schwarzenbach,--they'll be here in a quarter of an hour!" + +And true enough, they did come in a quarter of an hour, the three +Bergfaxes,--three broad-shouldered young men, whose city clothes, +terribly dusty although it was, showed that they were gentlemen of good +position. + +Hansel called out a lusty "God greet ye!" as they appeared, and offered +his hand heartily to each in turn in sign of welcome. The one with a +black beard shook it with great cordiality, and regarded the postmaster +with a friendly smile. "Hail, beloved son of the Alps!" he said, with +mock pathos. "Receive us weary wanderers beneath your hospitable roof; +strengthen our famished and thirsty frames with food and drink. By Jove +the eternal, I am so rejoiced to get out of that dark wood and to see +your good, stupid face, that I could kiss it but for the stifling +tobacco-smoke." + +"Do hush your nonsense, Paul!" one of his companions entreated him. + +But the one addressed as Paul exclaimed, "Who dares talk of nonsense +when I give vent to my pent-up emotion in a poetic greeting? Be not +annoyed, oh worthy son of the Alps, by the words of this prosaic +person,--he cannot help it,--there is no poetry in his soul. And would +you earn from me a gratitude that shall endure till time is no more, +bring us wine,--a great deal of wine,--good wine,--the best in your +cellar!" + +Hansel understood very little of this address, the northern German +dialect was unfamiliar to his ears; but he comprehended distinctly that +the black-bearded stranger was a little crazy, and very thirsty, as was +to be expected of Bergfaxes. + +"A bottle of the best red," he called out to Nannerl, while he relieved +the three strangers of their alpenstocks and conducted them into the +spacious best room. + +Here the black-bearded stranger looked about him with a sharp +scrutinizing glance. "Bravo!" he cried. "I like this. Here let us pitch +our tents! Everything clean and shining! Not a speck of dust on the +window-panes, nor a spot upon the table. If the meat and drink are good +one might stay here for a while very contentedly. What think you, +Herwarth?" + +"I think," replied the man addressed, "that I shall surely stay some +time here, even although the meat and drink are not all that could be +desired." + +"You see, Leo, of what sacrifices a true friend to whom egotism is +unknown is capable. Noble Knight von Herwarth, I bow myself in the dust +before you; it is truly great thus to remain at hand at the service of +your friend, resigning yourself to devour daily the toughest beef that +the Tyrolean cow can afford. You are sublime in your self-renunciation. +You have plunged with genuine heroism into all the perils that await +the respectable northern German from Tyrolean cooking, and you even eat +Leo's portion in addition to your own, lest the poor fellow should +overload his stomach, which, sunk in melancholy as he is at present, +might be injurious for him. Your efforts are Titanic. I daily bless the +lucky star (I mean the golden one at Innspruck) which brought us +together. I bless it in spite of the gnats there which kept me awake +all night." + +"Considering that he did not sleep, poor Delmar snored very loudly. +What do you think, Leo?" + +"I thought he did very well----" + +"Very well; that is not the right word," Herwarth cried. "Delmar snored +wonderfully. There is no discord, from the thunderous groan of a heavy +wagon to the shrill creaking of a rusty lock, that he did not produce. +He is a master of the art. I snore pretty well after a commonplace +fashion, but I bow before you, Delmar." + +"'Tis a base calumny. I never snore; you heard yourself in your dreams. +I could not sleep for the gnats, and for admiration of the heroism with +which you have followed your friend into exile. I admire you, and I +long to resemble you, but unfortunately I am made of too coarse a +material. I cannot waft myself aloft to the empyreal heights of your +magnanimity. Now you are determined to remain in this inn even if the +cooking is bad!" + +"Are you not going to stay here too?" + +"I shall probably stay, not for Leo's sake, but because I like it. I am +determined, in the lack of all other suitable occupation, to devote +myself in future to novel-writing. I can certainly emulate in that line +the many crazy women and hungry literati who fill our magazines with +their intellectual abortions. Leo is to be the hero of my first +romance." + +"How flattering! Much obliged, I am sure." + +"Not at all, not at all! A hero of romance must always be very +high-toned, very exaggerated, and a little unsound in mind. You see how +well it all fits. An unhappy love is desirable, but not indispensable. +Also we must have a faithful friend. Here are two. Also a romantic +situation. We have it. Leo ought to marry the daughter of a wealthy old +uncle, but he hates the lovely Hilda, and is consumed by a secret +passion for a little milliner's apprentice. Here we have the unhappy +love. He is in deep despair, when his redeeming angel appears in the +person of his faithful friend Kuno von Herwarth. Whilst Leo is +suffering all the pangs of his unhappy love, and working away in the +castle upon the mountains, Kuno, in a noble spirit of self-sacrifice, +has been eating veal three times a day at the 'Post' in Tausens and +drinking sour Tyrolean wine. He rushes to the castle to rescue his +friend. He sees Hilda. He loves her; she loves him. He threatens to +murder the wealthy old uncle if he does not release his friend. A +terrible scene ensues. But he does not murder him: he overcomes him by +his amiable conduct. Final tableau: the old uncle blessing Hilda and +Kuno, while friend No. 2 joins the hands of Leo and his little +milliner. Universal emotion and general content. End. + +"There you have a romance as poetic as it is thrilling, especially if a +few episodes are sprinkled about here and there, such as, for example, +a small murder in the torture-chamber of Castle Reifenstein, and a +combat with foils between Hilda and the little milliner, who has +secretly followed her Leo and has gone mad with jealousy. Of course +Kuno separates the combatants. What a scene that will make! I tell you +the romance will produce a sensation. Now I am going to stay here to +study up for this novel; not upon Leo's account. I yield the privilege +of self-sacrifice to you, oh noble Knight von Herwarth, and cleave to +my long-tried selfishness." + +Leo and Kuno laughed, but were spared the necessity of a reply to +Paul's long exordium by the entrance of the pretty maid-servant with +the wine. "Will the gentlemen have anything to eat?" she asked. + +"Indeed they will, Maidele" (Tyrolean for Marie); "they are as hungry +as wolves," Delmar replied. + +"Maidele?" the girl asked, in surprise. "And suppose I am not Maidele?" + +"Why, then, you must be Nannerl?" + +"Yes, I am Nannerl; but how could the gentleman know my name?" + +"A little bird whispered it to me on the Schiechpass, of course; how +else should I have known it? But never trouble your head about that, my +pretty Nannerl, but tell us what you can give us to eat." + +"Veal steaks, veal cutlets, veal chops, roast veal, and stewed veal." + +"For heaven's sake stop! For one whole week I have heard, morning, +noon, and night, nothing but that fearful word _veal_, nothing but +veal. I cannot understand how there can be an ox or a cow in the Tyrol. +Ah, my poor Herwarth, my prophecy is about to be fulfilled: 'veal three +times a day.' If there is a feeling heart in your bosom, pretty +Nannerl, try to save me from veal for to-day at least." + +Nannerl would have been very glad to do so, for she was much pleased +with the stranger gentleman, but she could not, for, as she now +explained, there was no beef to-day, and the chickens were all too +young to kill. By night she could get a pair of larger ones from the +castle, and the next day they could have plenty of beef; but for dinner +to-day they must have veal, since the fisherman had happened to bring +no trout; but Nannerl promised to give the gentlemen an excellent soup +and capital fritters, and thus Paul's comical despair was allayed, the +very good wine having already produced a soothing effect. + +"You confuse these people with your nonsense, Paul," Leo said, when +Nannerl had left the room. + +"Not a bit of it; I shall get on with these worthy souls excellently +well; they think me harmlessly insane, and they like it. Our noble +Knight von Herwarth thinks the same of me, but I shall convince him +that I can be very serious, and that immediately. We must now plan our +campaign, for after the soup is on the table I refuse to open my mouth +except to eat." + +"What have you in your head now?" + +"I am composing the introduction to my romance. After a week of +wandering, after climbing the terrible Schiechpass, over rocks and +glaciers, we are at last arrived in Tausens. We find ourselves at the +foot of the rock that bears upon its summit the enchanted castle +Reifenstein. High above us sits enthroned the old monster Uncle Heydeck +and the wicked fairy Hilda, who intends to ensnare our Leo in her +golden enchanted net; but we two, the Knight von Herwarth and the +simple squire Delmar, must rescue our friend, our first duty being to +learn how the land lies, so to speak. At present we know nothing of the +old monster and the wicked fairy Hilda, for the little told us in the +famous letter from Uncle Heydeck has, since it comes from himself, no +claim to be believed. Before we can do anything we must know more of +Uncle Heydeck: what he is thought of here, how he lives, what he does. +We must know further what kind of a person is the blue-eyed Hilda who +is to ensnare our Leo. A blue-eyed Hilda may be either pretty or +confoundedly ugly, a good-natured fool or a dragon. The honest +postmaster, mine host of this hospitable house, will doubtless tell us +all we wish to know upon these points. And here I am ready to sacrifice +myself to friendship. I will inhale the highly unfragrant smoke of the +postmaster's pipe, I will treat the worthy man with the loftiest +courtesy, and in spite of his shooting-jacket, short stockings, and +bare knees, always entitle him Herr Postmaster, that I may learn what +he has to tell. I will drink with him, lead him on to be confidential, +and he shall reveal all that he knows of Uncle Heydeck and the +blue-eyed Hilda. Thus we shall become familiar with the people. We will +investigate the country when, being strengthened by our dinner, we +conduct our friend Leo to the gate of the enchanted castle, where of +course we must separate. He will take up his abode within its walls, +while we, the Knight Kuno and myself, will remain here in Tausens ready +to hasten to his aid so soon as he needs us. He will daily visit us +here, and if possible present us to the old monster and the blue-eyed +Hilda, that we may in turn visit him at the castle. This is a brief +sketch of my plan of our campaign, the details must be left to the +future. If any one has anything to say in objection let him speak now, +or for ever after hold his peace. You first, Kuno, my noble knight; +what do you think of my plan?" + +"I do not see what else we can do." + +"And you, Leo?" + +"I agree in everything but the last part. I hope my uncle will not +suffer my friends to remain down here in the inn. He will certainly +invite you to stay at the castle." + +"Don't reckon upon that too surely; I doubt very much whether he +possesses the virtue of hospitality or indeed any virtue at all. Even +should he do so, I shall not accept his invitation. I wish to be +entirely free and unfettered, and am determined to live on veal sooner +than stay at the castle. What do you think about it, Herwarth?" + +"I agree with you. We will stay here at the Post and engage rooms, that +Leo may be free to stay with us when we make excursions together among +the mountains." + +"Agreed; the rooms are a decided improvement upon my plan. Then it is +all settled, and 'tis fortunate, for here comes the soup." + +While the three strangers had been talking together in the inn parlour +the postmaster had been having a gossip with the two peasants from the +Zillerthal who had been their guides across the Schiechjoch. It was +just such a gossip as he enjoyed. + +The men, who were in the habit of seeing many strangers and of +continually acting as guides across the glaciers and in difficult +ascents, maintained that of all the Bergfaxes they had ever seen the +gentleman with the black beard and the sallow face was the biggest +fool. They had been with him and his companions four days, and he had +some fresh nonsense for every hour in the day. But he had _nous_ enough +for all that, and he was always first in all the steepest paths. He +didn't care where they walked: ice or rocks were all the same to him; +he was never dizzy, and never tired either. Day before yesterday, when +they went up the Drei Maidelspitz, they had had such a snow-storm that +the guides themselves had been almost frozen, but neither of the three +gentlemen had uttered a word of complaint, and the black-bearded one +had laughed and sung and thought it all right, and the whole expedition +a capital joke. + +He was teasing the others all the time, especially the youngest, whom +he called 'Knight;' but he didn't mind it, he only laughed, and all +three were the best possible friends. The youngest was a merry +gentleman and joked a good deal, but he was not such a fool as the +black-beard. The third gentleman, whom they called Leo, was the most +sensible. When he was walking alone he often looked very grave, and +even sad, but then Delmar would join him and talk such crazy nonsense +that he had to laugh. + +All three were first-rate people, but they liked Delmar best; he saw to +all the money matters, and was generous as a prince. He was always +deceiving the others, and in a very odd way, very different from the +usual one; when for example he paid three guilders he would pretend +that he had only paid one, and would go on declaring that never in his +life had he known travelling so cheap as it was in the Tyrol. + +Jackel, the eldest of the guides, had settled with Delmar what he +should pay them. He told how he had asked for himself and for Seppel +four guilders a day; how Herr Delmar had fallen into a rage and +declared that two guilders a day was extortion. The two other gentlemen +had reasoned with him, but he had insisted that he was a poor +millionaire who could not afford to throw his money away, and that +nothing should induce him to pay more than two guilders a day. Jackel +had then consulted with Seppel to see whether they should go for two +guilders a day, and Herr Delmar had interfered and shouted and stormed +and insisted that they should go for two guilders a day whether they +wanted to or no, and then he thrust a twenty-guilder note into Jackel's +hand and whispered to him to divide it with Seppel, but to say nothing +about it to the two other gentlemen but consent to go for two guilders +a day, and he would give them something besides. And then he went on +screaming and raging as if he were crazy. And when Jackel said he would +go for the two guilders, then Herr Delmar boasted to the others that he +knew how to manage people so as to travel cheaply, and how would the +others get along without him? + +And so he had gone on all the four days. He must have as mach money as +the king. He was a great fool; but he had _nous_ enough, and was so +kind no one could help liking him. + +The postmaster listened to all this with the greatest interest. +Especially delighted was he when he heard that the three gentlemen had +talked together of staying a long time in Tausens. He instantly called +to Nannerl, and told her to prepare the best room in the house,--the +large corner room, with the view of the castle and the Weisshorn,--and +to make up three beds in it. Such guests were rare in Tausens, and +Hansel determined that they should be made as comfortable as possible. + +The Zillerthalers' account had made him very curious to see more of his +odd guests, and especially of Herr Delmar. He was a little afraid of +him, but he determined nevertheless to go to the inn parlour and have a +gossip with the strangers. + +He went at the right time. Delmar had just eaten his last mouthful and +was about to light a cigar. The others had also finished their dinner, +and that they had enjoyed it the empty dishes bore witness. The wine +too, as Hansel saw with satisfaction, had been duly appreciated: the +bottle was empty. + +Herr Delmar--Hansel knew him at once by his black beard and sallow +face--nodded kindly, and pushing another chair up to the table, said, +"Sit down, Herr Postmaster. We want to spend some time with you here in +Tausens, and would like to hear something about the place. But it's ill +talking with dry lips. Let us have another bottle of wine; and I hope +you will take a glass with us." + +Hansel opened his eyes. Here was Herr Delmar talking very sensibly, and +indeed courteously. "Herr Postmaster!" The title was all the dearer to +the worthy man since he heard it so seldom. Friends and acquaintances +always called him Hansel; the men and maids, as well as the peasants, +called him 'Landlord;' but he never, or almost never, was addressed as +'Postmaster,' although he had as good a right to the title as the +postmaster at Bozen. Whoever called him thus won his heart immediately, +and Herr Delmar had taken it by storm. + +It was not often that Hansel served the guests himself. He left that to +Nannerl: it was her duty. But to-day he made an exception. He took the +bottle from the table, and himself descended to the cellar, where he +filled it with his very best. His round face beamed as he brought it to +his guests; and when Paul again invited him to sit down and take a +glass, he took his place at the table very proud of the honour. + +Hansel was in the best of humours; he was ready to do anything in the +world for these guests,--a mood of which Delmar was not slow to take +advantage. He understood how, by skilful questioning and a remark +thrown out now and then, to draw out the postmaster who was fond of +talking, in the most thorough manner. + +He began by asking about the various points of interest in the +surrounding country; about the way to the famous Tausenser waterfalls; +about the names and the height of the mountain-peaks that could be seen +from the windows; thence he led the conversation to Castle Reifenstein, +and of course to its possessor, Herr von Heydeck, and his daughter +Hilda; and when it had arrived at this point all went swimmingly, for +this was a theme upon which the worthy Hansel, who had no idea that he +was being systematically pumped, could talk by the hour together. + +With ready garrulity and in the broadest Tyrolean patois, which had +frequently to be explained by him to his North-German questioner, he +answered all questions put to him. The Herr who lived in the castle had +been for many years an object of curiosity, of admiration, and of +superstitious fear to all the country-people about, and to Hansel +himself no less than to the rest. They whispered many a queer thing +about him and his castle among the peasants in the common room of the +inn; and there were terrible ghost-stories told of the old castle. +Everything--the whispers and the stories--was faithfully detailed by +Hansel. He was in his element, and Delmar's skilful questions and +repeated glasses of wine combined to keep him there. + +The worthy postmaster's story was no connected narrative, and he often +diverged to expatiate upon other themes; but Delmar always managed to +bring him back to Castle Reifenstein and Herr von Heydeck, so that the +breaks in his account were gradually filled up and the strangers had at +last a distinct picture of the life and character of Herr von Heydeck. +Only the picture, it is true, which existed in the fantastic brains of +Hansel and the Tausens peasantry, and which perhaps resembled but +little the original. Truth and fiction, fact, and fable begotten of +superstition, were mingled in the postmaster's account in a wonderful +mosaic, as was plain to be seen; but nevertheless it possessed the +greatest interest for Leo and his friends. + +Many many years before, as Hansel related, the old castle had belonged +to a Count Menotti, who had leased it to a peasant, for the Count never +came to Tausens himself. He lived at Riva on the Lake of Garda, and +cared nothing for his Tyrolean estate except to see that the rent was +paid punctually; of course his tenant had no interest in preserving the +huge pile in good order. Large portions of the gigantic walls fell down +from the rocks into the valley below, and one of the three towers which +Hansel could remember, as a boy, still standing, crumbled to ruins; but +the main building where the tenant lived, and in which he had his barns +granaries and cattle-stalls, was still standing. Its massive masonry +had defied decay. + +Although there were valuable forests meadows and pasturelands belonging +to the castle, besides some fertile cultivated fields, the tenant paid +only a small rent; and very naturally, for the Count could hardly have +found another tenant. + +In fine all was not right at the castle; strange things happened there +and stranger sights were seen. It was haunted! There were very few old +peasants in Tausens who had not, at some time, had a scare 'up there.' +From the ruined part could often be heard, far down in the valley, +shrieks and groans and wild laughter. + +Even by day few of those who lived in the valley willingly went near +the dreadful old pile, and by night no one could be induced to go +there. Old Stoffel, the tenant, could not persuade either man or maid +to sleep there, although he offered them the highest wages and assured +them that the ghost would do no good Christian any harm. No one would +believe him; and so he and his three sons and his two daughters had +to live by themselves in the haunted castle. He had to pay high for +day-labourers. In the brightest sunshine no one liked to enter the +castle, and the bravest fellow would not have taken any money to go +inside either of the great round towers. + +Old Stoffel was afraid of these towers himself. Not of the ghosts, he +said with a laugh, but of the stones that might fall from their +crumbling walls. Still the people in Tausens knew better; they did not +believe him; they were sure he had been frightened by the ghost there, +and would not confess it for fear of getting no men to work for him. + +Old Stoffel was a wild daring fellow who feared neither God nor the +devil. Indeed, many people thought he had made a bargain with the Evil +One. He never went to church, but frequented the tavern, where he drank +up all his gains. He made his children work for him: he never did +anything himself, and although he was a very old man, he spent his time +in going from tavern to tavern until he died. One morning he was found +dead on the road from Tausens to the castle,--his corpse was perfectly +blue. + +The postmaster remembered well that Dr. Putzer said that the old man +had had a stroke, but no one in Tausens believed it, for the doctor was +as great a blasphemer and tippler and as bad a Christian then as he is +at present. Stoffel's time was up, and the devil had wrung his neck, +which was why his corpse was blue,--every Christian knew that. + +After the old man's death the Count could find no tenant for the +castle, for no one could be found to pay rent for it. Stoffel's sons, +although they could work, had not sense enough to know how to manage, +and the daughters were not much better. They stayed all together at the +castle, however, although Count Menotti never got much rent out of +them. He tried to sell the estate, and offered it for almost a nominal +price, but who wanted to buy a haunted old nest on a misty mountain in +the Tyrol? + +A couple of years had passed, when one day, how long since the +postmaster could not exactly say, but nearly thirty years he should +think, a grand gentleman with his beautiful wife had driven to Tausens. +They stopped at the old Oberwieser's, the postmaster's father's,--the +inn had not then been named the Post. The stranger was Herr von +Heydeck, who had bought the castle of Count Menotti and had come to +inspect it. + +Hansel was then a young fellow about eighteen years old, and he had +been bidden by his father to show the strangers up to the castle. He +did not like to do it, but there was no joking with the old Oberwieser, +and so he obeyed. + +On the way he told Herr von Heydeck and the handsome lady-wife about +the ghosts in the castle, and how the devil had wrung old Stoffel's +neck when his time was up, and they both laughed,--the lady laughed +most. She often paused on the way up and looked around. She thought the +country lovely, and when they had reached the summit of the rocks and +saw the view from the balcony of the main building of the castle, she +was enchanted. The whole castle must be repaired and newly furnished, +she said, and then it would be a delightful place to invite one's +friends to in summer-time. + +In a few days the old place was turned inside out; an architect arrived +with numbers of workmen, and they all went to work. They began +rebuilding in the middle of May, and by the middle of July everything +was finished, and the whole castle splendidly furnished ready for the +master and mistress, who were not slow in making their appearance, with +quantities of servants and numerous guests, mostly officers. There were +but a couple of ladies among them. + +And now began such a life in the castle as no one in Tausens had ever +seen before; no emperor and empress could have lived more splendidly. +Every evening almost all the windows in the old pile blazed with light, +and down from the rocks came floating the sounds of revelry and wild +dance-music. In the old baronial hall there was singing and playing and +dancing and feasting and carousing until deep into the night. + +In the mean time nothing was heard of the ghost,--the devil was +probably highly content with the goings on, for they were surely far +from correct. Why the mistress and the couple of ladies went about in +the evenings with their shoulders all bare and never minded the men, +but danced and jested with them. + +The mistress outdid them all: she was the gayest, and was always +friendly and kind to her guests, and to the servants, and even to the +country-people, to every one except to her husband; he must have felt +very uncomfortable in the splendid castle, and he went alone among the +mountains as often as he could. + +Madame, too, often made excursions with her guests, to the waterfalls +in the Rothwald valley, to the lake on the Frauenalm, and to other +beautiful places, but she never went with her husband. She was a +capital mountain-climber, but she was always accompanied by one of the +other gentlemen, most often of all by Count Menotti, a younger brother +of the former possessor of the castle. The Count and madame were always +together, so that even the villagers talked about it. Whether they were +right in declaring that there was sinful intercourse between the Count +and the lady the postmaster did not know: he had never seen anything +wrong, but there was plenty of malicious gossip about them, when one +day there came to Tausens a travelling merchant, who said he had known +madame before her marriage to Herr von Heydeck. + +In a gossip over a can of wine he told of how the Count, although a +married man, had been madame's lover for a long time, and that she had +married Herr von Heydeck because it was the only way in which to avoid +public scandal. And certainly all was not right between madame and the +Count and Herr von Heydeck, for the latter's face would grow gloomier +than ever when he chanced on his walks to meet his wife with Count +Menotti. He avoided them as far as he could; accompanied by a guide +only, he explored the loneliest parts of the country, and while madame +was making merry with her guests he was collecting all kinds of herbs +butterflies ugly worms, and even venomous snakes and vipers, which he +would bring home to a room he had had arranged for himself in the +castle. + +This wild life lasted for four weeks, and then every one +departed,--leaving however a theme for gossip in Tausens during the +whole ensuing winter. Nothing else was talked of in the inn parlour +among the gentlemen, or in the common room among the peasants. The +postmaster, a young fellow at the time, had to serve the gentlemen who +came in the evening to drink their wine at the inn, and he heard all +they had to say among themselves. Of all the gentlemen there was only +one. Dr. Putzer, who had ever been to the castle while its possessors +were there, and he had gone only because one of the ladies had been +slightly ill and there was no other physician to be had. Herr von +Heydeck had received him very politely, but madame had hardly looked at +him, and so he hated her, and had all sorts of bad stories to tell of +her. + +About a year had passed since the gay doings at the castle, when one +day Dr. Putzer brought a piece of news to the gentlemen in the inn +parlour that excited them greatly. He had just had a letter from his +brother, an advocate in Vienna, and he read it aloud. The Vienna man +wrote that madame had died in her confinement, and had left an immense +fortune, not to her husband, but to her new-born child. Castle +Reifenstein belonged to him now, and Herr von Heydeck was only his +son's guardian. After the letter had been read, the gentlemen made many +malicious remarks,--the worst came from Dr. Putzer, who in his tipsy +mood boasted that if he were Herr von Heydeck he would tie a stone +about the little bastard's neck and drown him like a kitten, but Herr +von Heydeck had no _nous_. As he had shut his eyes for fear of his wife +and Count Menotti, and taken no notice of what all the world knew, so +now he would patiently acknowledge the Count's son, and live on as the +brat's steward. + +About four days after this conversation Herr von Heydeck arrived at +Tausens, this time accompanied by no brilliant company or numerous +retinue. Only one servant sat beside the coachman on the box of the +carriage inside of which was Herr von Heydeck and opposite him a woman +with a child carefully wrapped in shawls and blankets; it was the nurse +with his dead wife's child. + +The Herr only stopped in Tausens long enough to leave word at the inn +for Dr. Putzer to come to the castle as soon as possible, and then +drove on to Reifenstein. Here he took up his abode in his old room, +while the nurse and child lived in another wing of the building. He +sent to the farm in the valley for old Stoffel's two daughters. Trine +and Lene, and the youngest son, Melcher, the stupidest of all, a +perfect blockhead, and they were hired to do all the work of the +household. + +Henceforth Herr von Heydeck led the life of a hermit in the castle; the +only man with whom he had any intercourse in all the country round was +tipsy Dr. Putzer, whom he often sent for to visit the child and report +to him the state of its health, for the Herr himself never saw it. The +nurse was strictly forbidden ever to take it out of the apartments +appropriated to her; if she was obliged to leave them herself, she was +ordered to leave the child in the cradle and lock the door after her. +Except the doctor, nobody in Tausens ever saw the baby; even the +servants were not allowed to go into the room where it was. + +The nurse was a very proud person; she never condescended to speak a +word to any one except the doctor; she was always polite enough to him. +They two understood one another extremely well; they would sometimes +sit together for hours, while the master was in his room buried in his +books. Once Trine saw him kiss her. + +One evening--it was in the beginning of the winter--the doctor came to +the inn parlour and told the gentlemen who were sitting there over +their wine that he had just come from the castle, where matters looked +badly; the child was seriously ill. He could not yet say what was the +matter with it, but he thought it had the smallpox. + +The gentlemen were greatly surprised at this intelligence. There had +been one or two cases of smallpox in the neighbouring valleys, but none +in Tausens or its immediate vicinity. It seemed impossible that the +child should have taken it, living as he did in one part of the castle +and seeing no one but his nurse and the doctor. But nevertheless it was +the case, for a few days afterwards he proved to have the smallpox in +its most malignant form, and within a week he was dead. + +He was buried the day he died. The doctor ordered this for fear of +contagion. Herr von Heydeck spared no expense. The child had a splendid +funeral, and the master paid a lot of money for masses for his soul, +besides giving the priest a large sum to distribute among the poor. But +for all that he could not stop people's mouths. There were strange +tales told in the village. No one spoke out loud; they only whispered +among themselves. But one and all, gentlemen as well as peasants, +thought that all had not been right at the castle. They did not believe +in the smallpox. The child had died some other way, of which the +master, who was his heir, would know nothing. That was why no one had +been allowed to see the little corpse. This which was whispered at +first was soon talked of loudly, and the doctor confirmed the tale, for +he married the nurse. The wedding was celebrated scarcely two months +after the child's death. The doctor bought the house in Tausens where +he still lives with his wife. Where he got the money no one knew, for +until the boy died he had more debts than hairs on his head; and +when Herr von Heydeck furnished and fitted up the house for the +newly-married pair as if a count and countess were going to live there, +every one in the village said plainly that the master had good reasons +for doing so. He had to show his gratitude to the doctor and his wife, +who had made him a wealthy man. + +In the inn parlour the matter was thoroughly discussed in the doctor's +absence. The forester boldly declared his belief that the doctor had +poisoned the poor little boy; but the district judge took him sharply +to account for his words. He had no right to accuse the doctor of what +would warrant the interference of the law; the gossip of the villagers +was unworthy of repetition, and the doctor would be justified in +dealing hardly with whoever did repeat it. + +After this warning from the judge, which was soon known throughout the +village, no one dared to utter a suspicion aloud, but the peasants +thought that if a poor labouring man, and not a rich gentleman and a +Herr Doctor, had been suspected of such a crime, the district judge +would have spoken differently. + +Herr von Heydeck was a very wealthy man after the death of the boy, but +he altered nothing in his manner of life. He lived just as solitary as +before in the old castle, only leaving it for a few weeks in the year +to visit the baths, for the sake of his health, the doctor said. Then +occurred what surprised every one. Many years had passed since the +boy's death, when, just nineteen years ago, Herr von Heydeck returned +from one of his summer excursions that had lasted longer than usual; +and this time he was not alone. In the carriage beside him sat a lovely +young wife, looking like an angel with her blue eyes and golden curls. +"The gentlemen can see now how she looked," the postmaster remarked, +"for our Fräulein Hilda is very like her." + +And the young mistress of Reifenstein was an angel. The village priest +acknowledged that, although she was a heretic. No one in the village +believed it when the doctor told them so until the Herr Pastor had +confirmed it. + +At first the people shook their heads and declared that such a thing +had never been heard of in the Tyrol,--that a heretic should be +mistress of Reifenstein. But the Herr Pastor himself comforted them, +and he had good reasons for doing so, for a golden time had come for +the poor in Tausens with the new mistress's arrival. Before long the +people had forgotten that madame was a heretic. Although she never went +to mass or to confession, she used often to go to church to listen to +the sermon, and no one there could be more devout than she. + +She never was haughty to any one, but had a kind word for the poorest. +The only people she could not endure were the doctor and his wife. She +made the first visit herself to the wife of the district judge, and +begged her to come often to the castle, but although the doctor's wife +went up to the castle the day after the bride arrived there, Madame von +Heydeck could not have liked the former nurse from the first, for she +never asked her to repeat her visit; and never as long as she lived did +she set foot beneath the doctor's roof. She could not endure the doctor +himself either. She told the judge's wife that she was afraid of his +cunning gray eyes, but since there was no other physician in the +country for miles round, she had to send for him whenever there was +sickness at the castle. He never went there at other times, although +they said he was still good friends with Herr von Heydeck, else how +could he live as he did? He could hardly buy the wine that he drank +with the couple of hundred guilders that he got from the peasants +yearly; and certainly they would not have paid for the silk dresses and +ornaments that his wife wore even on weekdays, not to speak of the show +she made when she went to church on Sundays, or took a journey to +Vienna, which she did two or three times every year. + +All the villagers loved the mistress, and the master perfectly idolized +her; he had become another man. There never were again such doings at +the castle as there had been during the first mistress's reign. Herr +and Madame von Heydeck lived for the most part a very quiet retired +life, but they were not entirely without society. The judge and the +collector, with their wives, were often invited to the castle, and +sometimes there were grand visitors from Germany, relatives of madame, +who was a countess. + +But this happy life in the castle lasted only a few years. The second +wife began to sicken: she lost her fresh colour; the doctor said the +keen mountain-air did not agree with her, but she would not leave the +beautiful country where she was so happy. At last, one autumn, she had +to follow the doctor's advice. It is just twelve years ago now; her +cough grew so bad that she herself saw that she could not spend another +winter in the castle, around which the cold northern blasts swept +continually. She went away with her husband and her little daughter, +then six years old. + +When the carriage drove through Tausens, all the villagers crowded +about it to have a last word from the lovely lady, and she spoke to +every one as kindly as she did to the judge himself. + +She never came back. The doctor said she followed his advice too late. +In Italy, at Nizza, they buried her. She died there hardly a year after +she took leave of Tausens. + +In a short time the master and his little girl returned. He brought a +governess with him for his daughter, but she found it too lonely at the +old castle. She soon went away again, and the master lived on alone, +and the poor child would have had no woman to speak to if the judge's +wife had not taken pity on it. She talked seriously to the Herr about +his duty to his child, and told him how wrong it was to pay no +attention to her education. And so the Herr took the little girl to +Vienna to school. After that he led a more solitary life than ever at +Castle Reifenstein, never leaving it except to go to Vienna three or +four times a year to see his child; the rest of the time he spent +without one human being to speak to: even the doctor was not allowed to +go often to the castle. + +And thus it has gone on until the present day, for even when a year ago +Fräulein Hilda came home from Vienna, her father never altered his way +of life. He sits up there in his gloomy old room with his books and +plants and worms; he has grown old and feeble, so that he cannot take +long walks among the mountains, but only in the castle garden, and he +studies all day long,--his daughter is with him only at dinner and in +the evenings. + +But if he is not changed, the Fräulein's return has brought back the +golden time for the poor people in Tausens; the same time that there +was while her mother was alive. Fräulein Hilda is the image of her +mother; just as lovely, but fresher healthier and stronger; just as +kind, but merrier and a wee hit wild,--no rock is too steep and no +mountain too high for her. Not a boy in the village can outstrip her in +a mountain walk, and she clambers about everywhere by herself, looking +for the plants which she thinks will give her father pleasure. If any +one is ill, she is upon the spot to aid wherever help is necessary. She +is a heretic to be sure like her mother, but every one loves her, and +the poorest most of all. + +During his narrative the postmaster had emptied many a glass, and when +he described the fair Hilda, her golden curls, her frank blue eyes that +looked for all the world like those of the Holy Mother in the picture +over the altar in church, he grew very earnest, and would have gone on +expatiating upon a theme so dear to him had he not been called away. + +His wife had several times timidly opened the door of the parlour a +little way and peeped through the crack, but had quickly withdrawn when +she saw Paul turn and look at her. She did not dare to call her husband +while he was talking so earnestly with the stranger gentlemen, but at +last she lost patience, and sent the maid into the room for him. + +"What do you want, Loisel?" the postmaster asked his wife, impatiently; +he would have liked to talk longer with the gentlemen who listened so +attentively to what he had to say; he had quite forgotten that the +post-bag was not yet locked, and that the wagon was waiting that +carried the mail to town once a day. + +Quite vexed Hansel set about this duty,--almost the only one which his +office of postmaster imposed upon him,--and in a quarter of an hour it +was concluded. His wife stood quietly by his side while he clumsily +made the necessary entries in the books, then counted over the letters +and locked them up in the old leather bag, which he handed over to the +driver of the wagon. She waited patiently until the crack of the whip +was heard and the wagon rolled off, and then she said to her husband, +"Did you take a good look at the stranger gentlemen, Hansel?" + +"I did." + +"At the one with the black beard and the yellow face? My mind misgives +me I've seen his face before!" + +This remark of his wife's made Hansel very thoughtful. He too when +Delmar first spoke to him had thought his face and figure familiar, and +yet he could not remember ever having seen the stranger before. And +when in the course of conversation it appeared that neither of the +three gentlemen had ever been in the Tyrol, it was plain that he never +could have seen Delmar, since he himself had never been farther from +home than Linz, Bozen, and Innspruck. + +During the long conversation Paul had been the principal speaker; the +others had listened in silence. It was Paul who by a timely remark now +and then had recalled mine host, when he was disposed to be discursive, +to the interesting story which was thus related quite connectedly. +Therefore to Delmar Hansel had always addressed himself, and again and +again he found himself wondering why this peculiarly keen face seemed +so strangely familiar to him. Now that his wife had remarked the same +thing, he once more puzzled his brains to remember where he could have +seen the stranger before; but in vain, and Loisel could not help him. + +Meanwhile the three friends had taken counsel together in the +postmaster's absence; his recital had given them food for reflection. + +"My poor Leo!" said Paul, as soon as the door had closed upon Hansel's +sturdy figure. "Fine stories these! Your uncle appears possessed of +even less honour and courage than your father gave him credit for; but +then on the other hand the fairy Hilda seems worthy of a trial,--she +spurs us on to conquest. What shall we do?" + +"Yes, what is to be done?" said Leo. "I am more irresolute than ever. +After what we have just heard of my uncle I am very unwilling to +present myself at the castle." + +"But you promised your father." + +"Unfortunately, yes." + +"Your visit to the castle is settled, and you will soon see what next +ought to be done. Be sure matters are not so bad as they seem from the +gossip of the bare-kneed postmaster. The noble Herr von Heydeck, it is +true, does not appear to suffer from an excess of amiability, but the +devil is never so black as he is painted." + +"Do you forget the suspicion that rests upon him with regard to the +death of his child?" said Herwarth. + +"Nonsense, my noble knight! mad inane nonsense, such as is only +conceived in the superstitious stupid heads of Tyrolean peasants. That +suspicion of murder is of a piece with the ghost-stories which every +old ass in Tausens--our worthy postmaster among them--believes firmly, +and with the highly probable explanation of the death of the old tenant +when 'his time was up.' The judge and the doctor seem to be the only +sensible men in the village. We must try, and I suppose it will not be +very difficult, to make their acquaintance." + +"You take the suspicion of murder confoundedly coolly," Kuno rejoined. + +"I take it as such nonsense must be taken,--not coolly. I attach a +certain significance to it as showing the low estimation in which uncle +monster is held. It is certainly significant that he should be +suspected of murder; but this may be only a consequence of his +misanthropy and his tastes for herbs, worms, and poisonous reptiles. +Nothing is essentially changed by the postmaster's narrative; therefore +I think we had best adhere to our plans. I, as quartermaster of the +party, will inspect the accommodations of the house and select our +rooms. We will then remove as far as is possible the traces of our +glacier tour, so that Leo at least may present a respectable appearance +to his uncle and the golden-haired Hilda. The Knight Kuno and I will +accompany him as far as the castle, and then leave him to his fate for +a while and return here to rest upon the laurels which we have won upon +our wanderings. Are you agreed?" + +Leo and Herwarth had no objection to make, and Paul proceeded to carry +out his plan. He went to the postmaster, whom he found in conversation +with his wife. Both greeted him with a gaze of keen scrutiny, to which +he paid no heed, informing Hansel that he with his friends was minded +to spend some time at the inn if they liked their quarters. + +The postmaster highly delighted displayed the accommodations that his +house afforded, and Delmar found the rooms far more numerous and +spacious than he could have anticipated. He engaged the largest and +finest with a glorious view from the windows, of the castle and the +snowy peaks in the background, for a sitting-room, and also a huge room +adjoining with three beds in it, and then, after a short conversation +with Hansel, returned with him to the inn parlour and informed his +friends that they might inspect and approve his choice. + +"So everything is arranged," said Paul, rubbing his hands, "except the +price we have to pay. What do you want for the two rooms, Herr +Postmaster? Don't ask too much; be reasonable, and we shall stay here +all the longer." + +The postmaster regarded him with a sly smile. "Would two guilders a day +be too much for the two rooms?" + +"Two guilders a day! Man, do you think we are made of money? One +guilder is enough, and I will not give more." + +"But, Delmar, pray----" Herwarth interposed, but Paul would not let him +speak. + +"I am quartermaster, and allow no interference in my affairs. Are you +satisfied, postmaster, with one guilder?" + +"'Tis not much, but it will do," Hansel replied, apparently not greatly +disappointed at this reduction in the rent of his rooms. In fact he +laughed when Paul explained that he would have no money transactions +with an underling, but would settle with the postmaster himself daily. +He assured the gentlemen that they should be well provided for and not +overcharged, and then he went off grinning to the kitchen, and told +Loisel that he had rented his two best rooms, and that the gentleman +with the black beard had offered him four guilders a day for them, but +the others were not to know it, to suppose he was only paid one +guilder. + +The gentlemen's portmanteaus were carried up to their rooms, and half +an hour later the three friends, having changed their dress, appeared, +and inquired the way to the castle. Hansel advised them to go by the +road, which--although it ran circuitously around the base of the +mountain--would take them to the castle in an hour, and upon which +there was no danger of their losing their way, rather than by the much +shorter foot-path which led from the last house in the village, and +upon which they might easily go astray. He described the foot-path to +them, but counselled them, if they should decide to go by it, to hire +some lad in the village to act as guide. + +"Thanks, we will," Paul rejoined; and then the three walked briskly off +up the valley in the direction of the castle. + +Hansel gazed thoughtfully after them. "I have seen the black-bearded +one somewhere!" he exclaimed to Loisel, "but I cannot for the life of +me remember where." + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +This eleventh of July was an eventful day for the Post inn at Tausens, +and certainly merited to be underscored with a red pencil, as it was +that very evening by Hansel in the almanac. + +The postmaster was still standing at his inn-door looking up the valley +after the three friends, when, just as a winding in the road hid them +from sight, he rubbed his eyes which he had lazily turned in another +direction, and thought he must be dreaming. No, it was no dream, he saw +advancing upon the high-road towards the village the realization of his +most extravagant hopes. Two equipages, each drawn by four horses, were +coming rapidly along the highway. + +Since the death of the first madame, for more than a quarter of a +century no four-horse equipage had been seen upon the road to Tausens, +and here were two, one behind the other, and each, as Hansel's sharp +eyes discerned even at a distance, laden with large trunks, while the +light dresses of ladies were visible inside the carriages. These were +certainly grand and wealthy travellers, and that they meant to stay in +Tausens was plain from the quantity of luggage. + +With intense eagerness Hansel awaited their arrival; he did not have to +wait long,--the first carriage was close at hand; all right: it turned +aside from the road, and with a sharp turn the coachman reined in his +four fiery steeds before the door of the Post. + +A servant in rich livery sprang from the box to open the door and +assist the occupants of the carriage to descend. They consisted of a +very stout elderly lady, a gentleman also elderly, and a young +gentleman who had been sitting on the back seat. + +The young man refused the footman's proffered aid; he sprang out, and +turned to assist his elderly companions. With the greatest care and +attention he helped out the stout lady, who descended from her seat +with difficulty, and then he gave his hand to her companion. The lady +thanked him with a pleasant smile, the gentleman in words. "Thanks, my +dear Guido. Here we are at last; my legs are positively stiff, and my +clothes are sticking to me with the heat. There comes the other +carriage. Eva looks as red as a cherry." + +The second carriage now drove up; two young ladies were sitting inside, +and on the box beside the driver sat a third, much more showily dressed +than the others. The liveried footman hastened to help this last to +descend from her high perch, and his aid was accepted most willingly, +the young person leaning on his arm as if loth to leave his support. + +The young gentleman who offered his aid to the occupants of the +carriage was not as fortunate as the footman; one of the young ladies +said, coldly, "Thank you, Herr von Bertram, I do not need any help," +and the other said nothing, but the glance of her dark eyes spoke +plainly enough,--his assistance was rejected. + +"Why will you not allow me to render you even the small service you +would accept from your servant?" Bertram whispered, quite aggrieved by +his repulse. + +"Because I do not wish services forced upon me which I do not require. +When I need your aid I shall certainly request it," was Eva's sharp +reply, as she swept past him towards her Uncle Balthasar, who was in +eager consultation with the postmaster. + +Poor Hansel! He stood there like some convicted criminal. He had taken +his short pipe from his mouth out of respect for the grand arrivals, +and in the other hand he held his black cap, with which he repeatedly +slapped his bare knee in his embarrassment. For the stranger gentleman +had demanded three rooms with five beds, with two smaller rooms for the +servants, the one for the lady's-maid near her young mistress, and two +sitting-rooms besides; and with the best will in the world Hansel could +not accommodate him, for the entire inn did not contain so many rooms. + +If the three 'Bergfaxes' had not already been in possession! Hansel had +three unoccupied rooms, and beds enough. The servants could also be +taken care of, but that was all the accommodation the house could +afford, since the two best rooms were already occupied by the three +'Bergfaxes.' This Hansel told the stranger gentleman, who was in great +consternation at the intelligence. + +Uncle Balthasar gazed in despair at the various huge trunks which the +coachman was taking from the carriages; where could they all find room +in the two apartments? for one of the three must be given up to +Bertram. And what in the world would become of Aunt Minni if she had no +sitting-room where she could recline comfortably all day on the sofa? +And was Eva to be cramped up in one room with Fräulein Aline? The thing +was impossible! + +Poor Uncle Balthasar contemplated with horror the tedious drive back to +the town,--five long hours of jolting,--for he thought he foresaw that +Eva would never consent to remain here a single night. He imparted to +her the sad intelligence that the two best rooms had been appropriated +by three gentlemen, who were going to remain some time, so that only +three sleeping-rooms were to be had. + +"Only three rooms? That is not very pleasant, to be sure," Eva said, +much less alarmed than Uncle Balthasar had supposed she would be. "What +can be done with Wilhelm and Nanette?" + +There was room for the servants. The maid could sleep in the same room +with Nannerl, and the footman in the garret, the postmaster said. + +At this arrangement, and at the word 'maid' from worthy Hansel's lips, +Nanette made a wry face, and her anger was great when Eva said quietly, +"That might be arranged. If the rooms are clean and neat we might +manage to stay here for a while." + +For a while! The postmaster's face shone at the prospect of a visit of +some duration from such grand guests, while a corresponding gloom +settled upon Uncle Balthazar's countenance. "Well, yes, my dearest +Eva," he assented with a resigned air, "if you say so we will try it. +It will be a little crowded, but just as you say, my dear." + +"We will contrive to make ourselves comfortable. The country is +enchanting, and I hope we shall be able to spend some weeks here very +pleasantly and quietly in the enjoyment of nature in this retired +valley, undisturbed by the hordes of detestable tourists that make so +much of the Tyrol odious at this season of the year. First of all let +us see the rooms; the largest and most convenient will of course be +yours and Aunt Minni's, uncle dear. Aunt Minni must be comfortable. +There will surely be a place in her room where we can put a nice sofa; +and if there is no sofa here, Wilhelm must drive to the town before +night and buy one." + +"Oh, we have a sofa," the postmaster declared. + +At this joyful intelligence every cloud disappeared from Aunt Minni's +face. If she could have a good sofa, where she could doze away most of +the day, and if the cooking was good, she was abundantly content. + +"There is another thing that can be done," Bertram remarked. "The host +might ask the three gentlemen to give up one of their rooms. Men do not +need a special sitting-room in an inn; they can make use of the inn +parlour in the daytime. If the host insists, they will consent to +vacate one room, and if they do not, they must be forced to do so!" + +Eva cast a look of great disapprobation upon the speaker. "We are not +so selfish as to wish to interfere with the rights of others," she +said. "We shall certainly confine ourselves to our three rooms." + +"I don't think Herr Delmar would give up the room," the postmaster +remarked. + +The name of Delmar produced an electric effect upon Eva and Bertram. +Guido's face suddenly became leaden in hue, and across Eva's there +flitted a crimson flush, but she quickly recovered herself. "Is one of +the gentlemen who have taken the other rooms called Delmar?" she asked +the postmaster. + +"Yes, one of them." + +"Is he a northern German?" + +"I think so." + +"A young man about thirty years old, with dark eyes, black hair and +beard, and an olive complexion?" + +"Just so; I think I knew him once somewhere, but I can't tell where." + +"And the two other gentlemen? Do you know their names?" + +"One I do; they call him Leo. I didn't hear the other's name at all." + +"Herr Paul Delmar and his friend Herr von Heydeck!" Eva exclaimed in +some agitation. "What an unfortunate encounter!" + +Bertram was not less moved; he bit his lips and did his best to +preserve his composure and not betray the dismay that he felt in +discovering that his two hated enemies, Delmar and Leo von Heydeck, +were in Tausens, and that he might at any moment be brought face to +face with them. + +What terrible consequences might ensue from such a meeting if any +explanations should be made! If Delmar should ever give Eva an +account of the odious scene beneath Büchner's awning; if she should +learn by what means Bertram had been forced to make his disgraceful +apology,--that it had not been made in compliance with her wish but for +fear of ruinous revelations,--all would be lost! + +He breathed more freely when Aline took Eva's hand and said in a voice +full of tenderness, "We cannot stay here, Eva dear; such a meeting, +such unavoidable encounters in this retired place would be too painful +for you and for all." + +"I must say, Eva my dear, that I think Fräulein Aline is right. Let the +trunks be taken out again to the carriages, landlord; we shall not stay +here." + +Uncle Balthasar gave this order, quite convinced that Eva would +immediately desire, as he did himself, to leave Tausens; and it almost +seemed as if she agreed with him, for she did not object to his +directions to poor Hansel, when suddenly Bertram, by an imprudent word, +prevented what he himself most desired. He meant to reinforce Aline's +words and Uncle Balthasar's remark, and to confirm Eva's wavering +resolution. "We must go, go instantly, my dear Eva," he said. "We +cannot possibly expose ourselves to a meeting with that man and his +friend Delmar. We cannot subject ourselves to fresh insults, which I +must not even avenge. You owe it to yourself, you owe it to me, to +avoid such an encounter!" + +His remark was most unfortunate. It decided Eva to act in direct +opposition to his wishes. "I am the best judge of what I owe to +myself," she said, proudly. "I will not have Herr von Heydeck believe +that I avoid meeting him because I am afraid of him. We shall certainly +remain here for the present." + +"Eva, I entreat you not to be headstrong," Aline interposed. "Herr von +Bertram is quite right in this instance. You owe it to him and to all +of us to avoid all chance of a meeting which might have disastrous +consequences. Let us leave here, if we only go as far as the next +village. We can rest there and then continue our tour. Do it for my +sake, Eva!" + +Eva would certainly have yielded to Aline's entreaty if coward fear of +an encounter with Delmar and Heydeck had not been plainly imprinted +upon Bertram's pale face. This fear seemed to her so pitiable, so +despicable, that her pride revolted at the idea of flight. No, she +would not retreat; she would not grant such a triumph to the man who +had insulted her. + +"I cannot comply with your request, Aline," she said firmly. "Do not +urge it: my resolution is fixed; I shall stay. Come, dear, let us see +the rooms; the landlord will show us to them." She followed the +postmaster into the hall, and the others could do no less than imitate +her example. Guido alone was left standing in front of the house. His +portmanteau was not yet taken from the foot-board of the carriage, and +one of the men was busied in untying the rope that bound it there. +Should he order it to be left where it was? It was not easy to decide. +Like a flash of lightning all that had lately occurred passed through +his mind. Eva had indeed thanked him when he brought her the +intelligence that the duel had been made impossible, but then she had +asked for particulars with regard to what had occurred at Büchner's, +and he had been forced to give her an account that had some similitude +to the truth lest she should hear of it elsewhere. + +He told her that after an interview with Count Waldheim he had awaited +Leo von Heydeck at Büchner's, to make him the apology which he had +promised Eva should be made, but that the execution of his design had +been hastened by the intervention of the old colonel and Delmar. He had +skilfully interwoven truth and falsehood in his narrative, but it had +not escaped him that Eva's countenance betrayed a certain distrust of +him while he spoke. He had begged her to allow him to accompany her +upon her tour, and she had not refused, but this journey had been to +him a daily source of the greatest humiliation. He would have liked +nothing better than to withdraw, but he could not leave the field to +his enemies; he must stay. + +"Take the small leather trunk to my room," he gave orders to the man, +and then followed the servant into the house. + +Meanwhile, Eva had subjected the three vacant rooms to a thorough +inspection, and had found that their neatness and comfort far exceeded +her expectations. One was very spacious; besides two beds it contained +a sofa, wardrobe, bureau, washstands, and two cushioned easy-chairs. It +would be easy to be comfortable here for a while. The second was +considerably smaller, and contained neither sofa nor wardrobe, but then +the prospect from the windows was perfectly enchanting. They looked out +upon the picturesque ruins of Castle Reifenstein, which here intervened +between the eye and the inhabited part of the building. In the +background the view was bounded by the snowy peaks of the Weisshorn and +the Drei Maidelspitz, with the blue shimmering glaciers of the +Schiechhorn between them. The third room, between the first and third, +and connected with each by a door, was small enough, with only one +window; a bed, washstand, and two chairs were all it could contain. + +Such were the apartments which the postmaster placed at the command of +the travellers; in addition they could have the exclusive use of a +balcony, upon which a door opened from the wide hall. The magnificent +view from it of Castle Reifenstein and the glacier background made it +seem a most attractive resort, and even in bad weather it might be +used, since it was protected by a broad roof. + +Eva's arrangements, after she had seen the three rooms and the balcony, +were soon made. "We will stay here," she said; "we can make ourselves +very comfortable here for a while. The large room with the sofa is +yours and uncle's of course, Aunt Minni; Aline and I shall do very well +in this next largest room, and Nanette can have the one with one window +if Herr von Bertram leaves us." + +"Which he certainly will not do," Guido rejoined, having overheard the +last words. + +"Then Nanette will sleep in Nannerl's room, and the little room is +yours." + +Guido made no reply. + +"Come, Aline," Eva said to her friend, "let us arrange our room." With +these words she left the spacious hall in which the conversation had +been held and entered her apartment. Then, while Aline closed the door +after them, she examined the door leading to the room she had assigned +to Bertram. To her satisfaction she found it provided with a heavy iron +bolt, which she pushed home, and then turned to her friend. + +Hitherto she had exerted herself to preserve an appearance of quiet +composure, while all the while her heart was beating so violently that +she could scarcely bear it. Now that she was at last alone with her +friend and there was no need longer to control her emotion, she threw +her arms around her and leaned her weary head upon her bosom. + +"My poor, poor Eva!" said Aline, with tender sympathy. + +"Oh, Aline, I am so wretchedly unhappy!" + +With a gentle hand Aline stroked the dark curls from her friend's brow +and kissed her. "Cry, my poor Eva, as much as you want to," she said +lovingly; "the tears which you have so long restrained will soothe your +pain. And then you shall bathe your eyes and compose yourself. Your +betrothed must not see that you have been weeping." + +"My betrothed! Why do you torture me with that word? You know how from +the very depths of my soul I hate it!" + +"Then it is your duty to break this miserable engagement," Aline +rejoined gravely. "You would not listen to me when you gave your hasty +promise, and therefore I have been silent until now, but I cannot bear +to see you so unhappy. It is my duty as your friend to advise and to +warn you even although I should offend you by doing so. I will not +quietly look on when I see you obstinately determined to seal your +unhappiness forever!" + +"But what shall I do, Aline?" + +"You must make up your mind to break the fetters which you yourself +forged." + +"But I have promised." + +"Promised? And is this wretched promise to annihilate your happiness +for life? You used to be indifferent to Bertram, and that was bad +enough; but now I can read in your eyes as in an open book, he becomes +more odious to you every hour of every day, and you would give +yourself--swear love and fidelity before the altar--to this man whose +very touch inspires you with loathing. Will it not be perjury and a far +greater wrong to Bertram than if you should break your hasty promise?" + +"He knows well that I do not love him." + +"So much the worse. If he does not wish for your heart, for your +love, he is speculating upon your money. Give him a share of your +fortune,--you are rich enough,--but do not sacrifice yourself!" + +"How gladly would I do so, but he will not release me. Do not urge me +further. Aline, you only make me more unhappy. I have had a hard +struggle with myself; indeed the fulfilment of the duty I have +undertaken demands all the strength I am mistress of, but it must be +fulfilled. Bertram has sacrificed his future to me. Can money requite +him for the honour he has lost? I cannot retreat. My destiny must be +fulfilled!" + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +The road to Castle Reifenstein, upon which the three friends had +started, ran through the village of Tausens and the isolated dwellings +of the peasants on the bank of the Schwarzenbach. After passing the +last of these it left the broad beaten valley road, turned to the +right, and passed around the mountain crowned by the castle, gradually +ascending on the northern more gentle slope until, after many windings, +it reached a bridge leading across a broad, deep chasm in the rocks to +the ancient portals of the castle. + +Before the invention of gunpowder Castle Reifenstein had been an +impregnable fortress, although it owed little of its impregnability to +art. Nature had provided for the discomfiture of any possible besiegers +by the inaccessibility of the steep rocks that formed its base on the +southern side. + +If the ancient Counts of Tausens, whose nest it was, raised the +drawbridge they were secure from any attack, for on one side it was as +impossible to climb the smooth, straight wall of rock, on the summit of +which stood the castle, as it was to spring across the broad and ugly +chasm, several hundred feet deep, across which the bridge was flung, +and which cut off the rock from the gentle declivity of the mountain on +its northern side. Thus a few archers, placed behind the walls and in +the round tower, could command the entire road up from the valley. + +On the eastern side alone the rock was connected with the mountain. A +green meadow, which had latterly been converted into a garden, extended +from the forest upwards to the wall. Art had here contributed towards +rendering the fortress impregnable. A single huge door opened out of +the castle courtyard upon this garden. At either end of the wall had +stood a huge round tower; of one of these nothing remained but the base +in ruins, while the other, in good preservation, stood proudly erect in +close vicinity to the inhabited wing of the castle. + +The two towers and the wall of the court-yard formed a more than +sufficient protection for this eastern side of the castle, for only a +few besiegers at a time could approach it through the irregular and +broken masses of rock that covered this part of the mountain. Even the +peasants seldom ventured to approach the castle on this side. They used +the broad road from Tausens almost exclusively, and only a few stout +mountaineers preferred the narrow foot-path that left the broad road +just behind the last house in Tausens and led straight up the mountain, +then turning to the left cut off many of the windings of the road until +it joined it again on the summit at the bridge. + +Paul paused at the spot where this foot-path left the road. "Is there +anything more tiresome in the world than a broad, well-kept road like +this?" he said. "All the world can use it,--any fool may walk along it +and go dreaming on to his destination. I hate the smooth white dusty +thing! Look at this inviting foot-path, Leo; it is wonderfully +attractive. Suppose we leave the stupid road?" + +"The landlord warned us against it," Leo replied. "He said we should +surely lose our way if we took it." + +"Bah, nonsense! These peasants always think that city men will lose +their way; we have the castle always in sight, how can we go astray? +Noble Knight von Herwarth, what do you think?" + +"I am for the foot-path." + +"Forwards, then! The majority carries the day." + +Paul struck into the foot-path which, leading through thick alders, was +too narrow to allow of the friends walking abreast. Leo followed Paul, +and Herwarth came last, but he had hardly gone a few steps before he +stepped upon a loose stone and almost fell. He recovered himself +instantly, but when he attempted to proceed he felt a violent pain in +his ankle. He stood still for a moment and then tried again to walk, +but the pain was too severe: he could not go on. + +"What is the matter, noble knight?" Delmar called back to him. + +"I do not know: I must stop a moment; my foot pains me. I hope it will +pass away in a moment." + +But it did not pass away. The pain, on the contrary, increased with +every attempt to walk. Herwarth had to sit down upon a fallen tree: he +could not go on. + +This was a most unpleasant interruption to their expedition. They +consulted what had best be done. Paul proposed to go back immediately +to the village to procure surgical aid, but this Kuno would not listen +to; he was sure that rest would bring him relief; it would be quite +time enough to consult a Tyrolean village doctor when the hurt was +proved to be serious, which he was quite certain was not the case. He +begged his friends to proceed quietly without him, and he would wait +here a couple of hours until Paul should return, after having +accompanied Leo to the castle-gate. By that time the pain would have +abated sufficiently to allow of his walking back the short distance +they had come. It certainly was no misfortune to lie on the soft moss +for a couple of hours and enjoy the lovely landscape. + +At first Paul and Leo refused to agree to Kuno's plan, but after they +had examined his ankle, and convinced themselves as far as was possible +for the uninitiated in the science of surgery that the leg was neither +broken nor seriously injured, they consented to do as he desired. They +left him lying comfortably on the grass lighting a cigar, and once more +Leo advised Paul to pursue the road where they could not go wrong. +This, however, the latter was less inclined to do than before. + +"Can I leave our wounded knight alone in the desert for so long?" he +asked. "The foot-path is much shorter than the worthy postmaster said. +As soon as I have delivered you safely to your uncle I shall return by +the same path to Kuno." + +The shortest road! Many a one among the mountains has found that the +shortest road to his destination has proved the longest for him in the +end. Thus it was with Delmar and Leo. + +As long as the foot-path led through the bushes it was easy to trace; +it was evidently not much frequented, but the grass was worn upon it +and it could not be missed; the case, however, was different when it +emerged upon a steep, stony waste,--here it suddenly vanished, and even +Leo's practised eye could find no signs of it over the stones. + +"I think it would be better to go back to the road," said Leo, after +vainly searching about. + +"Then we must retrace our steps, for we cannot turn to the left, where +it lies, because of that deep chasm." + +"Better go all the way back than lose our time and our way, as the +landlord warned us we should among these stones." + +"We have come a quarter of a mile at least, and as we have been +always ascending we must be half-way up. I cannot see how we can go +wrong,--there is the castle always before us to point the way. The +nearest way is the best. Let us scramble directly up over these stones, +and we must reach the castle." + +Leo was not convinced, but he yielded and followed Paul, who began to +clamber sturdily over the stones. + +It was a wearisome ascent. At first the stones were small, often +slipping and turning beneath the feet; but gradually they grew larger, +until they became huge blocks, between which it was often very +difficult to find a way. + +It was no longer a stony waste which they were trying to traverse, but +a chaos of immense masses of rock piled one upon another. There was not +the slightest trace of a path; and Delmar, who went first, had to turn +to the right and left continually to advance a single step upwards. +"Leo," he said at last, stopping to wipe his heated brow, "I see now +that you were right, and that I am an ass,--a discovery, by the way, +which I have made frequently during my life. This climbing is the very +devil!" + +"If it only led somewhere!" Leo replied; "but I am afraid we are among +the rocks against which our host warned us. I cannot see the castle any +longer." + +In fact the castle had vanished. In vain did Paul look in all +directions for its massive proportions. He had forgotten to keep it in +view lately, absorbed as he had been in the difficulties that beset +their progress, and now he noticed for the first time that it was +nowhere to be seen. + +In the direction in which Delmar had thought to find it there arose +perpendicularly from among the chaos of rough blocks of stone, a smooth +wall of rock. It might be that the castle was upon its summit, but they +were too near to it to decide this question. + +"We're in a deuce of a scrape!" Delmar exclaimed in irritation. "We are +positively lost. I can see no way forwards or backwards. The enchanted +castle has vanished, and I have no idea where it is. I believe the evil +fairy Hilda has conjured it away." + +A clear, merry laugh answered this outburst of irritation. Leo and Paul +looked startled in the direction whence it proceeded; but in vain: no +human being was to be seen. So melodious a peal of laughter could have +come only from the throat of a young girl, and she must be hidden by +some one of the giant masses of rock that barred both way and vision on +every side. + +Paul thought he knew exactly whence the sound came. His curiosity was +strongly excited, and without reflecting he left the spot where he was +standing with Leo and began forthwith to climb a huge rock upon his +right, from the top of which he hoped to have a more extended view. It +was a difficult undertaking, and not without peril; but Paul's frame +was lithe and his muscles steeled by constant gymnastic exercise. He +succeeded in gaining the summit, and the result amply rewarded his +exertions; for not only could he see far and wide over the chaos of +rocks, but he found himself face to face with the girl whose gleeful +laughter had just resounded in his ears,--she was sitting on this very +rock, a little beneath the summit, on the other side. As she looked up +at the young man there was evident in her eyes an admiration of his +strength and agility which did not escape him and which flattered his +vanity. + +"Excellently done. Cousin Leo!" she said, laughing. "You have atoned +for your blunder in losing your way among the Reifenstein rocks by your +agility in climbing them." + +Paul was startled by the frank, fearless tone of this address. 'Cousin +Leo!' Hilda von Heydeck then was sitting at his feet, and she took him +for the expected cousin whom she thus familiarly accosted. Even had she +not spoken he would have recognized her, remembering the postmaster's +description, by the masses of golden curls beneath her picturesque +straw hat, only she was far more charming and lovely than he had +anticipated. He had smiled when Hansel, in his enthusiasm, had compared +Hilda to an angel; now he thought the comparison admirable. There was a +rare and wondrous charm in the expression that animated the young +girl's lovely features; and nevertheless the merry, unrestrained +laughter became her well, and did not disturb the truly feminine grace +of her whole bearing. + +For the first moment Paul was so surprised by the girl's extraordinary +beauty that he, usually so ready with an answer, could not find a word +to say in reply. His amazement, so evident in his face, increased +Hilda's merriment. She sprang up lightly from where she was sitting and +made a profound courtesy, saying, "I see I must introduce myself, or my +cousin Leo will not deign to say one word to me. Fräulein Hilda von +Heydeck has the honour to receive her cousin among the Reifenstein +rocks. In her own distinguished person she has descended from the +enchanted castle to guide her bewildered cousin into the right path. +And now give me your hand, Leo; we shall soon be the best of friends, +if you are only half as delightful as papa says you are." + +She held out her hand to Paul, who took it and kissed it, whereupon she +withdrew it hastily, saying, with a blush, "That is not the custom with +us, cousin!" + +"In Germany a man has a right to kiss his lovely cousin's cheek," Paul +replied, having quickly recovered from his first surprise; "but I dare +not lay claim to such a privilege, since I am not the happy man you +think me, but only his poor friend, Paul Delmar." + +Hilda blushed crimson. "You are not my cousin Leo?" she asked, in great +confusion. + +"No, unfortunately not; I wish I were. My friend Leo is down below +somewhere trying to find a path out of this rocky labyrinth. Leo! Leo! +where are you?" + +"Here!" Leo's voice replied, from a considerable distance. He had +mistaken the direction whence the sound of Hilda's laugh was heard, and +had consequently plunged more deeply into the bewildering labyrinth. +Paul's repeated call told him where his friend was to be found; he +scrambled over several rocks and finally reached the foot of the huge +mass upon which Paul and Hilda were standing. + +"Most fortunate of mortals!" Delmar called down to him, "come up here. +I will give you a hand, that you may display all the grace you are +master of in ascending. Here you will find the lovely fairy who reigns +in the enchanted Castle Reifenstein, and who has descended to aid us +miserable mortals." + +With no less astonishment than Delmar had experienced Leo now looked up +at Hilda, who was standing beside his friend; he, too, recognized her +from the postmaster's description, and he, too, thought her extremely +beautiful. Still her beauty made no extraordinary impression upon him; +he thought the worthy innkeeper's enthusiastic comparison of her to an +angel rather exaggerated; nevertheless he was most pleasantly surprised +by this encounter with his cousin. + +Before Paul could hold out a hand to help her she sprang lightly down +from rock to rock until she stood beside Leo, to whom she held out her +hand with the same easy grace with which she had offered it to his +friend. This time, however, although it was grasped cordially, it was +not kissed, and was instantly relinquished. + +Leo had anticipated with a certain anxiety his first meeting with the +cousin whose hand had been destined by the will of her father and of +his own to be bestowed upon him. He now stood face to face with the +destined bride whom he had made up his mind never to marry, without any +of the embarrassment he had expected to feel when he should first see +her. No; any uncomfortable sensation of the kind was entirely dispelled +by Hilda's easy frank reception of him as a near relative. She +evidently saw in him, not a future lover, but simply her cousin Leo, to +whom she was ready and pleased to show all the familiar kindness +warranted by their close relationship, and he was instantly as much at +his ease with her as if they had known each other for years. + +"It is a very extraordinary but none the less delightful chance. Cousin +Hilda, that led you here to us in the midst of this rocky waste, where, +of all places in the world, I least expected to meet you." + +"It is no chance," she replied, looking with a smile at Delmar, who had +just made his descent from the rock. "Papa and I have been expecting +you for some days; a letter from your father told us that you and one +of your friends were coming to the Tyrol. When a little while ago I saw +from my window two strangers coming up to the castle, I instantly +divined that you were one of them, and when I saw you go astray among +the Reifenstein rocks I made haste to join you to show you the path, +which it is impossible that any stranger should find. I had just +climbed this rock to see where you were when I heard voices close by. I +sat down instantly I confess to play the part of eavesdropper, and when +I heard that the 'evil fairy Hilda' had 'conjured away' the castle I +could not help laughing aloud." + +As she spoke Hilda gave Paul an arch smile. "To be sure, the 'evil +fairy' afterwards became a 'lovely fairy,' but she will always remember +the first adjective bestowed upon her." + +"Be merciful to a poor sinner," Paul begged, "and do not reckon against +him words wrung from his despair in finding himself lost in such a +labyrinth." + +"We shall see hereafter whether I can exercise mercy for justice; first +of all I must guide these two erring wanderers up the mountain and into +the foot-path." + +"Did you not come down from the castle by some other way, Fräulein +Hilda?" Delmar asked. + +"I did, it is true, come by another and a much shorter way," Hilda +replied; "but it is fit only for the feet of the evil mountain-fairy of +an enchanted castle, and not for two fashionable men from the city; I +cannot show you that way." + +"Do you suppose that a path you can use will be too difficult for us? +You show very little confidence in our powers. Pray show us the nearest +path." + +"I will do so in punishment for your presumption, but upon one +condition. Promise me that the instant you are dizzy you will say so, +that we may turn back; the path lies along the very brink of an abyss." + +"I promise; but I shall not have to redeem my word." + +"Will you promise too, Cousin Leo?" + +"Yes; but you need have no fear, neither Delmar nor I know what it is +to have vertigo." + +"Then follow me." + +Hilda walked on before. In perfect security, and with an airy grace +that enchanted Delmar, she sprang from stone to stone, and in a few +minutes they had reached the base of the wall of rock, which here +ascended nearly perpendicularly several hundred feet. Here she paused. +"There is still time to turn back," she said, seriously, "and I beg +you, Herr Delmar, and you, Cousin Leo, to do so; I ought not to show +you the path up the rock, an accident might so easily happen for which +I never should forgive myself." + +"You shall have no cause for self-reproach," Paul replied, "for I see +the path clearly now. You do not show it to me, I choose it myself. It +leads up the rock just here; it has been worn by the goats, and is just +what I like,--perfectly easy to follow." + +The path was certainly plain to be seen by any one who chose to follow +it. It was scarcely a foot broad, and went directly up the side of the +mountain; on one hand was the perpendicular wall of rock, and on the +other the abyss, and the higher it went the steeper and dizzier the +path became. + +Paul had taken in at a glance the difficulty and danger of the ascent; +but he did not hesitate a moment to begin it, nor would he have done so +had the path been twice as steep and giddy as it was. + +"Herr Delmar, I pray you turn back!" Hilda exclaimed, anxiously; but he +continued to advance fearlessly. + +"Let us follow him, cousin," Leo said, with a smile. "Make your mind +easy about Paul; he will carry through whatever he attempts; no power +on earth can stay him. I am convinced that he would take that path even +although he knew that he should fall into the abyss. But he will not +fall; he has no fear, and he is never dizzy." + +"And you, Cousin Leo?" + +"I? Why should I fear? Only those who love life fear to lose it." + +"What can you mean, cousin?" There was a genuine compassion and ready +sympathy in her words that soothed Leo. Hilda looked at him very +reproachfully. Did she know that her father had destined her to be his +bride, and was she wounded that he could speak thus? + +"Well, Leo, are you going to stay down there?" asked Paul, who had +already ascended about fifty feet of the path, and who now turned and +looked down at the two cousins. As he looked he leaned forwards so far +over the abyss that Hilda experienced a sudden vertigo. Hitherto she +had never known the sensation even when looking from the dizziest +heights; but when she saw how carelessly Delmar leaned forwards so far +that it seemed as if he must fall, she fairly trembled. "For God's +sake, Herr Delmar, turn away!" she exclaimed. + +"Have no fear, lovely fairy!" was the reply. "'Tis true that a magic +power draws me towards you, but I will not choose the direct way to +reach you at present. Indeed, you have calumniated this path,--it is as +easy as possible, and commands a glorious view. Well, Leo, are you not +coming? Do you not like it?" + +"I am coming," Leo cried, and quietly walked on after his friend. + +Hilda followed him up the height. How often she had ascended the rock +by this path! how often, when, only the hardiest mountaineer could +follow her, had she descended by it into the valley, and never before +to day had she thought of its danger! Now she was fairly tormented by +anxiety. + +Not upon Leo's account; he walked on before her with as firm and even a +step as if he had been upon level ground. He, however, neglected no +necessary precaution, testing the firmness of the stony soil, as Hilda +saw, at every step; for him the path had no danger, but it was full of +peril for Delmar, who seemed to challenge it in the wildest fashion. + +Where the path was so narrow that there was almost none at all, and the +greatest caution was necessary at every step, Delmar walked as +carelessly as if he were upon a broad road, and at the very most +perilous point he stopped, coolly relighted his cigar, and then walked +on, not even looking down to pick his way, but with his gaze riveted +upon the distant view. + +Hilda's heart throbbed as she observed his careless demeanour; she had +warned him, but she did not venture to call to him again. The ascent of +the rocks had never seemed to her half so long, and only when she saw +that Paul had reached in safety the small but secure strip of +meadowland that intervened between the old castle-wall and the edge of +the precipice, did she once more breathe freely and with an easy mind +follow Leo, with whom she soon joined his friend. + +Paul received her with a laugh. "Thanks, charming fairy," he said, +again advancing to the edge of the precipice and leaning forwards so as +to overlook the entire path up the rock; "thanks for the greatest +enjoyment I have had in our mountain tour. I delight in a path like +this; it is inspiriting to climb the rocks by it. One false step is +certain death. Life is the meed only of strength and sureness of foot. +Let fear once assail the climber, vertigo is sure to follow and he is +lost; but for a steady brain and strong muscles there is no danger; and +what a glorious prospect we have had over the fertile valleys to the +snowy peaks that bound the horizon on the south! If I lived at Castle +Reifenstein I should choose no other path save this by which to reach +the valley, and I am sure that you also. Leo, will visit us in Tausens +by no other." + +"You are much mistaken," Leo quietly replied. "I have come once by this +path, and I shall not again pass over it, least of all in descending to +the valley. I shall take the safer footpath or the road, even although +it be somewhat longer." + +"How can an artist be so terrible a Philistine!" Paul exclaimed, +indignantly. + +"If not to run into unnecessary peril is to be a Philistine, I +certainly am one. You will admit, I know, that I am not backward in +facing danger when any good end is to be gained thereby." + +"I should be the last to dispute that. Do I not know that you, my +unattainable model and example, are all compact of the strongest and +loftiest principles? Do I even try to emulate you? I should be the most +tiresome fellow in the world if but the half of your virtues were mine, +although I confess that they suit you remarkably well; so keep them +all, I pray. Trust one who knows, lovely fairy; your excellent cousin +is the embodiment of pure principles and strong good sense; he has only +one fault: he chooses his friends very foolishly." + +"Are you not one of them?" asked Hilda. + +"Exactly; that is just it. His reputation suffers from my friendship. I +am principled against principle. My aim in life is to do what I like. I +am a thorough egotist, who has no idol but self. Now is such a man a +fit companion for Leo von Heydeck? He should blush to own such a +friend, by whom he may be judged by others. But here we are safely +arrived at the castle, and I will take my leave. I must bid you +farewell, Fräulein von Heydeck, only asking permission to return and +visit my friend Leo at Castle Reifenstein." + +They had, in fact, reached the garden, which lay on the eastern +declivity of the mountain, and before them was the colossal old pile. + +"You are not going to leave us, Herr Delmar?" Hilda asked, in surprise. +"You cannot be in earnest. Rooms were arranged for you and Leo two days +ago. Of course you will stay at Castle Reifenstein with my cousin?" + +"A most kind and amiable invitation, and so tempting from such lovely +lips that I should not perhaps be able to refuse it had I not promised +to return immediately to Tausens. As, unfortunately, I have so +promised, there is nothing for me to do except to thank you most +sincerely for the hospitality, which, to my regret, I cannot accept." + +"To whom can you possibly have made such a promise?" + +"To a third friend, the noble knight Kuno von Herwarth, who, but for a +slight accident upon the way, would have accompanied us to the castle. +I promised him that I would return to him as soon as possible, and hard +as it is, I must keep my word." + +"Paul is right," Leo added. "Kuno expects him, and I know that his +peculiar egotism would make all persuasion to stay useless. His +selfishness will not permit him to allow Herwarth to wait for him +longer than is absolutely necessary." + +"Not at all; you have no comprehension of good sensible selfishness. I +don't trouble myself about Herwarth one whit; but it gives me an +uncomfortable sensation to know that he is lying down below there upon +the grass, looking up at the castle, pulling out his watch every few +minutes, and thinking I might have returned long since. And so for my +own sake--what is Herwarth to me?--I shall hurry back to him." + +"Exactly; that is the very kind of egotism in which you excel +particularly." + +"If you suppose your sneer will have any effect in detaining me, you +are mistaken. It only confirms my purpose. The delightful goat's track +will take me to our unfortunate friend in half an hour." + +Hilda's heart beat afresh as she heard Delmar announce this intention; +she knew how much more dangerous was the descent than the ascent of the +steep path. True, she had fearlessly tripped up and down by it many a +time; but then she knew every stone, every dangerous spot, and was, +besides, accustomed to mountain-climbing. The peril was twice as great +for a stranger, and she trembled at the thought that if his foot should +slip he was lost. She had known Delmar but one half-hour; but his odd +talk and manner interested her much, and he was her cousin's friend. +Surely she might treat him with some degree of familiarity. So when +Paul lifted his hat by way of farewell, she held out her hand to him +with a slight blush at the remembrance of the kiss bestowed upon it +half an hour before. The blush made her look lovelier than ever, and +Paul absolutely lost his heart as he slightly pressed the little hand +thus graciously offered. + +"I cannot ask you to break your promise to your friend, Herr Delmar," +the girl said, not without a shade of embarrassment. "I can only hope +that both you and my cousin Leo's other friend will consent to be my +father's guests at Castle Reifenstein. This I trust my cousin will +arrange with you and your friend to-morrow morning. In the mean time I +have a request to make of you. Perhaps your selfishness will allow you +to grant it." + +"Oh, my selfishness is a very convenient selfishness; of course it +allows me to do whatever gives me pleasure, and nothing, I am sure, +could give me greater pleasure than to fulfil any request of yours, +Fräulein von Heydeck." + +"It is certainly a most courteous selfishness," Hilda said, with such a +bewitchingly merry glance that Paul registered a silent vow upon the +spot to bring her the moon from the skies if she asked for it. + +"Only tell me what you desire, Fräulein von Heydeck," he exclaimed, +"and I will make impossibilities easy!" + +"I am not quite so exacting," Hilda replied. "My desire can be easily +complied with: it is only that you should return to Tausens by the +usual way. Since you are such an admirable mountaineer, I will allow +you to take the common foot-path, and show you myself where it is; you +cannot miss your way by it in descending the mountain. Will you do as I +ask, Herr Delmar?" + +"Ah, here I recognize the lovely but evil fairy who has already cast +her spells upon me! Nevertheless, a promise is a promise, and must be +kept." + +Hilda thanked him merrily, especially for the title of "evil fairy," +and declared herself quite ready to act as his guide to the foot-path +down the mountain, the shortest way to which was through the garden and +court-yard of the castle. She went first, Leo and Paul following. + +Paul could see nothing but his lovely guide; he had no eyes for the +beauty of the garden through which they were passing, and he scarcely +noticed that as they entered a shady walk an old gentleman appeared +walking towards them. Only when Hilda paused and, addressing the old +man, cried joyously, "Papa! here is Cousin Leo with his friend!" did he +turn to scrutinize with a certain curiosity the man of whom he had +heard so much. + +The old gentleman was evidently not prepared for the encounter: he had +a book in his hand, and was walking in the garden, reading; apparently +he never would have noticed the strangers if Hilda's exclamation had +not called his attention to them. + +When he heard the name of Leo a smile passed over his withered face, +but it vanished in an instant as, with an expression of positive +horror, his eyes opened to their utmost extent, he gazed at Paul, who +approached and, lifting his hat, bowed courteously. + +This was an extraordinary reception. For a minute the old man seemed +incapable of speech; he gazed silently at Delmar, whom he waved off +with his hand, retreating a step at his approach. He never even looked +at Leo: Paul absorbed his entire attention. + +"Oh, papa, what is the matter?" Hilda asked, in surprise. + +But her father did not seem to hear her; the longer he looked at Paul +the more intense was the expression of terror upon his face and in his +eyes; several seconds passed before he could so far control himself as +to stammer in broken words, "What do you want of me?--How did you come +here?--Who are you?" + +Delmar had, it is true, cherished no expectation of any particularly +kind or courteous reception at the hands of "uncle monster," and the +picture formed of him in his imagination had not been very flattering, +but what he now saw and heard transcended his expectations: he had not +believed in such a monster as this. + +Herr von Heydeck, once tall and handsome, was now a sickly, emaciated +old man, his tall figure was bent, his withered features showed no +trace of their former beauty, and were entirely wanting in the +expression of dignified repose which makes an aged face attractive. The +working of the lips, the protruding light-gray eyes the uncertain +glance of which always avoided your own, made the spare wrinkled +countenance positively ugly. + +Paul experienced actual repulsion at first sight of this old man, and +the sensation was heightened by the strange broken questions addressed +to him. + +It was not Delmar's habit to show much consideration towards those whom +he disliked, and a sharp reply to the inhospitable queries was upon his +lips, when his glance fell upon Hilda; he saw in her face the terror +and surprise which her father's reception of him was causing her. Could +he wound her? However ugly and unpleasant this old man might be, he was +nevertheless the father of the lovely fairy, and Leo's uncle. In +consideration of this he suppressed the angry retort upon his lips and +replied quietly, "My name is Delmar; I am a friend of your nephew Leo, +whom I have accompanied upon his journey to the Tyrol. I do not know +what further particulars I can give you with regard to myself at +present, Herr von Heydeck." + +The old man did not hear his last words, the name alone riveted his +attention. "Delmar! Paul Delmar!" he muttered to himself "I knew it +must be he! What do you want of me?" he continued, aloud. "I must know +what you want. Do not imagine that I am afraid of you! It was only the +first shock of surprise; but I am not in the least afraid of you, not +in the least. Speak! what do you want of me?" + +Paul listened with increasing astonishment to these unconnected, +unmeaning words. Had the old man a sudden attack of insanity? It must +be so, else how could he thus receive his nephew's friend? Such a +reception was utterly inexplicable, and least of all could Paul +conceive how Herr von Heydeck had got hold of the name Paul, which he +had muttered to himself. He did not trouble himself, however, to ponder +this, but, seeing Hilda's distress, resolved to cut short so +disagreeable a scene. + +"I want nothing of you, Herr von Heydeck," he replied, courteously; "on +the contrary, I bring you something in the person of your nephew +Leo,--my dearest friend. And now I must beg your permission to leave +you, as I must immediately return to Tausens to a friend who awaits me +there." + +This quiet reply had the effect of partially allaying the horror that +had filled the old man's mind, and with a degree of self-control he +recovered the consciousness which had nearly forsaken him. He still +regarded Paul with a strange, scrutinizing look, without venturing to +meet his eye. But his composure returned by degrees; his glance fell +upon Leo, and remembering Hilda's words and Delmar's explanation, he +was conscious that he had been guilty of discourtesy and had not yet +spoken to his nephew. "Welcome, Leo!" he said, offering him his hand. +"Yes, I should know you anywhere, you look so like your father, my +Hans. Welcome to Castle Reifenstein. And you, sir, are Leo's friend? +Yes, I remember my brother's letter mentioned that Leo was coming to +the Tyrol with a friend. You, then, are Leo's friend? Herr Delmar? Herr +Delmar? Is that your name?" + +"It is; my name is Paul Delmar." + +"Paul Delmar; exactly, I knew it; and it is only as Leo's friend that +you come here? you have no further intentions?" + +"What further intentions could I possibly have?" + +"Of course, of course! What further intentions could you have? Forgive +me for my strange reception of you: my mind sometimes wanders; you must +not take it ill of a feeble old man. I hope, Hilda, that you have the +rooms ready for Leo, and Herr Delmar, Leo's friend?" + +"Certainly, papa; they were all ready two days ago; but Herr Delmar +refuses to stay with us, and says he must return to the Post at +Tausens." + +"Indeed? I am very sorry." + +The 'very sorry' did not sound genuine. The old man's mind was +evidently relieved when he heard that Paul had declined to be his guest +at the castle. Apparently the coldness of his expression of regret +struck him also, for he hastened to atone for it by a request that Paul +would reconsider the refusal. But upon receiving Paul's courteous +excuse for not complying with this request, he forbore to urge it, and +when Delmar expressed his regret in being obliged to return immediately +to Tausens, he did not press him to remain, but gave him his hand in +token of farewell, and expressed, although with some hesitation, a hope +that he would frequently visit his friend Leo at the castle. + +Hilda fulfilled her promise; she accompanied Paul through the garden, +the castle court-yard, and the large gateway, across the bridge to the +foot-path, which, lying to the left of the road, passed down the +mountain at some distance from the steep rocky side. She walked beside +Delmar in silence; her father's strange conduct had filled her with +vague anxiety. She felt that there must be some relation which she did +not understand existing between him and Herr Delmar, and she vainly +wondered what it could be. She knew that her father was misanthropic +and inhospitable, but with regard to Leo and his friend he had not been +in the least so until a few moments previously, but had given express +orders that everything should be done to make the young men's stay at +Castle Reifenstein agreeable to them. + +What reason could he have for such terror at sight of a stranger, and +for receiving him so disagreeably? She longed to say some word to +Delmar in excuse: she was afraid that he was offended; but what could +she say? In vain she tried to find words suitable to the occasion, and +while she was trying they had crossed the bridge, and she had +accompanied the young man as far as was fitting, and not one word had +she uttered. + +Paul, too, who was not often at a loss for words, had been vainly +searching for something to say during their short walk; and thus both +went on together in silence until Hilda held out her hand to him by way +of farewell, when he asked, "Has the lovely fairy no word for me that I +may take as a permission to return?" + +Hilda blushed. Why should the words 'lovely fairy' move her strangely +at this moment? She had heard them and laughed at them repeatedly in +the last hour, but now she could not laugh,--she was confused,--for the +tone of Delmar's voice was far more serious than before. She did not +reply directly, but asked in her turn, "Oh, Herr Delmar, what will you +think of us? I do not know what papa had in his mind, but I am sure he +did not mean to offend you. I beg you not to be angry with us!" + +"How could I be angry? Your father was under some mistake with regard +to me. What puzzles me is how he should have known that my name is +Paul. Perhaps Colonel von Heydeck mentioned it in his letter." + +"No; he wrote only a few words to say that my cousin Leo had gone to +the Tyrol accompanied by a friend, whose name he did not mention, and +that in a few days he would arrive at Castle Reifenstein." + +"And yet your father knew my first name, Paul, although I only told him +of my family name." + +"I cannot understand it!" Hilda said, dejectedly. + +"A riddle indeed. But time will surely bring its solution, and of one +thing I am sure: that I have never given your father any reason to be +angry with me." + +"Most certainly not; and I entreat you not to be vexed with papa for +his unkind reception; the next time you come he will be kinder." + +"May I come again? Will you allow me?" + +"Assuredly; Cousin Leo will be delighted to see you often at the +castle." + +"And the lovely fairy?" + +"Will never be an evil fairy for you. Adieu, and come soon." + +She nodded smiling, and hurried back to the castle much lighter of +heart than she had been a few minutes before. + +While Hilda was acting as guide to his friend, Leo had remained in the +castle garden with his uncle. The strange scene of which he had been a +witness had made a disagreeable impression upon him also. While it +lasted he had observed his uncle narrowly, the profound horror he had +testified at sight of Delmar, a horror increased by hearing his name, +and the effort it had cost him to regain his composure. At last the +morbid interest with which the old man watched Paul while he was +present, and with which he followed his retreating figure until it +disappeared behind the wall of the courtyard, vanished. For the first +time Herr von Heydeck seemed to breathe freely, although his mind was +apparently still occupied with Paul alone; he did not turn to welcome +the nephew who had come upon his pressing invitation to visit him from +distant Germany; he did not ask after the brother whom he had not seen +for thirty years; his first words were of Paul. + +"This Herr Paul Delmar is your friend?" he asked Leo, with a keen, +suspicious glance. + +"My dearest friend from my childhood." + +"Ah? from your childhood? You have known him, then, a long while?" + +"We were playmates and schoolfellows; we grew up together. He is a few +years older than I, but the slight difference in our ages never +interfered with our friendship." + +Again the old man shot a sharp glance of suspicion at his nephew; but +seeing that Leo met his gaze freely and frankly, he shyly averted his +eyes. Lost in thought, he walked silently by Leo's side, forgetting +that the duties of hospitality demanded that he should conduct his +nephew to the castle; he was lost to the present and buried in +recollection of a time long past. Tormenting memories which he had long +laboured to forget, but which would not be forgotten, arose within him +more distinctly and more tormentingly than ever: they filled his mind; +his nephew was forgotten. + +Leo did not disturb his uncle's revery, and was very glad not to be +expected to converse. He watched keenly the varying expression in the +features of the old man, who was all unconscious that a scrutinizing +eye was endeavouring to read his very soul. He would else have put a +force upon himself; his hand would not have been clenched, nor would so +gloomy a frown have appeared upon his brow. And certainly he would have +controlled the angry twitching of the thin lips that gave so hateful an +expression to the wrinkled face. + +What was going on in this man's soul? Leo asked himself. He no longer +inclined, as he had hitherto, to excuse his uncle's faults, to think +more kindly of him than his knowledge of the past would warrant. +Although he could not divine the mystery that enveloped the old man's +reception of Paul, although he had no conception of what cause his +uncle had to hate Delmar, Leo nevertheless felt that he did hate him +with a fierce hatred that he strove in vain to conceal. The ugly face +was animated by an expression of such savage malice, that Leo could no +longer be in doubt as to the character of this his nearest relative. +The man had no heart; he could not love: he could only hate,--hate with +all his soul! + +But no; Leo was wrong! Suddenly there flitted over the sullen, wrinkled +face a smile like a ray of sunshine,--a gentle, loving smile that +transfigured it. Leo, startled by such a contradiction to his thoughts, +looked up to see what had caused such a transformation. The cause was +plain: Hilda was coming quickly towards them. + +"But, dearest papa," she called out from some distance, "why are you +and Leo still in the garden? I could not believe you were here when old +Melcher told me. Cousin Leo must be hungry and tired, and you keep him +walking in the garden!" + +Herr von Heydeck passed his hand across his forehead as if to smooth +away the ugly frown, and really he almost succeeded in doing so. He +could hardly look kind, but he looked far less sullen and angry, as he +said, in a tone meant to be amiable and gay, "Forgive me, Leo; the +child reminds me of my duty; I was wrong not to take you into the +castle to your room. I am a feeble old man and very forgetful. I have +so much sometimes to confuse me, you must not take it amiss if I have +sinned against hospitality; my Hilda will atone for my omissions." + +And Hilda did so; with graceful cordiality she conducted Leo into the +castle and to the rooms that had been prepared for himself and his +friend, her charming face lit up by a happy smile as she saw his +pleased surprise. + +Leo was indeed no less surprised than pleased at sight of the bright, +cheerful room they reached after traversing various rooms and a long +dark corridor, and of the glorious view, through open windows, of the +wooded Schwarzenbach valley and its magnificent background of glaciers. + +A careful, feminine hand had evidently been busy here in providing +every luxury that could make the expected guest comfortable. Leo was +most touched, however, at seeing a new easel set up by one of the +windows, and beside it, leaning against the wall, a couple of canvases +ready stretched. + +"Ah, how kind!" he exclaimed. "A northern room with a glorious +view,--an easel and canvases all ready! I am indeed surprised. How +could you know of my love of painting, my dear Hilda?" + +"I know you better than you think, Leo," Hilda replied, gayly. "I have +long known that you were an artist, and I look forward with delight to +overlooking your work. I draw a little, and you must give me some +lessons; my father has told me all about you. Although he shuns all +personal contact with strangers, he is in constant correspondence with +the principal naturalists in all the larger European cities. He has +long made use of his extensive acquaintance among scientific men in +K---- to procure tidings of you and of Uncle Hans. In every letter he +sent there he asked about you both, and nothing pleased him so much as +to receive good news of his only brother and of his nephew. His friends +faithfully replied to him, and thus he has followed your career, even +all through the war; and when I came home from school to live here in +this lonely castle with him, he told me everything that he knew of his +dear relatives. Now you understand how I know that you are not only a +brave officer, but an excellent artist." + +"I am no longer an officer, and I only wish I were an artist," Leo +rejoined. + +"You are no longer an officer?" Hilda asked, in surprise. "We had not +heard of that." + +"Very naturally; I only sent in my resignation a few days ago. My +reasons for doing so I will shortly give to yourself and your father. I +hope he will find them sufficient." + +Hilda gave a little nod of assent. She had no doubt that his reasons +for resigning were good, and it never entered her head to imagine that +he had been forced into it by any fault of his own. Desirous as she +naturally was to know what had induced him to quit a career in which, +as her father had informed her, a brilliant future awaited him, her +sense of delicacy prevented her from all further question. + +Once more she cast a glance around the room to see that nothing was +wanting, and then took her leave, begging Leo to establish himself +thoroughly in his new home, and assuring him that his luggage would +arrive from Tausens in less than an hour, since she would instantly +despatch a messenger for it. After which, she added, she would await +him in the garden, where the table would be spread in the large +summer-house, and whither she begged he would come to partake of some +refreshment. + +Leo was now left alone to occupy himself with a careful examination of +the apartment which was for some time to be his. Everywhere he observed +proofs of kindly loving care. By one window stood a writing-table, +provided with everything that he could require in that line. A +paint-box filled with water-colors and pencils and brushes of all sizes +lay open upon it, and two vases of mountain-flowers adorned a shelf in +the corner of the room. + +In a bookcase he found a fine collection of German authors, and the +preponderance of historical works showed that Hilda and his uncle had +been aware of his preference for the study of history. + +This regard for his peculiar inclinations, this evident desire to make +his stay in Castle Reifenstein pleasant to him, awakened in Leo a +feeling of remorse. He remembered how unwillingly he had complied with +his father's imperious desire that he should visit these relatives who +received him with such affection. How charming had been the kindly +familiarity of Hilda's manner to him! How evident her desire, by her +care for his comfort, that he should feel at home beneath her father's +roof! + +But this father! Leo had never met a human being who had impressed him +so disagreeably at first sight; and yet had not this very uncle given +convincing proof of his friendly interest in his nephew? Would Hilda +ever have been able so to minister to her cousin's tastes and +inclinations if her father had not first taken the trouble to ascertain +what those tastes and inclinations were? Leo reflected that, +disagreeably impressed though he were by his uncle's conduct, the +strange harshness of his first words had borne reference to Paul, and +not to his nephew. What cause the old man could have to hate Delmar Leo +could not guess, but it was none the less certain that, in the sudden +terror caused by Paul's appearance, he had given vent to his hatred in +those first few broken words. The coldness of his uncle's reception of +himself was due entirely to his hatred of Paul, and Leo had no right to +be aggrieved by it,--he had reason to be grateful to the old man for +the kindness shown in the provisions made for his comfort. + +True to the principle which forbade his yielding undue influence to +first impressions, Leo was no sooner convinced that he had no cause for +resentment towards his uncle than he exerted himself to conquer all +feeling of repulsion for the old man, or rather to transform any such +feeling into gratitude for the kindness shown him. Although he could +not comply with his wishes in regard to a union between Hilda and +himself, he could at least do his part towards establishing friendly +relations between his nearest of kin and himself, and pave the way for +his father to be reconciled to his only brother. + +Filled with this resolve as the result of his short season of +reflection, Leo went into the comfortable sleeping-room adjoining his +sitting-room to remove from his dress all traces of his dusty walk +among the Reifenstein rocks. After which he set out to join his cousin +and uncle in the garden, in compliance with Hilda's invitation. + +The way thither, however, after he had left his rooms, was not so easy +to find. He remembered passing through numerous apartments, decorated +partly in mediæval style and partly according to modern ideas, but how +many he had seen of these, or in what direction he had come after +reaching a large central room into which numerous doors opened, he +could not say. He trusted to his luck, however, and from this central +apartment, which he easily reached, he entered a small room, which he +thought he remembered. The beautiful old wainscoting on the walls had +struck his artistic eye, and he now paused to examine it more +leisurely. The work must have dated from the end of the fourteenth or +the beginning of the fifteenth century, and the carving had evidently +been executed by a master's hand. Around the wall, directly under the +ceiling, ran a long inscription cut into the wood-work. Leo tried to +decipher it, but it baffled him, and he determined to devote himself to +the task when he should be less hurried; at present he would not keep +his cousin waiting for him. + +He wandered through a long range of rooms. In each he found interesting +and extremely valuable relics of mediæval splendour, and many precious +works of art, upon each of which he would have gladly bestowed +attention had he had the time. One room in especial interested him +greatly: it was Herr von Heydeck's study; a large, gloomy apartment, +into which the narrow windows admitted so little light that a dim +twilight reigned in its remote corners although the sun outside was +shining brightly. Its rays could not penetrate the thick octagonal +panes of glass, set in leaden frames, which had apparently not been +cleaned for years and were hardly transparent any longer. All the walls +were covered with wide shelves filled partly with old books, partly +with boxes and bundles of papers, and partly with bottles; these +bottles, containing all sorts of snakes, lizards, and fish, preserved +in spirits, might well have inspired the uninitiated with disgust. + +Close by a window, in a deep embrasure of the wall, stood Herr von +Heydeck's writing-table. It was half covered with open books, +and a microscope placed just against the window and several +magnifying-glasses bore witness to the industry of their possessor. + +Leo would have greatly enjoyed a thorough examination of the various +objects of interest that made this old room the very ideal of the +magician's den of an enchanted castle, but he preferred to do so in his +uncle's society, and at present what he most desired was to find the +way to the court-yard. He opened a door in this room, and discovered a +dark, steep winding staircase, which he descended, quite sure that it +would lead him into the open air; but when he reached the bottom he +found himself in a dim, deserted kitchen, only so far lighted by a +window high up in the wall as to enable him to distinguish where he +was. Opening an opposite door, he was disappointed to find, not another +room or hall of entrance from the court-yard, but a narrow, dim +passage, which evidently did not lead out to light and air. Probably +this was the way to the round tower of which the postmaster had had so +much to tell. + +Leo's curiosity was now excited. He could not withstand the temptation +to go on and have a look at the haunted tower, especially as he found +that the passage was only a few feet long in the thickness of the old +wall, and that a door at the other end was secured only by a large +bolt. This bolt, although as rusty as such old bolts are sure to be, he +managed to slip quite easily, with a noise that sounded ghostly enough +in the dim, low passage, and the door opened without any difficulty, +but his hopes of finding any interesting mediæval relics here were +disappointed. He had entered a huge round room, evidently occupying the +entire basement of the tower, which must have served in former times +for the dwelling of the warder of the castle, although it had +apparently not been inhabited for many years. The room was lighted by +the old loop-holes, that had been glazed in modern times, and were high +up near the ceiling of the apartment. + +Several old pieces of furniture, a dilapidated table, and a child's +crib, in which there were still some dirty pieces of bedding, were +standing in disorder about the room. The thick coating of dust that lay +everywhere upon everything was evidence that for years no one had used +the apartment. + +Leo made haste to leave so uninteresting a spot; he closed the door +behind him, producing, as he bolted it again, the same unearthly creak +that had startled the echoes a moment previously, and soon found +himself once more in the spacious deserted kitchen. Here he now +discovered a second door unbolted, by which he entered a large room +with windows opening upon the court-yard. The coarse furniture and +arrangement of this room bore evidence to Leo's mind that it was +probably the abode of the old servant of whom the postmaster had made +mention in his narrative. He would have passed through it to reach the +court-yard by the opposite door, when this was suddenly opened from +without, and an old man appeared upon the threshold with features +inflamed with rage. He shouted out several words in utterly +unintelligible German, and then threw himself upon the young man, +clutching his throat with both hands with a strength and ferocity which +could never have been looked for from his age and appearance. As he did +so he uttered a shriek of rage that sounded more like the howl of a +wild beast than any sound from human lungs. + +For a moment Leo was confused by so unexpected an attack. He recoiled +as the man rushed upon him with the evident intention of throttling +him; but in the next instant he freed himself from the griping fingers +at his throat, and threw off his assailant, exclaiming, "Take care! +What do you mean?" words which received no reply save the same +unmeaning howl and a second attack on the part of the old man. This +time however Leo was prepared, and he repulsed his assailant with such +vigour that he staggered backwards and fell on the floor. + +Nothing daunted however, the furious creature was on his feet in +an instant, and looking wildly about him, found what he sought,--a +broad-bladed knife that lay upon the window-ledge. This he seized, and +with another cry, rushed once more upon the young man. + +It was a struggle for life. Hitherto Leo had only acted in +self-defence; he could no longer spare his assailant. He avoided his +savage thrust by stepping aside, and felled him to the floor with a +blow on the side of his head. He fell headlong and for a moment lost +his hold of the knife; it was but for a moment however: he had not lost +consciousness; and again he would have imperilled Leo's life, when, +"What is the matter here? Melcher, are you crazy?" was heard in a deep +voice, and Herr von Heydeck appeared at the open door. The old man's +hand, raised to strike, fell by his side, and the knife dropped from +his grasp. + +Left at liberty by his furious assailant, Leo could see what manner of +man he was. The vacant, animal expression of the old fellow's coarse +features placed it beyond all doubt that he had been attacked by a +maniac. Leo remembered now that when he heard the name 'Melcher' the +Tausens landlord had spoken of this son of old Stoffel's as a +'Troddel,' a name synonymous in the Tyrol with idiot. + +Yes, old Melcher was an idiot; the vacant face and the protruding, +watery blue eyes were idiotic; the sudden change in the countenance so +lately animated by bestial rage, and now smiling a dull, unmeaning +smile, was idiotic, and so also was the unintelligible, stammering +speech in which he replied to Herr von Heydeck. + +Was there any sense in what he said? Leo could not understand a single +word, but he saw Herr von Heydeck's face grow dark, and noticed that he +glanced anxiously towards the door of the old kitchen and then keenly +at his nephew. + +It was evident that his anger was roused by the old man's words; he +turned hastily to Leo with, "What are you prying about here for? Why +should you intrude here?" + +"I do not understand you, sir," Leo replied, haughtily. "What possible +motive could I have for 'prying'? Accident led me hither. I was seeking +some means of egress into the court-yard when this old maniac assaulted +me." + +"Accident? Melcher tells me he heard the bolt creak." + +"He did. I found a door in that deserted kitchen leading to the old +tower. Curiosity prompted me to penetrate its depths, as I would have +explored any other mediæval dungeon. I had no idea you could be angry +about it or I should not have done so." + +Herr von Heydeck grew pale as he heard that Leo had penetrated to the +room in the tower. He paid no heed to his apology, the only thing that +interested him was the fact that Leo had seen this room. "And what did +you find there?" he asked in a trembling voice. + +"A wretched, uninteresting, deserted peasant-room, which you however +must know far better than I do, and I cannot conceive why my harmless +curiosity should have so vexed you." + +Leo's frank quiet explanation had its effect upon Herr von Heydeck; he +saw that he had been hasty with his nephew, and in a much more composed +manner "You are right," he said, "a wretched, uninteresting, deserted +peasant-room; Melcher used to sleep in that tower-room, but it was too +damp, and so it has not been used for years. There is nothing to see +there. There is indeed no reason for my being vexed, but I do not like +to have people ranging all over the castle, and I cannot see how you +came here, since your rooms are in the other wing." + +"I lost my way in the labyrinth of rooms as I was looking for the +stairs leading to the court-yard, and I found myself in your study, +whence I thought to descend into the court-yard by the winding +staircase, which however brought me to the old kitchen. Thence I +penetrated to the tower-room." + +"I see, I see. Any one not familiar with the castle will very likely +lose his way, but I advise you to be more careful in future. Melcher +will not suffer any man except myself in his quarters. He is an idiot, +but old as he is his muscles are iron; and if I had not chanced to come +into the courtyard to look after you, you might have had the worst of +it. It was fortunate that I came." + +"It was indeed, for the old man and for myself, for I should have been +sorry to do him an injury, and yet I might have been forced into it. +How, sir, can you allow so dangerous a maniac to go at large in the +castle?" + +"He is not dangerous; he is a harmless idiot. There is no need to mind +him, except when he is irritated and falls into a rage. Take no notice +of him, and be careful to avoid this part of the castle, and he will +not molest you. Look here, Melcher; this gentleman is my nephew; he +will not come here again; you must let him alone." + +With a vacant smile Melcher nodded to his master, and picked up and +laid aside the knife, uttering, as he did so, some unmeaning sounds +which were entirely unintelligible to Leo, but which Herr von Heydeck, +acquainted with the Tyrolean patois, and used to the old man's +indistinct utterance, seemed to understand, for he replied to them, +"That's right, Melcher; only lock the door, and I will see you again by +and by." + +Then turning to Leo his uncle continued: "The old fellow is afraid you +will intrude upon him again. Be careful not to do it, for it would +throw him into a rage in which he would be quite capable of murder." + +"I am not afraid of him," Leo quietly replied; "but I shall certainly +not provoke him intentionally." + +"Promise me that you will never try to open that door into the tower +again," Herr von Heydeck said to his nephew as they passed out into the +court-yard. + +"Certainly; your wish is quite sufficient." + +"Thank you. Then you will have nothing to fear from old Melcher. You +have had but a sorry reception in Castle Reifenstein, Leo, but I trust +you will forget it and yet feel yourself at home here. Now let us go +directly to Hilda, in the garden." + +Leo followed his uncle through the court-yard to the shady +summer-house, where Hilda was awaiting them at the head of a +delicately-spread table. She reproached her cousin laughingly for +spending so long a time over his toilette,--her father had grown so +impatient that he had gone in search of him. + +Leo's excuses gave his uncle a pretext for inquiring more closely into +the manner in which he had gone astray, and while Hilda poured out his +coffee, Leo described minutely the way he had taken upon leaving his +room. It appeared that instead of taking the door opening upon the +staircase from the large centre apartment he had left it by one leading +to the wing in which Herr von Heydeck had his study. This simple +explanation entirely banished the mistrust which had been evident in +his uncle's manner. The old man saw clearly that it had been with no +desire to pry, but from accident, that Leo had penetrated into the +hidden recesses of the castle. The frown on his brow disappeared, and +he became genial and cordial. + +Hilda listened eagerly to her cousin's account of his error; and when +he told of reaching the deserted tower-room by the narrow passage from +the old kitchen, she was greatly amazed. She had never even heard of +such a room; she had been no farther than into Melcher's kitchen, and +had not gone even there since her return from school, for she could +perfectly remember, as a child, making the old servant very angry by +going once alone into his kitchen and looking about her. Why he should +be so jealous of the solitude of his kitchen, and why he should make +such a mystery of the tower-room, Hilda could not divine. + +Herr von Heydeck showed uneasiness at the continuation of the +discussion with regard to Melcher and his tower-room, and he several +times tried to change the subject of conversation; but Hilda's +curiosity was excited, and she would recur to it. She was no less +surprised by Melcher's outburst of insane fury than by the existence +of the tower-room. She had always known the old servant as a +good-humoured, harmless old fellow, ready to fulfil her every wish, and +she asked so many questions about the attack he had made upon Leo, that +her father, after fruitless efforts to change the subject, at last lost +patience. + +"Do not tease Leo with any more questions, my dear," he said. "The +disagreeable scene is over; do not let us discuss it further." + +"But I cannot imagine, papa, why Melcher, who never does harm to any +one, should attack Leo with such fury just because he found him in his +room." + +"Why should we try to imagine the motives that rule the actions of an +idiot?" + +"But, papa, you know very well that Melcher is no idiot. He knows +perfectly what to do and what not to do, and he certainly would not +guard this tower-chamber, of which I never heard before, so jealously +if he had not some reason for it." + +"Perhaps he hoards his savings there, and is afraid of being robbed; +perhaps he keeps some articles of special value to him hidden there. +Who can tell what fancies he may have in his feeble brain? If he is not +entirely idiotic, he is certainly not a responsible person: he has not +the usual amount of intellect. It would be impossible to conceive of +the workings of his small amount of mind. But indeed we have wasted too +much time upon him. I do not want to hear another word about him. We +have far other things to talk of with our Leo than of old Melcher, and +his deserted tower-chamber with which we certainly have nothing to do." + +Hilda could not gainsay so determined an expression of her father's +will; she questioned Leo no further upon the forbidden topic, but +listened attentively to the conversation which her father skilfully led +to the subject which interested him most at the moment. Leo had to give +an account of his life in K----, of his father the old colonel, and of +his friends. + +It was a matter of course that Delmar's name occurred frequently in his +discourse. + +This was what Herr von Heydeck wanted. For good reasons he was very +anxious for exact intelligence concerning Paul's past life, +intelligence which he could procure nowhere so easily as from Paul's +most intimate friend, and to learn all possible particulars with regard +to Delmar he had given the conversation its present turn. + +The old man now had his features under perfect control; his face +betrayed no emotion beyond a justifiable curiosity as he said, "Your +friend interests me; he is very like a man, now dead, with whom I had +relations at a most eventful period of my life. The memory of that time +always agitates me, and therefore the sudden appearance of the young +man was such a shock that I lost my self-control and transgressed the +duties of hospitality. I should like to know whether the resemblance +that so struck me is accidental, or whether your friend is really +distantly connected with my old acquaintance." + +"Delmar has no relatives; he is alone in the world." + +"But he certainly must once have had relatives. Where was he born and +educated? What are his circumstances? You would oblige me very much if +you would tell me all you know of him, for, as I said, I am greatly +interested in him." + +Should Leo comply with this direct request? He called to mind the +expression of intense hatred and of horror with which his uncle had +regarded Paul. The quiet manner in which the old man now questioned him +with regard to his friend's past did not impose upon him; he divined +that the information he asked for had a deeper interest for his uncle +than that excited by a chance resemblance, and yet he saw no reasons +for concealing what he knew about Paul. Therefore he made up his mind +to accede to his uncle's desire. He told all that he knew of his +friend, and as he did so he involuntarily warmed with his topic; his +love for Paul, and the esteem in which he held him, lent glowing +colours to the picture that he drew. He observed with pleasure that not +only did his uncle listen to him with interest, but that Hilda's eyes +sparkled as she leaned forward in eager attention. + +Leo had known Delmar from childhood; they had gone to the same school, +and as they were near neighbours at home, they had grown to be +inseparable playfellows, and afterwards loyal friends. + +Paul's father had not been a wealthy man in the old schooldays. He had +come to K---- with his only son to invest a small capital in some +business. He lived only for this business, which he established and +conducted with great success. He was so engrossed by it that he had not +much time or attention to bestow upon little Paul, whose mother had +died a few hours after the birth of her child. + +Thus the boy, who was full of talent, grew up in his father's house +over which an old housekeeper presided, left entirely to himself, and +his heart would have been fairly starved had he not found in Leo a +faithful friend upon whom he could lavish the tenderest affection. + +During his school-life, however, a great change took place in his +circumstances. His father embarked in daring speculations, and they +were successful. Herr Delmar grew rich; the small business he had +founded became the greatest banking establishment in K----. The +merchant's time was more than ever absorbed by the cares of business in +his unceasing efforts to accumulate wealth; he saw his son only at +meal-times. + +When Paul passed through his college examinations he devoted himself to +the study of history and philosophy. He had pursued these with ardour +for about a year, when his course of life suddenly changed. The young +student had noticed for some time that his father's manner had been +absent, and his air grave and even depressed; the reason of this was +explained to him in a conversation he held with the head book-keeper of +the banking-house. It appeared that Herr Delmar, with unequalled +daring, had, in the hope of doubling his wealth, embarked in a giant +speculation, involving not only his every penny, but also all the +credit that he possessed. If it was unsuccessful complete ruin was +unavoidable, and at present affairs looked gloomy. The money market was +uncertain; the credit of the house was shaken. Herr Delmar was +anxiously awaiting what the future might bring forth. + +One day, as the banker was sitting, silent as usual, opposite his son +at the dinner-table, letters were brought to him so unfavourable in +their contents that he broke the silence to say to his son, with a +glance of irritation, "If you had turned your attention to business +instead of studying philosophy and such stuff, you might now have been +of some service to me!" He made no further remark, but arose from +table, leaving his untouched dinner, and shut himself up in his office. + +The next morning when the office opened, Paul was standing behind a +desk,--he had applied himself to his father's business, and he then +received from Herr Delmar the first look and smile of affection that he +could remember in his life. + +The young man was endowed with so keen an intellect, so excellent a +memory, and such power of ready comprehension, that he soon mastered +the difficulties of a commercial career. Under the skilful tuition of +the head book-keeper he soon became an admirable business man, and +when, a few weeks later, his father, oppressed with care, was stricken +down by illness, he was perfectly capable of conducting his affairs, +with the assistance of the faithful book-keeper. + +This time of trial developed all the strength and intellectual vigour +of Paul's character. Under his prudent but brilliant direction the +great banking-house passed successfully through the dangerous crisis. +As bold, but not as venturous, as his father, he avoided all too daring +speculations: he established the business upon a firm basis; and when +Herr Delmar, though only half convalescent, was driven by anxiety to +leave his bed for his office, he found, to his astonishment, that all +peril was past. The great banking-house had emerged from the crisis +with greater wealth and firmer credit than ever. + +But Herr Delmar had left his bed too soon. A relapse was the +consequence: recovery was impossible; although too feeble to take any +part in the conduct of his affairs, he lived on confined to his couch +for three years longer. At the end of this time, in the midst of a +night of intense suffering, he felt that his last hour was at hand. He +had Paul awakened and summoned to his bedside. He was in entire +possession of his faculties; his long illness had been powerless to +weaken his vigorous intellect and the conviction that he was dying +never for a moment disturbed the repose of his mind. + +He smiled affectionately at Paul when he entered the room, and replied +to his inquiries by a cordial pressure of the hand. "I sent for you," +he said, in a failing voice, "because I know I shall not live until +morning. I want to thank you for the filial affection you have always +shown me. To you I owe all that I possess; through you I have been +enabled to establish my house; your unselfish devotion preserved my +wealth for me when my previous good fortune threatened to leave me. +Your care and prudence have tripled my property during these years of +sickness when I have been unable to attend to business, and it is no +more than just and right that you should be the only heir to the +fortune you have so contributed to make. There is no one in the world +with any just claim upon my estate. While I was poor my distant +relatives took no notice of me, and since I have grown rich I have +treated them in the same manner. You alone therefore, my dear Paul, +will inherit my property, and with my lawyer's help, I have made a will +to confirm you in the possession of your inheritance if any +unjustifiable claims should be made upon my estate. + +"I see that you do not comprehend why a will should be necessary when, +as my only son, you are legally my only heir. I could explain this to +you, but I beg you not to require me to do so. You have always honoured +and loved me as a father should be honoured and loved by a son. I thank +you for it from my very soul, and my last wish is that you should +retain the same affection for my memory." + +Paul would indeed have liked some explanation of his father's strange +words, but he did not venture to ask for them, and a few more words of +gratitude for this forbearance were the last uttered by the dying man. +He soon after fell asleep with a smile upon his pale lips, and did not +wake again. + +The day after his father's death Paul received a visit from one of the +best-known lawyers in K----, who came to read to him the will which he +had drawn up a year before at Herr Delmar's desire. To Paul's +disappointment it contained no explanation of his father's last words, +but on the contrary surprised all who were present at the opening. In +the introduction to the will Herr Delmar stated that Paul had always +performed all the duties of a son with the greatest self-forgetfulness; +that the maintenance and increase of his business were owing to the +young man's skill and devotion; and that therefore, and not because he +was his son, the testator declared him his sole heir. At the close of +the will Herr Delmar expressly mentioned that he left behind him no +relatives legally entitled to any portion of his estate or who could +have the slightest claim upon Paul. + +The singular wording of the testament caused considerable talk in legal +circles in K----, and the lawyer who had drawn it up was of course +applied to by many people, and indeed by Paul himself, for an +explanation, but he assured every one that he knew nothing; he had +strictly followed Herr Delmar's instructions in drawing up the will, +the wording of which was the testator's own. + +Why Herr Delmar should have taken such pains to secure his property to +a son who was legally his heir remained a mystery, since no one +appeared to put forward any claim to the young man's inheritance. + +Thus Paul entered into undisputed possession of his father's immense +wealth. There was no longer any reason for his continuing to carry on a +business, in which he had never had the least interest, merely to +accumulate money. To the surprise of every one on 'Change, he disposed +of the entire business to a stock company at a very reasonable price, +and invested his capital in safe government securities, in bonds, +mortgages, and real estate. This done, he devoted all his energies to +scientific research. + +He lived in K---- the life of a man of wealth. He filled his +magnificent villa with the finest paintings and statuary, and spent +enormous sums upon his library. The greater part of his income, +however, was expended in satisfying what he called his egotism,--his +love of self,--which prompted him to purchase whenever he could the +pleasure of assisting the poor in the quietest manner possible. + +"And as an egotist to whom no sacrifice seems great in the interest of +a friend,--whose aid is always ready whenever aid is necessary,--Paul +Delmar lives in K----, where every one who knows him loves and respects +him. I am proud that he honours me with his friendship." Thus Leo +concluded his account of his friend. + +Herr von Heydeck had listened to every word, and when his nephew had +finished he nodded in approval; his face wore a very different +expression from that which had animated it while he was questioning Leo +with regard to Paul. He even smiled quite gayly. "Your friend seems to +be an admirable fellow," he said. "I am very glad, doubly so, for I +think I have some reason for special interest in him. I will tell you +about it hereafter. Very rich you say he is,--a millionaire, eh?" + +"I do not know the amount of his wealth; he never speaks of it, and +seems to value it but little. In K---- he is said to be worth four +million thalers at least. He is the wealthiest man there." + +"Four millions!" exclaimed Herr von Heydeck. "That is enormous! I had +no idea of it! Four millions! Then he certainly does not need any more. +He would not care for a few hundred thousand guilders, and therefore +will not----" + +Herr von Heydeck suddenly paused and cast a timid glance at Leo, who +looked inquiringly at him expecting the end of his remark. The old man +did not finish it, but arose and, half turning away, said without +meeting Leo's eyes, "But what nonsense I am talking! What is this Paul +Delmar to me? He is your friend, and as such shall be a welcome guest +at the castle; but don't ask me to interest myself about him. I am an +old man, often ill, and unaccustomed to social intercourse. My head +aches if I converse for any length of time, and then I grow very +confused. That is why I receive no visitors. My head aches to-day. You +must forgive me if I retire to my room. To-morrow we will talk more +together; to-day I must leave you to Hilda. Good-evening." + +He waited for no reply, but nodded to Leo without looking at him, and +left the summer-house. Passing quickly through the garden, he was soon +lost to sight among the shrubbery. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +When Hilda left him, Paul Delmar walked on quickly down the mountain. +The pathway was charming and well worthy of more attention than Delmar +bestowed upon it. It passed by turns through groups of tall larches, +and then through low shrubbery, where there were continual glimpses of +the lovely valley, with the shining snow-peaks in the distance. But +sensitive as Paul was to the charms of mountain-scenery, just now his +mind was too much occupied with his late reception at Castle +Reifenstein to allow of his enjoying this walk down the mountain as he +would have done at another time. + +And yet what most occupied his thoughts was not what one might have +supposed would have made the deepest impression upon him,--the strange +and unjustifiable dislike shown him by Herr von Heydeck,--no, the +farewell words of his charming guide were what he dwelt upon,--"At +least I will not be an evil fairy to you. Good-bye, and come soon +again." + +How lovely Hilda had looked as she said those words! They were not a +merely conventional phrase: they were sincere. Of course he must do her +bidding; he should indeed have to repeat his visit to the castle on +Leo's account. Only on Leo's account? + +He suddenly experienced a sensation almost of pain. Leo had, it is +true, come to the Tyrol only in compliance with his father's desire, +and firmly resolved never to further his uncle's scheme. But could he +remain faithful to this resolve after he had seen Hilda, the 'Fair one +with the golden locks'? Surely her grace and loveliness must conquer +the distaste Leo had for the union desired by his uncle; he never could +withstand such charms. + +Paul sighed profoundly as he reflected thus. "He is a lucky +fellow,--Leo!" he said to himself. "Happiness drops into his grasp +without any effort on his part. He needs no help from me. He must soon +see that the union he would have avoided will be his greatest blessing. +What have I to do at the castle? It is better that I should escape from +the enchanted ground before I am too surely entangled in the spells of +the enchantress! It would be base in me to place a pebble in Leo's path +towards happiness,--I, who came to serve him if I could. Happy Leo!" + +He sighed again. He was sorry, near as he was to Castle Reifenstein, +not to be able to avail himself of the invitation of the charming fairy +of the place, but loyalty to Leo forbade his seeing Hilda again. + +Still, would she not have just cause for offence if he took no notice +of her kind invitation? Oh, she would soon forget the stranger, who was +to her only her cousin's friend. And he would try to forget her, +although he doubted his power to succeed in the attempt. + +Paul was so deep in reflections of this kind that he hardly thought of +where he was going, and was greatly surprised at a turning in the path +to see before him the grassy opening where he had left Herwarth. At the +same moment he was hailed by Kuno, who had thought him long in +returning. + +"Here you are at last!" he exclaimed. "I was afraid you had lost your +way among the mountains." + +His call aroused Paul completely from his revery, and he was instantly +himself again. Herwarth must not guess at the gloomy nature of his +thoughts, and he replied,-- + +"You are a model of wisdom, noble knight, and a true prophet, who must +of course be without honour in his own country. We did lose our way up +there among the rocks, where we should have been at this moment if a +golden-haired angel had not descended and borne us aloft to Paradise, +where I left our Leo, while I returned to this sordid earth to succour +a wounded knight. How are you? Is your foot better?" + +"You did get to the castle then? And you have seen Leo's lovely cousin? +Tell me about it." + +"All in due order; you shall hear everything, and the account shall be +as full and detailed as you desire, but you must wait for it until we +are back at the inn. First answer me, as a docile patient should, how +is your foot?" + +"Better; it does not pain me now. I think I shall be able to walk very +well after my rest." + +Herwarth arose, but his first attempt to walk renewed his pain. "It is +worse than I thought," he said. "I must beg you for your arm to help me +even on the short way back to the inn." + +"Shall I not get some of the people from the village with a litter?" +Delmar asked anxiously. "The injury seems graver than we suspected. I +am afraid your ankle is broken." + +"No, it is not; I am sure of that. I shall certainly not be carried +through the village on a litter like a dying warrior because of a +slight sprain or bruise. If you will give me your arm I will hobble +back to the inn without more delay." + +"As you please. His own way is a man's kingdom of heaven; and if you +choose to hobble through Tausens, you shall do it." + +Propped upon Delmar's arm, Herwarth contrived, although with great pain +and frequent pauses for rest, to walk back to the inn. Just before +reaching it he paused once more, not however to rest this time, but in +astonishment. "I must be dreaming!" he exclaimed. "Look up, Delmar, at +the fourth window of our inn. Is it possible? Fräulein Aline von +Schlicht, and Fräulein Schommer." + +Delmar, whose eyes had been fixed upon the road, in his desire to help +his companion, looked up, and laughed aloud when he recognized the two +young girls. "Fräulein Eva, sure enough!" he said. "What a charming +meeting we shall have! 'Tis a pity that Leo did not take up his +quarters down here with us; he would take such a childlike delight in +the happy chance that has brought the fair Eva to Tausens. The presence +of my friend Bertram is all that is wanting to make the party quite +perfect." + +"It is not wanting: there the scoundrel goes!" Herwarth cried eagerly; +and he was right. Delmar recognized Bertram in the distance walking +along the road, his head bent as if lost in thought. + +"True! there goes the worthy soul!" Delmar said, laughing. "What say +you, Kuno? shall I bestow a few more attentions upon him for the sake +of his fair betrothed? The fellow ought to be punished for his +insolence in crossing our path again." + +"Let him alone, Delmar. Why provoke gossip? He probably does not cross +our path intentionally." + +"As I have before had occasion to remark, you are a model of wisdom, +noble knight. You are right; we will let the rogue alone. Let us leave +him to all the joys of his betrothal,--to the lovely Eva. It is an +admirable match. Lean more heavily on my arm, Herwarth. It is time you +were on the sofa. Come!" + +Kuno summoned up all his resolution to endure the violent pain in his +foot that he might not seem a weakling in the eyes of the ladies, who +were regarding him with great compassion. He could not bear his weight +upon it, however, and even with Delmar's assistance he had great +difficulty in gaining the house, where he took what consolation he +could from Aline's pitying smile as she returned his salutation. + +More carried than led by Delmar, he reached the apartment Paul had +engaged for their sitting-room, and sank exhausted upon the sofa. +Delmar did all that he could to make him comfortable, relieving the +foot of its boot and swathing the ankle in wet bandages, after which he +declared his intention of going in search of medical aid. "If the +postmaster's tale be true," said he, "the physician here, Dr. Putzer, +although a thorough-paced vagabond, is a man of skill and experience. I +am going to find him." + +"What trouble you take for me, Paul! How shall I thank you?" + +But Paul had already left the room. In the hall he met the postmaster, +who showed him the way to the doctor's house. At the inner door he +encountered Bertram just returning from his walk, and saluted him after +his usual mocking fashion. + +"Rejoiced to see you, Herr von Bertram. The tender regard which has +prompted you to follow me thus touches me and deserves recognition. I +trust your charming betrothed is well. What refreshment I shall have in +the contemplation of your new-born bliss! It will be a lesson in the +noble art of love." + +Bertram replied to this sneer by a furious glance, but he suppressed +his rage and only asked humbly, "May I ask for a few moments of +conversation in private with you, Herr Delmar?" + +"What can we possibly have to discuss in private, sir?" + +"I beg you to listen to me for a few minutes." + +"Your modesty shall receive its reward. You may accompany me in a short +walk I am obliged to take through the village, and on the way you can +tell me what you have to say. I have no more time for you." + +With these words Paul left the inn, leaving Bertram to follow him, and +rightly suspecting what the ex-lieutenant (he had been forced to leave +his regiment) had to say. + +Bertram walked at his side for some time without speaking. He had been +debating with himself for the last hour as to how he should approach +his detested enemy, how induce him to be silent. He had prepared +himself for this interview with the greatest care, and yet, now that he +found himself confronted with Delmar's mocking smile, he forgot all the +fine phrases he had made ready, and did not know how to begin. + +"Well?" Delmar asked, when the two men had walked for some distance +without one word from Bertram. "You are silent? If you have anything to +say to me, I advise you to do so quickly, or you may lose the +opportunity." + +"I will not detain you long, Herr Delmar," Bertram humbly replied. +"Have patience for a few minutes. As unhappy chance will have it we +meet thus unexpectedly in this retired spot." + +"Chance! and you call it unhappy? Then it was not a desire for my +amiable society which attracted you hither? Herr von Bertram, it wounds +me to be thus undeceived." + +"You sneer, Herr Delmar, and I cannot answer you, for I am powerless +against you. Is it honourable thus to triumph over the defenceless?" + +"No; you are right, and I take shame to myself that I have deserved the +reproof. Tell me briefly and without circumlocution what you desire of +me, and you shall be safe from my contempt for the next few minutes, +but take care not to cross my path again; my promise holds good only +for this interview. What do you want? Answer me at once and to the +point." + +"I wish to implore you not to let my betrothed know of the means by +which you forced me to make the declaration to Herr Leo von Heydeck +which drove me from the army. Have compassion upon me, Herr Delmar!" + +"Do you deserve compassion?" + +"If I sinned my punishment has been great. I never injured you, and yet +you have been the one to give the deathblow to my honour. Do you wish +to rob me of my last hope in life? You have terribly avenged the insult +to your friend. I cannot resent your doing so, but I implore you not to +drive me to despair. Do not take from me the last thing left to me in +life,--the love of my betrothed!" + +"Be honest, Herr von Bertram. If you really wish me to spare you, +answer me frankly. Is it really the love of the fair Eva which you +prize so highly? Is it not her millions which are so dear to you?" + +"I give you my word of honour, Herr Delmar----" + +"Let your honour alone if you wish me to believe you. I want a frank +answer." + +"I assure you that I love my betrothed from the depths of my soul. It +is this love that drove me to the course that ruined me. I hoped by a +duel with Herr von Heydeck to win Fräulein Schommer's gratitude and +affection." + +"You knew that Leo was principled against duelling." + +"I was convinced that he would prove false to his principles. You may +judge of the sincerity of my love for Eva by my submission to her +wishes. Without your intervention I should have offered an apology to +Herr von Heydeck, the same in substance with the one you insisted upon, +although couched in language less humiliating to me. Fräulein Schommer +required this of me when she consented to our betrothal." + +"Really? That then was no empty subterfuge of yours. Fräulein Schommer +required that you should make an apology?" + +"She did. Only upon this condition would she yield an assent to my +suit." + +"Strange! I had not credited the young lady with such delicacy of +feeling. This information so exalts her in my opinion that I doubt +whether I have a right to conceal from her what manner of man he is to +whom she has entrusted her future happiness." + +"You will not use my frankness against me? You will not ruin me +because, in accordance with your wish, I have told you the entire +truth? You could not take so mean an advantage of me, Herr Delmar? On +that terrible day you gave me hopes that you would spare me if I +complied with your demand. I did comply, to the annihilation of my +future career. Will you take the last thing that I possess from me, +when you promised to spare me?" + +"I expressly told you that I would promise you nothing." + +"But you justified me in hoping." + +"That I dispute; nevertheless, I will consider the matter. I have made +you no promises, and I will make you none. For the present I see no +reason for pointing out to Fräulein Eva the worthlessness or the +excellence of the man upon whom she has bestowed her fair hand; if time +should develop any reason for my doing so, I shall act as I see fit. +And now, no more of this. We have reached the house I came to seek, and +I have no desire to prolong this interview. One more question. Are you +going to stay any length of time at Tausens?" + +"I do not know; Fräulein Schommer seems to think of doing so." + +"Does Fräulein Schommer know that Herr von Heydeck is staying here?" + +"Yes; and for that very reason she has determined to remain. She does +not wish to appear to avoid Herr von Heydeck." + +"She shows pluck, upon my word! Then we can hardly avoid seeing and +speaking with each other occasionally; but I would advise you, Herr von +Bertram, to spare me such annoyance as far as you can. The seldomer we +meet the better it will be for you." And not waiting for a reply, +Delmar, having reached Dr. Putzer's house, left Bertram without another +word. Then, opening a gate in the low iron railing, he entered a front +garden, at the end of which was an arbour, where sat a lady and +gentleman. + +Dr. Putzer's house, the style of which was more pretentious than that +of most of the houses in the village, lay at quite a distance from the +road, from which it was separated by a large, carefully-cultivated +garden, that, with its tasteful flower-beds and various rare plants +certainly not to be found in any other of the village gardens, was +worthy of more attention than Delmar now bestowed upon it. Without a +glance at the fragrant and beautiful shrubs on either side of his path, +he walked directly along the white-pebbled way leading to the arbour, +where, as he suspected, the doctor was. + +His approach was unnoticed. The lady sitting in the arbour was busy +with some embroidery,--so busy that she did not look up; the gentleman +was leaning back in one arm-chair with his feet resting upon another, +comfortably resigning himself to the enjoyment of a cigar. He sat, or +rather he reclined, with his back towards the approach from the garden. + +Delmar paused at the entrance of the arbour; although he had taken no +pains to tread softly, neither the lady nor the gentleman had heard his +step. If he had ever cared to imagine what this couple were like, the +reality would have accorded well with the fancied presentment. + +The doctor's wife was still an imposing woman; indeed, her +well-preserved features would have been beautiful if they had not been +disfigured by her girlish cap with pink ribbons, and quantities of +pearl-powder and rouge. The old woman's efforts to look young destroyed +the charm that her regular features might else have possessed. + +Her youthful dress, fluttering all over with ribbons and fringes and +lace, bore testimony to a craving for admiration, all the more +ridiculous because, in the retired village where she lived, there was +not probably a man, woman, or child who was not perfectly aware that +she had long passed fifty. + +In striking contrast to the extreme elegance of his wife's appearance +Dr. Putzer's dress displayed no care whatever. The white summer coat +that covered his broad shoulders was rumpled and dirty; two buttons +were gone from the front, and it hung loosely about his huge figure. +His still abundant coarse sandy hair was in wild disorder, and the +spectator was led to suspect that the doctor did not often come in +contact with soap and water. + +Dr. Putzer was not handsome, although one could see that he might once +have been a personable man. His fat, flabby face had the purple hue of +an habitual drinker; his light-gray eyes were dull and watery, and his +figure, which must formerly have been good, was marred by corpulence. + +Paul took in this worthy couple at a glance; he did not need to scan +them long to come to a conclusion with regard to them. Their +distinguishing characteristics were patent to view,--the ridiculous +vanity of the woman and the man's indolence and love of eating and +drinking. + +For one moment Paul hesitated. Could he confide his friend to this +drunkard's surgical skill? On the table beside the man was a half-empty +bottle of wine; he had evidently been partaking freely. But Delmar +called to mind that the postmaster, in his story, had laid great +emphasis upon the fact that the doctor, in spite of his dissipation and +general worthlessness, was a skilful physician,--the best in all the +country round,--and this reflection confirmed his resolve. "Have I the +pleasure of seeing Herr Doctor Putzer?" he asked courteously, lifting +his hat. + +The doctor's wife looked up at this unexpected address, and at sight of +Paul uttered a slight scream of surprise; the embroidery dropped from +her hand, and she stared at the stranger with wide-open eyes. If her +cheeks had not been plastered with white and red paint, Paul, who +noticed her startled look, would have seen her become ghastly pale. + +The doctor, too, seemed strangely startled by Paul's appearance. Upon +first hearing himself addressed he turned his head heavily and +clumsily, but with one glance at his visitor he started to his feet +with a celerity that was almost comical in so corpulent a personage. He +ran his hands through his dishevelled bushy hair, and his little gray +eyes were riveted upon Paul's face. "Holy Apostles!" he cried, in +terror. "Who are you, sir? What do you want of me?" + +Here was another strange reception, precisely similar to that accorded +to Delmar by old Herr von Heydeck. Was Tausens then so secluded from +the world that the appearance of an ordinary stranger brought with it +terror and dismay? Just as the doctor and his wife were now doing had +Herr von Heydeck stared Paul in the face. + +Paul could conceive no reason for the extraordinary manner in which he +was received in Tausens: he would have liked to make some inquiries +with regard to it; but all that he wanted at present was to procure +medical aid for Kuno as quickly as possible, and he therefore answered, +"My name, which can possess but little interest for you, is Delmar. I +come to request your services for a friend who has injured his foot +among the mountains; will you have the kindness to return with me to +the inn, where he is in great need of your skill?" + +"Delmar?" the doctor muttered, seeming to heed nothing but the name in +the young man's reply. "Your name is Delmar, then,--not Menotti?" + +Delmar gazed at him in surprise; what made the man think of this name +of Menotti? Paul remembered to have heard it, but he could not recall +at the moment when or where; he only knew that he had heard the name +lately of a Count Menotti, if he were not mistaken. + +"Why do you mention the name of Menotti?" he asked, curiously. + +"Then it is not your name?" the doctor repeated, without answering. + +"No; as I told you, my name is Delmar,--Paul Delmar." + +"Strange! The resemblance is most striking. But what am I thinking of? +Young Count Menotti cannot be more than twenty years of age, and the +younger brother is a cripple. But the resemblance! Rosy, what do you +say to it?" + +The doctor's wife said nothing, she only nodded her head, never turning +her eyes away from Delmar. She scanned his features with eager +scrutiny, as if to stamp them upon her memory. + +For Paul the whole scene was extremely annoying, he especially disliked +being stared at by this odious woman; he did not like charades, and to +find himself a principal actor in one was very disagreeable. He asked +rather sharply, "Who is this Count Menotti whom I so strangely +resemble?" + +"A very distinguished nobleman," the doctor replied, continuing to +regard Delmar with curiosity, although he had regained his indolent +calm of manner, out of which it needed some special occurrence to +startle him. "You need not be ashamed of the resemblance, Herr Delmar, +Count Menotti was a very handsome man." + +"Was a handsome man? Is he no longer living, then?" + +"He died a few years ago. 'Tis strange that you have never heard of +him. Your resemblance to him is so great that I could have sworn you +were akin to him. No son could look more like a father. And you know +nothing of him,--you never heard of him?" + +"I think I have heard the name, although I cannot now remember when or +where. But let us drop this resemblance at present, Herr Doctor; at +some future time I hope you will tell me more of Count Menotti. I shall +be some weeks here in Tausens, and shall have abundant opportunity of +conversing with you about this Count whom I so greatly resemble. At +present let me beg you to come to the inn with me as quickly as +possible to the assistance of my friend." + +"Excuse me; in my astonishment at sight of you I forgot. Injured his +foot, you say? Pray tell me as briefly as possible how it occurred." + +Paul told, and the doctor listened attentively, now and then +interrupting him with an intelligent question. He then declared himself +ready to accompany Paul immediately to the inn, only asking him to wait +until he should fetch some bandages from the house, whither he repaired +with more briskness than could have been expected of his ungainly form. + +Paul was left alone with the doctor's wife. He tried to converse with +the lady, but in vain; he received such curt replies to his few general +remarks as made it plain that she did not mean to be drawn into +conversation with the stranger, although she continued to regard him +with the same wearisome curiosity. Therefore Delmar was more than +content when the doctor's clumsy tread was heard approaching from the +house. He had hurriedly made a kind of toilette, and the dirty linen +coat was replaced by one of cloth, rather more respectable in +appearance. + +"Here I am, at your service, Herr Delmar," he said. "I am ready to +accompany you, but I must beg you to walk slowly as my size forbids +speed." + +Delmar took leave of the lady with a courteous inclination, which she +did not return, and then walked beside the doctor down the pebbled path +to the road. At the gate he turned and saw that Frau Putzer had arisen +from her seat and was standing at the entrance of the arbour, still +watching him. + +Paul was annoyed by so disagreeable a degree of attention, and walked +on in silence, while the doctor also seemed to feel no inclination for +conversation; and thus they reached the inn with the exchange of but +very few words upon the way. + +They found Kuno sitting at the open window, awaiting them impatiently. +He arose to greet the doctor, but violent pain in his foot made him +wince as he did so. The doctor saw this, and immediately took charge +most intelligently of the case. "The pain is severe," he said. "Let us +see what is the matter. The bone is not broken; that I could see as you +arose. Lean upon me as heavily as you please, my shoulders are broad, +and I will lead you to the sofa, where we will make a thorough +examination." + +He spoke with calm and kindly decision. As a physician he perfectly +understood how to inspire confidence in his skill and experience. Kuno, +although he had been prejudiced against the man by what he had heard of +him from the postmaster, could not but yield to the influence exerted +by him upon all his patients. He did just as he was bidden, and a +thorough examination of the foot was made. + +"Well, doctor, what is it? Is there any serious injury?" Delmar asked +anxiously, when the doctor had at last finished his investigations. + +"No, I can reassure you; it is only a sprain. If Herr von Herwarth is a +docile patient all will be right in a couple of weeks; if not, I cannot +say when the foot will be well again. For two weeks you must not use +the foot at all. You ought to lie in bed. But this would I suppose be +asking too much, and I will allow you to recline on the sofa, begging +you upon no account to touch the injured foot to the floor. If you will +follow my directions, I will promise that you shall walk again in two +weeks, and that after a month you will hardly remember the injury." + +"Am I not to walk for two weeks?" Kuno asked. + +"Not for two weeks. I will not assume any responsibility in the matter +unless my orders are strictly obeyed." + +"They shall be obeyed. I will answer for it," Delmar interposed. To his +own surprise, he found himself agreeably impressed by the doctor's +manner. "A patient is not an individual, but a case; he should have no +will of his own. I will take care of him. I shall see life from a new +point of view. I will enact my part of nurse well. It will be a fresh +sensation in this everlasting monotony. Do not be anxious about this +amiable young fellow, doctor. He shall obey orders, put on bandages, +hobble or sit still, just as you command." + +"Excellent! Then I will answer for the result," the doctor said. "I see +that my patient is in good hands. I may leave him. To-morrow afternoon +I will come again and bandage the ankle. Until then, farewell!" + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + +Dr. Putzer yawned and stretched his huge limbs as he left Herwarth's +room and the door was closed behind him. In a sick-room and in +intercourse with strangers he was a different man from the Dr. Putzer +of private life. Towards a patient and with those whose rank in life +was superior to his own and with whom he had not yet become familiar, +he displayed a gentle courtesy which was entirely foreign to his usual +manner, and which was quite attractive. Whenever he pleased he could +thus assume the air and bearing of a man of refinement and culture; but +as soon as he was left to himself, or to his daily associates, he threw +off all such self-restraint and took no pains to conceal his innate +coarseness of nature. + +He descended the stairs, which creaked beneath his heavy tread, and +opening the door of the parlour, called, in thundering tones, "Nannerl! +Where the deuce is the lazy hussy! A half-measure of red!" he added, as +the maid came hurrying from the kitchen. "And send the landlord here. I +have something to say to him." + +As he finished he pinched the girl's red cheek with an ugly leer +and laughed coarsely as she recoiled from his familiarity. Then +turning into the parlour he settled himself comfortably in his usual +position,--leaning back in one of the large strong chairs, with his +feet on another of them. + +Nannerl soon appeared with the wine, which she placed upon the table, +carefully avoiding, as she did so, any contact with the man whose +coarse familiarity she dreaded. + +While she was thus setting out the wine Hansel entered the room, and +observing her annoyance, said angrily, "Let Nannerl alone, Herr Doctor; +your old head ought to teach you better than to tease a poor girl." + +The doctor was not at all offended by the rough rebuke, but with a +laugh, offered a glass of wine to the postmaster. "That's right. +Hansel," he said. "Keep strict watch over your maid's virtue. Take a +sip to cool your anger, and then we'll have a gossip. Fine doings here. +Hansel! Two four-horse carriages have not been seen together for many a +year in Tausens; and a couple of strangers into the bargain. I have +just left one of them, who has sprained his ankle." + +"I know it. Herr Delmar asked me where you lived." + +"Exactly; Herr Delmar came for me. Do you know Herr Delmar? where he +comes from? who he is?" + +"No, I don't, but I know his face, although I can't remember where I +have seen it." + +"Do you remember Count Menotti, Hansel?" + +Scarcely had the doctor uttered this name when Hansel struck the table +with his fist and exclaimed, "That's the man! The Count Menotti! Yes, +yes; just so he looked with his black eyes and yellow face! Now I see! +He may call himself Delmar if he will; he's a Count Menotti for all +that. That's why he wanted me to tell him all those old stories,--about +Herr von Heydeck, and his first wife, and Count Menotti, and the child +that died of smallpox." + +The doctor suddenly started from his reclining posture and frowned +furiously at the postmaster. "And you told him all that, you cursed old +blab!" he exclaimed angrily. + +"It's no secret. Herr Delmar may as well know what everybody else +knows," Hansel replied stoutly. + +The doctor's wrath was not at all appeased, but he made an effort to +control any further expression of it, and rejoined, "True, Hansel, it +is no secret, but where's the use of raking up such old forgotten +tales? Well, it can't be helped,--only I should really like to know +what you did tell him." + +The postmaster was not perfectly comfortable at this request. When he +called to mind his long conversation with the strangers, and the +extraordinary eagerness that Herr Delmar had shown in inducing him to +tell all that he knew of the life at the castle and of Herr von +Heydeck, he could not help thinking that the stranger who was so very +like Count Menotti had cross-examined him very skilfully, and the +doctor's request strengthened him in this conviction. + +Why had the doctor been so vexed to learn that Hansel had told of Herr +von Heydeck's dead child? Try as he would to seem composed the Herr +Doctor could not conceal his agitation. He was evidently afraid that +the postmaster had told too much, and honest Hansel began to share this +fear himself. + +The poor fellow found himself in a very disagreeable situation; if he +refused to tell what he had told the strangers, the doctor would +suspect matters of being worse than they really were, and yet if he +informed him of all that he had said, matters were bad enough, for he +had told enough to make the doctor his bitter enemy. It was very hard +to give the right answer, but something must be done, and Hansel did +his best, extricating himself from his dilemma with greater cunning +than would have been thought possible for him. He told the doctor +faithfully of all he had said to Herr Delmar about Herr von Heydeck, +the life at the castle, about the first mistress, and her relations +with Count Menotti. He reported also that he had spoken of the report +that Herr von Heydeck was by no means sorry for his child's death, but +he never hinted that he had once made mention in the narrative of the +doctor or his wife. + +Hansel had the reputation in Tausens of being so honest and +simple-minded a fellow that it never occurred to the doctor to doubt +his frankness, and his mind was set at rest with regard to the extent +of Hansel's revelations; not so, however, as to the stranger's motive +in questioning the postmaster. It could not, the doctor was convinced, +have been ordinary curiosity. + +What could have interested the strangers in Herr von Heydeck? Delmar's +striking resemblance to Count Menotti could be no mere chance freak of +nature. Such resemblances between strangers in blood do occur, it is +true, but they are very exceptional, and Delmar's curiosity regarding +matters connected with Castle Reifenstein showed plainly that this was +not one of the exceptions. + +But if Delmar were related to Count Menotti, and had not come by chance +to Tausens, what could he want there? + +A sudden suspicion flashed upon the doctor's mind, but he rejected it +immediately,--it was so wild and improbable; still, Delmar's presence +made him excessively uncomfortable. To conceal this discomfort from the +postmaster, he talked and drank incessantly. The measure of wine was +emptied and refilled several times, while the doctor's bloated face +grew redder and redder, his eyes more watery, and his speech thicker. +He tried to learn more of the strangers from Hansel, but in vain; the +postmaster knew nothing of them except what he had heard from their +guides from the Zillerthal, and this he freely imparted without in the +least satisfying the other's curiosity. In his good humour the +innkeeper was recounting every particular for the fourth time, although +he could not conceive what interest it could have for the doctor, when +he was interrupted by a message from the doctor's wife. + +A servant reported that her mistress was very much annoyed that the +doctor was staying so long from home, and that she begged he would +return thither immediately, since a message from the castle was +awaiting him. + +The doctor started up and, pouring down a last glassful of wine, set +out for his home, but his progress thitherward was not of the swiftest, +for his gait was unsteady and his head was confused,--he could not +collect his senses when he tried to divine whether this message from +the castle had any connection with Herr Delmar's arrival at Tausens. + +The doctor's wife awaited her husband in the arbour, where she had been +ever since his departure. She was standing at the entrance looking out +for him; but as she saw him approach with a heavy, unsteady gait, she +received him with anything but a smile of welcome, and the words, +spoken in a tone of profound contempt, "The brute is drunk again!" + +The doctor was perhaps not entirely unaccustomed to such tender +addresses, at all events he did not resent her words, but replied quite +humbly, "No, Rosy dear, sober,--perfectly sober,--s'help me God," the +thickness of his utterance belying his words. + +His wife took no notice of his reply, but, with the expression of +contempt upon her face intensified, she ordered him harshly, "Go to the +brook this instant, and when you are fit to hear it I have a message +for you." + +The doctor ventured no word of remonstrance; with wavering steps +he went towards the spot where, to the left of the arbour, a +mountain-brook was pouring through a hollow tree into a stone basin in +the grass. He held his hot hand under the icy stream and hesitated for +a moment, but at the sound of a sharp 'make haste' from the arbour he +delayed no longer, but stooped and let the water pour over his head. +His breath came in quick, loud pants, his face grew dark purple in hue, +and his limbs trembled,--it was a hard ordeal, but he bore the shock +bravely, and let the icy water stream over his brow and temples for +several minutes. Then he stood erect, and shaking his dishevelled shock +of hair like a dog emerging from the water, dried his face with his +cotton pocket-handkerchief, and went back to his affectionate wife in +the arbour. The cold bath had produced its effect,--his gait was +steadier and his head clearer. + +"Are you sober enough now to understand what is said to you?" + +"Sober enough; but I shall have a stroke one of these days." + +"Drink less then, and you will not have to resort to such violent +measures to make yourself sober. You are to go to the castle. Herr von +Heydeck has sent for you." + +"I am not his slave; let him wait." + +"You'd better go to the brook again,--you can't be sober yet." + +"I am sober, I tell you; but I can't see why I should always dance to +his piping. Let him come to me if he wants to talk with me." + +"You'll never be anything but a blockhead in spite of all your +book-learning. Don't you see that we must keep straight with the old +man? We are all in the same danger, and must stand together." + +"What danger?" + +"What danger, stupid? Have you no grain of understanding? Don't you +know who this man is who calls himself Delmar, and what he wants here +in Tausens? You recognized him at once as the son of Count Menotti!" + +"Yes; but I can't for the life of me see----" + +"Of course not,--but I can tell you! He is the son of Count Menotti and +the noble Frau von Heydeck, the heir of Castle Reifenstein, and he has +come for his inheritance!" + +His wife's words did not surprise the doctor; the same idea had +occurred to him, but he had rejected it as impossible. Now the uttered +words gave it distinct form in his mind, and he began to yield it +credence. "I thought of that," he said, reflectively; "but it is +impossible. The boy died long since." + +"The old fellow invented that tale for us. Rely upon it he is alive, +and has come to claim his own. It is for this the old man wishes to see +you, and you must go to him, but take care what you say. You must make +him confess that he lied to us. You must threaten him,--you can do +anything with such a coward. But you must not break with him, for we +are all alike in danger. You wrote the certificate of death,--the man +will revenge himself upon you as well as upon the old scoundrel at the +castle. Try to get as much money as you can out of the old fellow. If +the worst comes to the worst we must leave Tausens,--I have no mind to +end my days in a jail." + +"It wouldn't be as bad as that." + +"It would be bad enough. That man will have no pity for us. I saw that +in his bold black eyes. And you in your stupidity made matters as +desperate as you could by letting him see that you recognized him at +once." + +"I was so startled----" + +"That's no excuse. But that's over, and we can't help it; we must do as +well as we can. If you are really sober, go immediately to the castle. +Speak as little as possible, and get all that you can out of the old +man's cowardice. I wish I were going in your stead, for it's likely +you'll spoil all. Now go!" + +The doctor's wife thus dismissed her liege lord, who did as he was +bidden, although he had but little inclination at present for an +interview with Herr von Heydeck. The fumes of the wine he had drunk +were still clouding his intellect; he could not collect his thoughts as +he wished, and the way to the castle was long and steep. + +The warm July day had hardly grown cooler at its close. The sun, it is +true, had already set behind the mountains, but the air of the valley +was heavy and sultry, and made every step a weariness to Dr. Putzer's +massive frame. + +He was frequently obliged to rest while on the way, and heat and +fatigue combined to increase his irritation against the lord of the +castle. When at last he gained the bridge leading across the chasm, old +Melcher met him, and in the broken babble which few could understand, +but which was perfectly intelligible to the doctor's accustomed ears, +gave him to understand that his master had been impatiently awaiting +him for more than an hour. + +A savage oath was the doctor's only reply, but he hastened his steps, +and passed directly across the court-yard to Melcher's quarters. He +well knew the most direct way to Herr von Heydeck's study; he had been +familiar enough with it in years long gone by. By the winding staircase +from Melcher's room he mounted to the master's study, which he entered +without knocking. + +"Here you are at last!" the lord of the castle exclaimed. He had been +pacing the room to and fro for a long while in extreme impatience. +"Could you not come sooner? I sent for you more than two hours ago!" + +The imperious tone in which Herr von Heydeck spoke irritated the doctor +still more deeply. "Am I your slave?" he asked angrily. "I ought not to +have come at all in obedience to a command which should have been a +request. A pretty reception you give me! I've more than half a mind to +turn round and go home again." + +These words, spoken in a coarse, loud voice, had a strange effect upon +Herr von Heydeck. He recoiled timidly from the angry man; his wrinkled +features twitched nervously, and it was not until he had moved, so as +to place the heavy round table, covered with books, between himself and +his visitor, that he said in a changed and gentle tone, "You need not +be offended, doctor. I did not mean to be cross. You must not take it +amiss that I am a little impatient. I have waited more than an hour, +and have very important matters to discuss with you. Pray be seated." + +The doctor threw himself into an arm-chair, that creaked in every joint +with his weight. "I know what you want," he said sullenly; "but get me +some wine first. My tongue fairly rattles in my mouth." + +Herr von Heydeck rang a bell, and old Melcher, who answered the +summons, was sent for 'a measure of red' for the doctor. When it was +placed upon the table, Putzer poured out a glassful, emptied it at a +draught, and then, after settling himself comfortably in his chair, +said, "Now I am ready to listen. What do you want of me?" + +Herr von Heydeck did not reply. He had waited for the doctor with the +greatest impatience, but now that he had come he could not find words +in which to tell him of what was weighing upon his mind. Startled and +terrified by Delmar's appearance at Castle Reifenstein, Leo's narrative +had banished his fears but for a short time. As soon as he was alone in +his room they returned to torture him. While he gazed into his nephew's +frank, honest eyes, he gave him full credence, but when left to himself +to review the dark past, he was haunted by suspicion lest other reasons +besides friendship for Leo had brought Delmar hither. He felt himself +suddenly menaced by a peril which he had indeed dreaded many years +before, but which had long since ceased to trouble him. + +What should he do to avert disaster? He was helpless; a terrible future +was present to his excited imagination. He saw himself driven forth a +dishonoured beggar from the castle which he had for so long considered +his own; saw the gates of a prison open to receive him, condemned to a +disgraceful punishment for a deed which he hoped and believed had been +buried in oblivion. + +And there was no one to aid him in this extremity! Suddenly he thought +of Putzer, the accomplice in his schemes,--the man who must suffer with +himself if their secret was discovered,--and he despatched a messenger +to Tausens to require his immediate presence at the castle. The doctor +alone could advise and assist him. But now, when the man sat opposite +to him, and he looked into the bloated face, the leering, watery eyes, +he lost all hope of any support or aid from such a source, and +hesitated to ask him for advice, since in doing so he must confess that +for years he had deceived him. + +The doctor waited for a while in vain expectation that Herr von Heydeck +would begin what he had to say. He divined what was passing in the old +man's mind, and inwardly exulted in the terror and embarrassment +plainly to be seen in his face. At last however he grew weary of +waiting, and bringing his fist down heavily upon the table, exclaimed +with brutal violence, "Well! are you going to speak or not? Did you +send for me to come here to be stared at? Tell me what you want of me." + +The doctor knew perfectly well that it was only by brutal violence of +manner that anything could be done with Herr von Heydeck. Smooth words +had no effect upon him; but every violent gesture, every menacing word, +inspired him with fear, and fear made him docile. Cowardice was Herr +von Heydeck's distinguishing characteristic, and influenced all his +actions. + +Thus the doctor's angry words did not now fail of their effect Herr von +Heydeck moved uneasily. "Why should you be so violent, doctor?" he +asked timidly. "I did not mean to offend you. I was only thinking how +best to put into words the important intelligence I have to +communicate." + +"Have you not had time enough for that? If you are puzzling your brains +with the invention of fresh lies with which to impose upon me, you may +spare yourself the trouble. Do you suppose I don't know that you have +sent for me because you are afraid of this Herr Delmar?" + +"How?--You know?" Herr von Heydeck asked, his anxiety increasing with +every word uttered by Putzer. + +"I know more than you care to tell me. You are afraid of this fellow; +and well you may be, for he knows what he wants. Have you seen him?" + +"Yes." + +"Then there's no need to warn you. One look into his black eyes will +tell you that you've no mercy to look for there. I don't know whether I +can help you. You deceived me and lied to me; you told me your son had +died in Switzerland!" + +"My son!" Herr von Heydeck exclaimed indignantly. "You know perfectly +well----" + +"Well then, your wife's son. What is that to me? You needn't look so +furious,--I'm not afraid of you. Your cunning has overreached itself, +that's all. If you had been honest and open with me you would have had +nothing to fear now. I could have settled the boy so that you would +never have heard from him again." + +"Perhaps that would have been best," Herr von Heydeck said humbly; "but +I could not make up my mind to it then, nor could I now. I hated the +boy whose undeniable resemblance to his father was a constant disgrace +to my name. My dearest wish was for his death, but by natural means, +not by poisonous drugs. If I had left him to you, as you advised, I +should never have had another peaceful moment. Murder!--the very sound +of the word freezes the blood in my veins! I should have been frenzied +by the thought that I had permitted the deed, even although I had not +caused it to be done." + +"Who talks of murder? I forbid all such expressions as far as I am +concerned," the doctor rejoined angrily. "Do you imagine that to make +you a rich man I would have stained my soul with blood and put my neck +into a noose?" + +"But you offered the first time I spoke to you of the boy----" + +"I offered nothing except to relieve you from all anxiety. And that I +would have done if, after I had made out the certificate of the child's +death, you would have handed him over to me instead of keeping him here +in the basement of the tower, in care of Melcher, for a year, and then +carrying him off yourself. What is done should be done thoroughly. But +you are a coward, too timid to act decidedly. You were afraid of me, +and so you cheated me with the story that the boy died a year after you +had put him to board in Switzerland. Now, when he suddenly appears here +to claim his rights, you are trembling again in terror." + +"He has really come then to claim his rights? Oh, what do you know +about him, doctor?" cried Herr von Heydeck, wringing his hands. + +The doctor gazed with a scornful smile at the despair of the old man, +whom fear seemed to deprive of the capacity for thought. Putzer felt +vastly superior,--his blood was quickened by the wine, his pulses +throbbed feverishly, but his brain had regained more than its wonted +clearness. He had suddenly and advisedly uttered as fact what was only +suspicion, and thus won from Herr von Heydeck an indirect confession; +but this was not enough,--he must know the whole truth, and he was sure +that he could extort it by increasing to the uttermost the coward's +terror. + +"Time enough by and by to tell what I know about Herr Delmar, as he +calls himself," Putzer continued. "You will find to your cost that I +know more than you ever meant I should. Perhaps I can devise a means of +getting you out of the scrape, although your affairs do look black +enough; but not one step will I take in the matter, rely upon it, +unless you treat me with entire frankness. You must tell me exactly +what you did with the boy, where you put him to board, and everything +else that you know of him." + +"But if you know all about it----" + +"That is no affair of yours. I want to hear it from you, and I advise +you not to try to deceive me. I have already meditated whether to offer +my services to Herr Delmar or to stick to you. If you lie to me you +will force me for my own sake to go over to the enemy's camp, and you +know best what that means!" + +"For the love of heaven, doctor, you would not betray me?" + +"Not unless you force me to it by lies or concealment. Come, begin! +Tell me all that you know of this Herr Delmar, from the moment when I +saw the boy for the last time until the present day." + +Herr von Heydeck sprang up from his seat and paced the room to and fro +in the wildest distress. He tried to reflect, to come to some +determination, but his mind was confused; the doctor's threat had so +terrified him that he could think of nothing but the wretched +consequences of such a betrayal, and he lost sight of the fact that his +guilty accomplice had an equal interest with himself in preserving his +secret. + +The doctor allowed him no time for reflection. "Will you do as I say, +or not?" he asked roughly. And his threatening manner was, as ever, +effectual. + +Incapable of further resistance, the old man again sank into his +arm-chair, and, in the fear of offending the doctor by suppressing some +fact that he might have learned from other sources, gave him the full +and circumstantial account that he demanded. + +After Herr von Heydeck had, with the help of the doctor and of the +woman who afterwards became Frau Putzer, established the fact of the +death of the child of his late wife by means of the mock funeral and +the false certificate of death, he kept the boy, whom he loathed doubly +as the child of Count Menotti and as the obstacle to his own fortune, +in the basement of the old tower, tended by Melcher and his half-idiot +sister. Herr von Heydeck never saw it, but, as he sat in his study at +night, he could frequently hear its cries, and they not only awakened +in him the stings of conscience, but tortured him with the dread lest, +if heard by other ears, they should lead to detection and punishment. +The false certificate of death had given him all the wealth that should +have been the child's. + +Again and again the doctor's offer to rid him forever of the detested +infant recurred to him, but he recoiled from a crime that seemed to him +far more odious than the child's concealment. + +Thus a year passed amid pangs unspeakable for the lord of the castle. +He had cherished a secret hope that the child would not live long in +the gloomy tower, but this hope was blighted by Melcher's account of +the boy's thriving condition. He was almost in despair. He had not +sufficient courage for a fresh crime; and yet it would be impossible to +keep a growing child in the basement of the tower much longer without +discovery. His cries had already been heard by the villagers in the +silence of night, but superstition had lent its aid to protect the +guilty. + +"The devil is at his pranks again in the castle," the peasants in +Tausens would say, and they avoided the haunted tower as far as was +possible,--crossing themselves with a muttered prayer if they were ever +near enough to it to hear any inexplicable sounds. + +Thus far their superstition had shielded Herr von Heydeck; but who +could say when some man, more courageous than his fellows, might not +attempt to explore the source whence the ghostly cries proceeded? And +then? Why, then discovery, disgrace, and misery were the inevitable +consequences. + +The wretched man had almost made up his mind to have recourse once more +to the doctor's aid, when chance pointed a way of release for him. He +saw an advertisement in a paper offering a child for adoption. An +unnatural mother, pleading extreme poverty, appealed to the compassion +of any generous individual who would adopt her child, and consented, if +any such were found, to relinquish all her maternal rights. + +As Heydeck read he thought of the hidden child. If this woman had been +successful in only appealing to human compassion, could he not be far +more sure of success in invoking the aid of man's cupidity? And he +devised the scheme which he proceeded to carry into execution. + +He put an advertisement in a Berlin newspaper offering a sum of ten +thousand thalers to any one who would adopt an orphan boy and so +educate him as his own that the child should never learn that he was +not the genuine offspring of his adopted parent. + +He used every caution with regard to this advertisement. He went to +Berlin, and there, under an assumed name, he himself received all the +answers to his offer,--destroying them after he had read them. + +Among these one seemed especially desirable. A merchant by the name of +Delmar, residing in a distant provincial town, declared himself ready +to take the boy. He wrote that he had had the misfortune a short time +before to lose his wife and only child, Paul. The care of another child +would soothe his grief, and by a judicious outlay of the promised +capital he trusted he might insure the boy's future welfare. + +That this letter seemed less than the rest the result of greed of gain +would hardly alone have decided Heydeck to accept it as the answer to +his offer, but he was also moved thereto by the consideration that it +came from a small provincial town so distant from the Tyrol that it +could never have had the slightest cognizance of Castle Reifenstein. + +Herr von Heydeck went to H----, and made inquiries at the inn there +concerning the man who had written to him. The intelligence that he +received was satisfactory. Delmar was a small tradesman, living very +quietly, but with an excellent reputation. He was a solid, sensible +man, but had been very unfortunate. He had not only lost his wife and +only child, but the bankruptcy of a large Berlin house had so +imperilled his business that his townsfolk were afraid he would be +obliged to dispose of his stock in trade to satisfy his creditors. + +After learning these particulars, Herr von Heydeck called upon Delmar. +He introduced himself as a Herr Steineck, commissioned by a lady of +rank to provide for her illegitimate child. If Herr Delmar would bind +himself never to inquire after the child's parents, but to bring him up +as his own son, giving him his own name,--if further, in order that the +boy might never learn from strangers that he was an adopted child, he +would consent to leave H---- and establish himself in another place, +whither he could take the child as his son Paul, the boy should be +immediately handed over to him and also the ten thousand thalers. + +Delmar gladly acceded to all these conditions. He promised to leave his +present place of abode, which was full of sad memories for him, to sell +his business and go to some other German town, where he hoped to invest +the ten thousand thalers with success, and where he might make use of +his dead child's baptismal certificate to legitimate his adopted son, +so that no one could have the slightest cause for suspicion that he was +not really and truly his son. + +Delmar and Steineck were thus soon agreed; the latter paid down a +thousand thalers for a retainer as it were, and it was settled that +Delmar should immediately proceed to close up his affairs in H----, and +should inform Steineck when he was ready to move elsewhere by an +advertisement in a certain Berlin newspaper. It was made a principal +condition of their agreement that Delmar should never make the +slightest attempt to discover Steineck's place of residence. + +A month later Herr von Heydeck read in the Berlin paper that Delmar was +ready to receive the child. To effect the infant's removal was the +hardest part of Heydeck's task. He would admit no one to his confidence +in the matter; neither Dr. Putzer nor his wife should know whither the +child was taken; thus only could the secret remain such forever. + +Late in the evening Heydeck left the castle in his carriage, driven by +Melcher; the boy had been drugged, and was in deep slumber. The +Bavarian town of Rosenheim was selected by Delmar as the place where +the child was to be delivered up to him. + +All went well: Delmar was on the spot, and received the boy with the +promised sum of money. He immediately departed for Munich, and Herr von +Heydeck returned to the Tyrol, firmly convinced that Delmar had no idea +who had delivered the child to him. + +Six months later he informed Dr. Putzer that he had placed the child in +an establishment in Switzerland, where it had died of the measles. As +there was no reason to doubt this, Putzer made no further +investigations in the matter: indeed, any such would have been useless, +so perfect had been Herr von Heydeck's precautions. + +Thus everything seemed happily concluded. Herr von Heydeck had no +treachery to fear, for Dr. Putzer and his wife had as much to dread +from discovery as he had himself, and Melcher and his sister, if they +had been capable of understanding matters, were entirely dependent upon +their master, to whom they clung with slavish devotion. + +And yet Herr von Heydeck was not content. The phantom of possible +discovery pursued him awake and in dreams. In vain he repeated to +himself that he had nothing to fear, that there was no flaw in the +precautions he had taken; he could not banish the dread lest his sin +should one day find him out. + +Become more misanthropic than ever, he secluded himself from all human +companionship, and if he had not been obliged to visit the baths every +year for the sake of his health, he never would have left Castle +Reifenstein. + +But when years passed by and nothing was heard further of the boy, when +he married again and enjoyed a happiness of which he had never dreamed, +he became reassured. The dreadful dreams in which he saw his secret +discovered and himself about to receive the punishment of his crime, +tortured him no longer; he had even felt perfectly secure for years, +when suddenly he had been startled out of this security by the +appearance at the castle of his nephew's companion. + +His fears had become reality. It was impossible that the dreaded +stranger could have any motive but revenge and the recovery of his +property. Leo's information that his friend was a millionaire, and had +accompanied him to the Tyrol solely out of friendship for him, had +satisfied Herr von Heydeck but for a few moments,--the more he pondered +this information the more improbable did it seem to him. He could not +believe that this meeting was due solely to accident. + +Therefore he had in this moment of supreme peril sent for Dr. Putzer, +as the only living being to whom he could look for aid and advice, and +therefore, a prey to torturing anxiety, he made his long confession +with the greatest minuteness, interrupted but rarely by a question from +his listener. + +While he gave his utmost attention to these revelations, the idea which +he had thrown out just before, simply to intimidate Herr von Heydeck, +recurred to Dr. Putzer's mind. He too was now more than ever convinced +that Paul Delmar was aware of his parentage and of the right which he +possessed to all that Herr von Heydeck possessed, and that he had come +to Tausens to assert this right. But if this were the case, what the +millionaire coveted was certainly not the possession of an old castle +and some hundred thousand guilders which he could not possibly need, +but the ancient noble name and title, upon which the plebeian merchant +would of course place the greatest value. + +Now this was just what Herr von Heydeck had the right to withhold from +his opponent. The doctor knew perfectly well that, in view of the +proofs which Heydeck could adduce, no court in Germany could force him +to give his name to his wife's illegitimate child. Delmar's right to +his mother's property was indisputable, but he had none whatever to the +name and title of a Herr von Heydeck. If he coveted this, he must be +reconciled to Herr von Heydeck, in which case he would no longer be +dangerous, but would doubtless be willing richly to reward the man who +should help him to the fulfilment of his desires. + +And this man the doctor would be. In imagination he saw a shining +stream of gold flowing from the millionaire's money-bags into his own +open pockets, for such a lavish young Cr[oe]sus was a very different +customer from miserly old Herr von Heydeck, from whom it had been +difficult, latterly, to extort even as much as sufficed to pay the +doctor's wine-bill. + +He would ally himself with Paul Delmar: his safety as well as his +advantage required it; he was not yet quite clear as to how this +alliance was to be most advantageously concluded; he would see about +all that later, when his head should be a little clearer. Now he must +take great care lest Herr von Heydeck should suspect his scheme. Its +success was perhaps dependent upon the old man's placing implicit +confidence in him. + +When the doctor was busy thinking he was fond of refreshing himself +with a glass of wine; therefore, while Herr von Heydeck was making his +revelations, he had frequent recourse to the bottle, which, when the +narrator had come to an end, was nearly emptied, while the listener's +good humour had so increased that he found it difficult to restrain the +expression of it. "'Tis a confounded queer story, and you are in for +it," he said, at last. "This Delmar is a devil of a fellow; he'll make +you squeak. I should like to know where the deuce he heard it all. You +say you took every precaution." + +"I cannot understand it: I thought I was perfectly safe," Heydeck +replied despairingly. + +"You must have done something stupid; what it was the devil only knows; +but you're in for it now; the fellow will pull the house down about +your ears!" + +This expression seemed to the doctor so eminently fitted to the +occasion that he burst into a coarse laugh, which so irritated Herr von +Heydeck that he started up, exclaiming, "What are you laughing at? I +should think matters looked grave enough! I ask you for counsel, not +for idiotic laughter----" + +This angry outbreak only increased the doctor's tipsy merriment. +"You're a wonderfully fine old fellow!" he said, vainly trying to +steady his voice. "But, still, you're an old coward, afraid of your own +shadow, and a skinflint into the bargain! But never mind, we're the +best of friends, and I'll stand by you in this matter with your wife's +son. He shall not hurt you, depend upon me. But we'll have no more of +the stupid old story to-day: we'll drink and be merry. Take a glass, +you old sinner; come, and don't put such a d----d wry face on the +matter." + +He held out to Herr von Heydeck a glass of wine as he spoke, but the +old man rejected it angrily. He had been so absorbed by interest in his +own narrative that he had not until this moment noticed the condition +of his listener. What advice or aid could he look for from this sot? +"You are drunk again," he said with contempt. "Go home and sleep it +off!" + +This was just what the doctor desired. He knew that his brain was +confused, and that he was not in a condition to talk without betraying +his secret intentions; therefore he had feigned to be more drunk than +he really was, hoping thus to end the conversation for to-day. "You may +be right, old Solomon!" he exclaimed, with a loud laugh. "I am a little +cloudy, and a nap can do me no harm. I'll come again tomorrow and have +another talk. Sleep in peace; you need not be afraid; you and I are +more than a match for the young fellow!" + +He arose, and although he knew he had already drunk too much, he could +not withstand the temptation of the glass that was standing filled upon +the table, but emptied it before he turned towards the door. Then, +nodding a familiar farewell to Herr von Heydeck, who took no notice of +it, he left the room by the same door by which he had entered. When he +reached Melcher's apartment he thought his head felt less confused and +that his gait was sufficiently steady to justify his refusing the old +man's proffered guidance down the mountain, and accordingly he left the +castle alone. + +As he reached the court-yard a cool breeze was blowing down the valley +from the snow-mountains in the north, and by the time he had crossed +the bridge the wine had produced its full effect upon him. So far from +being able to reflect upon the best way in which to carry out his +schemes, he needed all the mind he could muster to provide for his +safety in descending the mountain. His capacity for thought was not +quite destroyed, although his brain was thoroughly bewildered. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + +"Two weeks to spend in hobbling from the bed to the sofa, and from the +sofa to the bed! it is insufferable!" Herwarth exclaimed when he was +again alone with Paul, after Dr. Putzer had left his room. + +In his vexation he did not meet with much sympathy from his friend. +"You are wrong, noble knight," Paul replied, mockingly. "You will not +only suffer it, but after a while you will admit that this enforced +rest is highly beneficial for both of us. I at least am always +delighted to have a good excuse for luxurious idleness. With what +ecstasy shall I now survey from a distance the blue ice-rifts in the +glaciers, in the consciousness that I am not called upon to ascend them +in the sweat of my brow! I verily believe, my dear Herwarth, that you +divined my secret wishes, and in heroic self-sacrifice sprained your +knightly ankle to do me pleasure, that I might lounge and dawdle here +for two weeks. It was true magnanimity on your part, my noble friend. +We shall have some delightful days together. I will send for piles +of books from Innspruck and Bozen, and I have any quantity of good +cigars,--that is, as good as can be had in this confounded Austria. Oh, +we will idle away the time gloriously!" + +"Do you think I shall allow you to sit still here in the inn on my +account while such delightful excursions are to be made all round the +country?" + +"On your account? You know perfectly well that you have nothing to do +with it, noble knight. I act to please myself. I follow my inclination +for the _dolce far niente_--for a season of repose after all these +nonsensical, tiresome mountain-ascents, of which I have had in the last +week enough to last me my lifetime. I have a horror of your delightful +excursions, where your only gain is an unquenchable thirst. The view of +the mountains from below is far finer than that of the valleys from +above. I will have none of your mountain-excursions." + +"But, Delmar, you are the most indefatigable mountain-climber. You have +been the chief instigator of our boldest efforts." + +"Have I? Very likely. I sometimes am a prey to whims. I suppose it is +because I have done so much of it that I feel such an unconquerable +repugnance now to any mountain ascent." + +"You cannot convince me. I will never consent to have you tied to the +house on my account." + +"You will never consent? You do not consider the significance of the +words so calmly uttered, noble knight. You have not the slightest idea +of all to which you will consent. As I said just now, a patient is not +an individual but a case. You will therefore consent to whatever I see +fit; for example, to let me put a fresh wet bandage upon your foot at +this moment. Let me advise you not to irritate me by opposition. Do not +force me to cool your head also with a wet bandage." + +"But, Delmar, let us speak seriously." + +"You are not to speak at all," Paul replied with a laugh; "but to keep +quiet while I bandage your foot." He proceeded to do this with a firm +and gentle hand, and then continued: "And now, noble knight, let me +beseech you not to fatigue yourself with representations and remarks +which will be of no avail against my obstinacy." + +"But, Delmar, I myself cannot bear being shut up in this room for two +weeks, and how can I allow you----" + +"As I said before, you will not be consulted upon the subject. Besides, +the doctor spoke of a balcony whither I might take you, with a lovely +view of the castle and the distant mountains. I will immediately +proceed to discover where this balcony is, and whether I can arrange a +comfortable seat there for you. If I can, we will stay in the open air +all day long, and all the evening too if you desire it." + +He left his friend, and summoned Hansel in stentorian tones to show him +the way to the balcony. This balcony was the worthy postmaster's pride. +He had himself added it to his inn, and it flattered him not a little +that every stranger who visited Tausens declared it to be a charming +place to enjoy the prospect. + +And in truth there could be no more delightful abiding-place for any +one unable to walk than this spacious balcony at the back of the house. +It was protected from sun and rain by a stout roof, and from the blasts +of wind by the house itself, and it was large enough to accommodate +easily more than thirty people. The view from it was glorious, +comprehending a distant prospect of the densely-wooded mountainside of +the valley of the Schwarzenbach, with Castle Reifenstein proudly +crowning the rocky wall at its entrance, and also the glaciers in the +background with the three peaks the Maidelspitz, the Weisshorn, and the +Schiechjoch. + +"Wonderful!" Paul exclaimed. "Here let us build our cots." And he +straightway proceeded to make every arrangement for Herwarth's +establishment in ease and comfort, being most cordially assisted in his +task by the good-humoured innkeeper. + +When all was ready he returned to Kuno's room for his friend, whom he +supported in triumph to the comfortable easy-chair provided for him. +The injured foot was placed upon another cushioned chair, and a plaid +thrown over it that the noble knight, as Paul said with a laugh, might +present a respectable appearance in case any ladies should visit the +balcony. + +"And I think they will not be long in coming," he added. "I remarked +Fräulein von Schlicht's expression as she looked down at you. A wounded +warrior of this description has the same attraction for the fair sex as +a candle has for moths." + +Kuno would have resented this unseemly comparison, but how could he +resent anything from so kind a nurse? And besides, Delmar's words were +almost immediately confirmed, for before Herwarth could reply Eva +Schommer and Aline von Schlicht appeared upon the balcony. + +"Was I not right?" Paul whispered. "Here come the moths already." + +Kuno would have sprung up from his arm-chair to receive the ladies, but +Delmar detained him with a firm hand. "Sit still, my noble knight," he +said; "a patient has no right to be chivalric. Pray take the will for +the deed, ladies," he went on, turning to Eva and Aline. "You see that +this wounded warrior, in his joy at this unexpected meeting in a +strange land, would fain arise to do you reverence, but my strong grasp +detains him. The doctor has forbidden him to stand, and I am an +incorruptible nurse. As his present natural guardian, and in his stead, +I salute you with my most profound obeisance." And he bowed low, still +keeping his hand upon Kuno's shoulder. + +The latter still made efforts to rise, until Aline von Schlicht said in +a gentle tone of entreaty, "Do not drive us away from this charming +balcony, Herr von Herwarth. We must go if you are not perfectly quiet. +I hope the injury to your foot is not grave?" + +"Nothing of any consequence, Fräulein von Schlicht," Paul answered in +Kuno's stead; "nothing that will prevent his waltzing as gracefully as +ever next winter, if he will only keep quiet for two weeks and obey +orders, which now that I have so charming an ally in my efforts to that +end I have good hopes of his doing. One word from your lips, fair lady, +will be of more effect than whole sermons from mine." + +Paul spoke to Aline, but as he spoke he looked at Eva, and scarcely +noticed that Aline approached Kuno's arm-chair and frankly extended to +him a hand, which the lieutenant kissed with more warmth than the +occasion seemed to require. + +Delmar's attention was absorbed by Eva, who did not follow her friend's +example, but leaning against the balustrade of the balcony had taken no +part in the short conversation. + +Hitherto Paul had seen Eva only in full dress at balls or in brilliant +assemblages, or driving in her carriage. He had always thought her +beautiful, but he regarded her as a purse-proud woman of fashion, and +as such he had a prejudice against her,--a prejudice strengthened by +the marked friendliness of her manner towards himself, the wealthiest +man of her acquaintance, in contrast with the cold reserve she +maintained towards all the other men about her, with the exception +perhaps of Count Waldheim. + +Money was of so little value in his eyes, he so detested pride of +purse, that he had intentionally kept aloof from the beautiful heiress; +he would not add another to the crowd of her adorers, and the sweet +smile with which Eva replied to his bow, instead of acknowledging it by +the haughty bend of her head which she accorded to others, increased +his dislike of her, for he thought this smile was given to his money +and not to himself. + +By her betrothal to the man for whom Delmar had so thorough a contempt +Eva had lost every claim to his regard. That she had made an apology to +Leo the condition of her betrothal caused him to waver for a moment in +his judgment of her. Only for a moment, however; he had not thought it +worth while to inquire into her reasons for so doing; very likely she +acted from fear lest her precious lover should be wounded, or perhaps +from mere whim. What did he care about the motives actuating the +purse-proud heiress? + +His prejudice against her was in full force when she appeared upon the +balcony with Aline, and yet he could not help regarding her with a +degree of interest. She had never looked as lovely, he thought, as in +her simple travelling-dress. The brilliant lady of fashion receiving, +in diamonds and lace, the homage of her ball-room adorers as her right, +with a haughty, disdainful air, was scarcely to be recognized in the +simple lovely girl who stood leaning against the balustrade of the +balcony contemplating Herwarth's reception of her friend, with a look +full of loving sympathy. The dark eyes, wont to flash with disdain, +were full of gentle tenderness, while a charming smile transfigured her +face for an instant as Kuno bestowed his eager kiss upon Aline's hand. +It vanished immediately however to give place to an expression of +profound melancholy, while the dark eyes sought the ground. It would +almost seem that the girl whom Delmar had always thought heartless was +a prey to some deep-seated grief. + +Paul was no sentimental enthusiast. When he found himself, after +observing the melancholy in Eva's face, upon the high-road towards +sympathy for the sorrow that brought it there, he started off in the +opposite direction. He was vexed with himself that a pretty face could +have such an influence upon him; his old aversion for Eva stirred +within him, and awakened a desire to prove to the purse-proud girl that +she could not drag every man at her chariot-wheels; that there was one +at least who saw through her and was dazzled neither by her beauty nor +her wealth. + +With the scornful smile which so often hovered upon his lips and did +not at all add to his attractions, Paul bowed low to Eva as he +approached, and addressed her in a low tone, "'Tis an unexpected +pleasure, Fräulein Schommer, to meet you here in this retired corner of +the world. I am the more delighted, as it gives me an opportunity to +offer you my congratulations upon your betrothal; congratulations as +sincere as is my admiration for Herr von Bertram, who certainly, as far +as manliness and nobility of disposition are concerned, is worthy of +his lovely betrothed." + +As Delmar approached her Eva had raised her eyes to his for a moment, +but at sight of his scornful smile she instantly averted them. A +burning blush crimsoned her cheek and tears rushed to her eyes as she +listened to his words. + +With an effort to control herself, she replied, "What have I done, Herr +Delmar,--how have I ever offended you? How given you the right thus to +wound me?" + +Paul was prepared for a sharp reply, to which he would have made as +sharp a rejoinder; but tears, and this gentle reproof! He had never +been so nonplussed; he felt ashamed and confused, and hardly knowing +what he said, he stammered, "Indeed, Fräulein Schommer--you are +mistaken--I did not mean to wound you." + +"You did mean to wound me, and you succeeded excellently well," Eva +rejoined, still mastering her emotion, and looking directly at Delmar +with eyes before which his own sought the ground. "I know how +unfavourable is your opinion of Herr von Bertram. Your sarcastic +congratulation was an intentional offence which I have not deserved at +your hands." + +Delmar felt precisely like some school-boy caught in a particularly +disgraceful trick and forced to listen without a word of reply to a +severe reprimand, the justice of which he could not but acknowledge. +The quiet dignity and the feminine gentleness of Eva's reply to his +ironical address completely disarmed him. His wonted skill in repartee +forsook him, and he could only say simply, in excuse, "Forgive me!" +From the altered expression of his face Eva saw clearly that these +words were prompted by sincere regret for his late attack. The sneer +had entirely vanished, and there was such genuine entreaty for +forgiveness in his eyes that she could not but accord it to him. + +"I am not angry," she said, not unkindly; "but it pains me that even +you, whom I have never offended, can take pleasure in wounding me. I +will forget the words in which you couched your congratulations just +now if you will frankly tell me in what way I have provoked your +hostility." + +"You subject me to painful embarrassment. I assure you that I entertain +not the slightest hostility towards you." + +"You evade me, but I cannot let you escape. I have a right to know of +what you accuse me, what you think gives you the right to speak +slighting words to a poor, defenceless girl. You are Herr von Heydeck's +friend, perhaps you accuse me, as he did publicly, of arrogance, +self-conceit, and despicable pride of purse, and therefore feel +yourself justified in humiliating me? You need not answer, I see in +your face that if you spoke honestly you would be obliged to say 'Yes;' +but I solemnly declare that you do me bitter injustice! You, who know +the misery of being rich, will believe me when I tell you how I detest +and despise this wretched wealth that poisons every enjoyment of life +for me. I purse-proud! I who am forced to feel with shame and pain +every hour of the day that I myself am nothing, that with the exception +of two or three friends every human being who comes near me values me +for my money! And never was I so painfully conscious of this as at the +present moment. For you, with your millions, my wealth is valueless. In +your eyes I am simply an insignificant girl whom you regard with +contempt, and whom you feel yourself justified in humiliating by +offensive words of reproof. But I promised to forget what you said, and +I will keep my word. Let us speak of something else. + +"I came out upon this balcony with my friend Aline with a purpose in +view. I knew you were here, and I wished to speak with you. Chance has +brought me to Tausens. I wished to avoid the stream of tourists, and if +possible to spend a few quiet weeks in some retired corner of the +Tyrol. I hoped to find this asylum in Tausens, and my kind uncle +consented to accompany me hither, although he knew that he should be +obliged to forego here many of his daily luxuries and even comforts. +Upon arriving at noon to-day we learned that three gentlemen were +already lodging at the 'Post.' Your name was mentioned, and also that +of Herr von Heydeck, whereupon my uncle and Herr von Bertram would have +left Tausens immediately. But I refused to do so. I am quite sure of +never having given Herr von Heydeck the slightest reason for the +offensive expressions which were the cause of his quarrel with Herr von +Bertram. I can therefore meet him frankly and fearlessly. There is no +reason why I should run away from him, and I shall certainly not do so. +This is why I stayed." + +Eva's long explanation had given Paul time to recover from his +embarrassment, and the change in her manner helped him to overcome his +confusion; but he had lost all desire for a war of words. He no longer +regarded Eva with his late dislike. Her frankness and candour inspired +him with esteem and interest; her lament over the misery of wealth +aroused his sympathy. Had he not often felt thus while he despised +those who flattered and cringed to him? He had known that their homage +was paid only to his money, and he could easily conceive how a like +knowledge should embitter Eva's very soul. Her determination, so boldly +expressed, to meet Leo frankly and fearlessly pleased him, and he could +not but say, "I admire your courage, Fräulein Schommer, and I expressed +this admiration to your betrothed when he told me of your resolve." + +Eva blushed as Delmar uttered the word 'betrothed.' It sounded +strangely in her ears from his lips. True, there was not a shade of +sarcasm now in his tone, and yet it offended her to hear of Bertram as +her betrothed. She knew that she had no right to object, that any +objection would be extremely unbecoming, and yet when she asked, "You +have already spoken with Herr von Bertram?" she laid a sharp emphasis +upon the 'Herr von.' + +Delmar noticed this; it was not the way in which a true-hearted girl +would speak of her lover, and he called to mind Bertram's uneasy +anxiety in the conversation they had had shortly before. Paul was now +convinced that love had hardly tied the knot of this engagement, and he +wondered what inducement could have led the lovely heiress to bestow +her hand upon such a suitor. This wonder so occupied his thoughts that +it was not until Eva had repeated her question that he replied. + +"Yes, I have had a conversation with him." + +"By your own desire?" + +"Why do you ask?" + +"From certain expressions of Herr von Bertram's I am led to suspect +that you are no friend of his, nor does he regard you with friendly +sentiments. He feared a meeting with you and with Herr von Heydeck, and +so urged me to leave Tausens that I am surprised to hear of a +conversation between you. Therefore I asked. I wished to know whether +you had sought an opportunity to express the same congratulations to +him that you offered to me." + +"He accosted me, and begged me to grant him an interview. + +"Was it of a peaceful character?" + +"Yes." + +"You parted friends?" + +"You must excuse me from replying to that question, Fräulein Schommer. +I do not wish to offend you again, and therefore we will say no more +with regard to your betrothed; my opinion of whom must be a matter of +entire indifference to you. Since chance has brought us together here, +and as we shall probably often meet in the next few weeks upon this +balcony, let us avoid all allusion to disagreeable topics. Let us +follow the example of my friend Kuno, and of yours Fräulein von +Schlicht, who, to judge from their cheerful countenances, are certainly +not discussing anything disagreeable, but conversing together most +amicably. I think we can do so, too, if we only consent to forget the +past, and to consider ourselves merely as a couple of travellers +meeting in a retired and beautiful part of the Tyrol, where in the +beauty around us, and in our daily experiences, we can surely find +matter enough for pleasant talk." + +"You are right; I will follow your advice; only answer me one question. +I do not see Herr von Heydeck, but only Herr von Herwarth, who I did +not know was your travelling companion; has Herr von Heydeck gone +away?" + +"Not very far; he is staying up there in the fine old Castle of +Reifenstein, which belongs to his uncle, a Herr von Heydeck. He will +probably visit us down here but rarely, since he is held in magic +thrall by the soft spells of a lovely fairy, his beautiful cousin +Hilda." + +"Hilda von Heydeck?" Eva exclaimed. "An exquisitely beautiful young +girl with lustrous blue eyes and magnificent golden hair. A merry, +frank, charming creature! Hilda von Heydeck a near relative of your +friend's?" + +"You know Fräulein von Heydeck?" + +"I met her at an evening party two years ago, in Vienna, where I with +my uncle Balthasar stayed a few weeks, and I was so delighted with her +loveliness and gayety that I talked with her almost the entire evening. +How strange that I should find myself so near to her now without having +intended it!" + +"She is the cause of our presence in the Tyrol. Leo came to Tausens to +make acquaintance with his charming cousin, whom his father wishes him +to marry, and Herwarth and I accompanied him." + +Eva did not reply, she gazed up at the castle on the rocks with eyes +full of a dreamy melancholy; the image of the lovely Hilda arose in her +mind side by side with that of Leo von Heydeck. How often had she +thought of him lately!--not in hatred, but in profound sadness. She +could not hate him, although he had insulted her; she could not but +feel that by her own cold reserve she had given him some reason for his +harsh words. She had thought of him almost as of a departed spirit. Was +he not dead to her,--the betrothed of his mortal enemy? And yet now a +sharp pain, inexplicable to herself, stirred within her at the thought +of the happy hours he was passing in the old castle with his lovely +cousin, who was one day to be his wife. But she knew that such vague, +unjustifiable emotion was unworthy of her; that it was her duty to +endeavour to conquer it; and she did so, forcing herself to say with +apparent calm, "I thank you, Herr Delmar, I trust any disagreeable +meeting with Herr von Heydeck may be spared myself or Herr von Bertram. +Although I do not fear it I would rather avoid it, and I think this may +be quite possible, since Herr von Heydeck must find the castle with its +fairy most attractive. And now let us join our friends, who have a +right to take it amiss that we have held ourselves aloof from them so +long." + +It was doubtful whether Eva really entertained the fear lest Aline and +Herwarth should take her _tête-à-tête_ with Delmar amiss. Had she done +so, one glance at the pair would have reassured her; they evidently +needed no other companionship. + +Aline stood beside Kuno's arm-chair, and had asked about the manner of +his accident with such tender sympathy, that the happy lieutenant +inwardly declared that such gentle, kindly words from such lovely lips +were cheaply bought by a sprained ankle. He told her how devoted and +kind was Delmar, whom he had only lately learned really to know; and +although Paul had never before particularly interested Aline, she +suddenly found him extremely amiable and agreeable. + +Kuno also told of Leo, and of his visit to Castle Reifenstein, finding +a most attentive listener. So absorbed were they that they never +thought of finding Eva's conversation with Delmar too long. Now, when +Eva made kindly inquiries of Kuno as to his suffering, he thanked her +courteously, and all took part in a conversation inaugurated by Delmar +about Tausens and the wonders of scenery in its neighbourhood. + +Paul was in the best of humours; he brought chairs for the ladies, +placing them where they could have the finest view of the Schwarzenbach +valley, and then gave a humorous account of all the friends had gone +through on their walk from the Zillerthal. His talent for conversation +was undeniable, and Eva felt the charm of it for the first time. +Meeting him only at balls and large assemblies in K----, she had always +regarded him as a _blasé_ man of the world, probably because his +dislike of the haughty heiress had never permitted him to think it +worth the trouble to let his light shine in her presence. To-day, +however, resigning himself entirely to his natural mood, he soon +overcame the prejudices of his listeners. His dry humour even provoked +the grave Eva's frequent laughter, and she soon almost forgot how +unpleasant had been the first few moments of their meeting. Aline too +was much interested in Herr Delmar's talk, but what provoked her +special admiration was his constant care and consideration for Herr von +Herwarth, and the conscientious fulfilment of his duties as nurse. + +The appearance of Uncle Balthasar on the balcony was no interruption to +the pleasant conversation. He greeted Delmar and Herwarth with his +usual kindly good humour, and they returned his salutation in kind. Eva +was especially pleased to see that Delmar, who was generally so ready +with the sharp arrows of his sarcasm in view of any silliness or +weakness, had neither sneering word nor look for Uncle Balthasar. + +And yet the young man might well have thought Uncle Balthasar fair +game, as he came tripping out upon the balcony in his trim elegance of +costume, in one hand his fine straw hat, and in the other a delicate +cane, addressing Delmar in the richest Saxon patois: "Aha, my good Herr +Delmar, monstrous glad to see you in the Tyrol, I'm _suah_." + +But Delmar never seemed to hear Uncle Balthasar's mistakes either of +grammar or pronunciation; he treated him with all the respectful +courtesy due from a young man to one much older, thereby taking the +kindly old man's heart by storm. + +A couple of hours flew swiftly by; the sun had long set behind the +mountains, the valley of the Schwarzenbach lay in dim shadow, from +which only the distant peaks of the Weisshorn emerged, glowing in +crimson light; soon it, too, faded, and a dull ashen gray followed upon +the last shimmer of departed day. The increasing darkness warned Eva +that it was time to leave the balcony, and she arose. "We must not +leave Aunt Minni alone any longer," she said. "She will certainly be +waiting for us at her tea-table." + +Uncle Balthasar was enjoying himself hugely,--he would have liked to +spend another hour upon the balcony,--but he followed Eva's lead +immediately, and took leave of Delmar and Herwarth, assuring Paul that +it was _too_ delightful to find such entertaining society in Tausens, +and that he only regretted that "the dear Guido"--it was thus he spoke +of Herr von Bertram--was prevented by headache from taking part in the +delightful conversation. + +The name of Guido again provoked on Delmar's face the sarcastic smile +which had vanished from it during the last two hours. "Do you share +this regret, Fräulein Schommer?" he asked hardily. + +"No! Good-night," was the brief reply, as, taking her uncle's arm and +followed by Aline, Eva left the balcony. + +After the ladies had left, Paul walked to the balustrade and, leaning +upon it, gazed thoughtfully abroad upon the landscape now fading +quickly into the gloom of night. + +Kuno, occupied in reflecting upon the last few hours, and upon many a +gentle word of Aline's, did not disturb his revery, which had been +prolonged for nearly half an hour, when suddenly Delmar turned to the +lieutenant and said, "Do you know, noble knight, that I have just made +a discovery which will not be half as new to you as it is humiliating +to me?" + +"What have you discovered?" Kuno asked. + +"That I have been a confounded ass, a stupid, addled ass! And it is all +the more humiliating to find this out just when I thought myself so +very wise." + +"Confessions of a fair soul!" Kuno laughed. "May I ask what has led you +to so unflattering a discovery with regard to yourself?" + +"Yes, you may ask, and it is my duty to answer, because it is to you +also that I have so often and so conceitedly displayed my superhuman +wisdom. I must confess to you, and in especial to Leo, the terrible +grief to which I am come with my boasted knowledge of human nature. I +deserve to have my ears boxed,--if there were only some one to do it +for me. + +"You make me curious." + +"You have often heard me speak of Fräulein Schommer; do you remember +what opinion of her I expressed?" + +"Not a very flattering one." + +"It was brutal, thick-headed, idiotic! I called her purse-proud, vain, +arrogant, cold, heartless, and I have no doubt I used a great many more +adjectives equally stupid. It is not sufficient that I inwardly confess +and regret the wrong I have done her. I must apologize to you and to +Leo, with whom I have often spoken of her. She is a charming and lovely +girl, noble in disposition, and of great sensibility,--incapable of an +unworthy thought. Faults she may have,--I cannot say,--but pride of +purse is not among them, that I'll swear to." + +Kuno laughed. "Take care, take care!" he said. "You seem to me to have +been gazing too deeply into the lovely Eva's dreamy dark eyes. I have +never heard you speak of a girl thus. Keep fast hold of your heart or +you will lose it here on the balcony." + +"Do you think so?" Paul asked mockingly. "Your wisdom is profound, +noble knight, almost as profound as my own. One cannot lose what one +does not possess; my admiration for the fair Eva has nothing to do with +my heart. I should hardly have spoken of her so frankly to you had I +been in love with her; reassure yourself on that score. I am only +filled with remorse for having so misjudged her, and perhaps thereby +strengthened others--our Leo for example--in their false estimate of +her. Do you know what I have been pondering for the last half-hour?" + +"How should I?" + +"I will tell you; I have been dreaming of a happy future for our +friend. It is particularly stupid to indulge in waking dreams, but it +is a habit of mine, and I cannot get rid of it. I saw Leo with a +charming young wife,--saw him wealthy and happy, valued by every one as +a true artist and scholar, and beloved as a friend by all who stand in +need of aid or counsel. I saw him thus, and his lovely young wife gave +me a bewitching glance from her dreamy dark eyes, and smiled the +gentle, kindly smile which I saw to-day for the first time. It was a +dream, Herwarth, but a delightful dream, and I wish I could make it a +reality. Leo and Eva! What a charming couple they would make!" + +"You forget that Fräulein Schommer is betrothed." + +"To that scoundrel Bertram! That is what vexes me, and what I cannot +understand. This betrothal was a puzzle to me when I thought Fräulein +Schommer a cold, heartless, vain, purse-proud creature; even then I did +not see how she could throw herself away upon the fellow, and the only +explanation I could find was that she had fallen in love with his +smooth, handsome face. But she does not love him; I know it now, and I +know more than that,--I read in her face to-day that this engagement is +a disgrace in her eyes, and that she despises Bertram. And yet she is +betrothed to him! She shrinks when he is spoken of as her lover; she +never speaks of him except as _Herr von Bertram_; she confesses that +his presence wearies her, and yet she is his betrothed! I cannot +understand these contradictions; I must discover what they mean; and if +I find that this Herr von Bertram has played false with Fräulein Eva, +and perhaps with me, let him look to himself. He has not yet reached +the goal of his hopes,--an engagement may be broken,--and I do not +relinquish the hope that my dream may be fulfilled,--that Leo and Eva +may come together at last!" + +"But you quite forget Leo's profound aversion for Fräulein +Schommer,--an aversion which was the cause of that wretched scene at +Büchner's. You have indeed been dreaming, my friend; your fancy has run +away with your understanding. Eva and Leo! The strangest combination +imaginable! I find it much easier, after your glowing description of +the beauty and loveliness of his charming cousin, to believe that Leo +will find a balm for all his woes up there at the castle, and that he +will return to K---- happily betrothed to the 'Fair one with the golden +locks.'" + +"That he never will!" Paul cried angrily. "I tell you---- But no, I had +better tell you nothing, but change the bandage on your foot; it will +be pleasanter both for you and for myself." + +He did so, and then walked again to the balustrade to look out once +more over the valley, now shrouded in black darkness. Nannerl brought a +lamp with a screen, which she placed upon a table beside Kuno. Paul +never noticed it; she asked what the gentlemen would have for supper; +he did not hear her, and Kuno, contrary to custom, gave orders in his +stead. Paul dreamed on, resigning himself to the unrestrained play of +his fancy, although he had just denounced all waking dreams as folly. + +A coarse, rough voice saying loudly, "Good-evening, Herr Delmar!" +recalled him to earth from the realms of imagination, and turning, he +saw before him the bloated, purple face of Dr. Putzer, who had just +come with an uncertain step from the house out upon the balcony, and +who thus greeted him with repulsive friendliness. + +One look into the doctor's eyes sufficed to tell Paul that he was +intoxicated, and the good impression he had produced upon his first +visit to his patient was entirely obliterated by his present air and +manner. With positive disgust Delmar withdrew the hand that Putzer +would have grasped. + +The doctor was in too exalted a frame of mind with the wine he had +taken to notice this repulse; he staggered to the table, dropped into a +chair, and drummed with his fingers upon the table-top. "A can of red, +Nannerl!" he bawled hoarsely, "and be quick! My throat is as dry as +dust with my long walk! Do you know where I have been?" he continued, +turning to Delmar, after Nannerl had brought him the wine and he had +tossed off a glass. "Guess where!" + +"I think, Herwarth, we had better go to our rooms," Paul said, paying +no heed to the doctor's question; he did not want to enter into +conversation with the man in his present state, and he thought it best +to vacate the field. + +"What are you talking about?" the doctor interposed. "Nonsense! We are +just beginning to enjoy ourselves. Here comes your supper. A measure of +wine for the gentlemen, Nannerl! We'll show you how we drink in the +Tyrol!" + +Nannerl, who had just brought the supper ordered by Herwarth, looked +from the doctor to Delmar, and the latter was about to give orders that +the supper should be carried to his room, when Kuno whispered, "Stay, +Delmar; the fellow is tipsy, and may be off his guard in speaking of +the castle and Heydeck. Stay for Leo's sake." + +Paul nodded assent and stayed. He could not bring himself to take a +seat beside Putzer, so great was his disgust at the man, but he pushed +his plate and napkin over to the other side, and took his place just +where he could look directly into the doctor's face. + +"Now where have I come from?" the doctor repeated after Paul had seated +himself. "Guess! You won't guess? Aha, I see you're a sly one! You know +well enough where I have been. With the old man up there of course. +You've put him in a deuce of a worry. Yes, you're a sly one, but you +can't fool me, and I am not afraid of you as that old coward is. He +thinks his castle and his property are all gone. Such a fright as he is +in! You should have seen him shaking! Ha, ha, ha!" + +The doctor leaned back in his chair and laughed, or rather roared, +until it took him some moments to recover his breath. + +What did these tipsy sentences mean? Delmar would have attached no +significance to them, coming from such a source, had he not remembered +the strange manner in which Herr von Heydeck had received him, and the +disconnected words he had then uttered. The doctor now spoke of the old +man's dread of losing his castle and his property. Had Herr von Heydeck +in former years had money transactions with Paul's father, the deceased +banker? Was there any bond or note of hand hidden away somewhere? The +name of Delmar had evidently not been unknown to Herr von Heydeck. He +had muttered 'Paul Delmar' without having heard the name of Paul from +its owner. + +Delmar's curiosity was excited. He was anxious to learn what was the +mystery at the foundation of Herr von Heydeck's terror of him, and +surely no better opportunity than the present could be found for +gaining this knowledge. The doctor's tipsy garrulity was driving him to +tell all that he knew. By taking care not to awaken any suspicion in +him that he was under examination, Paul might easily learn as much as +he wished. + +In an instant he had decided what course to pursue. He went on +carefully cutting the loaf which Nannerl had brought, and, without +looking at Putzer, he casually remarked, "The old man is afraid, eh? +Well, perhaps he has reason to be so." + +"Found out! found out!" the doctor roared, with another coarse laugh. +"I told you you couldn't fool me. That's what you've come for, then! +Well, the old miser deserves it. But if you think you can force him to +acknowledge you as his son and give you his name, you're mistaken +indeed. If you can bring proof you can take from him his castle and all +he owns, but not his name and rank. You can never be a Herr von Heydeck +unless he chooses, I tell you that; I, Dr. Putzer!" + +With all Paul's self-control he could not quite suppress some +expression of the measureless astonishment which he felt at these +words. The doctor observed this, and laughed more uproariously than +ever, ascribing the look of startled amazement upon Delmar's face to +the young man's dismay at finding his schemes discovered,--a view in +which he was confirmed by Paul's laconic "Do you think so?" + +"Do I think so!" he exclaimed, amid peals of stentorian laughter. "Do I +think so! I don't think so at all, I know it; I know everything. You're +a sly one, and so is the old fellow up there, but Dr. Putzer is slyer +than the pair of you together. You can't fool me; I know more than you +think. You may look as mild as milk, but I know what I know! The old +fellow is rich enough, to be sure, but you won't go to law with him for +that. If a man has millions, what does he care for a paltry couple of +hundred thousand guilders? You want to be a Herr von Heydeck, a +nobleman with an ancient name; that's all you need. Ha, ha, ha!" + +And he laughed until he brought on a coughing-fit, from which it took +him some time to recover. + +Paul's desire to know more was now aroused to the utmost, but he forced +himself to appear quite calm. Replying to Kuno's whispered "Is the +fellow only drunk, or is he insane?" by a sign to remain quiet, he went +on eating his supper with an air of perfect indifference until the +doctor had ceased laughing, and then asked, with a contemptuous shrug, +"Can you prevent my getting it, doctor?" + +"I? On the contrary, I'll help you to it!" exclaimed the doctor, +emphasizing his declaration by a blow of his fist upon the table. "The +old man will struggle and resist. You will never be able to do anything +with him, as I know well enough. But leave him to me; I know how to +work upon his fears. If you don't mind a matter of ten thousand +guilders or so, I am yours; but if you are such an infernal miser as +the old fellow up there, you'll never be a Herr von Heydeck as long as +you live. There's nothing to be done with the old man by violence; +cunning must be used, and I have more of that than both of you +together." + +"You ask ten thousand guilders? That is a very large sum." + +"Are you not a millionaire? And you can do nothing without me, +nothing!" + +Paul was prevented from replying by the arrival upon the balcony of +several of the village dignitaries. + +The circuit judge, who had been stationed for about half a year at +Tausens, the forester, and the collector, having just returned from a +walk, had come to the inn to enjoy the pleasant breeze upon the balcony +after the sultry day. They were regular evening guests at the Post, and +were a little later to-night than usual on account of the aforesaid +walk. + +They saluted the two strangers with great courtesy, nodding to the +doctor with a degree of contemptuous familiarity that testified to the +estimation in which he was held by them. With kindly sympathy they +inquired about the injury to Kuno's foot, adding the soothing assurance +that however grave it might be he could rely upon the skill of the +doctor, who, the circuit judge remarked without any regard for any one +present, although a confirmed drunkard, was an admirable physician. +Just at present, to be sure, he was in an entirely irresponsible +condition, but on the following day, when sober, he would be all they +could desire in a medical man. + +The doctor was not in the least offended by this explanation on the +part of the judge; he laughed, and declared that the judge was a little +tipsy himself or he would not accuse others of being so. To show how +thoroughly sober he was he swallowed several more glasses of wine, and +shortly became so uproarious in his merriment that the Tausens +gentlemen, mortified by such a disgraceful scene in the presence of +strangers, called the postmaster and had the drunkard led home to his +house. + +Delmar and Herwarth spent another hour in most agreeable conversation +with the three gentlemen upon the various points of interest in the +neighbourhood, after which they bade them good-night, and Paul +conducted Kuno to his room. + +Delmar passed a restless and sleepless night after a long discussion +with Kuno as to the meaning of the doctor's mysterious talk,--a +discussion in which neither of the young men arrived at any conclusion. +They could not divine what could induce the man to suppose that Delmar +intended to deprive Herr von Heydeck of his estate and to lay claim to +his name. The account of Paul's reception at the castle threw no light +upon the subject; no one but the doctor could do this, and to him Paul +determined to appeal the next day. Perhaps Leo had in the mean time +received some intelligence from his uncle which would make any such +appeal unnecessary. At all events, Delmar felt it his duty to see his +friend and talk frankly with him before taking any steps which might be +regarded with suspicion by his uncle. + +Hitherto Paul's existence had pursued a smooth, commonplace track; he +had always seen clearly the duty that lay nearest him, and even in the +only troubled time he could remember, the years he had devoted to +business before his father's death, he had never doubted what path to +follow. The large accession of wealth that had been the consequence of +the enlargement of his business had never moved him; it was of value to +him only as a source of content to his father, and thus the success +that crowned his efforts left him cold. + +Nor had his father's odd will made any great impression upon him; he +regarded it as the result of the morbid desire of the sick man to +atone, by some special acknowledgment of love and esteem, for any +neglect of his son in past years. But now, as he tossed restlessly upon +his bed, this will recurred to his mind, and he racked his brain to +discover any connection that it might have with the doctor's words. In +vain; and the more he pondered the more confused became his thoughts; +his head throbbed: he could not stay in bed; he arose, dressed, and +lighting a candle took a book and began to read. It was long before he +could command his thoughts sufficiently to understand as he read; but +at last his mind became more composed, and before morning he was able +to throw himself upon his bed once more and snatch an hour's refreshing +slumber before he was roused by the early noises in the awakening +village. + +Herwarth did not awake until eight o'clock from his long night's rest, +which he declared had so strengthened him that he was eager after he +was dressed to repair again to the balcony. This Paul positively +forbade until his patient had received the doctor, who upon his +professional visit of the day before had promised to come early in the +morning. + +Kuno was too grateful a patient to rebel; but the time seemed long +until, shortly after the clock of the village church had struck ten, +the heavy tread of Dr. Putzer was heard outside the door of their +sitting-room. + +Upon entering the doctor looked very much as if he too had passed but a +sorry night, his red, bloated face had a weary, dragged expression, his +watery, lack-lustre eyes were dimmer than ever and his step was +unsteady. Still, he was certainly no longer intoxicated, although the +flush upon his cheeks betokened that he had possibly indulged in a +morning glass. + +Putzer saluted the two gentlemen with the same quiet affability that +had distinguished him upon his first professional visit, asked +intelligently about the injured foot, and was in his whole bearing so +entirely the educated man of the world, the benevolent physician, that +no one could have recognized in him the brutal drunkard who had been +led from the inn by the stable-boy on the previous evening. + +He examined Kuno's foot, expressing great satisfaction at the +improvement produced in it by the wet applications, and he then +proceeded to bandage it more firmly than before, with such gentleness +and dexterity that Delmar was really amazed, and almost wondered +whether this could be the same man who had left them on the previous +evening. + +"In two weeks," said Putzer, rubbing his hands after he had finished, +"we shall remove all bandages, and I will go surety that you shall walk +as well as ever if you will remember not to use the foot in the mean +time, except to hobble out upon the balcony, where you must sit with it +up in a chair." + +Kuno promised obedience. + +"You have no further need of my aid," the doctor rejoined upon this +promise, "unless you should feel any pain again, when I beg you to send +for me. Nevertheless, I hope to see you frequently on the balcony. I +come to the Post every evening and drink my glass of wine, either there +or in the inn parlour. I have the honour to bid you good-morning." + +With a more graceful obeisance than would have been thought possible +for his clumsy figure he took his leave, without having made the +faintest allusion to the previous evening. He had reached the door when +he turned once more. "I shall surely have the pleasure of seeing the +gentlemen on the balcony to-night?" he asked. + +"Certainly, Herr Doctor," Delmar replied. "Why should you not?" + +"Why not, indeed? Still, let me confess frankly that I rather feared I +might have offended the gentlemen yesterday evening. For several days +past I have had a tightness about my head,--a rush of blood to the +brain,--which was of course aggravated by the intense heat and the +unwonted exertion of my ascent to the castle. I may also have taken a +glass or two more of wine than usual. I was, I am ashamed to confess, +but it cannot be denied, stupidly intoxicated, not from excess, but +from feeble health. At this very moment I fear a recurrence of the same +rush of blood to the head. I must have talked all sorts of nonsense +yesterday evening, and perhaps I offended you. Whether this be so or +not I cannot say, for I have not the slightest remembrance of what +occurred. In any case I pray you to excuse me, and not to avoid the +balcony for fear of similar scenes. It shall not occur again." + +"You did not offend us, Herr Doctor," Paul declared. + +"I did not? That reassures me, and I may then hope to see you again +this evening." + +He bowed once more; and as he did so his face grew purple, and when he +would have grasped the handle of the door he had to feel for it twice, +like a blind man. His step too as he went out was strangely unsteady. + +"Can he be intoxicated again so early in the morning?" Kuno whispered. + +"I think not, he spoke so quietly and sensibly. Remember how +differently he behaved last evening. No, I think he really is ill now." + +Paul walked to the window whence he could overlook the path the doctor +must take to the village. Several minutes passed before he came out of +the Post, but then he turned directly into the road to his house, +walking very slowly, and staggering at every step. + +A peasant meeting him nodded familiarly, and then looked after him with +a laugh. + +"He must be drunk after all," said Paul, "or he is still feeling the +effects of yesterday's debauch. Can he really have forgotten all he +talked about last evening?" + +"It would certainly seem so." + +"At all events, I had better see Leo as soon as possible. Therefore, +noble knight, when I have settled you comfortably on the balcony I will +leave you to your fate,--not a very hard one in this instance, since I +heard Fräulein Schommer not half an hour ago order her breakfast to be +served upon the balcony,--and I will take my way to the castle to have +a talk with Leo." + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + +As soon as Kuno was established upon the balcony and commended to the +kind attention of the ladies, Delmar rapidly ascended the narrow, +precipitous path by which he had reached the castle on the previous +day. He did not heed the heat which had begun to be intense; he +accorded not a look to the magnificent landscape, nor had he any care +for the dangers of the way. What he desired was to reach the castle as +quickly as possible. + +His brain was in a chaos of confusion; he was in a labyrinth of +puzzles, out of which he could find no clue. Nevertheless he passed on +his perilous way in perfect security, and soon reached the garden of +the castle. + +Here he looked around him, hoping to encounter his friend, but Leo was +nowhere to be seen. In the midst of a thick growth of shrubbery, +however, he saw the flutter of a light dress, and in a moment Hilda +appeared. She must have seen him coming, for she advanced directly +towards him, holding out her hand in greeting, and speaking before he +had time to address her. "You have done wrong, Herr Delmar," she said +reproachfully. "You come from the rocks by the rock-path; I am really +angry with you for not keeping your promise." + +Was she really angry? Why then should she have received Paul with so +enchanting a smile? Her words betokened a care for his safety that +delighted him. He thought her far lovelier than upon the previous day, +and far more like an angel, with her wealth of hair framing in so +girlish and beautiful a face. When he had seen her before her straw hat +had concealed its masses; now her head shone in the sunshine like pure +gold. + +When he took her hand he felt an intense longing to press it to his +lips, but he remembered her reproof of the day previous and forbore, +contenting himself with a slight pressure, which he rejoiced to fancy +was in some measure returned. "You must not come to the castle by that +path up the rocks," Hilda continued, when Paul did not reply to her +first remonstrance. "You must give me your word not to take it again, +or I shall always be anxious if you come at all late when you have +promised a visit to Leo." + +"Would you really be anxious on my account?" Paul asked, never thinking +how low and gentle was the voice in which he put the question, or how +Kuno would have laughed at him if he had heard it. + +But Hilda did not laugh; she answered gravely and frankly, "Yes, Herr +Delmar; I have deeply repented my thoughtlessness in showing you that +path, and I should never forgive myself if you were to meet with any +accident there. I have already been anxious about you this morning; you +were so long in coming, when Leo thought you would be here directly +after breakfast. Will you not make me the promise I ask?" + +"Any promise that you ask is already made, lovely fairy. Delightful as +is that scramble up the rocks, the path will not exist for me in +future. You have forbidden me to use it, and I, as your obedient slave, +venture no opposition to your command, but obey!" + +"Then as a reward I will instantly conduct you to Leo, who is anxiously +expecting you. He would have gone to Tausens himself this morning to +see after his friend Herr von Herwarth, but he was kept here by the +intelligence that a wealthy and well-known family from K---- had +arrived at the Post." + +"Then Leo already knows who they are?" + +"Yes; the maid from the Post came up to the castle last evening to beg +for some fowls. She reported that a very grand family from K---- had +arrived in two four-horse carriages and were to spend some time in +Tausens. She mentioned their names too as my housekeeper told me. The +name of Schommer was familiar to me,--I met a charming girl, a Fräulein +Schommer, in Vienna,--and so I asked Leo this morning if he knew these +people." + +"And he said?----" + +"He said yes. But he seemed to me not very well pleased that they +should have come to stay at Tausens. When he told me that he should not +go to the Post this morning because he wished if possible to avoid any +personal encounter with these strangers, I said nothing further, +although I should like to know more of them." + +"Perhaps I can gratify this desire, Fräulein von Heydeck. I have the +honour of knowing Fräulein Schommer." + +"Ah, how glad I am! I should so like to know whether she is the lovely +Eva Schommer whom I saw nearly two years ago in Vienna, and who so +charmed me that I never left her side for an entire evening. +Unfortunately I could not pursue the acquaintance, for she left +Vienna the next day, and we never met again. Yes, she said her home was +in K----. What a pleasure it would be to see her again here in +Tausens!" + +"That pleasure you can easily enjoy. Fräulein Schommer spoke to me last +evening of her pleasant remembrance of you in Vienna." + +"Oh, delightful!" Hilda exclaimed. "I have thought of that lovely Eva +so often! I will go this very day to Tausens to see her. We must be +together constantly!" She spoke impulsively, but suddenly she paused. +"I forgot," she said sadly, "that Leo wishes to avoid meeting these +people. Does he know this lovely girl? He cannot wish not to see her. +But no, do not answer my question, Herr Delmar. I had no right to ask +it. If Leo had wished me to know his reasons for not wishing to meet +these people he would have told me them himself. I would rather have +you say nothing to me about it." + +"I thank you, Fräulein von Heydeck. It would have been hard to refuse +any request of yours, and yet I have no right to speak of Leo's +position with regard to Fräulein Schommer's family without his express +permission. Of one thing however I can assure you: Leo can make, and +can have, no possible objection to your renewing your acquaintance with +Fräulein Schommer." + +"Are you sure of this?" + +"Perfectly sure; promise me that you will pay Fräulein Schommer a visit +this afternoon, and I will answer for it that Leo shall accompany you." + +"You will greatly oblige me by doing so, for I could not of course seek +out the lady if our guest wished to avoid her." + +As they talked, Hilda had conducted Paul into the castle and through +the rooms to the corridor, at the end of which were Leo's apartments. +"You cannot go astray now," she said. "Leo's room lies just before you. +You will find him at his easel. He would not go out for fear of missing +you. When I called him to breakfast he had begun a sketch, and was so +absorbed in his work that he never left it. I did not see it, but I am +hoping to enjoy it when it is finished." + +Here Hilda left him, and Delmar went along the corridor to the last +door; he knocked twice without receiving any answer, and then opened it +and entered the room. + +Leo had heard neither the knocking, the opening and shutting of the +door, nor his friend's footstep. He was standing lost in thought before +his easel, gazing at a sketch of a head, the result of his last few +hours' labour. + +When he had entered his sitting-room in the early morning, refreshed by +his night's rest, and had seen the easel by the window with the canvas +upon it ready stretched, he had been irresistibly tempted to take up +his crayon and enjoy the delight of which he had been deprived for a +week. Yielding to this irrepressible desire, he had made a sketch of +the fair face that filled his dreams both sleeping and waking. It was +so like that he stood now lost in contemplation of it, quite dead to +the outer world, not hearing when Paul entered the room, not noticing +the approach of his friend, who stood behind him for some minutes in +silent admiration of the sketch upon the easel. + +"Bravo, Leo! You have outdone yourself! 'Tis the most artistic sketch +you've ever made!" + +Leo started like one awakening from a dream that has held him +spell-bound. His first impulse was to snatch the picture from the +easel, and from the eyes of his friend, but Delmar stayed his hand. + +"Come, come, Leo! let the picture stay! No artist is justified +in hiding from sight the fruits of his genius. The picture is +wonderful,--a masterpiece. Her eyes had just that deep, dreamy look in +them yesterday when she so bitterly lamented your injustice in accusing +her of pride of purse. You must know that I have concluded a peace with +the fair Eva. I solemnly retract everything derogatory that I ever said +or thought about her; indeed, I frankly confess to you that I never in +my life fell into so pitiable an error as when I pronounced such hasty, +crude, and unjustifiable judgment upon this charming girl. If she would +but allow me, I would beg her pardon on my knees." + +Leo regarded Paul with amazement, looking in vain for the sneer that +was wont to play about his lips when he wanted to tease his friend. + +Delmar had been steadily contemplating the picture as he spoke in a +tone of honest conviction. Now he turned to Leo, and remarking his +amazement, he continued, with a smile: "You look at me as if you hardly +believed me, and, remembering my folly with regard to Fräulein +Schommer, I cannot blame you. The age of miracles however is not yet +over; the most hardened of sinners may be converted by the logic of +lovely lips, and I am a convert. With a few simple, frank words she has +reversed my ridiculous judgment of her. I wish you could have heard her +yesterday when she so sadly bewailed her misfortune in being 'too +rich.' You, too, would have changed your opinion of her, and no longer +have hated her, as you apparently do at present. Only intense hatred or +intense--affection could have stamped her features so deeply upon your +memory as to enable you to reproduce them in this wondrous way. And as +you assuredly do not love Eva, you of course hate her. And yet how +admirably you have managed to show no trace of this dislike in your +drawing!" + +"Paul, do not torture me!" + +This simple sentence disarmed Delmar; he grew grave instantly. "I will +not tease you," he said, "although you deserve it for never giving the +confidence you owe a friend to one so devoted to you as I am. Have I +not a right to be angry with you that accident alone--the sight of this +picture--has told me your secret? You love Fräulein Schommer, although +to me you denied that you did so. It was not true friendship, Leo." + +"What else could I do? I hardly knew myself at first whether I loved or +hated her; and when I did know, I was ashamed of my hopeless passion." + +"Hopeless? It is folly to use such a word. How can a man like yourself, +endowed with physical and mental superiority and distinguished both by +birth and by position, condescend to utter such a word? You never tried +to gain Fräulein Schommer's affection." + +"She has repulsed me with proud reserve upon the only occasions when I +have been in her society. And even if she had not done so, I should not +have paid court to her,--she is too rich!" + +"Too rich! There it is! That is the root of the matter!" Paul exclaimed +with irritation. "Too rich! It is Fräulein Schommer's misfortune and my +own. While the wretches who envy us for our wealth crowd about us to +gather up servilely the golden crumbs we may throw them, while they +flatter and cringe and worship us as their golden calf, those whom we +esteem and love withdraw from our society. We are too rich for those +disinterested souls who would love us for our own sakes,--they will not +expose themselves to the degrading suspicion of seeking us for the sake +of our wealth! How often I have been devoured with rage when you, Leo, +my dearest friend, have refused to share with me the enjoyments that +wealth can procure! I was 'too rich' for you, and therefore you +bestowed but a few meagre hours of your society upon me when I so +coveted your companionship; therefore you withdrew from me more and +more, and would, I verily believe, have forsaken me utterly if I had +not clutched you and refused to let you go. Poor Eva Schommer! +She, too, is 'too rich,' and therefore throws herself away upon a +heartless vagabond. For the man who would love her disinterestedly +for her own sake she is 'too rich'! The devil take wealth! if it robs +us of all that is best and noblest in this world,--the love of our +friends,--giving us instead only the flattery of fools, ennui, satiety, +and disgust of life!" + +Leo had never seen his friend thus agitated. His cheeks were flushed +and his voice trembled with emotion as he spoke. To Heydeck's friendly +remonstrance be made no reply, but, walking to the window, stood gazing +for some minutes at the magnificent view. Then, having recovered his +self-possession, he turned to Leo, and with a gentleness of manner rare +in him, said, "I was cross to you, Leo; forgive me. A sense of the +misfortune that dogs my life overcame me for a moment,--it shall not be +so again. I know that you, in spite of my millions, are my true, my +only friend. Enough of this! we have other matters to discuss. First, +let me tell you that Herwarth's sprained ankle will keep him tied to +his arm-chair on the balcony at the Post for two weeks; therefore if +you wish to see him you must go to him, he cannot come to you." + +Leo was annoyed by this intelligence, much as he wished to see his +friend. He would have liked to avoid the meeting with Fräulein Schommer +and Bertram, that would doubtless take place if he visited Herwarth. He +expressed this annoyance to Delmar. + +But Delmar would not heed it. "Bertram will hardly dare to put himself +in your way; and as for Fräulein Schommer, it is your duty as a man of +honour to ask her pardon. It is not enough to see that one has been +wrong,--the wrong should be confessed to whomsoever it has injured. But +I will not press you. I am sure that you will do what is right, and I +hope you will come to Tausens this afternoon with your cousin, who +wishes to renew an acquaintance with Fräulein Schommer. And now let us +speak of another matter, of the greatest interest and importance to me. +You must help me to solve a mystery in which I suddenly find myself +involved, and to this end I must tell you in detail all that happened +yesterday." + +And Paul began his story, first recalling to Leo's remembrance the +extraordinary reception accorded him by Herr von Heydeck,--dwelling +upon the fact that the old man had mentioned his Christian name, +'Paul,' without hearing it. He then told of his visit to Dr. Putzer and +of the doctor's amazement at seeing him; of his first taking him for a +Count Menotti,--a name which Paul had certainly heard somewhere lately, +he could not remember where; and last he gave an account of the +incomprehensible phrases which had escaped the tipsy doctor during his +evening visit. + +Leo listened with eager attention. As Paul went on he thought +involuntarily of the postmaster's information with regard to his +uncle's earlier life, connecting with it the strange interest which +Herr von Heydeck took in Paul Delmar, the deserted room in the tower, +and the old cradle. All this, combined with the tipsy talk of Dr. +Putzer, suddenly aroused in Leo a suspicion, which he at first rejected +as too wild and incredible, but to which every word of Paul's, as he +continued, gave greater probability. + +When Delmar ended his recital with, "Now tell me, Leo, what do you +think of this strange tale?" Heydeck had no doubt that he had +discovered its meaning,--a meaning that brought disgrace to his uncle. + +"I will tell you, Paul," he said, "but first answer me one question. +Look back to the days of your boyhood, think of your relations with +your father, of his last days, and of his will. Did it never occur to +you that he must have had a particular reason for the terms in which it +was couched? You were his natural heir; why should he have made the +express statement that he left you his property, not because you were +his son, but because of your love for him, and because you were the +founder and preserver of his wealth? What reason could your father have +for such a will?" + +"I cannot tell. I have often wondered, but never have arrived at any +conclusion." + +"Did you never think haw your father, during all your early childhood, +held himself aloof from you, only according you his parental affection +in later years; and that he may have had some reason for this conduct? +Would not all these apparent contradictions be explained if you were +not his own child, but an adopted son, whose dutiful and filial conduct +at last aroused his genuine affection?" + +Paul, who had been leaning back in an arm-chair, here started to his +feet. "What do you mean?" he exclaimed, in great agitation. "Such an +idea never entered my mind; my brain whirls at the thought. But go on; +to what does all this lead?" + +Leo obeyed, reminding Paul of the postmaster's narrative, of the +suspicion awakened years before with regard to Herr von Heydeck,--a +suspicion that he had, in connection with Dr. Putzer and his wife, +caused the death of his son, to whose estate he had thus become heir. +Formerly it had been whispered that Herr von Heydeck was not the +child's father, but that the boy was the offspring of Frau von Heydeck +and of Count Menotti. + +"There is where I heard the name!" Paul exclaimed; "but go on, go on! I +am upon the rack of expectation!" + +Leo went on to speak of the cries which had been so often heard from +the round tower after the child's death, and that no one save Herr von +Heydeck himself and his half-idiotic servants had ventured to go near +this part of the castle. He then told of his losing his way upon the +previous afternoon, of his visit to the deserted room, of the cradle, +and of his struggle with Melcher. From all this, taken in connection +with his uncle's expressions and the doctor's talk, he drew the +conclusion that possibly many years previously his uncle and Dr. Putzer +had combined to remove from the world the unfortunate child which his +uncle was convinced was not his own, but the son of Count Menotti. This +was not effected by murder, of which vulgar gossip had accused them, +but by the removal of the child whose little corpse no one but the +doctor was allowed to see. + +For this purpose the haunted tower had been put to use; there they had +kept the boy whose cries, heard in the silent night, had stricken with +terror the superstitious villagers. Afterwards, for his perfect +security, Herr von Heydeck must himself have removed the child. If this +were so, and if the deceased Herr Delmar had been induced to adopt the +forsaken boy, the strange provisions of his will were clearly +explained, as were also the expressions of Herr von Heydeck and the +doctor, who had both instantly recognized the resemblance of Delmar to +Count Menotti, and were doubtless convinced that he had come to Tausens +to lay claim to his inheritance and to the name and title of a Herr von +Heydeck. + +"If my suspicion be correct," Leo concluded, "and the more I reflect +upon the matter the more convinced I am that it is so, you are the +boy, the lawful possessor of this castle, whom my uncle has deprived +of his estate and of his name. According to law you are my uncle's +son,--Hilda's brother." + +"Hilda's brother!" Paul almost shouted. "Would you drive me mad? Is +it not enough to take from me everything to which I have hitherto +clung,--even the father whom I loved and in whom I had full faith? I, +Hilda's brother! Never I never! I cannot believe it! And yet can I help +believing it?" he continued, after a short pause. "Have you not +succeeded in discovering an explanation for all which I thought +inexplicable? Heydeck, who stole from me my estate and thrust me forth +into the world because he knew that I was not his son, recognizes me by +my likeness to the man who dishonoured him. There is not in my veins +one drop of your worthless uncle's blood, and yet the law makes me +Hilda's brother,--and the worst of criminals, should I ever dare to +entertain for her in my heart one sentiment save that of a brother for +a sister!" + +As he spoke, Paul was pacing the room to and fro in the greatest +agitation; his olive cheek was deeply flushed; and such unmistakable +despair was painted in his face, that Leo, who had had no idea of the +depth and strength of the 'love at first sight' that had taken +possession of Paul for Hilda, could have no doubt as to the sentiments +that filled his soul. He was utterly amazed. Paul, with his critical +sneer, his ridicule of all sentimentality, his constant insistance that +the intellect should always maintain its dominion over the affections, +had suddenly lost his heart,--lost it irretrievably to a young girl +whom he had known only for a few hours, and who, in Leo's opinion, was +to be sure very charming and amiable, but not at all the one to inspire +such a man as Delmar with this sudden overmastering passion. + +Yet although this love was a riddle to Leo, none the less did his +friend's despair excite his compassion, and he repented having so +pitilessly pronounced the sentence 'according to law you are Hilda's +brother,' without dreaming of the effect it might produce upon his +friend. + +"Calm yourself, Paul," he said gently; "do not forget that all I have +said is only hypothetical. I have no facts to substantiate my +supposition, no way of proving even the possibility of its +correctness." + +"Who want proof?" Delmar angrily exclaimed. "Did I come here to lay any +claim to the wretched inheritance which that woman, whom I will not +call mother, left her son? You know well enough that I am too rich now. +Or can you suppose that I aspire to the honour of the name of von +Heydeck? I love the name for your sake, Leo; you have ennobled it, and +it is that borne by your cousin, else I should hate it. Proofs! If I +possessed proofs clear as sunlight that this castle belonged to me, and +that I had a legal right to the name of Heydeck, I would consign them +to the flames, that no one upon earth might know that I had a right to +be considered your uncle's son." + +"Why then, Paul, should the thought of Hilda bring you such misery? If +you never lay claim to the right which the law would perhaps accord +you, she is not your sister. As you yourself said, no drop of her +father's blood flows in your veins." + +"Are you so sure of that,--sure that I am not your uncle's son, whom a +freak of nature stamped with a resemblance to his mother's friend. +Count Menotti? In that case Hilda would really be my sister. I grow +giddy at the horrid thought, and yet I must learn to grasp it. I should +despise myself if, in view of such a possibility, I ever dared approach +Hilda with other than a brother's love. Shall I poison her young life? +If she should love me and become my wife, as I, fool that I was, +ventured to dream a few hours ago, and should then, by any chance, +learn that the law makes her father, mine, how horrible would be her +fate! No, Leo; I will never sacrifice her happiness to my insane +passion! She shall never suspect it. I will be all to her--faithful +friend, true counsellor--that a brother may; but she never shall hear +from my lips one syllable betokening a warmer feeling than the love of +a brother." + +"I know you will remain steadfast in this resolution, Paul. I shall not +gainsay it by a single word. Only let me pray you to act calmly and +without passion. You have no right to take my conjecture for reality +without further confirmation; the facts upon which it is founded may +perhaps bear a different interpretation. You must not allow the +happiness of your life to be destroyed by an ill-founded suspicion." + +"What would you have me do?" + +"Investigate the truth concerning your birth. First spare no pains to +discover, here in Tausens, whether my uncle's son did not really die +here years ago; your wealth will help you to do this. I will do all +that I can to assist you, not only here, but also in Germany, where you +must search out the former home of Herr Delmar, and succeed, if +possible, in establishing proof that you really are his son, and that a +chance resemblance has thus befooled us all. You must not lose courage, +Paul; you have a sacred duty to fulfil, both to yourself and to Hilda." + +"Be it so!" Paul replied, with a firm grasp of his friend's hand. "I +will do what you ask; I will investigate this wretched mystery; I will +search for proof that I am the son of this scoundrelly Herr von +Heydeck, as if in this certainty lay my every hope of happiness instead +of my doom to misery; but I am inwardly convinced that your suspicion +is only too well grounded. The task I propose will not be a difficult +one. I know the hand wherein lies the clue to the secret. That wretch, +Dr. Putzer, is your uncle's accomplice. He will do anything for money, +as he clearly made known to me yesterday. _In vino veritas_. If I give +him what he asks, and insure him from all risk, he can easily be +brought to betray his principal and give me the proof I want. I will +not chaffer with him; he may have as much as he asks. I will tell you +more, Leo, if you will come to Tausens with your cousin this afternoon. +Now I leave you to go to Dr. Putzer. Farewell." + +The friends separated with a cordial grasp of hands that told better +than in words of their determination to pursue earnestly the task they +had undertaken; and then, when Leo had conducted Paul to the head of +the grand staircase, he returned sadly to his studio. + +As Paul passed through the portal of the castle and saw upon the right +the old round tower, a bitter sense of injury possessed him. There was +the place where he had been imprisoned as a helpless infant, while the +avaricious man who was legally his father annihilated all trace of the +existence of the child whom he dared not kill, but would not allow to +live. + +"If he had only killed me!" Paul sighed; and the thought suddenly +occurred to him whether it would not be best to end his misery by a +leap from the castle rock. "No! no!" he reflected; "they must not +despise me as a coward." + +And yet the thought had a positive fascination for him. Could he not +contrive that a misstep upon the perilous path up the rocks should +cause his death to be considered by his friends the result of chance? +They would--Leo would--mourn him truly, and the will by which he had +made his friend his heir would smooth Heydeck's future career for him. +He would not hesitate then to approach Eva as a lover. The miserable +millions would at last bring happiness to their possessor. + +But as he was walking through the garden towards the narrow rock-path, +oblivious of his promise to Hilda, a prey to dire temptation, a voice +was suddenly heard that caused him to pause, startled. + +"Where are you going, Herr Delmar?" + +He looked up, and Hilda stood before him, with pain and reproach in her +eyes. + +Her simple question covered Paul with confusion. He now first +remembered the promise so frankly given a short time before; a promise +he was on his way to break. He might have given an evasive reply. +Indeed, Hilda helped him to do so by adding, "Perhaps you hoped to meet +me here in the garden. Did you speak with Leo about my visit to +Fräulein Schommer?" + +But such an evasion seemed unmanly and unworthy of him. "Forgive me, +Fräulein Hilda," was his only reply. + +Hilda understood him. "Were you really about to return to Tausens by +the rock-path in spite of your promise?" + +"I had forgotten it. Indeed, you have a right to be angry, but if you +knew----" + +He hesitated; he could not make Hilda the confidante of his misery. + +"What has happened, Herr Delmar? Why do you pause? You are evidently +agitated. What can you have learned in the short time since I saw you? +Tell me, I pray." + +As she spoke she kindly offered him her hand, but he did not take it. +He shuddered as he thought of how happy he had been but a few short +moments before when he took that little hand, and of the hopes that had +then dawned in his soul, hopes that must be crushed forever. Should he +press his lips upon it in one farewell kiss? No! not even that. She +must not dream how hard it was to part from her; she must think of him +as of a stranger, and he looked away, that Hilda might suppose he did +not see the hand she held out to him. + +But Hilda was not deceived. The interest which she felt in Delmar was +too deep and vivid to allow her to remain ignorant of the change he had +suddenly undergone. She saw that he intentionally avoided taking her +hand, and she was afraid that she had in some manner offended him. Was +he vexed at her suspicion that he had meant to break his word? She had +not meant to call him to so strict an account. "Are you vexed with me, +Herr Delmar?" she said gently; "I did not mean to offend you." + +"I know that, Fräulein Hilda," Delmar replied, recovering his +composure. "How could you offend me? I confess that I am agitated by +the conversation that I have just had with Leo about family matters, of +which I am not at liberty to speak. I had forgotten my promise with +regard to the Reifenstein rocks, but be assured I will keep faith with +you now. Farewell, Fräulein Hilda!" + +He bowed formally and walked away through the garden towards the +court-yard. In the dim gateway leading into it he turned to look at +Hilda once more. She was standing on the spot where he had left her, +with amazement and sorrow expressed in her whole air and bearing. His +strange manner, his formal farewell, had filled her with vague +misgivings. + +He waved his hand in token of adieu, and hurried from the castle across +the bridge to the well-worn foot-path down the mountain. Again, as he +walked on, did that grim temptation to self-destruction assault his +soul. He turned aside among the shrubbery that bordered the pathway, +and penetrating it, reached the brink of the abyss and gazed down into +its misty depths. As he looked his foot slipped upon a loose stone; in +an instant the instinct of self-preservation was on the alert. +Involuntarily he seized the stout branch of a tree growing beside him +and swung himself up to the level ground. As he did so a scornful smile +curled his lip at the thought of the exertion he was making to save a +life now so worthless in his eyes. But dreary as the future seemed to +him, he shrank from the cowardice that would flee from trials and +agonies that might be bravely met. He remembered how often he had heard +Leo denounce the pusillanimity of those who lacked courage to meet the +inevitable shocks of life. And Hilda,--could she ever have even a +kindly thought for the memory of a suicide? + +One more look he gave to the abyss at his feet, and then turned back +into the secure foot-path and walked on slowly, lost in thought, to the +village. He was no longer occupied solely with self; his mind reacted +healthily and he thought of his friend. What change might not the next +few weeks bring about in the life of the man who had been to him more +than a brother? Eva and Leo must have opportunities for knowing and +understanding each other. With closer knowledge of his friend, Fräulein +Schommer could not but return his affection. To this end Paul would +exert himself: he would give his life a new purpose; and this +resolution exalted and refreshed him. He had almost forgotten the dark +shadow brooding over his own existence when he was reminded of it by a +sudden glimpse among the trees of the village in the midst of which Dr. +Putzer's house was conspicuous. + +He remembered that he had promised Leo to attempt to learn from Dr. +Putzer more concerning Herr von Heydeck. The result of such an attempt +had lost all interest for him, it is true, so convinced was he of the +truth of Leo's surmises, but nevertheless he would, as he had promised, +do all that he could to drag every fact connected with this mystery to +the full light of day. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + +When Paul at last reached the village street, he did not turn in the +direction of the Post, but went directly towards Dr. Putzer's house. On +approaching it he noticed several peasants talking in the road in front +of the garden. Among them was the postmaster, gesticulating eagerly. + +Paul would have passed them and entered the garden, but the postmaster +detained him. "If you want to speak to the doctor," said honest Hansel, +taking off his cap, "you come upon a vain errand." + +"Is he not at home?" + +"He is at home, but you cannot speak with him." + +Hansel's answer was made in quite a solemn tone; he was evidently +burning with desire to tell Delmar what he had repeated already three +or four times to the peasants, who listened with eager attention to his +every word; but he waited to be questioned by Paul. As soon as this +occurred the floodgates of his eloquence were opened. + +He told minutely all that he had heard from the doctor's servant. +Yesterday evening, when the stable-boy from the Post had taken the +doctor home, he had been received very unkindly by his wife, who had +called him an irreclaimable drunkard, and more hard names besides than +the poorest peasant's wife in the village would have bestowed upon her +husband. The doctor only laughed childishly, and, although his wife +forbade his speaking before the maid, went maundering on unintelligibly +about Herr von Heydeck at the castle, and Herr Delmar, and Count +Menotti. + +The doctor's wife had grown quite furious when she could not make him +hold his tongue, and had dashed a bucketful of cold water over his head +to bring him to his senses. She had often done this before, and the +doctor also often held his head under the cold stream of water at the +brook to make himself sober; but on this evening the cold water did him +no good: he grew quite purple in the face, and it was a long time +before he came to himself and got to bed. + +To-day they had a great quarrel early in the morning; the maid did not +know what it was about,--they often quarrelled,--but she heard the +name of von Heydeck very often; and towards ten o'clock the doctor took +his hat and stick and went to the Post, to pay his visit to the sick +gentleman there, and as he walked through the garden the maid had +noticed that his face was much redder than usual when he had been +intoxicated the day before. He spoke very quietly and was entirely +himself; but when he came home again, walking very unsteadily and +looking very ill, the doctor's wife flew into a rage, and insisted upon +his letting the water at the brook flow over his head. He refused to do +it at first, but his wife stormed and insisted, and he yielded at last, +as he always did. Scarcely however had he held his head under the +stream for a minute when he suddenly fell on the ground and lay like +one dead. + +His wife's screams brought the neighbours to the spot, and they got the +sick man into the house and put him in bed, where he was now lying +perfectly unconscious. He was still living, but he could not possibly +recover. His wife was no true wife to him, but a worthless, miserable +creature. Instead of taking care of her husband, she had left him. As +soon as he was got to bed she had ordered a conveyance from the Post; +and the postmaster had provided it immediately, for he thought she +wanted to send for a doctor. But the wretched woman had never thought +of doing so; she had packed up her clothing and various other articles +in a hurry, and had driven off no one knew whither. She had told the +servant-girl to take care of the doctor and to send for another +physician, but that he would certainly not last long. And so the poor +man was lying in bed, unconscious, with no one but the servant to +attend to him. The postmaster, however, for old acquaintance' sake, had +sent another conveyance for Dr. Atzinger. Dr. Atzinger had just left +the sick man, and had said that he might get over the stroke this time, +but that he never would have the use of his limbs, and that no one must +be allowed to see him. All this the postmaster related to Delmar, who +thus found himself deprived of any hope of immediate aid from Dr. +Putzer in his investigations. This did not trouble him, however, since +he had only been interested to fulfil his promise to Leo, and he was +rather relieved to feel entirely free to devote himself to his friend's +affairs. + +Upon his return to the inn, Delmar found the entire Schommer family at +dinner with Herwarth upon the balcony. Bertram alone was missing; he +had not returned from an expedition to some cascades which he had +undertaken that morning; indeed, a messenger had arrived from him +saying that he had gone on to Rothwald, whence he should make a +mountain-ascent, which would probably detain him there until the +following day. Uncle Balthasar told Delmar of this, lamenting that +'dear Guido' could not join their little circle, but he was the only +one who regretted his absence; the others all felt relieved in the +consciousness that they should not see Bertram for some hours at least. + +Kuno had enjoyed himself greatly during Paul's absence. Eva declared +with a smile that all the ladies had bestowed upon the invalid their +tenderest solicitude, and had succeeded in compelling him to comply +with the orders of his physician, although he was at times a most +unruly patient, in his determination to prevent them from exerting +themselves in his behalf. + +These few hours of unconventional intercourse on the balcony had +established a degree of friendly intimacy between Kuno and the young +ladies which pleased Delmar much. Eva treated him with frank +familiarity, jesting with him as with an old acquaintance. Aline was +not quite so unconstrained; although not less kind, there was a certain +reserve in her manner towards Herwarth. Paul noticed this, and that her +eyes, which evidently rested with pleasure upon the lieutenant when he +was talking with Eva, were quickly averted if he looked towards +herself. It was not difficult for so keen an observer as Delmar to read +the secret of these two hearts. The discovery gave him a melancholy +pleasure. "Another couple who will and shall be happy!" he thought to +himself "It was best that Fräulein Hilda should keep me away from the +path down the Reifenstein rock; a ghastly accident would have scattered +these happy people, and I may be of use here yet." Filled with this +thought, Paul forgot himself and his sorrows. He sat down at the table, +and was the life of the little party. He contrived that Aline and +Herwarth should have frequent opportunity of conversation, while he +entertained Eva, Uncle Balthasar, and even silent Aunt Minni with his +gay talk, seeming to all to be even more merry than on the previous +day. Eva forgot her usual gravity, and Uncle Balthasar was enchanted; +his only sorrow was that 'dear Guido' could not be present to enjoy +'this delightful conversation.' Paul said but little of his visit to +the castle; he simply told Eva that in a short conversation with +Fräulein von Heydeck he had told her of the guests at the Post. The +young girl remembered, with great pleasure, her evening with Fräulein +Schommer in Vienna, and would certainly come to the inn with her cousin +Leo to renew her acquaintance with her. As he spoke, Delmar watched Eva +narrowly, although he was apparently toying indifferently with his +wine-glass. When he mentioned Leo's name, and his intention of coming +to the inn, he saw the girl's cheek flush; she suddenly raised her +eyes, and as quickly dropped them again upon meeting Paul's keen +glance. She turned away to hide her confusion, and addressed a few +words in an undertone to her aunt, who sat beside her. + +"Will it be disagreeable to you, Fräulein Schommer, to have Leo come +down to Tausens?" + +Eva hastily turned towards him, her cheek still flushed, but all +confusion overcome. "Did you arrange this visit of which you now tell +me, Herr Delmar?" she asked, not without asperity. + +"I may have done so. You expressed a wish yesterday to see again +Fräulein Hilda von Heydeck. I could not suppose that you contemplated +going up to the castle, and I therefore proposed that Fräulein Hilda +should come to you. She only half promised, however, and I am not sure +she will be able to fulfil her intent." + +"I was not speaking of Fräulein Hilda, but of Herr von Heydeck. I asked +whether you had arranged this visit, because I had hoped you would +remember what I said yesterday." + +"You said yesterday that you were not afraid of meeting my friend." + +"And I also said that I thought it desirable that any such meeting +should be avoided. It is not fair in you, Herr Delmar, intentionally to +expose me to embarrassment of this kind." + +While she was speaking Paul regarded her with gentle gravity; her +reckless frankness enlisted his sympathy profoundly. As she finished he +bent his head, and in a low and gentle tone said, "Your frank, honest +reproof shall receive as frank and honest a reply. I might easily +deceive you by telling you that Leo must see his friend Herwarth, and +that therefore I had arranged this visit; but I will not deceive you. +Frankly and honestly, then, I wish Leo to see you again for his own +sake and--for yours!" + +"Herr Delmar, I must beg----" + +"Stay, Fräulein Schommer! I know what you would say. You would accuse +me of unjustifiable interference in your affairs which are no concern +of mine; but there you are wrong. I take a deeper interest in them than +you would probably think permissible, but nothing is so near to me in +this world as Leo's happiness. You see I am honest and do not flatter +you." + +"No, you have shown me that you do not, both yesterday and to-day; yet +I really cannot see what interest your affection for Herr von Heydeck +can have for me." + +"That is not said with your usual ingenuousness, Fräulein Schommer," +Delmar said earnestly. "You know well that you take a degree of +interest in my friend Leo's destiny, and you ought not to deny it. Leo +bitterly regrets having been misled in an unfortunate moment to say +words which wounded you." + +"That is not so, Herr Delmar." + +"Excuse me, it is so; and Leo is all the more sensible of his injustice +since he was not true to himself in what he said. Irritated by a +certain haughty demeanour, which Fräulein Schommer is apt to display +towards those whom she knows but slightly, Leo was induced that day, in +answer to his friend Herwarth's badinage, to say what was no sooner +uttered than it was deeply repented. He will never be satisfied until +he has had an opportunity of entreating your forgiveness,--an +opportunity which I am sure you are too magnanimous to deny him." + +Eva was much moved by Paul's words. Was he telling the truth, or was +what he said the result of the ironical mood that so often possessed +him? Had he read her heart? Did he know that she could not bear a +grudge to Leo,--that his insulting words had long since been forgiven +by her,--that she only mourned he should have been prompted to utter +them? + +"You do not reply, Fräulein Schommer," Paul continued, so gravely that +Eva could no longer suspect him of a sneer. "You hardly seem to trust +my words, and therefore you force me to say more than I had intended. +Do you remember what you said yesterday,--your bitter lament over the +misfortune of being too rich?" + +"Yes; why do you ask?" + +"You never uttered truer words than those then spoken. Yes, it is your +greatest trial, as it is my own, to be 'too rich.' Your wealth has +poisoned your soul. Conscious of these wretched riches, you receive all +who approach you with haughty disdain, believing them attracted solely +by the glitter of your gold. Such was your treatment of Leo, the +noblest and most disinterested of men, and the cold contempt of your +manner cut him to the quick. And this is not the worst,--an unkind word +can be atoned for by kindness,--Leo would not be implacable any more +than you will be so, but--you are too rich. He loves you, Fräulein +Schommer. Your image is so deeply engraven upon his soul that it stands +upon his easel at this moment wrought by his hand, so like you that it +almost seems your living, breathing self. He loves you, but you are +'too rich.' Not your cold reserve, but your miserable money, repels his +pride. That fortune, which is a bait for the avarice of a--Bertram, is +a barrier between yourself and the man in whose affection you might +find the deepest bliss attainable in this world. But enough of this. I +have presumed incredibly, I know, but I hope not past forgiveness when +you consider how profound is that regard for my friend, in which I +refuse to believe that you take no 'interest.' Fräulein Aline is +looking at us in surprise at our withdrawal from all part in the +general conversation, and we must really devote more of our attention +to these excellent trout." + +Delmar had seized a happy opportunity, when the rest of the circle were +variously absorbed, to prepare Eva's mind thus for Leo's visit. He had +succeeded; the girl's glowing cheeks, and the dreamy expression of her +dark eyes, told him how profound was the impression he had produced. +She did not reply, her heart was too full for words. + +Beloved by Leo! No, this was no ironical jest of Delmar's; he had +spoken in the tone of intense conviction. She could not doubt his +words; the consciousness, vague although it was, of being loved by the +man whose image she had so cherished in secret, filled her with a sense +of blessed content which not even the knowledge that she was separated +from him forever could at first disturb. + +Separated forever! Yes, she was the betrothed of Bertram. When Delmar +had uttered his name she had shrunk involuntarily, as if conscious for +the first time of her detestation and contempt for him. But she was +his; she must keep the vow that bound her to him. It was a duty which +she had voluntarily imposed upon herself, as she now knew, for Leo's +sake. She had sacrificed herself that he might escape a threatened +danger; the knowledge of this gave her strength to bear the misery that +must be her future lot. Her fate was decided, but in the consciousness +that she was beloved, she no longer found it so hard to bear. + +Paul divined what was passing in her soul; he saw that his words had +produced upon her an ineradicable impression, but she must not be left +to reflect upon them. He turned away and began a conversation with +Uncle Balthasar, in which the rest speedily joined. Never had Paul +seemed half so merry and entertaining, how could Eva refuse to bear her +part in the general cheerfulness that prevailed? Even Aunt Minni was +startled from her usual indolent serenity, and once or twice actually +laughed. As Delmar had succeeded in banishing his own brooding fancies, +he now prevented Eva from indulging in any such. + +Several hours passed thus gayly upon the balcony. Coffee had been +served, and still no one arose to leave it. Uncle Balthasar had +foregone his usual afternoon nap in view of the agreeable society in +which he found himself. + +Thus the moments flew by, and no one noticed that Delmar grew slightly +restless, casting frequent glances towards that part of the landscape +where a small stretch of the road from the village could be seen. In +fact he began to be afraid lest his well-devised plan for a +reconciliation between Eva and Leo should fail, in view of the latter's +great unwillingness to approach one whom he felt he had so deeply +offended. He was not however doomed to such a disappointment. The visit +he had so desired was at hand. + +In the distance he first noticed the flutter of a light dress, and soon +recognized Hilda, beside whom walked Leo, engaged in earnest +conversation. Paul breathed freely now,--in a few minutes they would +reach the inn. Leo's visit could not have occurred at a happier time. +Eva had been prepared to see him again; she had forgiven him; she had +been told that he loved her, and to this declaration from Delmar's lips +she had replied by no word of reproof. Delmar was convinced that a few +friendly words from either would suffice to banish the shadow that now +lay between them, and then he could make up his mind what to do +next. They must have frequent opportunities of meeting, that was +certain,--frequent occasion for familiar intercourse. Delmar must see +that Bertram did not interfere here. + +Although Paul was aware of his friend's love for Fräulein Schommer, he +knew nothing of the state of the girl's heart, except for the gentle +sympathy for Leo which he had read in her eyes. Her readiness to bestow +her hand upon Bertram was inconsistent Paul thought with the existence +of an affection for any one else. And yet this uncertainty did not +deter Delmar from the pursuance of his schemes. He was convinced that +Leo could succeed in winning Eva's heart if only time and opportunity +were given him. She must admire his brilliant talents and respect his +lofty enthusiasm; love would surely follow, and then would come the +time to dissolve her engagement with Bertram, and the end for which +Delmar was now living would be attained. + +"There come our friends Fräulein Hilda and Leo von Heydeck!" he turned +to say to Eva, who was talking with Aline, and as he spoke he pointed +towards the road. For a moment Eva lost her self-possession: her cheek +paled and her lips trembled. + +"Courage, Eva dear!" Aline whispered. "You must summon all your +self-control." + +Aline's efforts to calm her friend were seconded by the extraordinary +surprise which Uncle Balthasar displayed at Paul's information, a +surprise which greatly amused every one. + +"Oh, Holy Apostles! Herr von Heydeck!" the old man exclaimed in the +broadest Saxon, with such positive horror imprinted upon his broad, +good-humoured face as only some fearful intelligence should have +provoked. He had not much time to recover from his fright, for a few +moments later Hilda appeared upon the balcony followed by Leo. + +Herwarth's and Delmar's laughter at Uncle Balthasar's exclamation of +dismay had restored Eva's composure, and when Hilda hastened up to her, +expressing in her fresh girlish way the delight that it was to her to +meet Fräulein Schommer once more, every trace of embarrassment on Eva's +part disappeared. She returned Hilda's kiss with equal cordiality, and +then presented her to her uncle and aunt as the "charming Fräulein von +Heydeck whom she had met in Vienna, and of whom she had so often spoken +to them." She acknowledged Leo's profound bow most courteously; she +could not be perfectly easy and unconstrained while doing so; the blood +rushed to her cheek as she felt that Delmar was watching her the while. + +In spite however of the cordial meeting between Hilda and Eva, all the +members of the little circle, with the exception of Hilda and Paul, +suffered under a certain constraint. They could not but remember the +past, and it was not easy to enter into general conversation. Uncle +Balthasar cast timid side-glances at Leo, who, to conceal his +embarrassment, was making minute, inquiries after Herwarth's health. +Aline was anxiously watching Eva, who was exerting all her self-control +to appear at ease, and even Aunt Minni, usually so perfectly +unimpressionable, seemed aware of the general disturbance, and sat in +her arm-chair with her fat red face studiously turned away from the +terrible Herr von Heydeck. + +Paul was quite unembarrassed and much amused by the evident efforts of +every one to appear at ease, the sarcastic smile which his friends knew +so well hovered upon his lips; he was master of the situation which he +himself had contrived, and which was to aid his schemes. He managed +with a jest directed towards Uncle Balthasar to relieve the good old +man from constraint, and then skilfully drew him into conversation with +Leo and Herwarth, so that Eva, Aline, and Hilda were left to talk +together. Aunt Minni always preferring to be left to herself. + +It was Paul's fashion in pursuit of any aim to act with great +recklessness, and now, determined to reconcile Leo with Uncle +Balthasar, instead of avoiding all allusion to the scene at Büchner's +and the affront offered to Eva by Leo, he led the conversation directly +to the subject, and thus gave his friend an opportunity to express his +regret to Uncle Balthasar for what had occurred. Leo did this in so +frank and manly a way that the placable old man was entirely satisfied, +and no longer remembered the dismay with which he had received the +announcement of Herr von Heydeck's visit. + +For a while Paul left the young girls to themselves; then by appealing +to Eva upon some opinion just expressed by Leo, he drew them also into +the conversation, which thus became general. To his great satisfaction +he noticed that Eva replied willingly and pleasantly to the few remarks +which Leo addressed to her. + +But a first visit should not be too prolonged. At the end of an hour +Hilda rose to take leave, after having arranged that Aline, Eva, and +herself should meet frequently, Hilda promising to act as their +cicerone to all the points of interest in the country round. + +"If you will allow me, Fräulein Hilda, I will walk some distance with +you and Leo on your way back." Paul said to Hilda; and then turning to +Eva he added, "Will not you, Fräulein Schommer and Fräulein von +Schlicht, improve the occasion for a walk? you have not left the house +to-day,--and I will promise to escort you safely back to the Post." + +Hilda of course seconded this proposition, and Eva agreed to it, to the +surprise of Aline, who could not but consent to accompany her friend +after commending Herwarth to the kind offices of Uncle Balthasar. + +Eva and Aline started with Hilda, while Delmar walked by the side of +Leo; and how it happened no one except perhaps Paul could have told, +but after a little while Leo walked by Eva's side, while Paul followed +with the two other ladies. Gradually the distance between the two +parties increased, for Delmar walked very slowly, and often stopped to +ask Hilda the names of the various mountain-peaks, or to point out to +Aline some special beauty in the landscape, while he talked so fast and +so eagerly that he absorbed the entire attention of his companions. +They never noticed that Leo and Eva were now a considerable distance in +front of them. + +Leo's entertainment of his companion was by no means so glib and ready +as was Delmar's of Aline and Hilda. He was glad that Paul had so soon +procured him this opportunity of speaking to Eva alone and undisturbed; +and yet, now that it was thus his, he could hardly find courage to +improve it. He walked along by Eva's side in silence for some minutes, +and did but grow more and more confused. Never had he felt so utterly +and insanely stupid. Of course Eva could not begin a conversation, and +how she must despise his inability to find the right words in which to +address her! The right words! he thought he could not find them, and +yet they came, when, yielding to the feeling that had mastered him, he +simply asked, "Can you forgive me?" + +These were the right words! They came from the heart, as Eva felt, and +she looked up to Leo with a charming smile. "I have nothing to +forgive!" She said nothing more, and yet she seemed to Leo to have +spoken volumes. He could have shouted for joy, so exquisite was the +pleasure that the low whispered words gave him, dispelling the dark +shadow that had rested upon his life. Eva had forgiven him! The words +that she spoke, and still more the eyes that had gazed for a moment +into his, had assured him of this. + +He took her hand and pressed it to his lips; he could not help it, and +Eva did not resent his doing so, nor did she withdraw it when he placed +it within his arm. She had forgiven him, there was no cause for offence +between them. He never thought of her wealth, of her betrothal, nor of +the future. He walked silently beside her in a blissful dream of the +present, conscious only of the pressure of that little hand upon his +arm. + +They said nothing more; now and then their glances met, and they seemed +to have uttered all that it was in their hearts to say. + +"Halloo, Leo!" + +It was Paul's shout. Leo looked back in amazement, and noticed for the +first time that he and Eva had left the road and were walking along the +foot-path, very much in advance of the others. + +"It must be time for me to turn back; we have really come quite a +distance," said Eva, withdrawing her hand from Leo's arm. + +"May I come to Tausens again to-morrow?" + +"Yes." + +Again he kissed her hand rapturously, and she allowed it, although at +the sound of Delmar's voice near by she withdrew it more quickly than +before. Paul had shouted at the request of Hilda, who, now that they +were approaching the steepest part of the way, thought it too difficult +climbing for Eva, unaccustomed as she was to mountain-walks. + +Twilight was settling down upon the landscape as Eva, Aline, and Delmar +took their leave and returned to the Post, while Leo and Hilda pursued +their way up the mountain. + +"Eva is a charming girl," said Hilda. + +"She is an angel!" Leo replied. He said nothing further; Hilda glanced +up at him in surprise, but he did not notice it as he looked down, lost +in dreams. An arch smile flitted across the girl's face; she nodded +archly at her cousin, who did not see her, and said no further word to +disturb his revery,--she thought she could divine its subject. + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + +Eva had anticipated a first meeting with Leo with absolute dread, and +yet one brief hour and two or three words had sufficed to dispel the +dark cloud between them. They were reconciled. + +A delicious sense of repose and peace filled Eva's soul as she silently +accompanied Aline and Delmar back to the inn. Paul guessed that she was +in no mood for conversation, and so left her free to pursue her +thoughts. + +And when they were again all seated upon the balcony, and the three +gentlemen from Tausens made their appearance as usual, Paul contrived +that no one should notice that Eva scarcely took any part in the +conversation. Aline alone saw how quiet the girl was, and divined the +cause of her silence. + +Only when the two young girls had retired to their room did Aline put +her arms about her friend, and, looking into her dark eyes, ask, "Are +you reconciled?" + +"Yes, Aline. Oh, I am so happy!" was the reply. And then Eva poured +into her friend's ready and sympathizing ear an account of all that +filled her heart, all she had heard from Delmar, telling last of the +few words she had exchanged with Leo, and of the kiss he had imprinted +upon her hand at parting. + +Aline listened with the deepest interest, never interrupting her, but +when she had finished she asked, in a low tone, "You love him, Eva?" + +"Yes, with my whole soul! Now I dare tell you. Aline, of the warm +interest I felt in him long before I ever saw him. You and Lieutenant +Herwarth had told me so much of him, of his heroism in the field, of +his humanity to the conquered; he was my ideal of a hero, and when I +first saw him I was confused and strangely moved, for all my +expectations were so much more than answered. I was so happy when Uncle +Balthasar presented him." + +"And yet you received him so coldly that he could not but feel hurt!" + +"It was my misfortune, Aline! I have shed many a secret tear at the +thought of it. Delmar is right: wealth has poisoned my soul and filled +me with unjust suspicion. I take shame to myself for ever thinking that +my money could have any attraction for him. And so I threw away the +happiness of my life. He loves me, but he will not approach me,--we are +separated forever! I am betrothed to Bertram!" + +Eva wept bitterly, while Aline clasped her closer in her arms. "You +must not be unhappy, Eva," she said earnestly; "you must not sacrifice +your life to an illusion! This miserable engagement should never have +been entered into. There is still time to break it; you must not give +your hand to a man whom you detest and despise while your heart belongs +to another. Courage, Eva! Your fate is in your own hands. Break the +disgraceful chains that fetter you!" + +"I cannot, Aline! Bertram has my promise; he knows that I do not love +him, but he will hold me to my promise. Would not Leo von Heydeck +despise me if he thought me capable of wantonly breaking a promise for +which Bertram has sacrificed his entire future? And if I did so, I +never could be really happy. Leo is himself betrothed." + +"Herr von Heydeck betrothed?" Aline asked in surprise. + +"Yes; he has complied with his father's desire that he should be +betrothed to his cousin Hilda. Herr Delmar told me this." + +"My poor Eva----" + +"No, not so, Aline! I was indeed wretched when I thought that Leo von +Heydeck hated and despised me. Now that I know that he cherishes for me +a pure, disinterested affection,--that he loves me, although he knows +that we are separated forever,--I am no longer unhappy. The thought +that I am sacrificing myself for his sake consoles me. I gave my +promise to Bertram that Leo von Heydeck might escape a great peril,--I +cannot be unhappy." + +"You deceive yourself, Eva; you must not sacrifice yourself to a +phantom of the imagination. Bertram loves not yourself, but your money; +with money you can atone to him for his lost future." + +"Say no more, Aline, I cannot bear it; you must not think so meanly of +the man who, although I cannot esteem or love him, has never given me +reason to believe him so sordid a wretch as you describe. I will keep +the promise I have given. Do not try to shake my resolution, it is +firmly fixed." + +"I have no right to urge you further," Aline said sadly, "but answer me +one question, what are you going to do now? Will you return Fräulein +Hilda's visit? Will you thus provoke frequent opportunities of meeting +Herr von Heydeck? I should think such interviews would be alike painful +for yourself and for him." + +"You are wrong; we are reconciled. If our future destinies separate us +forever, we may at least avail ourselves of these few chance weeks of +friendly intercourse. I am resolved to enjoy this time, troubled by no +sad thought of the future. When I leave Tausens I will go to meet my +fate serenely, for I know that Leo von Heydeck will have none but +kindly thoughts of me." + +"A most extraordinary purpose!" Aline rejoined, as she looked at her +friend with a dubious smile; "but so be it,--it may result in good. +Then we are to enjoy the society of our friends at Castle Reifenstein +as if there had never been any unpleasantness between Herr von Heydeck +and yourself I confess I am curious to know what Herr von Bertram will +say to this." + +"Do not mention his name to me now!" Eva exclaimed impatiently, +instantly however kissing her friend, and saying, in a gentle +tone of entreaty, "My dear true Aline, do not be angry with me for my +cross words,--you know how tenderly I love you, and how I depend +upon your counsel and sympathy. Let me enjoy this short season of +happiness,--even Herr von Bertram shall not alloy it for me,--he has no +right to do so; I am still my own mistress. And now goodnight, my +dearest friend." + +Thus with a tender caress they separated for the night, but it was long +before either fell asleep. Eva resigned herself to waking dreams, and +Aline's thoughts were occupied with her friend's fate. She had long +since surmised that Eva was far from indifferent to Leo von Heydeck; +her surmise had just been made a conviction, and she now knew that Leo +reciprocated her friend's sentiments. Aline had the most sincere +affection for Eva; she took the deepest interest in her future; she +knew how firm and loyal she would be to a given promise, and that no +entreaties would avail to make her false to her idea of right. She had +often declared that nothing should cause her to recall the words spoken +to Bertram, and this declaration she had just repeated, although she +now knew that Leo loved her. + +Nevertheless she must not be allowed to carry her resolve into +execution. Bertram was utterly unworthy of such a sacrifice. Aline had +become entirely convinced during the last week of his mercenary +disposition; she saw plainly that it was Eva's wealth and not herself +that he coveted. The constant coldness and reserve that characterized +her manner towards him had created in him almost a feeling of hatred +for his betrothed, the existence of which, in spite of the servile +smoothness of his manner, could not always be concealed from Aline's +eyes, made keen as they were by affection for her friend. + +In Fräulein von Schlicht's opinion there was only one person who could +be of use here, and that was Paul Delmar. Aline would speak with him, +or--no, it would be far better to confide the whole matter to Herr von +Herwarth, who was intimate with both Herr von Heydeck and Herr Delmar. +He would know what to advise. This thought soothed her, and she fell +asleep with a happy smile upon her lips. + +The next morning the whole party again met upon the balcony. Bertram +alone was missing; he had not yet returned from his expedition. Delmar +was in his gayest humour,--only Fräulein von Schlicht noticed that he +was rather pale, and that his eyes lacked something of their wonted +brilliancy; the others were content to yield to his influence and laugh +at his jests. + +Leo and Hilda came down from the castle in the early morning to arrange +a walk to some waterfalls, and all went as smoothly as possible. Eva +received Leo with a smile that transported him to the seventh heaven, +and Hilda greeted Delmar as amiably. For a moment Paul forgot his rôle; +he grew very grave as he took Fräulein von Heydeck's proffered hand, +but the next instant he was gayer than ever, rallying the cousins upon +their condescension in descending from their rocky throne to mix with +the humble inhabitants of the valley. Hilda was ready in her replies, +and merriment was the order of the day. + +When the party were about to start upon their expedition. Aline +declared that she was still fatigued with her walk of the previous day, +and preferred to remain quietly upon the balcony. She therefore begged +Delmar to join his friend Herr von Heydeck, and leave to her the charge +of the lieutenant. She made the request in so gentle a tone of +entreaty, and Kuno seconded her so eloquently, that Delmar could not +but comply. Thus Aline remained alone with Kuno on the balcony, for +Uncle Balthasar made one of the walking-party, and Aunt Minni, as soon +as breakfast was over, retired to her room and her beloved sofa. + +Aline's wish was fulfilled; she now had an opportunity of speaking to +Herwarth of Eva, and her relations with Bertram. She found it difficult +at first to allude to so delicate a topic, but Fräulein von Schlicht +was too natural and frank a person to yield for long to girlish +shamefacedness; she was convinced of Herwarth's truth and honour and of +his friendship for Leo, and so she gave him her entire confidence with +regard to Eva and Bertram. She told him that her friend was bound only +by her promise,--that she had not the smallest esteem or affection for +her betrothed,--and that if her engagement were not broken the +happiness of her future life would be entirely destroyed. Of course +Aline never alluded to Eva's sentiments for Leo von Heydeck, she had no +right to do so; it was of her relations with Bertram alone that she +spoke; and she concluded with an earnest request that Herwarth would +induce Delmar to exert the influence which Herwarth had told her he +possessed over Bertram to force the lieutenant to free Eva from her +promise. + +As Aline spoke, Kuno watched her with enthusiastic admiration; she had +never seemed to him so bewitchingly lovely. Her cheeks flushed, her +blue eyes sparkled in the glow of her devotion to her friend as she +eagerly explained and entreated. He was only too happy to be the +recipient of her confidence, and he promised with ardour to do +everything that she desired. It was only natural that when she offered +him her hand in token that the compact between them was sealed he +should refuse immediately to resign it, but should retain the 'white +wonder' in his clasp and imprint upon it a fervent kiss. + +It is not quite safe for a young girl to pour confidences into a man's +ears, especially when their subject is love, and Aline had proof of +this. Kuno's ardour embarrassed her; she tried to withdraw her hand, +but he clasped it only the more firmly, and even drew its owner nearer +to him, as he reiterated his promise to do all, everything, always that +she could desire if only she would not repulse him, but would listen +while he told her that life was worthless to him unless he might keep +as his very own the little hand he then held. How could Aline withdraw +it? + +When at noon the pedestrians returned from their waterfalls, they found +Aline and Kuno still together, and the lieutenant rapturously presented +to them Fräulein von Schlicht as his betrothed. + +Here was a delightful surprise, and yet afterwards every one, with the +exception of Uncle Balthasar who was unaffected amazement itself, +professed to have foreseen it all along. + +Delmar regarded Kuno with eyes that sparkled strangely. "Number One!" +he said. "You're a lucky dog, my noble knight! Have you not made fools +of us after all? Confess: was that sprained ankle accident, or did you +so contrive it that pity might bring her nearest of kin to minister to +you? And if it were so, my congratulations are none the less sincere, I +swear to you, Herwarth, that for only one hour of such happiness as +yours I would give not only a miserable foot but my head into the +bargain!" + +Involuntarily his glance sought Hilda. Their eyes met, but were +instantaneously averted, and Delmar turned hastily away to conquer the +emotion that threatened to overcome him. In Hilda's look of tender +sympathy he read, "You too might be as happy!" Poor child! She did not +dream of the woe that awaited him, making it impossible that he should +be happy. The thought shot a pang through Paul's heart; there was no +bliss in the conviction of Hilda's tender sympathy for him, it only +made his fate harder to bear. With all his self-control, the struggle +was wellnigh too much for him. He hurried away,--anywhere to avoid +again meeting Hilda's eyes. + +Eva, too, was much moved as she embraced her friend, and wished for her +every blessing that life could bring. "You happy girl!" she whispered. + +"You will soon be just as happy," Aline replied, in as soft a whisper, +glancing at Leo, who was warmly congratulating the lieutenant. But Eva +brushed away a tear and made no answer. + + +Never had Hansel, our worthy postmaster, enjoyed such delightful days +as those which ensued upon the betrothal of Fräulein Aline with the +Herr Lieutenant von Herwarth. He went about the house with a constant +grin upon his broad face which beamed with special satisfaction +whenever he saw Herr Delmar, for Hansel was proud to acknowledge that +it was owing to Herr Delmar that his wildest dreams were now +transcended by reality. + +The honest fellow listened daily to exclamations of admiration from +Herr Schommer and the ladies over the wonderful degree of comfort to be +found in this excellent inn, although Tausens was so retired a spot. +Every day he listened to thanks and praise of his wonderful energy and +skill in ministering to the wishes of his guests. Sometimes when Uncle +Balthasar was exhausting himself in surprise, and the young ladies +uttered cordial thanks in addition, Hansel, to be sure, would become +confused, and quite unable to suppress a maidenly blush, but he liked, +notwithstanding, to be so lauded. + +Indeed, his guests had good cause to be amazed and grateful, for each +day brought some fresh surprise, prepared as Herr Delmar assured them +by the worthy Hansel, for whom Herr Delmar had a positively +enthusiastic regard. + +A large box full of books, the best works upon the Tyrol, and the +latest novels, arrived from Innspruck. Hansel had ordered them from a +bookseller there, sparing no expense to provide amusement for his +guests if the weather should chance to be rainy. + +Several furniture-wagons arrived from Bozen laden with comfortable +lounges and arm-chairs. Hansel had sent for these by express, because +he heard that Aunt Minni was fond of such luxuries. He showed a most +refined aptitude in supplying every desire of his wealthy guests. Money +was no object to him; no expense was spared in any direction. + +And the table,--Herr Delmar had indeed maligned Tausens when he had +declared that there was nothing to be had there but veal. Hansel sent +to Bozen, Triest, Riva, and even to Venice, to procure delicacies +wherewith to tickle the palates of his guests. He sent his own +messengers, empowering them to make the required purchases. Uncle +Balthasar declared that nowhere in the world could a better table be +found than at the Post at Tausens. He really could not understand it, +for the charges were extremely moderate, not a kreutzer higher than at +other Tyrolean inns where not a delicacy was to be had. + +And not only in luxurious lodgings and delicate fare did he testify his +desire to please. Every wish expressed in other respects by the +strangers, and especially by the ladies, was fulfilled almost before it +was uttered. + +Fräulein Eva, upon a short walk where the postmaster was guide, +expressed her special admiration for a certain point of view and a +desire to visit it frequently. The next morning a couple of convenient +wooden benches and a table were erected upon the spot, and the path +leading to it was found to have been cleared of stones during the +night. Labourers were also employed to open and clear various +mountain-paths in the neighbourhood of the inn, making many charming +places accessible for the ladies. But Hansel's tenderest care for his +guests was shown in an arrangement which excited the unbounded surprise +of the entire village. Fräulein Aline von Schlicht was not very strong, +walking fatigued her, and she therefore often remained at home with the +invalid lieutenant when some pleasant expedition on foot was to be +made. One evening Fräulein Eva expressed her regret that in consequence +of the entire want of mules and riding-horses in Tausens her friend was +obliged to lose so much of the beauty around them, and that Herr von +Herwarth also would know nothing of the finest points of view, since he +would have to spare his sprained ankle for some time to come. An hour +afterwards the village schoolmaster departed for the railway-station in +Hansel's own conveyance, the driver being ordered to drive furiously so +as not to miss the train, and two days later an Italian appeared from +Bozen bringing four strong mules, which he quartered in the stable at +the Post, and placed at the disposition of the guests there, two of the +animals being provided with side-saddles. + +Hansel, admirably careful host that he was, must have overheard Eva's +remark, and instantly ordered the mules and their owner from Bozen. + +Their host's care and attention did not alone conduce to make the stay +of the Schommer party in Tausens agreeable. After Herwarth's betrothal +to Aline there was constant and delightful intercourse between the +inhabitants of the castle and the guests at the inn. + +Every day Leo and Hilda came from the castle to carry off Eva and +Delmar to some point of beauty in the neighbourhood, while Aline +remained upon the balcony with her betrothed, and kindly Uncle +Balthasar felt it his duty to bestow his society upon 'our dear Guido,' +who never took part in the daily walks. Besides the mountain-paths were +too steep for the old man, and thus Hilda, Eva, Delmar, and Leo were +left to themselves to enjoy the exquisite weather and to explore, with +Hilda for a guide, all the beauty and grandeur that abound in the +neighbourhood of Tausens. + +The steep mountain-paths were for the most part so narrow as to allow +only two persons to walk abreast; and upon first leaving the village +Hilda and Eva usually went before, followed by the two young men; but +this arrangement did not last long,--it was but natural that in any +climbing Eva should lag behind her fleet-footed guide and that Leo +should hasten to assist her unaccustomed steps, while Delmar walked +with Hilda, who never needed assistance, and that in this order they +should continue to pursue their way even when there were no +difficulties to surmount. + +And when, after his two weeks of rest, Herwarth was able to mount a +mule and take part in these expeditions this arrangement was in no wise +altered, for naturally he rode beside his betrothed, who no longer +desired to be left at home upon the balcony. Another mule was sometimes +provided for Eva in very steep ascents; but Hilda, the mountain maid, +could never be induced to admit that walking upon her beloved mountains +could fatigue her, and her boldness and agility were quite equal to +those displayed by Leo and Delmar. + +These expeditions had a rare charm for all who took part in them. +Conventional constraint vanished in the familiar intercourse thus +induced. A greater degree of intimacy was established among the party +than would ever have been possible in the life of a city. + +When Leo led Eva along the narrow pathway upon the brink of some steep +abyss and she grew giddy with a glance into its misty depths, she would +cling to her guide in full confidence in his strength and sureness of +foot; he would bear her in his arms across a foaming mountain-brook, +lift her on and off of her mule, all small services which she could not +but permit him to render her, and which filled him with a sense of +ecstasy. + +When at some distance from the others he walked with her beneath the +fragrant firs, as she leaned upon his arm he would gaze into the large +dark eyes lifted to his own and forget past and future in a dream of +the present, a dream which Eva shared, and it banished all memory of +the hateful tie that bound her to Bertram. She would listen with a +happy smile to Leo's words, and now and then her cheek would flush, +although he never breathed a word of the love which she knew possessed +his soul. Yes, she knew;--there was no need of a confession from his +lips. + +Delmar did not, as did Leo and Eva, yield to the enjoyment of the +moment without resistance; but even he could not withstand the charm of +these daily walks by Hilda's side, of constant intercourse with one so +frank and fair. + +In her gay unconsciousness Hilda never concealed from Paul how happy +she was; she talked so merrily and freely that he could not but adopt +the same familiar tone. He tried at first to treat her with reserve; +she must not know how wildly his heart beat in her presence; he must be +to her but an every-day acquaintance, no more to her than any other +stranger. + +He would have avoided being alone with her, but that was impossible. If +Leo and Eva were to come together they must be left to themselves; +their love must so increase in familiar intercourse as to conquer any +prejudice that might separate them even after Eva's engagement to +Bertram should be annulled. If he would promote his friend's happiness, +Paul must be Hilda's sole companion upon these mountain-walks. + +Thus he was forced to take with her the lead in all their expeditions, +although he offered her none of those small services which Leo rendered +to Eva with such delight. Hilda would have laughingly rejected them, +for she needed no assistance even on the steepest paths and dizziest +heights. Her head never for an instant swam even when she stood upon +the extreme brink of some frightful abyss and gazed down into its +depths; she sprang with graceful agility from stone to stone in +crossing the mountain-torrents, and was always at hand to give aid, +although she never needed it. + +Once only Paul was forced to proffer Hilda the aid of his strong arm; +they had reached the banks of a rushing brook, across which there had +formerly been a bridge, which a late freshet had carried away. There +were no large stones in the midst of the water by which Hilda could +cross. Had she been alone she would, it is to be feared, have dashed +across without minding a thorough drenching, but that would never do +with any one by to see her, and she looked eagerly for some way to gain +the opposite bank. + +"You will have to let me carry you across, Fräulein von Heydeck," Paul +said, after searching in vain for a place where Hilda could cross +without his aid. + +"Shall I not be too heavy for you, Herr Delmar?" the girl asked, with +an arch smile. + +For answer he lifted her lightly in his arms and strode through the +foaming water. How easily he seemed to do it, and yet the light burden +was almost too much for him. His heart throbbed so that he thought she +must hear it; his cheeks flushed crimson, and he almost staggered +beneath her light weight, when Hilda shrank from the dashing water and +leaned more closely upon his shoulder. + +And yet he could have wished to bear her thus in his arms for hours. +With a sigh he released her upon the opposite bank of the stream, and +she thanked him, and laughing at his thoroughly drenched condition, +passed on through the forest, while he stilled the wild throbbing of +his heart and the rushing of the blood in his veins as best he might. + +How variable and whimsical he must seem to Hilda! he thought. Now he +would adopt a cold tone towards her, and now indulge in outbursts of +the wildest merriment, striving with a jest to deaden the agitation of +his soul. He saw that these jests were not pleasing to Hilda; she grew +very grave when he was recklessly gay; he would not distress her, and +so restrained himself and compelled himself to talk earnestly and +quietly. For this she rewarded him with eager interest and ready +sympathy. + +He would have held himself aloof from her, but that was impossible; she +regarded him not as a stranger, but as her cousin Leo's dearest friend, +of whom he had talked so much and so often that she felt thoroughly at +home and at her ease in his society, and she treated him with a frank +familiarity that was irresistibly attractive to him, and the influence +of which he could not resist. + +Often, as they walked fearlessly along the brink of frightful abysses, +he remembered his despairing desire to end a life that could offer him +no future save pain and anguish. As he talked gayly with Hilda such +thoughts would assail him; he would pause for an instant and gaze with +longing into the blue depths. Why should he live on? Eva and Leo were +reconciled. All that remained for him to do was to break the tie +between Eva and Bertram and his work in the world would be at an end. +But as he wandered on at Hilda's side the spell that her presence threw +around him would inevitably exert its power; gloomy thoughts would be +banished, and the love of life and all that makes life fair would stir +strongly again within him, although he deceived himself into the belief +that his only desire was to live until Leo's happiness should be +secured and Dr. Putzer be sufficiently recovered to tell him all that +he feared to learn. + +Convinced that after at most a few more days he should be separated +from Hilda forever, he at last resigned himself utterly to the +enchantment of her presence, unaware of how her constant society fed +and increased the love which he felt for her. Consequently he grew +calmer; the feverish excitement which drove him to indulge in +extravagant merriment subsided: he took cheerful part in the general +conversation; and when they rested after some long ascent at the +wished-for point of view, he could thoroughly enjoy both the enthusiasm +of the others and the glories of the landscape. Still, when at the end +of the day the entire party would sit discussing their expedition, upon +the balcony, Paul was apt to fall into a gloomy revery from which it +needed a word from Hilda to rouse him. Thus the days and weeks passed +at Tausens with very little change, and no one divined what was going +on in the mind of him to whom all turned for enjoyment and sympathy. + +One person however suspected that Delmar was by no means so careless as +he seemed. Guido von Bertram watched him keenly whenever he had an +opportunity, with many a misgiving that a storm was gathering above his +head. When it would break he could not tell, and he racked his brains +for some means whereby he might escape it. + +The ex-lieutenant played but a sorry part in Tausens. When he returned +from his mountain-expedition, on the day of Herwarth's betrothal, he +found the entire party assembled upon the balcony, for Leo and Hilda +had despatched a messenger to the castle to inform Herr von Heydeck +that they should not return until late in the evening. + +Uncle Balthasar had brewed a bowl of punch in honour of the occasion, +and the three gentlemen from Tausens had taken part in the festivity. +Uncle Balthasar was in an ecstasy; he repeatedly proposed the health of +the betrothed couple, and made them a short congratulatory speech in +his comical patois. His only disappointment was that 'dear Guido' was +not yet returned; and when 'dear Guido' did actually make his +appearance upon the balcony, the old man's happiness reached its +climax; he immediately filled him a glass of punch and required that he +should drink the health of the betrothed couple. + +The surprising intelligence deprived Bertram for an instant of his +self-possession, and his face showed the dismay that he felt. In fact, +there was reason for it. Herwarth, Leo's most intimate friend, +betrothed to Aline, Eva's friend and confidante! What results might not +ensue! Probably a reconciliation between Eva and Leo. True enough, +there was his dreaded enemy beside his betrothed, and the two were +conversing as easily and pleasantly as if there had never been the +slightest misunderstanding between them. At the moment Leo was standing +with his hand on the back of Eva's chair; he bent above her and said +something in a low tone of voice. And she? She looked up at him with a +gentle smile, so lost in what he was saying that she never heard Uncle +Balthasar's joyous exclamation, "Here is our dear Guido!" and did not +know that her betrothed was looking on while she conversed familiarly +with his mortal enemy. + +They were reconciled! The phantom which had scared Bertram since the +day of his betrothal had become a terrible reality. Eva loved Leo von +Heydeck,--her sweet smile, the tender light in her eyes as she looked +at him, revealed the fact even more plainly to Bertram's jealousy. He +grew giddy; he saw his whole future in peril, his fairest hopes +destroyed, and himself upon the brink of an abyss. But he must suppress +all manifestation of the dismay that he felt. Mechanically and with a +hand that trembled he took the glass which Uncle Balthasar offered him. + +Fortunately, the individual members of the little party were too much +occupied with themselves to pay much attention to Bertram. Leo and Kuno +had indeed been aware of his entrance upon the balcony, but they did +not deign him a glance. Delmar however bestowed some notice upon him, +saying with the sarcastic smile which Bertram so detested, "When you +have congratulated our friends as in duty bound, Herr von Bertram, let +me pray you to bestow upon me the short time which the fatigue of your +expedition allows you to accord us this evening. Here is a place by my +side." + +This was a command which Bertram did not dare to transgress. With rage +in his heart he obeyed. + +He offered his congratulations to the betrothed couple. Aline received +them with the merest bow required by courtesy, and Kuno noticed them +not at all,--for him Herr von Bertram did not exist. + +Guido controlled his anger; he did not dare to resent the contempt +shown for him by Herwarth. He had to pay his respects to his betrothed +after two days of absence,--a duty he would gladly have omitted. He +offered her his hand; she placed her own within it, but withdrew it +instantly. She asked one or two cold questions as to whether he had +enjoyed his excursion, and then turned and continued her conversation +with Leo, who did not accord him even a glance. + +"Come, Herr von Bertram, I am waiting for you impatiently," said Paul. + +Bertram obeyed, and took the vacant place beside his tormentor. + +"Tell me of your excursion,--you know the interest I take in all that +concerns you. Egotist as I am however, I am not so selfish as to detain +you long when you must be so very much fatigued with your walk. Give me +only five minutes, and then when you have taken a couple of glasses of +Herr Schommer's excellent punch, I will not keep you an instant +longer." + +This was another disguised command. This man was a tyrant, who refused +to allow his slave the slightest freedom of action, but Bertram obeyed. +With morbid loquacity he began to tell of his excursion, of the +glorious views from the Spitzhorn, and of the difficulties of the +ascent. He broke off however in the midst of his discourse, having +taken two glasses of punch, when Delmar took his watch from his pocket +with a meaning glance; he declared he was really too tired to continue +his description, and neither the request of the judge, who wanted to +hear more of the ascent of the Spitzhorn, nor Uncle Balthasar's +entreaty could detain him. He arose and took leave. Eva again gave him +her hand, scarcely interrupting as she did so her conversation with +Heydeck,--which, indeed, she had continued steadily, never paying any +attention to Bertram's loud description of his mountain-ascent or of +the natural beauty of the Rothwald valley. + +Thus passed Bertram's first meeting with Leo since the scene beneath +Büchner's awning; he had suffered a fresh defeat and had left his enemy +at Eva's side; the worst he had to fear had nearly occurred. + +Bertram had in fact had a most fatiguing walk; he was very weary, but +nevertheless he tossed restlessly upon his bed. There was no sleep +there for him,--he started up whenever the sound of gay laughter from +the balcony reached his ears, only to bury his head again among the +pillows to shut out if possible the hateful noise. + +And even late in the night when all was still, when nothing stirred in +the rooms on either side of him, and he knew that Eva, as well as Aline +and Uncle Balthasar, had retired for the night, sleep fled his eyelids. + +He thought with horror of his future. What would become of him if that +demon Paul Delmar should reveal to Eva her entire right to recall her +promise? He could not return to K----, where his debts were immense and +his honour and credit both gone. How should he even live from day to +day? + +His property, which had been considerable, he had squandered in the +wildest dissipations; his creditors had abstained from resorting to +extreme measures only in the hope which he had held out to them of his +marriage with the wealthy heiress. If his engagement with Eva were +broken, nothing could keep him from their clutches should he attempt to +return to K----. The moisture stood in cold drops upon his forehead as +a vision of his probable future rose distinctly before him. A jail and +the disgraceful habit of a convict were all he had to look for. The +check with Count Waldheim's forged signature was in Delmar's +possession, and unfortunately it was not the only witness to be brought +against him. A well-known usurer in K---- possessed similar papers, +having been easily induced over Count Waldheim's name to furnish +Bertram with a large sum of money for the liquidation of a pressing +gaming debt. + +With the recklessness of a thorough gamester, Bertram had lived along +from day to day in the hopes of winning Eva's hand. To escape dishonour +he had become a forger; to cover one counterfeit check he had drawn up +another for a larger sum. Delmar had helped him upon one occasion,--he +had not dared to apply to him again; and so he had gone on plunging +deeper into debt and disgrace, until he saw no means of escape save by +a marriage with Eva. + +A jail! Horrible thought! There was no sacrifice he would not make to +escape such a fate. Once in a feverish vision of so frightful a future +there had risen in his excited fancy the thought of a certain casket, +in which Eva kept her most valuable jewels, diamonds, and ready money; +but he had rejected this thought with horror. Now it recurred to him +again. He knew the casket well; it was of ebony, with Eva's monogram +inlaid in gilt on the lid. He had helped to pack it into the +travelling-carriage when they had left K----, for Eva took it with her +wherever she went; it was dear to her as her dead father's gift. + +Just before leaving her home Eva had opened it in his presence to put +in a large sum of money designed for travelling expenses, and he had +admired the brilliancy and size of the diamonds it contained. He had +asked his betrothed why she took such valuable jewels with her upon a +tour among the mountains, and had received for a reply that she never +left them behind her when she went from K----, since the casket with +the diamonds was her father's last gift to her, and she was nervous +lest it might be stolen if she did not have it with her. + +As he now tossed restlessly in bed, the ebony casket, with the +glittering diamonds and the large roll of notes, recurred to Bertram's +mind. What might be the possible value of the diamonds? Uncle Balthasar +had mentioned that his brother had paid more than ten thousand thalers +for them in Berlin. Besides the diamonds the casket contained other +jewels, worth at least several thousand more, and then the money. +Bertram did not know how much there was, but the bundle of large notes +was thick, and there were two or three packets of gold besides. There +must have been several thousand thalers,--a trifle for Eva, the wealthy +heiress, but a treasure for one who looked forward to a jail as his +only future. + +Physical exhaustion at last overcame him; his eyes closed and he sank +into an uneasy slumber, in which his dreams were still of the ebony +casket and its contents. He dreamed that Eva gave it to him. He counted +the money: it amounted to a huge sum. He took up the diamonds, and was +just feeding his gaze upon their lustre, when Leo von Heydeck snatched +them from his hand. He turned and grappled with him; but just as he +would have overthrown his foe he felt himself in Delmar's iron grasp, +and heard his sneering voice cry, "To jail with the scoundrel, he stole +both money and diamonds!" In his struggle to free himself he awoke. + +Trembling in every limb, he sat up in bed and looked about the room, +which was lit up by the pale moonlight. It was some minutes before he +could recover from the effects of his feverish dream, and he could not +rid himself of the thought of the ebony casket. Eva had it in her room +upon a table beside her bed; at least it had been there on the previous +morning, for he had noticed and recognized it as he passed by the open +door of her room. + +He was now wide awake, and his glance fell upon the door that connected +his room with Eva's. In the moonlight he saw the glitter of the key in +the lock. Were Eva and Aline sound asleep? They had taken a long walk +in the morning and had retired late. Bertram had heard the postmaster +say that the young ladies had returned quite fatigued from their +expedition. Honest Hansel had forgotten to mention that Aline had not +joined them. + +If he could succeed in unlocking the door and opening it without noise, +it would be easy enough to enter the room unheard by the sleeping +girls. To possess himself of the casket would be but the work of a +moment, and no one would dream that he could have taken it. + +Bertram got out of bed, slipped on his dressing-gown, and noiselessly +crept to the door leading to Aline's and Eva's apartment. He listened +with his ear at the key-hole. The profound silence told of the deep +slumber of the occupants of the room. With the greatest caution he +succeeded in turning the key noiselessly in the lock; all that +was to be done was to open the door as silently. His heart throbbed and +his hand trembled as he took hold of the latch. "Courage! Boldly +ventured is half won," he said to himself, as he pressed down the latch +and pushed against the door, which however did not yield to his +efforts,--it was bolted on the inside. "Fool that I am!" he exclaimed +to himself as with a whispered curse he stole back again to his bed. + +The sun stood high in the heavens when Bertram next awoke. He +remembered the events of the night as those of a terrible dream, and +yet strangely enough, its fantastic images pursued him in his waking +hours. His thoughts dwelt perpetually upon the ebony casket, and upon +how he could gain possession of it without being suspected of the +theft. + +Theft! It was an ugly word, and had not occurred to him during the +night, but in the light of day the deed he contemplated showed for what +it was, and he acknowledged to himself, with an angry flush that proved +him not quite dead to a sense of shame, that the appropriation to +himself of the casket, even although it belonged to his betrothed, was +nothing more or less than a common theft. + +Such thoughts however were uppermost but for a moment. He reflected +again that a theft was no worse than a forgery, nor more severely +punished by the law. The possession of the casket would enable him to +escape punishment for forgery, by providing him the means wherewith, if +the worst came to the worst, he might seek refuge in foreign lands. It +was folly to shrink from a word, and he found some excuse for himself +in the consideration that all that was Eva's might soon be legally his. +Was she not his betrothed? If she kept her promise to him it would be +easy to contrive some way of restoring the casket to her at a future +day; and if she broke her engagement with him she deserved no mercy at +his hands, and he must look out for his own safety. + +While he dressed, his mind was filled with thoughts of this description +with which he silenced the last whispers of conscience. He left his +room and betook himself to the balcony. He feared that he should find +Delmar at breakfast there, but that could not be helped. As long as the +balcony served the guests of the inn for a dining-room it was +impossible to avoid seeing them there. + +But to Bertram's satisfaction, Delmar was not on the balcony, nor, +indeed, was Eva to be found there. Uncle Balthasar and Aunt Minni were +sitting at the breakfast-table with Fräulein von Schlicht and Herwarth, +and they had finished drinking their coffee. + +Uncle Balthasar received him with some good-natured badinage about his +late rising, telling him that Leo von Heydeck and Fräulein Hilda had +carried off Eva and Herr Delmar upon a mountain-excursion early in the +morning. They had started at six o'clock, and would not return until +evening, for Eva had ordered her servant Wilhelm and a boy from the inn +to follow them with lunch packed in baskets. + +Guido was relieved, it is true, to know that there was no chance of his +meeting his enemies for some hours to come, but vexation at Eva's +treatment of him far overbalanced this relief. Had she forgotten that +she was betrothed to him? Did she not outrage decency by thus wandering +about the country with Delmar without even giving her future bridegroom +a choice whether or not to join them? This conduct on her part gave him +a right to treat her with the same want of consideration, and again he +thought of the ebony casket. + +Uncle Balthasar also probably felt uncomfortable at the slight put upon +his 'dear Guido' by his niece, and tried to excuse it by remarking that +Eva would not have him disturbed after his fatigue of the previous day, +and that he, Uncle Balthasar, was quite ready to accompany him if he +felt like a morning walk, an offer which Bertram declined almost +roughly, explaining that he was far too tired to take another walk, and +that he would go to his room and write letters. He finished his +breakfast in silence, replying in monosyllables to Uncle Balthasar's +good-humoured inquiries with regard to his expedition of the previous +day, and immediately rose and left the balcony. With Aline and Aunt +Minni he had not exchanged a word, and his morning salutation to +Herwarth had been barely acknowledged. + +As he passed along the passage to his room he noticed that the door of +Eva's apartment was open. The thought suddenly occurred to him, "What +if this were the right moment?" He looked cautiously about him,--no one +was to be seen. He hastily entered the half-open door, and found +himself face to face with Nanette, who was putting the room in order. + +"Nanette!" + +There was so distinct an expression of surprise unmixed with pleasure +on Bertram's face as he uttered her name, that Nanette could not but +perceive it, and her temper was not at all improved by doing so. She +gave the intruder an angry glance, and said in a sharp tone, with an +emphasis upon every word, "Much obliged, I'm sure. Herr von Bertram +does really remember my name. I shall certainly find some way to show +my gratitude for such condescension. No need to shout until one is out +of the woods. If you want to catch gold-fish, see that no one throws +stones in the water." + +The girl was really angry; her eyes fairly flashed with malice. Bertram +saw that she was offended by his neglect of her, and just now she might +prove a most valuable ally; she must be appeased. He looked round once +more to see that there was no one near, and then entering the room, +closed the door carefully behind him. Yes, there beside the bed stood +the table upon which was placed the ebony casket,--the goal of his +desires. He needed but to stretch out his hand and it was his. But +Nanette must be won over to his schemes. + +With the sweetest smile at his command he regarded her. "What's the +matter, my little darling?" he asked, in the tenderest of tones. "Are +you angry with me? What have I done? Here am I so happy to have a +chance of seeing you alone at last, hoping you would run into my arms, +and you receive me with hard words. How can you do so, you naughty +little thing?" + +He approached her and would have put his arm around her waist, but she +pushed him away. "Don't touch me!" she said crossly. "You think it +needs only a couple of smooth words to wind a silly girl around your +finger; but you shall find to your cost that you are wrong! I'll show +you what it is to turn a poor girl's head and then break her heart for +the sake of a purse-proud Zantuppy. You shall learn who I am, my fine +Herr Lieutenant!" + +"But, my darling----" + +"Hands off, or I'll scream!" the girl exclaimed, when Guido made +another attempt to put his arm around her; and she struck at him with +the coarse dust-cloth she had in her hand. "I'll not be fooled again +with your flattering, deceitful speeches. It's all very well to call me +'darling' now, and make eyes at me, but for a whole week you've never +even looked at me. I hate Fräulein Eva's stupid black eyes, but the +haughty thing shall know who used to steal to my chamber at night when +I lived with the Privy Councillor's lady. She'll be furious enough, and +the Herr Lieutenant will see what will become of his gold-fish. Ugh! I +can't stand these vulgar commoners! While she drives her four horses, a +girl worth ten of her must perch like a scarecrow on the box; and while +she's off in the woods with Herr Delmar and Herr von Heydeck, Nanette +has to stick at home in a wretched inn and sleep in the garret with a +stupid maid! I've lived with the best, and I'll not stand it. I'll give +them all something to think of, and the Herr Lieutenant into the +bargain. I'll have my revenge, and I hope you'll enjoy it." + +Nanette paused for breath, and would then have continued with her angry +outburst, but Bertram interrupted her: "Has jealousy made you mad, +girl? Do you not know that I hate your mistress as much as you do? +Can't your bright eyes see that? You are the only one whom I love, you +foolish little darling----" + +"I have not seen much of it this last week." + +"How can my foolish little pet be so blinded by jealousy? Can we live +on air, my dear? We have nothing,--for your sake I must be the victim." + +"A pretty victim!" + +"And hard enough it is; I am sometimes almost wild with fury when I see +how the odious creature treats you; but let her once be my wife, and I +will repay with usury every hard word she ever gave to my sweet angel; +she shall suffer for her arrogance, and you shall have everything +that heart can desire,--a charming villa, a superb carriage, silk +dresses, and as many jewels as you want. We will live together in +Paradise,--that shall be your revenge!" + +Nanette's eyes sparkled: the malicious look passed from her face. She +smiled, and did not shrink from the lieutenant's encircling arm; but +she shook her head nevertheless, and said, "Those are only castles in +the air. You don't know the Zantuppy,--she guards her money like a +dragon, or like the foul fiend himself!" + +"I do not see that----" + +"But I do! There in that black box she has more money than she can ever +use; but she keeps it locked up, like a perfect miser. Only a little +while ago, in Munich, when I asked her for a paltry advance of fifty +thalers of my wages to buy a new bonnet and a silk mantilla for the +journey, what did she do? Glared at me out of her stupid black eyes, +and said, 'I do not desire to see my maid tricked out in finery; you +shall have your wages as you earn them, but not a penny in advance to +gratify your vanity.' Those were her very words. I should have liked to +box her ears!" + +"Odious creature!" + +"Yes; and is it not hard to see you making eyes at her and never even +looking at me?" + +"Can I help it, you foolish child? If she guessed how dear you are to +me she would dismiss you instantly, and I should never have a chance of +seeing you. I have suffered enough this last week, but I hope we can +arrange matters better in future. I have a plan by which we can often +be together undisturbed. With your help it can easily be carried out." + +"What is it?" + +"It is simple enough. You are often busy here while Eva and the rest +are on the balcony. I might come to you here, but that would be too +dangerous; we might be surprised here at any moment, and all would be +lost. And you cannot come to my room either, for fear of being seen; +but if you will always take care that the bolt on this side of the door +between the rooms is slipped back, we can be together as often as we +choose and not a human being suspect it." + +Nanette gave an ugly laugh as Bertram made this proposal. "Not so +stupid as you think," she said. "Thank heaven I can see through a +millstone, and have long known your silly admiration for Fräulein +Aline's doll-face. You would like to pay her a quiet visit now and +then. No, I thank you, Herr Lieutenant!" + +"You are perfectly insane with jealousy!" Bertram exclaimed, forgetting +his wonted caution in his surprise at an accusation so unfounded. +Warned however by the angry flush on Nanette's cheek, he restrained his +vexation, and continued in a tone of mild reproach: "How can you +entertain so odious a suspicion, my pet? I detest that waxen-faced +Aline almost as much as her friend. I cannot understand how you can +speak so." + +"Are you to be trusted, I wonder?" + +"You will really provoke me, Nanette. This is all I have in return for +my affection. At great risk I come to look for you, to speak with you +for a moment, and you receive me thus unkindly. Come, lock the door +into the passage and unbolt the one leading to my room, where we can +then talk further without any danger. We can hear the moment Frau +Schommer leaves the balcony, and you can slip back here again without +the slightest fear of detection." + +The invitation was too tempting to be refused. Nanette locked the door +into the passage, and unbolted the one between Fräulein Schommer's and +Bertram's rooms. + +Guido's end was attained to his great satisfaction, and he now had so +much to say to Nanette, of the future that awaited her when he should +have married the heiress and her wealth should be his, that the girl +quite forgot her former jealous ill humour, and imparted to him the +import of the various conversations she had lately contrived to +overhear between her mistress and Fräulein Aline. Fräulein von Schlicht +had done all that she could, Nanette said, to induce Eva to break her +engagement, but Eva had declared firmly that she would keep her +promise. + +This intelligence was very soothing to Bertram, and he began to think +that it would perhaps be better to resign his designs upon the casket; +but he reflected that Eva's purpose would never be maintained should +she ever learn from Delmar that her promise was the result of falsehood +upon the part of her betrothed. Half an hour passed thus in +confidential discourse, when the door leading from the passage to Aunt +Minni's room was heard to open. Nanette, at this note of warning, +slipped back into Eva's apartment, and the next instant Bertram heard +her push the bolt home. He uttered a low curse. "D--n her stupid +jealousy!" was the flattering phrase bestowed upon Nanette, as he +walked to the window and sat down to ponder upon some other means of +obtaining the casket. He could devise none, save by taking it at night. +Although Eva's room was often open in the daytime, there would be no +possibility of concealing it elsewhere in the house, where it would be +immediately missed; and to carry it off to the forest by daylight, when +the inn was full of people, would be equally impossible. + +Nevertheless he did not resign his project, and he determined to +accustom Nanette to a frequent unbolting of the door, in hopes that, +grown careless, she might some time forget to bolt it again. + +This determination he carried out during the ensuing weeks. He could do +so all the more easily by reason of the part which he was compelled to +play with regard to the rest of the party. Herwarth, and Leo who came +daily with Hilda from the castle to join in excursions among the +mountains, took no notice whatever of Eva's betrothed. They never even +looked at him, and Aline only spoke to him when common courtesy +required that she should do so. + +Eva did not hold herself so entirely aloof; she preserved towards +Bertram the same cold politeness that she had always shown him, +allowing him to call her by her first name, although she never +addressed him otherwise than as Herr von Bertram. All familiar approach +on his part she repelled by a frigid reserve. Bertram was made to feel +that the slightest attempt to assert his rights as her betrothed would +be fruitless, and he could not but see how much more familiar was her +manner towards Delmar, Herwarth, and even Leo than towards himself. + +Warned by his enemy, Guido never ventured to take part in the daily +excursions. He made one of the party only at breakfast, dinner, and +supper, and here Delmar endured his society no longer than he thought +absolutely necessary. + +If, at the end of an hour at most, Bertram made any attempt to join in +the general conversation, Delmar was sure to make some remark which +contained a command to leave in disguise,--a command which the former +dragoon hastened to obey. His observation, quickened by terror, told +him that at the first sign of rebellion against his enemy's authority +the storm which he so dreaded would burst above his devoted head. + +In these last few weeks Paul had greatly changed. Often when the others +were conversing eagerly he would sit gazing dreamily out upon the +distant mountains, in a way very unlike himself. When he roused himself +from such brooding reveries, Bertram almost always caught an angry +glance from his dark eyes, which convinced him more and more that he +meditated striking a blow at his prospects, and that, for some hidden +reason, his hand was stayed for the moment. He guessed that this blow +was the breaking of his engagement with Eva, for any one could see the +pleasure Delmar took in the growing intimacy between Leo and Fräulein +Schommer, and that he would gladly remove any obstacle to their +happiness. + +The firmer this conviction became in Guido's mind the more was he +strengthened in his resolve to insure his own future by the possession +of the ebony casket, and he availed himself of every opportunity for +the private interviews he had contrived with Nanette. Almost every +evening they met in his room, and to his great satisfaction he saw that +he was gradually destroying in her frivolous mind all mistrust of him, +although every evening when she left him he still heard the low +creaking of the bolt as it was pushed into its staples, and Eva's door +remained not only closed to him but fast bolted. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + +Four weeks had passed since the arrival of the strangers at the inn at +Tausens; every day, favoured by the clear summer skies, they had made +delightful excursions among the mountains, and still no one talked of +leaving; Uncle Balthasar indeed, instigated thereto by Aunt Minni, who, +in spite of her comfortable quarters, missed the luxuries of the villa +in K----, had once or twice asked his niece how long she intended to +stay at Tausens, but he had received no decided answer. The kindly old +man, seeing how his pet was enjoying herself, would have been the last +to wish to cut short her enjoyment, even had he not been so thoroughly +at his ease as he was. For his own part he declared he never had been +so much entertained as in the agreeable society in which he now found +himself. Every evening the party at the inn was joined by the cousins +from the castle, and by the judge, the forester, and the collector from +the village, and Uncle Balthasar was in his glory. Also he spent as +much time as he could with 'dear Guido,' only regretting that his +favourite was not duly appreciated by the rest of the party. He gladly +accompanied him upon his walks from time to time, never dreaming that +the former dragoon's only reason for desiring his society was the hope +that he entertained of gaining some certainty as to his future +prospects from the old man's artless talk of Eva and her relations with +Delmar and Leo. + +In fact, poor Uncle Balthasar was deeply grieved that Delmar, Herwarth, +and Leo should treat Bertram with such haughty reserve, and that Eva +did not comport herself towards her lover as a girl should, but showed +a decided preference for the strangers. The kindly soul therefore took +care that Bertram should always have a place at the breakfast-table +which made it possible for him to avoid all necessity of speaking with +Delmar or Herwarth. + +Such a seat Uncle Balthasar had provided, between himself and Aunt +Minni, for his 'dear Guido' on a certain clear, rather cool morning in +August, when the party had assembled upon the balcony at the Post. It +was rather late, nearly nine o'clock; there was to be no long walk +to-day, because the young people had made so distant an excursion the +day before. Leo and Hilda had not come down from the castle, but had +invited Eva and Delmar, with Herwarth and his betrothed, to spend the +day with them in the castle garden and in seeing all that there was of +interest within the old walls. + +Conversation did not flow as easily as usual this morning. Herwarth and +Aline talked, it is true, but Delmar sat gazing dreamily abroad over +the valley, and Eva rarely spoke. + +Paul had lately lost much of his former vivacity; he sometimes had no +power to rouse himself and conquer his depression, and would sink into +a revery, from which he awakened only when he observed Hilda regarding +him with a look of trouble on her lovely face. Then perhaps for a while +he would be as merry as ever, although this would not last long. He +would leave the rest, lagging behind upon some side-path if they were +walking, or absenting himself upon some slight pretext from the party +on the balcony. + +After a month of hard struggle Paul at last confronted a crisis in his +fate. The goal which he lived to attain was reached. Between Leo and +Eva there was now only the promise given by the latter to Bertram. The +heart of each was laid bare to the other. It was in Paul's power to +remove the obstacle that separated the lovers. Why did he hesitate to +pronounce the word that would avail to do so? He excused this to +himself by urging that he must first keep the promise given to Leo, +whereby he was pledged to learn all that could be known of his past +from Dr. Putzer. He did not confess even to himself that he dreaded +keeping this promise; that he shuddered when he received from Dr. +Atzinger, who was in constant attendance upon the sick man, daily +intelligence of the slow improvement in his patient's condition; that +his heart had throbbed fast when he heard that Putzer would soon be in +complete possession of his faculties and able to receive Delmar's +visit; and that on this very morning, as he sat silent at the +breakfast-table, he was lost in gloomy reflection because Dr. Atzinger +had reported on the previous day that he hoped on the ensuing morning +to allow Delmar the long-talked-of interview with the sick man. + +This visit Delmar was now anticipating with harrowing anxiety. In the +sleepless night he had passed he had reviewed in detail every +circumstance of the last few weeks. Four weeks since death would have +been welcome to him, in view of the horrible certainty that Hilda was +legally his sister, although bound to him by no natural tie; all that +had given life an interest to him then had been the hope of insuring +his friend's happiness; he thought this hope now upon the point of +fulfilment, and yet a possible death seemed to him far from welcome +now. + +What had produced this change in the last month? Was his conviction +that Hilda was legally his half-sister shaken? No, on the contrary it +had been confirmed; after his conversation with Leo he had written to a +prominent lawyer in K----, instructing him to make every possible +inquiry as to Herr Delmar's place of abode and family circumstances +before he had come to reside in K----; placing at his disposal the +means for making these investigations thorough at any cost. The result +had been such as to remove all doubt in Paul's mind, had any such +existed, as to his relationship with Hilda. + +The lawyer had established the fact that Paul Delmar, the son of Herr +Delmar, had died a few days after his mother,--there were official +records of this,--and also that Herr Delmar had established himself +in K---- shortly after leaving his native place. He had brought to +K---- with him a child, whose certificate of birth and baptism as his +son Paul had been shown to the proper authorities. Of course, as the +lawyer wrote, the fact that Herr Delmar had produced an adopted son as +his own could be proved beyond a doubt; but this would never be done +unless by Herr Paul Delmar's desire. + +After this intelligence from his lawyer, Paul needed no confirmation +from Dr. Putzer of his relation to Herr von Heydeck, but nevertheless +he was determined to obtain it. Towards ten o'clock Dr. Atzinger made +his appearance, and announced that his patient had exceeded his +expectations by himself earnestly entreating that Herr Delmar would +visit him. + +When Paul heard this he sprang up from the breakfast-table and would +have hurried away, when suddenly his glance fell upon Bertram, who was +observing him narrowly. The thought instantly occurred to him that +after this interview with Dr. Putzer he might not be able to endure +another twenty-four hours in the society of his friends. Therefore +before seeing the sick man Eva must be released from her bondage. + +He stood reflecting for a moment, and then turning to Herwarth, Aline, +and Eva, he begged them not to delay their visit to the castle upon his +account; he should in all probability shortly follow them, although he +might be detained longer than he anticipated by Dr. Putzer. Eva's offer +to wait for him he decidedly refused to accept; and only when they had +all promised to set off without him did he turn to Bertram, saying, +"Before I see Dr. Putzer, Herr von Bertram, you will perhaps grant me +the pleasure of fifteen minutes' conversation with you. Shall we walk?" + +Certainly no invitation could have been more suavely and courteously +expressed, and yet Bertram's face grew ashy pale, and his heart sank +within him as he bowed and stammered a few words of assent to Delmar's +proposal. + +As soon as Paul had requested Dr. Atzinger to await him at Dr. +Putzer's, he left the balcony and led the way, Bertram following, +to the village street, where first he moderated his pace, that the +ex-lieutenant might walk beside him. + +"Do you know, Herr von Bertram, why I have thus requested your +company?" he began. + +"Indeed--Herr Delmar--I cannot conceive----" + +A look of contempt from Delmar greeted these stammered words of denial. +"Your embarrassment assures me that you are perfectly aware of what I +wish to discuss," Paul continued. "I will therefore come to the point +at once. Your unnatural relations with Fräulein Eva Schommer must cease +this very day,--this very hour!" + +"Herr Delmar----" + +"Do not interrupt me. Experience must have taught you that when I speak +I mean what I say. For the last four weeks I have watched Fräulein +Schommer narrowly; there is no need to tell you that your betrothed +abhors you, that she loves my friend, Leo von Heydeck, with all her +soul, and that nothing but her inexorable sense of right withholds her +from retracting the promise by which she bound herself to you. You know +all this as well as I do. If you were a man of honour, such knowledge +would suffice to induce you voluntarily to renounce----" + +"Herr Delmar, you insult me! Remember your promise!" + +"I promised you nothing, and I cannot conceive how the mention of a +fact of which you are perfectly cognizant can insult you; but we will +not quarrel about words. The fact is that you do not voluntarily +dissolve an engagement which you never should have contracted, and that +you thus force me to make use of the power over you which I possess. +Listen then to a brief declaration of my intentions. Either you will, +in order to preserve at least the semblance of honour, make known to +Fräulein Schommer in a letter that you release her from her promise, +that you voluntarily dissolve the engagement between you, after which +you will instantly leave Tausens, so that all further explanation may +be impossible, or Fräulein Schommer shall learn from me what reasons +moved you to make your public apology to Leo von Heydeck, and I will +present in K----, to be cashed, a certain forged check. + +"If you do as I require I am ready to hand over to you a sum of five +thousand thalers as soon as your letter is sent to Fräulein Schommer. +If you refuse, you will be expelled this very day from our circle, +where there is really no room for a detected forger. Make your choice!" + +Guido trembled with futile rage while Delmar went on speaking with calm +decision. Had he only been alone with his foe, he would have throttled +him. But they were walking along the village street, the observed of +many eyes. Bertram knew that he was in his enemy's power, and he knew +Delmar, and that his was no vain threat. He dared not make any +resistance; he only hoped to gain time. He thought of the ebony casket, +and of Nanette. If Delmar would only grant him a little time, a few +days, he might bring the maid over to assist in his plans, now that she +was daily yielding more and more to his influence. Therefore he +suppressed all expression of anger; nothing could be wrung from this +man by opposition; submission and entreaty must be tried. + +"You are fearfully hard upon me, Herr Delmar," he said, with feigned +humility. "Was it magnanimous to leave me so long in torment between +fear and hope? I implore you to give me a few days in which to prepare +myself for the step you demand of me. I will speak with my betrothed, +and will entreat her to tell me frankly whether indeed she cannot look +for happiness in a life spent by my side. And if, as I fear she will, +she tells me that she cannot, that she can only give me her hand +without her heart, and that her promise alone binds her to me, then I +can fulfil your desire honourably, Herr Delmar. Why, after keeping me +waiting for weeks without pronouncing judgment against me, do you +suddenly insist upon handing me over to disgrace? Only give me a few +days' respite, and I promise to do your bidding." + +Paul's eyes gloomily sought the ground. A word of entreaty always had +great weight with him; it was only where he met with resistance that he +was hard. True humility and docility were sure to disarm him. Earnestly +as he wished that Leo's fate should be decided, much as he desired to +be at liberty to do as he pleased, it is more than probable that he +would have yielded to Bertram's entreaty if a suspicion had not +suddenly dawned upon him that the man meant to play him false. Why +should he desire an interview with Eva? Did he hope to induce the +wealthy heiress to buy her freedom from him? Such a scheme might well +be attributed to the scoundrel, and Paul was convinced that Eva would +be ready to sacrifice her entire fortune if by so doing the detested +tie might be severed. The sudden suspicion steeled him against +Bertram's entreaty, and he replied, "Not a day, not an hour, will I +give you; you must decide upon the spot!" + +One look into Delmar's calm, resolute face convinced Bertram that he +had no respite, however short, to expect; he still might perhaps +succeed in moving him in another respect, and with a profound sigh he +continued: "You are terribly severe and cruel with me, Herr Delmar. How +have I deserved such scant mercy at your hands? In a miserable moment +of my life, a prey to despair, I was led to invoke destruction upon my +head by that stroke of the pen. I was half frantic. I had to choose +between disgrace and death by my own hand. Love of life conquered, and +I forged that signature, an act which I have repented bitterly ever +since. You then saved me from merited disgrace, for which I was +inexpressibly grateful to you. I felt the wrong I had done you in +handing you the forged check, and I was never without a sense of +devotion to you as my saviour from dishonour. And yet you are now the +one to invoke disgrace upon my head. Remember how you have punished me +already. You forced me to public dishonour among my comrades, to resign +from the army, to destroy all my hopes in life, and now you thrust me +into the abyss from which a marriage with Eva would save me. + +"You are enormously wealthy, and you know nothing of the misery of +poverty; therefore you thrust me forth into the world with a paltry +pittance of five thousand thalers. You offer me five thousand thalers +as indemnification for what you take from me! Can five thousand thalers +begin life afresh for me and worthily support the name I bear? Can I +even live for a few short years upon such a sum? Be magnanimous, Herr +Delmar, and let me have, not as a gift but as a loan, a sum sufficient +to buy an estate upon the income of which I can live as a landed +proprietor, and in time repay you. You will not miss it, and I shall be +forever grateful to you." + +With inexpressible contempt Paul regarded the speaker who thus in his +servile entreaty for money laid bare all the meanness of his sordid +soul. He would gladly have paid any sum to secure Leo's happiness, but +to supply this aristocratic beggar with the means for a life of +dissipation would in his estimation be a sin against humanity. Utterly +disgusted, he turned away; he would have nothing more to do with the +fellow. "Not a word more, Herr von Bertram!" he exclaimed, harshly; +"you have heard my offer, which I now almost regret having made; you +must now decide whether to accept or to reject it. You would squander +fifty thousand thalers as quickly as five thousand at the gaming-table. +I know that I was wrong in offering you money. But I did so, and will +stand by my word, if you declare yourself ready this minute to do as I +command you. The time which I was free to devote to you is past. I must +have a simple 'yes' or 'no'! Answer me!" + +"I implore you, Herr Delmar----" + +"'Yes' or 'no'! Not another word! If you do not reply, I shall +understand it as 'no,' and you must abide by the consequences." + +Not yet could Bertram bring himself to utter the decisive 'yes.' He +still hesitated, but Paul left him no time for further reflection. When +Bertram paused he turned from him with contempt, and would have +returned to the inn. His firmness conquered. + +Bertram saw that all would be lost, and the promised five thousand +thalers besides, if he did not instantly submit. He hastened after +Delmar. "Yes, Herr Delmar!" he exclaimed, "I submit to your wishes; I +confide in your magnanimity!" + +"You have made prudent use of the last moment," Paul rejoined coldly; +"follow me to my room." + +Again he led the way, Bertram following him. At the door of the inn +they met Aline, Eva, and Herwarth about to start for the castle. "I +will soon join you," Paul said, as he passed them. Bertram never lifted +his eyes from the ground, and they did not appear to notice him. + +Arrived in his room, Delmar directed Bertram to his writing-table. "Sit +there," he said; "take a sheet of paper, and write. I will dictate to +you a letter that shall serve as the last chapter of the miserable +romance of your betrothal. You shall extricate yourself from this +wretched business as a man of honour; at least you shall appear such in +Fräulein Schommer's eyes. It is of course more than you deserve, and is +probably great folly on my part; it is not done for your sake, but +because I owe some reparation to Fräulein Schommer for a former unjust +estimate of her, and I should like to save her from the humiliating +conviction that she has been betrothed to so utter a scoundrel as +yourself. Therefore I will surround your brow with the halo of +high-souled renunciation. Write!" + +Bertram bit his lips, not daring to vent the rage that was consuming +him. Without a word of reply he took up a pen, and wrote down the words +which Delmar, standing behind him, dictated over his shoulder. + + +"Four terrible, agonizing weeks have I passed, weeks in which each day +was torture to me. With every miserable hour I have become more and +more clearly convinced that you, dearest Eva, have accorded me a right +to remain near you as your betrothed only in consequence of a promise +too hastily given. I have seen that your heart belongs to another, and +that it never can be mine. + +"I do not blame you; I only bewail the ill fortune that shatters all my +life's fairest hopes. I should be indeed lost to all sense of honour if +I attempted to hold you, my beloved Eva, to a promise given me when you +were ignorant of your own heart. You, at least, shall not be unhappy. I +give back to you the faith which your inexorable sense of rectitude +forbids you to recall. I voluntarily release you from your engagement. + +"I shall not, I cannot, see you again. It is with the deepest pain that +I leave you, but there is some consolation for me in the thought that +you will not think of me with hatred, but will accord me some measure +of friendly remembrance in the knowledge that I have sacrificed my +happiness to yours. + + "Guido von Bertram." + + +The letter was written. Paul took it, and read it aloud, laughing +bitterly as he finished it. "Excellent!" he said; "an epistle which +might worthily find a place in any romance, and which is certainly not +dear at five thousand thalers. Uncle Balthasar may still speak with +genuine emotion of his 'dear Guido;' the fair Eva may think kindly of +the noble self-renunciation that inspired the letter, and perhaps +privately repent that she did the writer such injustice. Even Leo will +shake his head, unable to conceive how such words could have been +written by him who penned them. Seal it with your signet-ring, and I +myself will deliver it to Fräulein Schommer." + +Bertram obeyed in silence. He sealed the letter and gave it to Delmar, +who in return took from his pocket-book five thousand thalers in large +notes, which he handed to the ex-lieutenant, saying, "Our business is +now concluded, Herr von Bertram. I leave you, never to see you again. I +myself will order a carriage for you from the postmaster. It will be at +the door in five minutes; just in time for you to catch the midday +train from the railway-station. In a quarter of an hour you will have +left Tausens. Only upon this understanding; do I give you this money. I +shall reclaim it if I find you still here when I return from a visit I +am about to make in the village. And if you should dare to attempt to +obtain an interview with Fräulein Schommer, I shall ruthlessly use +against you the forged check in my possession. Make haste with the +packing of your portmanteau; you have but a quarter of an hour's time +at the most." + +Delmar expected no answer, and received none. Bertram swept up the pile +of notes, and with a last look of hatred as his only farewell to Paul, +hurried away to his room, where he locked himself in, while Delmar +quietly went down-stairs and ordered Hansel to have a conveyance +brought to the door for Herr von Bertram, who wished to catch the +midday train. After which he proceeded to pay his visit to Dr. Putzer. + +When Bertram found himself alone in his room, he no longer restrained +the expression of the rage that possessed him. Muttering curses upon +the failure of his schemes, he paced the floor like some caged wild +beast. All was over! He was powerless in the grasp of his deadly foe; +thrust forth thus into the world with a paltry pittance of five +thousand thalers to atone for the millions he had lost. + +How gladly he would have murdered his pitiless, inexorable enemy! But +even in the midst of his paroxysm of anger he shuddered at the thought +of Delmar's cold, quiet manner, which always had power to overawe his +coward will. + +His fate was decided; he must submit. The ebony casket again recurred +to him. Just then there was a rustle in the next room. Eva and Aline +had gone to the castle. Nanette must be there alone. Hitherto he had +not thought of making her his accomplice in the theft; this now +occurred to him. Only with her aid could he hope to make the coveted +prize his own. + +But if he did thus gain possession of it, would not suspicion instantly +fall upon him? Eva would miss her treasure as soon as she returned from +the castle, and Delmar would not leave her long in doubt as to who had +stolen it. He pondered the matter. Eva could not possibly return from +the castle before two a clock; she was to dine at three at the inn. But +by two he might be far away. If he took the train to Toblach, and then +drove to Schleuderbach, he could reach the Italian frontier before even +a telegraphic message could be despatched in search of him, although +Delmar should immediately institute a pursuit of the fugitive. Once +across the frontier he would surely be able to elude all discovery. + +What would Eva say when she found her precious casket missing and +divined who had taken it? As he thought of the letter he had just +written, and the contrast it formed to the act he contemplated, he +laughed bitterly. But his time was short, every minute was precious, he +dared delay no longer. He knocked cautiously at the door leading to the +next room. The bolt was withdrawn, and Nanette opened it. She was +received by him with a tender embrace. "My little darling," he said, +"how fortunate I am in seeing you once more before I leave!" + +The girl looked at him with terrified surprise. "What do you mean, Herr +von Bertram? You are going away? How? Where?" + +"I will tell you, my pet, and you only. I have just received +intelligence that a suit has been instituted against me in K---- for +leaving there without leave of absence from my superior officer. I am +to be arrested here to-day and taken back a prisoner to K----. I must +fly or I am lost; in a quarter of an hour I must leave Tausens." + +"What will become of Fräulein Schommer?" + +"Do not mention her. I am glad to be rid of her even in this way. I +hate her, but it breaks my heart to leave you. Oh, Nanette, if you +really cared for me you would leave all and come with me! You should be +my darling little wife, with nothing to do but enjoy yourself all day +long!" + +Nanette listened, speechless with rapture. Here was a proposal she had +never ventured to hope for! A great gentleman, and the betrothed +besides of her hated mistress, asked her to fly with him and be his +wife,--his real wife,--a lady of rank! Her head grew giddy at the +thought. She could hardly believe her ears. + +But Bertram went on pouring forth his insidious protestations and +entreaties until she could doubt no longer. And when he pointed to the +ebony casket and said that it contained what would give them a +careless, happy life in Italy, she made no resistance to his taking it +from the table where it stood, and bewildered and submissive only asked +whether they should not be found out. He soothed her with the assurance +that they should both be far beyond the Italian frontier before the +absence of the casket was detected or any pursuit thought of. + +Before many minutes were past Bertram had won the girl over to his +purpose; she consented to accompany him in his flight, she became his +accomplice. By his directions she locked on the inside the door leading +from Eva's room to the passage, and then followed her grand gentleman, +who carried the casket, into his room where he locked the door of +communication and put the key in his pocket. + +Time was precious, and Bertram made haste to thrust the casket, which +must be hidden from sight while he was leaving the inn, into his +portmanteau. Here however he encountered an unexpected difficulty. On +each side of the box was a large ornamented gilt handle, by which it +had usually been lifted. These handles made the box too large for the +interior of his portmanteau. As Bertram tried in vain to pack away the +casket so that the small trunk would close, he muttered an oath. He +could not possibly allow the box, which the postmaster and the inn +servants knew to be Eva's property, to be seen in his possession, and +there was no way of concealing it except by packing it into the +portmanteau, which was too small for it. He tried to bend one of the +metal handles, and as he did so it broke off in his hand. "So best!" he +said, throwing it aside, and then wrenching off the other, which he +also threw on the floor. The casket now fitted perfectly inside the +portmanteau, filling it however so completely that Bertram was forced +to leave most of his clothes behind him. + +In a few minutes the portmanteau was locked, and Bertram himself +carried it down to the conveyance which was awaiting him at the +inn-door. The postmaster stood by it, cap in hand, expressing sorrow +that the gentleman was about to leave him. His surprise was great when +Nanette suddenly made her appearance in her bonnet and shawl and took +her seat beside Herr von Bertram in the carriage. + +"I will take this opportunity of driving to town," she said, observing +honest Hansel's amazement. "I have several commissions to execute for +my mistress, and I will come back towards evening in the carriage. +Adieu, Herr Postmaster!" + +"Drive on!" cried Bertram. "I must catch the midday train!" The driver +cracked his whip, and the horses started at a rapid pace. + +Hansel looked after the carriage as long as it was in sight, and then +turned into the inn with a wise shake of his head. This sudden +departure of the young nobleman, and so strangely accompanied too, did +not seem to him just what it should be. But these great people from the +city certainly did have many queer ways, and as long as Herr Delmar had +ordered the carriage everything must be right, and thus Hansel forced +himself to think. + +He went up-stairs to see that Herr von Bertram had forgotten nothing in +his room, and to his surprise found the door locked. This was +vexatious. The Herr must have locked it absently and put the key into +his pocket. Ten to one he would forget to give it to the driver when +they reached the railway-station. + +Hansel went grumbling and fetched his master-key, which opened all the +bedrooms in the house; but when he entered Bertram's apartment he found +it in a condition which greatly increased his misgivings with regard to +the sudden departure. One or two suits of clothes and a quantity of +linen lay about the floor in disorder. They could not have been +forgotten; they must have been left behind intentionally. All these +clothes had been brought to the inn in Herr von Bertram's portmanteau, +and yet Hansel had noticed that it had looked much fuller without all +these articles in it when the gentleman had put it into the carriage +just now. Again Hansel shook his head; he did not know what to make of +all this, and he resolved to ask Herr Delmar about it as soon as he +returned to the inn. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + +After Delmar had ordered the carriage for Bertram, he walked slowly +along the village street towards Dr. Putzer's. The nearer he came to +the house the more he lingered; never had he experienced such a dread +as possessed him at thought of the coming interview which would decide +his fate. + +But he was ashamed of what seemed to him cowardice, and as he paused +for an instant at the small grated gate opening into the doctor's +garden he braced himself to meet his fate, reflecting that no delay +would postpone the inevitable, and then walked quickly through the +garden to the house-door. + +Dr. Atzinger received him. "You have been long in coming, Herr Delmar," +he said. "Our patient has been impatiently awaiting you. If I had +yielded to his wishes you would have seen him some days ago; but even +now, I confess frankly, I should have liked to postpone this interview. +I think him far too weak for any agitation of mind, and I have yielded +to him in this instance only because I feared more from the effect of +his restless impatience than from the conversation with you, which he +evidently considers as of the first importance. Unfortunately I cannot +be present at this interview. He has asked to see you alone, and I must +therefore entreat you to use extreme caution, remembering that any +over-excitement on his part is certain death. Pray do all you can to +soothe him." + +Paul willingly promised all that was asked of him. He felt no +irritation towards Putzer, who had been but the tool of Herr von +Heydeck. + +Atzinger conducted him to the door of the doctor's bedroom, saying as +he opened it, "Here is the man you so wish to see; now remember, my +dear friend, to send him away as you promised, as soon as you feel +exhausted." + +"Yes, yes; tell him to come in," was the reply, in feeble tones. + +Delmar entered, and Dr. Atzinger left him alone with the patient. + +The room was large and sunny, and supplied with every comfort that +could be procured in a retired Tyrolean village. The sick man's bed was +so placed that as he lay with his face turned to the window he had a +full view of the steep rock crowned by Castle Reifenstein. + +Upon Paul's entrance the invalid raised himself into a half-sitting +posture and turned his face full towards his visitor. "I have been +longing for you for many days, Herr Delmar," he said, in a faint, +scarce audible voice. "You are come at last, and I thank you. I was +afraid I should never see you again." + +Was this Dr. Putzer? Delmar never could have believed it from the +evidence of his senses. There was absolutely no resemblance between +the wine-flushed bloated countenance which Paul remembered and this +ashy-pale flabby face, save for the light disordered hair that fell +on either side of it. And just as little did the invalid's weak gentle +voice resemble Dr. Putzer's hoarse brutal tones. + +Delmar was so shocked and startled by the alteration he observed in the +man that he could at first find no words in which to reply to his +salutation. + +The doctor continued: "Sit here, Herr Delmar, close by my bed; I have +much to say, and not much strength wherewith to say it. I must pray you +to lend me your patient attention." + +Paul obeyed; he drew a chair to the bedside and sat down, filled with +pity for the sick man, whose every word evidently cost him a painful +effort. His compassion got the better of his desire to hear what the +man had to say. "Talking is too much for you, Herr Doctor," he said +kindly. "You must not exert yourself I beg you reserve what you have to +tell me for another day, when you are stronger and better, and let us +discuss only commonplace topics at present. I will pay you a daily +visit, and your friend Dr. Atzinger tells me that you will be much +stronger and more equal to the task you have imposed upon yourself in a +few days." + +A grim smile, which reminded Paul of the Dr. Putzer of his remembrance, +flitted across the pale face. "My dear friend Dr. Atzinger is an +ignoramus!" the sick man replied. "I shall never be stronger; I +shall shortly be found dead in my bed,--perhaps to-day, perhaps +to-morrow,--any time within the next fortnight. I know this with +absolute certainty, and therefore I was so impatient to see you, for I +must and will speak with you. I will not die without being revenged +upon the worthless woman whose fault it is that I lie here a dying man, +and who has had no thought except for her own safety. She expected me +to die without ever being able to utter another word, and she robbed me +of every cent I possess that she might escape danger; but she was +mistaken,--I still live, and will use my last breath in revenging +myself upon her." + +The doctor's voice grew stronger and his eyes flashed as he said these +words. But the momentary excitement over, he sank back exhausted among +his pillows. Paul feared he was dying, and rose hastily to call Dr. +Atzinger, but Putzer divined his intention. "Stay," he gasped; "it will +pass off,--in a moment I shall be strong enough." + +Again Paul obeyed, and after resting for a few minutes, the doctor +continued: "Indignation at that wretched woman exhausted me; it shall +not occur again. I will husband my strength for what I have to do. +There may be no to-morrow for me, and you shall not leave me until I +have armed you for my revenge upon that fiend. I might tell you much, +but I think you already know most of what I have to say. You would not +have come to Tausens if you had not known that Herr von Heydeck has +defrauded you of your inheritance, and if you did not wish to recover +it from him. You know this, but you do not know what it is most +important that you should, and you perhaps imagine that with the help +of certain proof of which I am ignorant you can force Herr von Heydeck +to acknowledge you as his son and to leave you his property and his +name. Is not this so?" + +Paul made no reply except by a faint motion of the head, which the +doctor took for assent, and continued: "I thought so. You will scarcely +undertake a wearisome lawsuit for the sake of the property. I have +heard that you are very rich, that you are the possessor of millions. +Is this true?" + +"Yes, it is true!" Paul replied, firmly. + +His answer satisfied the doctor. "Then I am right. Herr von Heydeck's +wealth does not allure you; you did not come to Tausens to demand your +rightful inheritance? Answer me, am I right?" + +"Yes!" Paul said, distinctly. + +"Then it is the name and title of von Heydeck that you covet. I thought +so. Well, Herr Delmar. I shall have to depress your hopes slightly. I +think I remember, before my illness, when I was not exactly myself, +having told you that you could lay no claim to the name of Heydeck. +What I then said is true; you are the son of Count Menotti, not of Herr +von Heydeck!" + +"But Herr von Heydeck acknowledged me as his son, and such I therefore +am in the eye of the law," Paul rejoined, hoping to incite the doctor +to further revelations by this insistance. His hope was fulfilled. + +"You think so, but you are mistaken," the doctor continued. "You think +you know all about it because you probably possess proof that Herr von +Heydeck delivered you over to Herr Delmar as a child, and that you are +the boy whom Herr von Heydeck gave out for dead in order that he might +appropriate to himself the child's maternal inheritance. All this you +know, but you do not know that there was no child by Herr von Heydeck's +marriage with his first wife; that you were the illegitimate child of +your mother and Count Menotti; that you were born before Herr von +Heydeck was married to your mother, and that therefore you can lay no +claim whatever to the name of Heydeck." + +The words were spoken. Paul saw the yawning abyss which was to have +swallowed up his hopes suddenly disappear, and a sunny future expand +before him. The burden which had wellnigh crushed him for weeks beneath +its weight fell from him. Hilda was not even legally his sister, nor +was Heydeck his father, but a stranger, to whom he was bound neither by +the law of the land nor by that of nature. His brain reeled at the +thought that if the sick man's words were true there was no longer any +obstacle to separate him from his love. + +The doctor perceived how deep was the impression produced upon Delmar +by his words, but he ascribed his agitation to a false cause. "I see," +he said more kindly than was his wont, "that my information pains you +because it annihilates your hopes, but I could not spare you. You must +know the entire truth that you may not proceed to false measures in +dealing with Herr von Heydeck,--measures which might defeat your +object. This object there is a chance of your attaining if you will +follow my advice. I will put into your hands proof that you are not the +son of Herr von Heydeck, and it may be the very means of enabling you +to induce the cowardly old miser to leave you his name and title." + +"Give me this proof, Herr Doctor," Delmar cried, in the greatest +agitation, "and I assure you that at no price will I consider it dearly +bought! Ask what you will for this proof, and I will give it you!" + +Paul's eager words called forth a melancholy smile upon the doctor's +shrunken features. "That is a fine promise, but valueless to me," he +rejoined. "Four weeks ago I would have thanked you for it; to-day it +moves me not at all. In a few days this miserable body of mine will be +six feet deep in the ground. I have all I want till then, and all that +you have could not induce me to do your bidding against my will. But I +will be revenged upon my wicked wife, who made my home a hell, who +poisoned my life! I will atone for the wrong I did you. You have been +my benefactor in this illness, my friend Atzinger tells me that you +have sent a carriage for him daily, and given him a generous fee for +attending me. I will show my gratitude to you. Listen to me, and I will +tell you what you ought to know, and give you the proof which you +need." The doctor then told his tale; he spoke in low, measured words, +husbanding his forces, for he felt that he needed all the strength that +he could muster. The import of his communication was as follows: + +When Herr von Heydeck bought Reifenstein and passed some weeks there +with his handsome wife, Dr. Putzer was a gay young fellow; he had +studied well, understood his profession, and hoped to lead a pleasant +life in Tausens. He soon found however that the position of a village +doctor was by no means so pleasant or so lucrative as he had supposed, +and that its income would never afford him the social enjoyments which +he desired. He was fond of a glass of good wine, and he needed +periodicals and scientific books to aid him in his studies. He had no +mind for a hermit's life. The paltry fees which he received from his +peasant patients but poorly sufficed for half his needs; he became +deeply involved in debt, out of which he racked his brains in vain to +find any means of extricating himself. Under these circumstances he +thought it most fortunate that the wealthy Herr von Heydeck should buy +Reifenstein, and that he should be sent for to visit the castle in his +medical capacity. He took pains to recommend himself to the lord of the +castle, whose love of scientific pursuits he humoured; and he +succeeded. He became the confidant of Herr von Heydeck, who often +bewailed to him the sorrow caused him by his unworthy wife, but never +alluded to the past. It struck Putzer as very strange, this mystery +enshrouding the past of Herr von Heydeck and his handsome wife. The +husband lived in disgraceful dependence upon Madame von Heydeck's +whims, never even venturing to remonstrate when Count Menotti publicly +conducted himself as her declared lover. + +The mystery was explained for the doctor when Herr von Heydeck, after +his wife's death, came to Castle Reifenstein with his child. When +Putzer was sent for to see the boy, a single glance at the child told +the physician of the criminal deception that had here been practised +upon the world. The newspapers three months before had announced the +birth of a boy; but the child who had inherited his mother's property +was at least a year and a half old, and must have been born before Herr +von Heydeck's marriage, which had taken place not quite a year +previously. + +Herr von Heydeck, reading the doctor's thoughts in his face, could not +refrain from giving him his entire confidence, especially since he +needed his aid. He confessed to him that the infant was the child of +the Count Menotti, and had been born some months before his own +marriage. It was solely for the sake of bestowing an aristocratic name +upon the child that its mother had consented to marry Heydeck, after he +had promised in writing to acknowledge the child as his own within a +year after their marriage. Within that time the intelligence of Frau +von Heydeck's confinement was spread abroad in society, but the fruit +of it, a boy, was pronounced so sickly and weak that no one except the +nurse was allowed to see it. + +This nurse, Rosy, was the foster-sister and confidante of Frau von +Heydeck, and had contrived the entire scheme. It was by her advice that +the marriage with Herr von Heydeck had been contracted, and to her +keeping was entrusted the document whereby Heydeck bound himself to +acknowledge the child as his own. With this in her possession she ruled +her master with a rod of iron after his wife's death. + +Dr. Putzer, on his first visit at the castle, easily comprehended the +relations between the castle's lord and the pretty waiting-maid. The +young physician was taken with her handsome face and pert coquettish +ways, while her by no means spotless past was of no consequence in his +eyes. Loaded down with debts he had but one wish, and that was to +secure for himself a comfortable and assured existence; the safest way +to attain this end was by a marriage with Rosy; together they could +gain such an ascendency over Herr von Heydeck as to induce him to share +his wealth with them. + +They were soon agreed, and Heydeck weakly yielded to their mischievous +influence. Rosy suggested to him that the boy's death would be the best +luck that could befall him; but Heydeck, although scarcely too +conscientious, was too cowardly to commit so grave a crime as murder. +He consented to rid himself of the boy, but not by death; he would +cause the intelligence of his death to be spread abroad, and he would +bring him up in secret, until death did actually come, as he hoped it +soon would, to the weakly, sickly child. + +The doctor and his betrothed lent Heydeck their ready aid; the doctor +wrote the official certificate of the child's death,--he had spread the +report of its fatal contagious disease that no one might desire to see +the corpse,--and he fitted up the basement of the tower, whither the +unfortunate child was taken and committed to the care of the two +half-idiotic Melchers. + +The scheme which had been hatched in Rosy's brain was successful: the +mock funeral took place, the boy vanished, and Herr von Heydeck was his +heir. He paid the doctor and Rosy well for their services, and upon +their immediate marriage hoped he was rid of them. Here however he was +mistaken; his crime did not go unpunished, for he never was able to +shake off the mastery maintained over him by the intriguing Rosy, not +even when he secretly conveyed the boy away from the castle and falsely +told the doctor that the child had died in Switzerland. Whenever Rosy +wanted to extort money from Heydeck she threatened him with betrayal, +not of the mock death of the child, in which crime she herself was an +accomplice, but of that first deception of Heydeck's, whereby he had +made official announcement of the birth of a child, who was in reality +already more than a year old. + +Rosy could produce the proof of this deception; she had carefully +preserved the document entrusted to her by Frau von Heydeck, with a +series of letters which made the fact of the deception incontestable. +She could prove that the boy was Frau von Heydeck's illegitimate child, +and if she did so to the relatives of her deceased mistress they would +certainly come forward to assert their claims to an inheritance of +which Heydeck had illegally possessed himself. + +Rosy thus held the lord of the castle in perpetual thraldom, reducing +him almost to despair in forcing him to satisfy her avaricious greed. +She was the wretched man's evil genius. + +The doctor's life too was scarcely less wretched than Heydeck's; his +wife made, as he had said, his house a hell. She never ceased +tormenting and aggravating him, and he had recourse to drinking to +drown his misery. Only in forgetfulness could he find relief. The +wicked woman made a perfect slave of him; he hated her, but rarely +ventured to disobey her. + +The worm will turn however, and sometimes when his courage was screwed +up with wine the doctor rebelled against the tyranny that oppressed +him. At some such moment he formed the plan of appropriating to himself +the power which his wife possessed over Herr von Heydeck, thinking +thus to make the evil woman subject to his will. He stole from her +the papers by which she ruled Herr von Heydeck, and in spite of her +rage when she missed them, bade her defiance, and never revealed the +hiding-place where the important documents were concealed. + +By this bold stroke he was at least enabled now and then to intimidate +his wife by threats that he would deliver over the papers to Herr von +Heydeck; but he was never able to shake off the yoke of her stronger +nature, and his life was almost as miserable as before. + +The absolute hatred with which he regarded her was fiercer than ever as +he lay ill and helpless in bed; he could not forgive her for causing +his attack by insisting upon his plunging his head beneath the cold +water, and for then leaving him neglected and alone, that she might +escape the punishment of the crime which Delmar had probably come to +Tausens to investigate. + +To revenge himself upon her the doctor now handed Paul the papers, +which he had instructed Dr. Atzinger a few days previously to fetch +from their hiding-place, and which he had since kept beneath his +pillow. The worthless woman, the doctor declared, should perish in want +and misery,--she had spent everything that she had extorted from Herr +von Heydeck in dress and finery, and had only taken a small sum with +her upon her flight. With these papers her power over Herr von Heydeck +was gone,--he would certainly do nothing more for her when he knew that +she could do him no further harm. + +In possession of these documents Delmar could, the doctor explained, +force Herr von Heydeck to bequeath to him his name. Through fear lest +he should lose his money and be dragged through a disgraceful lawsuit +the old coward, so said the doctor, could be made to do just as Delmar +pleased. + +With a sensation of absolute rapture Delmar received the precious +papers which secured to him a happy future, from the hands of the sick +man, who never dreamed how worthless in Paul's estimation was a +high-sounding, aristocratic name. + +Delmar thanked the doctor warmly, but the sick man shook his head. "I +have done this not for your sake, but my own," he said. "I know that my +detestable wife will perish in want; I am content. I pray you leave me +now, Herr Delmar, my strength is exhausted. We shall never meet again. +Farewell!" + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Never had the heavens been so blue or the sunshine so bright,--never +had the hemlocks filled the air with such exquisite fragrance as upon +this blissful day, when Paul lightly trod the forest-path towards +Castle Reifenstein. A shepherd-boy upon a distant mountain jodelled +down to him, and Paul could not refrain from jodelling back a full +clear note, that echoed far over the sunny valleys. + +He could have embraced the world. He had suddenly been transported from +the black depths of despair to the heights of hope. A future, with +Hilda by his side, beckoned him. Where were all the gloomy reveries of +the last few weeks? As he walked briskly up the steep ascent, he +thought with horror of the dark temptation to self-destruction that had +once assailed him. Yes, Leo was right when he declared that only a +coward would ever seek such a solution of the problem of life,--that a +true man should possess a 'heart for any fate.' When he had nearly +reached the castle he heard well-known voices near him, and could not +forbear giving another genuine Tyrolean jodel. + +"That is Delmar's voice!" Leo exclaimed. + +"Oh, no; it is long since Herr Delmar has shouted so gayly," Hilda +replied. + +A second louder and gayer jodel was Paul's reply, as he turned in the +direction whence the voices came, and passing through a short stretch +of woodland, reached a small rocky plateau, whither Hilda had brought +her guests because it afforded them the best view down into the fearful +chasm in the rocks. + +"You were wrong, lovely fairy," said Paul, as he joined the small +party, taking Hilda's offered hand as he spoke; "no man upon earth can +shout as gayly as I can when inspired by the hope of seeing you." + +'Lovely fairy!' Paul had never bestowed this title upon Hilda since the +first day of their meeting; since then he had always addressed her +ceremoniously as 'Fräulein von Heydeck,' and only rarely, in eager +conversation, as 'Fräulein Hilda.' Hilda heard therefore in surprise, +and, blushing at the remembrance of that first day, looked up at him. +How changed he seemed since yesterday! His dark eyes sparkled with +gayety, a happy smile played about his lips,--he was the same frank, +light-hearted man whom she had so liked at their first interview, and +yet--no, not the same; he had become far handsomer and more attractive; +she had never liked him half so well as now. + +Leo also noticed the change which the few hours since he had last seen +his friend had effected in him. "What good news do you bring us?" he +asked. "I have hardly ever seen you look so gay." + +"Have you found that out already?" Paul asked in his turn, with a +laugh. "I revere your powers of observation, and will reward them with +a share of the treasures to be found in my pockets. But good children +should restrain their curiosity and wait patiently until it is +satisfied. If you love me, do me the kindness to act as guide to +Fräulein Eva and our betrothed couple on their way to the castle +garden, and resign your former guide, the lovely fairy of the castle, +to me for a few minutes. I trust she will grant me a hearing for that +short space of time." + +This request had so strange a sound that Hilda grew confused, and +looked uncertain whether to grant it, but when Delmar added, in a low, +eager tone, "It is my first request; can you refuse me?" she shyly +placed her hand within his offered arm and lingered with him behind the +others, whom Leo, as Delmar had asked him to do, conducted to the +castle garden. + +Paul walked along slowly at Hilda's side, preserving an entire silence +until their friends were out of hearing. Then he turned to his +companion and said, "I owe you an explanation of much that must have +struck you strangely in my manner and behaviour during these last few +weeks. Will you hear me, Hilda? Will you let me be frank with you?" + +It was the first time that Delmar had called the girl by her first +name,--that he had spoken to her in so earnest and yet so confidential +a tone. She divined what he wished to say, but she did not refuse to +listen. Her low-whispered 'yes' enchanted him; it told him that he did +not hope in vain. + +Paul continued: "That little 'yes,' dearest Hilda, makes me +inexpressibly happy; it tells me that you trust me, and I would have +you trust me, now and forever, freely and unconditionally. You must +have seen that from the first moment when I met you, my lovely fairy, +in the labyrinth of rocks, my heart has been yours. I revelled in the +hope of one day winning your heart and your hand also. I was happy, +exquisitely happy! But my dream of bliss lasted but two short days. I +was suddenly and rudely awakened from it by the startling and as I +thought absolute certainty that your father never would bestow upon me +your hand, and that therefore I must not even try to win your heart. I +can never, my dear Hilda, tell you what created in me this belief. Here +you must trust me implicitly. You must never know the dark mystery that +interposed between us, nor the cause I thought there was for the utter +despair to which I was a prey. Life lost all value in my eyes; the +reckless gayety which sometimes distressed you, as well as the morbid +melancholy that assailed me when I was alone, was the result of the +terrible conviction that possessed me that you never could be my +own,--that I could never be more to you than a faithful friend and +brother. + +"But to-day I have learned, to my unspeakable joy, that all my fears +were but idle baseless visions,--that I was deceived, and that I +deceived myself,--that I may in all honour tell you how passionately I +love you, and may hope, if you will but let me try to win your love in +return, that your father will consent to give you to me. Will you, can +you love me, Hilda? Will you come with me to your father and hear me +pray him to give me this dear hand for my very own?" + +Hilda looked up into his face with a happy smile, and he needed no +reply in words; indeed she could have given him none, for in an instant +his arms were about her, and his kisses sealed her lips. + +She extricated herself from his embrace, and her pleading eyes +restrained his passionate outburst. He still however clasped in his the +little hand, which he kissed repeatedly, saying, "Come, come to your +father, lovely fairy! This moment must confirm the happiness of my +future life." + +Hilda conducted him across the castle court-yard to her father's study, +whither Herr von Heydeck had withdrawn from the presence of his +daughter's guests. + +He was so absorbed in his work that he did not hear the door open; only +when Paul and Hilda stood close beside him did he look up from his +books, and as his gaze rested upon Delmar the same look of horror with +which he had greeted his first appearance passed into his face. Again +he put up his hand, as if to ward off some attack, while he seemed +incapable of speech. + +Paul was no whit daunted however. "Do not repulse me, Herr von +Heydeck," he said, in a gentle voice. "I come not as your enemy, not to +demand, but to entreat. I pray you to receive me as your son in +granting me your daughter's hand." + +The simple words fairly overwhelmed the old man. He had started forward +in his arm-chair; he now sank back into it helplessly. "You--you ask to +be my son? You sue for Hilda's hand,--and you know?----" + +It was only with great difficulty that he gasped forth these broken +sentences. + +"I know everything," Paul replied calmly. "I come from Dr. Putzer's +death-bed; he gave me these papers, which I now hand over to you. I +pray you to destroy them; forget the past as I have forgotten it. +Receive me as a son, who never will forget the respect he owes to the +father of his dearest Hilda." + +Herr von Heydeck clutched with a trembling hand the papers which Paul +held out to him. He glanced at their contents, and his face was +illumined by an expression of intense joy. The next instant he had torn +the dreaded documents into countless shreds, after which he buried his +head in his hands and burst into a convulsive fit of sobbing. + +Paul did not disturb him, but whispering low reassuring words of +tenderness to the astonished and frightened Hilda, he waited calmly +until Herr von Heydeck had regained his composure. Only when the old +man lifted his head and looked from his daughter to her lover with +tear-dimmed eyes did Paul repeat his entreaty, adding, "Hilda has given +me her heart,--you will not refuse my suit, Herr von Heydeck?" + +"No, no; you shall be my son!" Herr von Heydeck exclaimed. "God grants +me thus an opportunity of repairing the grievous wrong I did you. My +Hilda will atone for my sin. She will be to you the angel of light +which her sainted mother was to me!" + +Again he was overcome by mingled emotions of joy and sorrow. His +conscience had been burdened with the consciousness of his guilt; he +had trembled at the thoughts of discovery for years, and he could not +bear the sudden joy of this moment. Again he sobbed convulsively, only +stammering, in broken accents, "Leave me now, my children. I must be +alone. God bless you!" + +Paul drew Hilda away from the room, knowing how greatly the old man +must stand in need of repose, and the girl, not venturing to oppose her +father's request, went with him willingly. + +When however the study-door was closed behind them she paused. "What is +the matter with my father? What wrong can he have done? Why should he +be so overcome?" she asked, with an appealing look into her lover's +eyes. + +Paul clasped her tenderly in his arms. "Do you not believe, dearest, +that I love you infinitely more than life?" he asked. + +"Yes; I trust you implicitly." + +"Then promise me, in this supreme moment, that you will never again ask +me what your father's words meant. It is not my secret but his, and I +could not in honour betray it even to you. But I swear solemnly that it +is the only secret that shall ever be between us,--no thought of my +heart shall be concealed from you. Will you not trust me? Believe me, I +but obey the dictates of honour when I beg you to forget what you have +heard. Will you promise me never to question either myself or your +father upon the subject?" + +"This kiss shall seal the promise that you ask!" + + +Leo had conducted the guests to the garden, there to await Paul and +Hilda; he tried to engage them in pleasant talk, but he could not +fairly succeed, for his thoughts would wander. They were with his +friend, the change in whom he could easily interpret, for he knew that +Paul had just had an interview with Dr. Putzer; and that the result had +been a happy one for Hilda's lover, was plainly to be seen in his +sparkling eyes and gay mood. And Paul had also had an interview with +Bertram, which must have been satisfactory, or he would hardly have +uttered the laughing remark about the treasures in his pockets. What +did he mean? He had glanced so meaningly as he spoke, first at Eva and +then at Leo. Heydeck was restless and impatient,--he guessed that one +short hour might decide his fate, and yet he could not understand how +the decision could be fortunate for him. He could conceive but of one +happy future, and that seemed unattainable. He loved Eva with a +passionate devotion which the familiar intercourse of the past few +weeks had deepened tenfold. He knew that his love was returned, +although no word that could betray his devotion to her had ever passed +his lips. He had never transgressed the bounds of friendship, nor had +she ever given him the slightest right to do so. + +The consciousness that she was not indifferent towards him enchanted +him, but at the same time it filled him with a despair that would often +wellnigh overcome him when he was alone in his room standing in rapt +contemplation of the picture,--the work not of his hand but of his +heart. Eva's dark eyes gazed at him from the canvas with a look that +seemed to promise the fulfilment of his boldest hopes, and in gazing he +was sometimes beguiled into delicious dreams, from which he was +startled by the consciousness of reality, and a stern voice within him +crying, "Lost, lost forever!" + +He knew that Paul could force Bertram to resign all pretensions to +Eva's hand, but even if Eva should be free she was still lost to him. +Could he, a poor artist, whose future life must be one of hard labour, +aspire to the hand of the millionaire heiress? He had sacrificed to his +principles a brilliant military career, his entire future, and even his +father's affections. Could he be untrue to himself now? Honour forbade +his ever addressing a word of love to Eva Schommer,--she was too rich! + +When he wandered beside her through the lovely scenes among which their +daily excursions were made, and she talked frankly and unrestrainedly +with him, he could not but resign himself to the spell of her presence, +but when he was once more alone those two words, 'too rich,' +annihilated every hope within him. And now, while he awaited Paul's +return, they destroyed all his anticipations of pleasure,--there could +be no happiness for him whatever might be the result of Delmar's +interview with Bertram; this was the verdict of his reason, but +nevertheless his heart rebelled against so cold a sentence, and +throbbed impatiently at the thought of his friend's return. + +It was not long before Paul and Hilda made their appearance beneath the +archway of the garden gate, arm in arm, their happiness so plainly to +be seen in the countenance of each, that Leo knew, and Eva, Herwarth, +and Aline suspected, what had happened, and hastened to meet them. + +Paul received them with a laugh. "I see," he said, giving his hand to +Leo, "you guess what I have to tell you, but nevertheless I am not +going to be defrauded of the pleasure of presenting to you my lovely +betrothed, Hilda von Heydeck. The betrothal has duly taken place, and I +beseech your congratulations." + +They were given in fullest measure. As Leo grasped his hand, Kuno +reminded him of how, four weeks before, he had exclaimed, "Number One!" +and had declared that he would purchase such bliss, not only with a +miserable foot, but with his head. + +"Exactly, I said so, and I repeat it," Paul replied, with a gayety +which had its root however in deep earnestness. "Only fortunately, +noble knight, the sacrifice of my head, which was nearer to being +consummated than you dream of, was not required. I said 'Number One' +then, never thinking that this lovely fairy would make me the happy +'Number Two.' Now we must find a 'Number Three,' that the trefoil may +be perfect." + +Then turning to Eva, he whispered, so as to be heard by her alone, "Is +there do hope, Fräulein Schommer, of your aid in making a happy 'Number +Three'?" + +Eva did not reply, save by a blush and a reproving glance, which +assured Delmar he was understood, as she turned to Hilda and warmly +wished her every happiness. Her reproving look, however, glanced +harmlessly aside from Paul's armour of gayety, he only nodded and +laughed, as he continued aloud, "Number Two is proud and happy to +return thanks to his friends for their kind congratulations, which he +receives as the result of his share of the treasures which he brought +with him to Castle Reifenstein. It was due to my position as confirmed +egotist to provide for my own welfare first; now I am at liberty to +fulfil other duties which I have undertaken. I have certain interesting +communications to make to Fräulein Schommer. Will she kindly grant me +an audience of a few minutes?" + +Eva looked up at him, confused and in doubt, but he suddenly dropped +his jesting tone and continued very gravely, "You owe the interview I +request both to me and to yourself. Pray add your entreaty, Hilda, to +mine." + +Hilda smiled; she knew what Paul wished to say to Eva; he had briefly +informed her on their way to the garden, and she eagerly seconded his +request, and proposed that she herself should conduct Leo, Aline, and +Herwarth through one wing of the castle, while Delmar showed Eva +through the other, and that they should then all meet in the large +hall. As she made this proposal she exchanged a glance of secret +understanding with Paul. + +Eva still hesitated, but Paul would take no refusal. He offered her his +arm and led her through the garden across the courtyard and up the +grand staircase to the wing in which were Leo's apartments. On the way +he pointed out to her everything of interest in the interior decoration +and architecture of the ancient pile, calling especial attention to the +massive antique furniture of some of the rooms. At any other time all +this would have been especially interesting to Eva, but to-day she +scarcely looked at all the rare antiquities, and even at last ventured +to interrupt the flow of Delmar's antiquarian enthusiasm, saying, "You +certainly had something else to say to me, Herr Delmar, when you asked +me for this _tête-à-tête_." + +"You are right, Fräulein Eva," Paul replied, hastening along the dim +corridor, at the end of which was Leo's studio. "I will no longer +excite your curiosity, since we have reached the room which I think the +most appropriate place in which to tell you what I have to say." + +He opened the door of a room which Eva entered. "Have you any idea of +where we are?" Paul asked. The girl looked about her at the comfortable +arrangements of the room, and her glance suddenly fell upon the easel, +from which a face which she could not but recognize, regarded her with +a gentle smile. The tears rushed to her eyes,--she knew well where she +was, and with a burning blush she turned instantly to leave the room. + +"You are unkind. I have not deserved this," she said, in a tone of soft +reproach, as she laid her hand upon the door-latch. + +Delmar, however, prevented her from opening the door; he took her hand +and gently led her to the easel. "You must not, Fräulein Eva," he said +earnestly, "at such a moment as this give any consideration to mere +conventionalities. This is a turning-point in your existence. Look at +this picture. You know who has painted it, and you know that Leo's hand +never could have executed so true a presentment of yourself if your +image did not fill his heart and soul,--if you were not present at all +moments to his mental vision. Far more convincingly than in words must +this picture tell you of his entire devotion to you, and it is for this +that I have brought you here." + +"You are cruel!" was Eva's only reply. She had withdrawn her hand from +Paul's, but she no longer thought of fleeing from the room. With +sensations both of rapture and of pain she contemplated the picture. +Yes, Delmar was right. The hand that had executed so true, so lifelike +a resemblance must have been guided by the heart. + +"I do not deserve your reproach," Delmar continued. "My only desire in +bringing you here is to make you happy; you must see for yourself the +truth of what I once told you of Leo. And now since there can be no +doubt in your mind of the intensity of his affection for you, I may +give you the letter which Herr von Bertram sends you through me." + +He handed Eva Bertram's letter and watched her narrowly as she took it, +half in surprise and half in terror, and read its contents. + +He hoped to see her lovely features illumined by joy at her release, +and gratitude to the messenger of freedom, but he was bitterly +disappointed. Eva's face, so far from beaming with joy, expressed only +profound sorrow, and a tear fell upon the paper as she read. When she +had finished, her hands dropped at her sides and she gazed at Delmar +with eyes filled with grief and regret. + +"I thank you, Herr Delmar," she said gently. "I will preserve this +letter as my most precious treasure. Although every line is a reproach +to me for the weakness which at present prevents me from appreciating +the happiness it should bring me, in time I shall conquer this +weakness. I will read the noble words again and again, and they shall +strengthen me if I should ever falter in the path which duty clearly +points out for me to pursue. I will leave Tausens this evening. I dare +not see Herr von Heydeck again. I pray you conduct me immediately to +the inn; tell your friends how it grieves me to part from them, but +that I now know my duty and cannot act differently." + +Paul's astonishment and dismay at Eva's words are hard to describe; he +had imagined all this so differently; he had anticipated with such +certainty her thanks to him for her release, and now---- "I cannot +understand you," he cried, in great agitation. "You wish to go to +Tausens,--to leave without seeing Leo again? What reasons under the sun +can you have for such a course? That letter releases you!" + +"You are mistaken, Herr Delmar," Eva replied with dignity. "I am less +free now than ever before. I have to atone for grievous wrong done to +my betrothed." It was the first time that she had ever thus designated +Bertram. "He was a victim of the wretched mistrust of every one from +which my soul has so long suffered as from some disease. I believed +that he loved, not myself, but my wealth, and therefore I treated him +with cold severity,--yes, even with insulting harshness. I did not know +the nobility of his character. I have learned it from the lofty +self-renunciation of this letter. My eyes are at last opened. He has +already sacrificed his future to me, and now for my sake renounces his +last hope. To make me happy he gives me back my promise; but I will not +accept this sacrifice at his hands. I know my duty and will fulfil it!" + +"Good God, what nonsense! This is sheer madness!" Delmar cried, almost +beside himself. "Is not that letter my----" He stopped short. He could +not possibly tell Eva how he had occupied himself with her affairs of +late, and that he had dictated Bertram's epistle in the hope of sparing +her feelings. What was to be done in view of Eva's inconceivable +resolve he could not see; he paced the room to and fro, racking his +brains for some way out of the dilemma which was of his own +fabrication. + +"Herr Delmar, let me pray you to conduct me back to Tausens," Eva said, +at last. + +"No, Fräulein Eva; you must not leave the castle without seeing Leo. +You are mistaken about Bertram; you do not know your own heart. I will +not let you act so hastily." + +"I know my duty, and nothing that you can say will hinder me from its +performance." + +"Madness, sheer madness! my brain fairly reels at such insanity! What +is to be done with these conscientious people who, from a pure sense of +duty, sacrifice themselves and their dearest friends to confer +happiness upon blockheads and scoundrels? You know your duty! Do you +owe no duty then to yourself and to Leo, who loves you passionately and +will be unutterably wretched if you run after that scoundrel?" + +"Herr Delmar! I will permit no such expressions with regard to my +betrothed, whose noble heart I have learned to know, alas, too late. If +you will not conduct me to Tausens I must find the way thither myself, +for I must not and will not see Herr von Heydeck again!" + +Eva could not however fulfil this intention in spite of her firm +resolve to do so, for scarcely had she spoken when hasty steps were +heard in the corridor, the door opened, and Hilda entered with Leo, +Aline, and Herwarth, and followed also by Eva's servant, honest +Wilhelm, his sheepish face quite crimson with hurry and agitation. + +"Forgive us, Eva dear, for coming for you so soon," said Hilda, "we +could not help it, for your servant was anxious to see you instantly; +he brings very extraordinary tidings from Tausens." + +"Do not be frightened, my darling," Aline whispered, putting her arm +around her friend. "Be sure that whatever has happened, although it may +cause you momentary pain, will conduce to your happiness." + +"But what has happened? Do not keep me in suspense, Aline!" Eva +exclaimed. + +Aline beckoned to Wilhelm, who came forward and told, as well as he +could, all that Uncle Balthasar had commissioned him to say. The story +was confused enough; the fellow was so agitated and embarrassed that he +hardly knew what he was saying, but from his rambling tale his hearers +gathered that Herr von Bertram had run off with pretty Nanette, who had +stolen Aunt Minni's purse full of money out of her bureau, and that +Uncle Balthasar was afraid they had taken the ebony casket besides. + +"Impossible!" Eva exclaimed indignantly; "the man who could write this +letter is incapable of such baseness. I appeal to you, Herr Delmar, to +vindicate Herr von Bertram." + +"I could not if I would," said Delmar, whose good humour had been +entirely restored by Wilhelm's tale, and who had even laughed when +Wilhelm mentioned Uncle Balthasar's fears lest Bertram and Nanette +together had stolen the ebony casket. + +"You must, Herr Delmar! You yourself brought me Bertram's letter, and +you know its contents." + +"Only too well, and that is just why I cannot undertake the writer's +defence. But even I agree that we should not condemn the fugitives +without proof positive of their guilt. We must instantly return to the +village and learn the truth. You, Leo, will of course accompany us. My +darling," he whispered to Hilda, "you must come too,--we must all be +together to celebrate Number Three's betrothal." + +"Did you succeed?" Hilda whispered. + +"Not yet," Delmar replied, in as low a tone. "I have been a terrible +blockhead, but, fortunately, this Bertram is a worse rogue, and his +roguery will stand us in as good stead as my wisdom could have done." + +Paul's proposal to go instantly to Tausens was of course put into +immediate execution. Naturally, on the way thither the lovers walked +together, and there was nothing for Eva to do but to accept Leo's +escort. She walked at his side in extreme confusion, not daring to lift +her eyes to his. + +"Are you offended, Fräulein Schommer?" Leo asked, after they had gone +on for some time in silence. + +"What right have I to be offended?" + +"You certainly have a right if you think that I permitted Paul to take +you to my room to show you the picture which you never should have +seen. I swear to you that I had not the faintest idea of my friend's +intention, or I should not have allowed him to fulfil it. He has +offended you, and me through you, in permitting you to see what was +utterly unworthy to be shown to any one, and I shall certainly take him +to task for so doing." + +"I am not offended," Eva replied in a faltering voice. + +"You must be, Fräulein Eva! It must vex you that I should have dared, +without your permission, to paint your picture from memory, but I give +you my honour that Delmar saw it only by accident, that I never would +voluntarily have shown it to him, and that you never ought to have +known of its existence." + +Eva did not reply, and the rest of the way to Tausens was passed in +perfect silence. + +When the party arrived at the inn, they found the wildest confusion and +excitement prevailing there. The postmistress and Dr. Atzinger, with +the men and maids of the house and several peasants, were standing in a +group before the door talking eagerly. They parted and made way for the +newcomers to enter the inn. + +"This is a most unfortunate day!" Dr. Atzinger whispered to Delmar, +detaining him as he would have passed him. "Dr. Putzer, who seemed so +wonderfully well this morning, is dead. He wished to rest after his +conversation with you, and when I went to his room half an hour +afterwards, I found him dead in his bed. I hastened hither to let you +know of it, and have just heard what has happened here. These are +strange occurrences!" + +The intelligence of the doctor's death did not surprise Delmar,--he +could not pause now to reflect upon its suddenness. As briefly as +possible he instructed Dr. Atzinger to make arrangements for a suitable +funeral, and then hurried after his friends up the stairs to the hall +into which the various apartments for the guests opened. + +Here they found Uncle Balthasar and Hansel pacing to and fro in eager +conversation, discussing the various discoveries that had been made in +Bertram's and Aunt Minni's apartments. From time to time Uncle +Balthasar stepped into his room, the door of which stood open, that he +might administer a few words of consolation to his wife, who lay +moaning on her sofa, returning shortly to continue his consultation +with the postmaster as to what had best be done,--a consultation in +which neither had arrived at any conclusion. + +The good old man was awaiting his niece's arrival with the greatest +impatience, and from Herr Delmar, in whom he had implicit confidence, +he looked for instant advice. He had constantly assured his Minni that +Delmar would know exactly how to compel the waiting-maid to relinquish +her booty. His heart was lightened of its load when the party from the +castle made their appearance. "Thank God, my dear, that you are come!" +he exclaimed, cordially embracing his niece. "What to think of this +confounded affair I'm sure I can't tell!" + +And Uncle Balthasar went on to tell as well as he could what there was +to be told; his good heart rebelled at the thought of the possibility +that his dear Guido had run off with a thief, but proof seemed too +strong for him; he had with difficulty prevented the postmaster from +sending a couple of men on horseback in pursuit of the fugitives; he +would not resort to so extreme a measure without consulting his niece +and Herr Delmar. + +Neither, until this moment, had Eva believed in Bertram's guilt, but +now, when the postmaster showed her into Bertram's room where the floor +was strewed with linen and articles of clothing, and held up to her the +two gilt handles which she recognized as those belonging to her casket; +when he related to her and to all that he had found Bertram's door +locked, and had opened it with a master-key; that Nanette had driven +off in the carriage with Bertram; that he had helped him lift his +portmanteau into the vehicle, and had wondered at its weight; that the +box, if it were stolen, must have been packed into the portmanteau, or +it would have been seen,--all these revelations wellnigh destroyed +Eva's confidence. + +And there was other ground for suspicion of the fugitives. Nanette had +been in Aunt Minni's room just before her departure, and Aunt Minni had +left the key in the drawer where she kept her purse. The purse was now +gone. + +Uncle Balthasar had first suspected from the finding of the metal +handles in Bertram's room that the waiting-maid had stolen Eva's +casket; he could not believe in Bertram's guilt. What lover would steal +his betrothed's money and jewels! Still it was strange that the handles +should be found in Bertram's room where his clothes were scattered +about. Hansel besides maintained that the box could have left the inn +only in Bertram's portmanteau. + +There was still however a doubt as to whether the ebony casket were +really gone. The door leading from the hall into Eva's room was locked, +and Hansel had found, upon trying to open it with his master-key, that +it was also bolted inside. He had tried to enter the room from +Bertram's apartment, but his key was constructed only for the doors +opening upon the hall, and they had not yet been able to inspect the +interior of Eva's room. + +Neither Hansel nor Uncle Balthasar had thought of sending for the +locksmith to force the lock; this simple expedient was now suggested by +Delmar, and the village locksmith opened the door without difficulty. +The casket was missing, and there was no longer any room for doubt as +to who had stolen it; even Uncle Balthasar declared indignantly that +his dear Guido was neither more nor less than a common thief. + +"Did the casket contain articles of value?" Delmar asked. + +"All my jewels and my dear father's last gift to me, with a sum of +money, the amount of which I do not precisely know." + +"But I can tell you, my pet, that it must have been four thousand +thalers, at least," said Uncle Balthasar. + +"The scoundrel shall not escape with his booty!" Paul exclaimed. "Herr +Postmaster, have your two fleetest horses saddled. Leo, you and I will +pursue the rascal, and if we cannot catch him we'll send a telegram +after him." + +The postmaster would have obeyed, but Eva prevented him. "You must not +think of any pursuit, Herr Delmar," she said pleadingly. "Even although +Herr von Bertram should be guilty, I would not for the world have him +apprehended as a thief. And I cannot believe in his guilt; his +letter----" + +Paul laughed. "That magnificent letter again! There is nothing left for +me but to make a clean breast of my sins; only to you however, and to +my dear Hilda, from whom I have promised never to have a secret. Will +you come out on the balcony with Hilda and me and listen to me for a +few moments?" + +With a blush Eva acquiesced. She put her hand within Hilda's arm and +went out upon the balcony. Delmar followed them, whispering to Kuno as +he passed him, "Pray be ready, my noble knight. As soon as I call bring +every one out upon the balcony. I make you responsible for Leo; bring +him, by fair means or foul, living or dead; only bring him." + +"What are you about now?" + +"Number Three! Some people must have happiness thrust upon them. Bring +me Leo!" + +"You shall have him," Kuno smilingly assured him, in a low tone; and to +make sure, after a few whispered words to Aline, he took Leo's arm and +walked to and fro in the hall with him, consulting as to the best means +for the recovery of Fräulein Eva's casket. + +Meanwhile, Paul had joined Eva and Hilda upon the balcony. He had +promised to make a full confession of his sins, and he did so, telling +Eva with entire frankness how he had known for a long time of Bertram's +utter worthlessness. He did not conceal the fact that he had not +intended at first to open her eyes to the true character of her +betrothed, and that his determination to do so had been the result of +the more intimate acquaintance with her which had reversed his former +harsh judgment of her, and of the knowledge that Leo loved her and was +perhaps loved in return. + +As frankly he explained to her that he had delayed unmasking Bertram +until Leo and herself should have had time to learn to know each other, +and until Leo's affection should have grown so intense as to break down +the stubborn pride that forbade his passion for the heiress. Paul +concluded by confessing that he had that very morning forced Bertram to +write the 'lofty-minded' letter, every word of which he had dictated +himself, and that he had thus driven the desperate man to shameless +robbery. + +One fact however Delmar suppressed: he said no word of the sum he had +paid Bertram as the price of the letter. "My tale is ended," Paul +concluded, "and is, after all, only a continuation of our conversation +in Leo's room at the castle. You then said, in conclusion, 'I must not +and will not see Herr von Heydeck again.' Tell me frankly, Fräulein +Eva, will you not reverse that decree?" + +While Delmar spoke, Eva had listened with her mind and heart in an +uproar of conflicting emotions. She felt indignation and disgust at +Bertram's baseness, and she was covered with shame that she should ever +have had the slightest confidence in him or given him a right to claim +her hand. At the same time she was conscious of an ecstatic sense that +she was saved from infinite peril; that she was free from the +disgraceful fetters that had bound her, and that she might aspire to +the fulfilment of her wildest dreams of happiness. She looked +gratefully into Paul's eyes as he put this last question to her, and +said frankly and honestly, "Yes!" + +For which Hilda threw her arms around her and embraced her tenderly, +while Paul called out, "All's well that ends well! Come all of +you,--Kuno, Leo, Uncle Balthasar!"---- + +And they came: Herwarth laughing as he conducted Leo, Uncle Balthasar +wondering where there was any cause for merriment, and Aline hastening +to embrace her friend. + +"Come here, Fortune's favourite that you are!" Paul called out to the +astonished Leo. "By the right which I possess, as your elder and wiser +friend, and which I have won over the lovely Eva by former service, I +herewith place her dear hand in yours, and proclaim you the happy +Number Three!" Then turning to the rest he said, "Dear friends, I ask +your congratulations for the newly-betrothed pair, Eva Schommer and Leo +von Heydeck. May all the good the gods provide for happy lovers be +theirs!" + +"Amen!" said Kuno; and Uncle Balthasar added his voice, although he did +not yet understand what it was all about. + +Leo heard the words spoken, uncertain whether he were awake or +dreaming; he held Eva's hand in his,--she did not withdraw it, and when +he looked into her blushing face her eyes met his own. A happy smile +was upon her lips. She certainly did not resent Delmar's words, however +surprised she might be. He pressed her hand, and felt a gentle pressure +in return. + +Was Paul jesting? Leo asked himself. In Eva's beaming eyes he read what +destroyed in an instant the foolish prejudice that had separated him +from his love. He forgot the pride that would have held him aloof from +her; he forgot the miserable words 'too rich!' Love conquered; he bent +above Eva, and said in low intense tones, "You do not repulse me? You +are then my own forever?" + +And as he heard her whispered 'yes' he forgot everything but his great +happiness, and imprinted his first kiss upon her lips. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + +There was a larger assemblage of officers than usual beneath Büchner's +awning,--almost every seat was occupied. After early parade the young +men had resorted thither to discuss the entertainments to which the +evening was to be devoted, and various civilians also belonging to the +aristocracy had lounged into Büchner's to enjoy the ices for which the +restaurant was famous, and which were particularly tempting on so warm +a July day as the present. + +One of these latter, a young man of distinguished appearance, had taken +a foremost seat near the iron railing, against which he had negligently +propped his feet in the same attitude as that assumed by his neighbour, +a cavalry officer, while both rocked gently to and fro in their tilted +chairs. The young civilian held in his hand a newspaper, which however +he did not read, his attention being entirely devoted to the promenade +and the many handsome equipages with their fair occupants that were +perpetually rolling past. + +In one of these the brilliant beauty of a young lady especially excited +his admiration. She was sitting beside an aged officer with whom she +was conversing gayly as she gracefully acknowledged the respectful +salutations of many of the officers, and greeted with a special smile +the young dragoon before mentioned, who relinquished his negligent +attitude while her carriage was passing, and stood up to salute her. + +"An exquisitely lovely girl!" the civilian said to his neighbour. "I +envy you the smile she gave you, Count Waldheim. One might almost +barter his soul for such a glance and smile. Tell me who she is, and +why I have never been presented to her." + +"I can further your wishes in the matter of an introduction, Count," +Waldheim replied. "I am quite intimate at Frau von Heydeck's, and, +although they are rather exclusive, I think I can obtain permission to +introduce a friend." + +"Frau von Heydeck? Married? I am bitterly disappointed," said Count +Tiefstetten. + +"You will have to relinquish all thoughts of conquest there," said +Waldheim, laughing, "for Frau von Heydeck is not only a wife, but the +happiest woman in the world, still desperately in love with her +husband, who deserves it. He is a charming fellow, a nobleman in the +truest sense of the word, and with a brilliant reputation as an artist +besides." + +"An artist?" Count Tiefstetten asked, in amazement. "And his wife +drives in a splendid equipage with those magnificent horses?" + +"It is easy to see that you have been abroad for some years and are +just returned among us, or you would hardly ask such a question. Leo +von Heydeck's picture, at our art exhibition last spring, a full-length +of his wife, established his reputation as an artist, and he is besides +one of the wealthiest men in our city. His wife, who was a Fräulein +Schommer, was a great heiress. But he is an eccentric fellow in spite +of his wealth. His habits are as simple as if he were obliged to work +with his brush for his living, and he persists in his eccentricities, +although his father the old colonel, whom you saw just now seated +beside Frau von Heydeck, is highly indignant with him for doing so. Leo +von Heydeck is not an amateur artist; art is his profession. He sells +his pictures, which command very high prices, and supports himself +entirely upon the proceeds of his profession, never making any use of +his wife's income. You never even see him in her brilliant equipage. If +you like, and do not mind paying a high price, you can order your +portrait of him." + +"Very odd! And what does his wife say to these whims?" + +"Oh, she adores him! I verily believe she would like to throw her +wealth to the winds and struggle along with him as the wife of a poor +artist. It is owing entirely to her that old Colonel von Heydeck, Leo's +father, who has always held in sovereign contempt all daubers who +support themselves by the work of their hands, and who was furious at +his son's ways, is nevertheless reconciled to him. The old fellow could +not withstand the charms of his lovely daughter-in-law, who is ready to +gratify his every whim. He is fairly in love with her himself, and has +given up his love of retirement, taking up his abode in her charming +villa, and living in perfect concord with her and her old uncle, +Balthasar Schommer. He drives with her daily, and she has so thoroughly +tamed the old bear that he consents to visit his son's studio +frequently, and even begins to be proud of his work." + +"They must be very remarkable people. I am more curious than ever to +know them, and I rely upon your promise to present me to Frau von +Heydeck." + +"I will do what I can, but as I told you, the Heydecks are very +exclusive." + +"They do not entertain, then?" + +"A small circle, frequently. There is no house in the city where I have +had pleasanter evenings than at theirs, although they never give large +parties. Leo is a queer fellow; he hates grand entertainments, and is +happy only in the society of his intimates, artists, and men of +science. In these tastes he is upheld by his friend and cousin, the +wealthy Herr Delmar, and by another friend and former comrade, a Herr +von Herwarth, with all of whom he and his wife are upon terms of the +greatest intimacy." + +"Who is this Delmar? Bourgeois, I suppose; some relative of the lovely +Frau von Heydeck?" + +"No; he is married to a cousin of his friend Leo, a daughter of an +uncle who died about six months since. He was an early friend of Leo's, +and by his marriage is still more closely united with him. He is also +excessively intimate with the third in the small circle, Herr von +Herwarth, who married Frau von Heydeck's dearest friend. All three were +married on the same day, and have since lived on terms of the closest +intimacy. + +"Leo, as I said, is upheld in his eccentric ways by Delmar, who is +enormously wealthy and a very queer fellow too. He will give immensely +to any artistic or scientific enterprise, in support of which Heydeck +too will draw upon his wife's means, but neither of them has the least +idea of the enjoyment their money might bring them. + +"Delmar, to be sure, is something of a gourmand, but he is far from +knowing how to spend his millions. He might easily purchase a title and +orders, he might easily enter the court-circles, but he cares nothing +for such things. Nevertheless he is an excessively interesting man, +whom every one is happy to meet, and he is much respected for his +benevolence and generosity. + +"I in especial have cause to hold him in high esteem, for about a year +ago he did me a great service in unmasking a certain scoundrel whom I +had until then considered to be a man of honour, and my friend Delmar +deserves the gratitude of the entire corps of officers for effecting +the resignation in disgrace of the rogue, a Herr von Bertram." + +"Bertram? Guido von Bertram?" asked Count Tiefstetten. + +"Exactly; that was the fellow's name. Do you know him?" + +"I think I do. I knew a certain Herr Guido von Bertram slightly about +half a year ago in Saxony. He frequented the gaming-tables there. He +was frequently seen with a very pretty woman, who called herself Frau +von Bertram; but who, I was told, was not really his wife. He was said +to be a professional gamester, and I rather avoided him during my stay +in Saxony. I should hardly have remembered the name when you mentioned +it had I not seen it half an hour ago in the newspaper. There is the +paragraph, read it yourself." + +Count Waldheim took the paper offered him by Count Tiefstetten, and +read, "We have news from Florence which cannot fail to make a stir in +our aristocratic circles. It concerns the scion of one of our most +distinguished families, a Herr Guido von Bertram, who was a year ago +the hero of a scandalous scene at Büchner's restaurant. On that +occasion, in our account of the affair, we suppressed the names. Herr +von Bertram was obliged to resign from the army in disgrace, and to-day +there is no reason why we should spare him, since he will shortly +receive his punishment as a common swindler and thief. We therefore +give to our readers the letter which we have received from our special +correspondent in Florence: + +"'The arrest of a German nobleman, a Herr Guido von B----, is the talk +of the day here. You hear him discussed everywhere, and the most +contradictory reports are abroad with regard to his antecedents and the +reason for his arrest. We have the following intelligence from a +trustworthy source: + +"'About six months ago Herr von B---- appeared here in Florence, +renting superb apartments, where he lived in splendid style. He +appeared at the theatre with his wife, who was not exactly handsome but +very attractive in appearance, and who excited considerable attention +by her brilliant toilettes, and especially by a magnificent parure of +diamonds which she wore. + +"'Herr von B---- easily effected an entrance into our fashionable +circles where he played his part as a wealthy man of the world, +although it was noticed that the manners and culture of Madame von +B---- by no means corresponded with her elegant appearance. Very +unfavourable reports concerning the lady and the freedom of her +behaviour, and even with regard to her relations with her husband, were +shortly in circulation. It was said that the aristocratic couple +quarrelled after a most plebeian fashion, and that Herr von B---- even +maltreated his wife. + +"'In consequence of these reports certain houses closed their doors +against the pair; others however were less particular, and the wealthy +German nobleman was still received, especially at entertainments where +there was sure to be high play. + +"'Herr von B---- understood so well how to maintain an appearance of +wealth that he easily found credit whenever he wanted money. (One of +our principal bankers has discounted his note to a large amount.) And +he would perhaps have continued to play his part among us had not an +accident induced our police to put him under surveillance. In fact, +they received very strange information from a young German, Wilhelm +Schultz by name, the servant of a nobleman but lately arrived in +Florence from M----. Schultz saw Herr von B---- and his wife adorned +with her diamonds in the theatre, and instantly recognized the latter +as a former waiting-maid in a wealthy family where he had been footman. +He informed the police that Herr von B---- had been betrothed to an +heiress, but had eloped with her waiting-maid, stealing and carrying +off at the same time a casket containing a large sum of money and a +rich parure of diamonds. + +"'The information appeared incredible; but the story was maintained +with such persistence that the police authorities felt themselves +compelled to investigate the matter, and the result is that Herr von +B---- proves to be a thorough-paced gamester and an arch swindler, who +has procured large sums of money upon forged notes of hand. His arrest +took place at the railroad depot, just as he was about to leave +Florence forever. Upon his person was found the diamond parure worn by +his wife, whom he had left without letting her know whither he was +going. + +"'The noble pair are now quite harmless. The former waiting-maid has +made a full confession, confirming all that was stated by Wilhelm +Schultz. After the theft of the diamonds, which was effected in the +Tyrol, she came with her betrayer--who promised to marry her, but never +kept his promise--to Italy, where he led her from place to place, so +maltreating her that she declares that she would have left him but for +fear of starvation in a strange country. The diamonds in which she made +such a show are the property of her former mistress. + +"'Herr von B---- boldly denies the truth of her tale, but as there is +abundant proof against him in the forged notes of hand, he will not +escape due punishment.'" + +The correspondent's words were verified. A month later 'dear Guido' was +condemned to several years' imprisonment with hard labour. Nanette was +left at large. She could only have been prosecuted for theft, and as +neither Frau Schommer nor Frau von Heydeck proceeded to such a measure, +she went unpunished, although the diamonds were taken from her and +returned to their rightful owner, Frau von Heydeck. Wilhelm Schultz, +doubtless, having suffered from her wiles, would have gladly seen the +waiting-maid sent to jail, but he was forced to be satisfied with the +probability that her future fate would be far from prosperous. + + + + FOOTNOTE: + +[Footnote 1: Meadows high up on the mountains, where the wealthy +peasants pasture their cattle in summer.] + + + + THE END. + + + + + + + _PUBLICATIONS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO._ + + * * * * * + + THE WORKS OF E. MARLITT. + TRANSLATED BY MRS. A. L. WISTER. + + + _AT THE COUNCILLOR'S_; + OR, A NAMELESS HISTORY. + + Sixth Edition, 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.75. + +"Pure in tone, elegant in style, and overflowing with the tender and +openly-expressed sentiment which characterizes human romance in +Germany."--_Worcester Spy_. + + + _THE SECOND WIFE_. + + Twelfth Edition, 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.75. + +"A German story of intense interest by one of the best-known writers of +romance of that country."--_Washington Chronicle_. + + + _THE OLD MAM'SELLE'S SECRET_. + + Eleventh Edition, 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +"It is one of the most intense, concentrated, compact novels of the +day.... And the work has the minute fidelity of the author of the +'Initials,' the dramatic unity of Reade, and the graphic power of +George Eliot."--_Columbus, Ohio, Journal_. + + + _GOLD ELSIE_. + + Ninth Edition, 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +"'Gold Elsie' is one of the loveliest heroines ever introduced to the +public."--_Boston Advertiser_. + +"A charming book. It absorbs your attention from the title-page to the +end."--_The Chicago Home Circle_. + +"A charming story charmingly told."--_Baltimore Gazette_. + + + _THE LITTLE MOORLAND PRINCESS_. + + Sixth Edition. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +"A charming story."--_New York Observer_. + +"The plot is admirably contrived."--_Philadelphia Evening Bulletin_. + +"Delightful for the exquisite manner in which its characters are +drawn."--_Boston Evening Traveller_. + + + _COUNTESS GISELA_. + + Sixth Edition. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +"One of the very best of its class, and is a genuine representation of +court, burgher, and rural life in Germany. The translation is spirited +and faithful."--_Philadelphia Press_. + +"There is more dramatic power in this than in any of the stories by the +same author that we have read."--_N. O. Times_. + + + + TRANSLATED BY MRS. ELGARD. + + + _OVER YONDER_. + + Fifth Edition. 8vo. With full-page Illustration. Paper, 30 Cts. + +"'Over Yonder' is a charming novelette. 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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: Too Rich + A Romance + +Author: Adolph Streckfuss + +Translator: A. L. Wister + +Release Date: January 17, 2011 [EBook #34995] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOO RICH *** + + + + +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/tooricharomance00stregoog</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>POPULAR WORKS AFTER THE GERMAN,</h1> + +<h4>AFTER THE GERMAN,</h4> + +<h3>BY MRS. A. L. WISTER.</h3> + +<hr class="W10"> + +<p class="hang1"><b>A FAMILY FEUD</b>. After the German of <span class="sc">Ludwig Harder</span>. 12mo. Fine cloth. +$1.25.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><b>AT THE COUNCILLOR'S</b>; or, A Nameless History. After the German of <span class="sc">E. Marlitt</span>. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.75.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><b>THE SECOND WIFE</b>. After the German of <span class="sc">E. Marlitt</span>. 12mo. Fine cloth. +$1.75.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><b>THE OLD MAM'SELLE'S SECRET</b>. After the German of <span class="sc">E. Marlitt</span>. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.50.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><b>GOLD ELSIE</b>. After the German of <span class="sc">E. Marlitt</span>. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><b>COUNTESS GISELA</b>. After the German of <span class="sc">E. Marlitt</span>. 12mo. Fine cloth. +$1.50.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><b>THE LITTLE MOORLAND PRINCESS</b>. After the German of <span class="sc">E. Marlitt</span>. 12mo. +Fine cloth. $1.50.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><b>THE GREEN GATE</b>. After the German of <span class="sc">Ernst Wichert</span>. 12mo. Fine cloth. +$1.75.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><b>ONLY A GIRL</b>. After the German of <span class="sc">Wilhelmine von Hillern</span>. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.75.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><b>ENCHANTING AND ENCHANTED</b>; or, Fairy Spells. From the German of +<span class="sc">Hackländer</span>. Illustrated. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><b>WHY DID HE NOT DIE?</b> After the German of <span class="sc">Ad. von Volckhausen</span>. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.75.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><b>HULDA</b>; or, <span class="sc">The Deliverer</span>. After the German of <span class="sc">F. Lewald</span>. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.75.</p> + +<hr class="W10"> + +<p class="normal">*<sub>*</sub>* For sale by all Booksellers, or will be sent by mail, postage paid, +upon receipt of price by</p> +<p class="right"><b><i>J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., Publishers, +Philadelphia</i></b>.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>TOO RICH</h1> +<br> + +<h2>A ROMANCE</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>AFTER THE GERMAN</h4> +<h5>OF</h5> +<h3>ADOLPH STRECKFUSS</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>BY MRS. A. L WISTER</h3> +<h5>TRANSLATOR OF "THE SECOND WIFE," "ONLY A GIRL," "THE OLD<br> +MAM'SELLE'S SECRET," "HULDA," "A FAMILY FEUD," ETC.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3><span class="sc2"><b>PHILADELPHIA</b></span><br> +J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.<br> +1878</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<hr class="W20"> +<p class="center">Copyright, 1878, by <span class="sc">J. B. Lippincott & Co</span>.</p> +<hr class="W20" style="margin-top:-9pt"> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>TOO RICH.</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">It was a very warm day in summer. The lindens on either side the broad +promenade drooped their thirsty dusty leaves above the pedestrians +sauntering beneath their shade. These loitered along as slowly as +possible, but the heat was really too oppressive, and many of them soon +turned into narrower and cooler side streets, resigning all attempts to +meet the various acquaintances who usually at noon thronged the gay +promenade of K----. Others indeed took refuge beneath the tempting +awning of some one of the various fashionable restaurants on the +promenade, where, secluded from the burning rays of the midday sun, +they refreshed themselves with ices, and were at leisure to recognize +and criticise all who drove, rode, or walked past.</p> + +<p class="normal">On a day like the present "Büchner's restaurant," famous for its +sherbet, and a favourite lounging-place with young sprigs of fashion, +was sure to be thronged. Here might be seen the officers of the various +regiments in garrison at K---- and numerous civilians whose rank +entitled them to such distinguished companionship, and here the choice +of amusements for the evening was discussed,--whether, in spite of the +intense heat, the charms of the lovely S---- were sufficiently great to +make the theatre endurable, or whether preference should be given to an +open-air entertainment at some favourite concert-garden.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the world of fashion it was eminently 'the thing' to pass half an +hour every afternoon on the veranda beneath the awning at "Büchner's," +and consequently in the afternoon the place was so thronged that +scarcely a seat was to be had at any of the numerous tables there, +while on warm days it was quite full at noon, for there could hardly be +a more commodious and pleasant point of observation on the entire +promenade.</p> + +<p class="normal">The guests at Büchner's were of the most select,--to see that they were +so was a chief care with the attentive head of the establishment, who +thought no pains lost which secured to him the custom of the officers. +He still recalled with vivid melancholy the war-time, and the deserted +aspect of his veranda while it lasted; he knew that he owed his +brilliant success in business to the officers and to please them he +displayed the greatest zeal. Was he not always on the watch to keep +away from the veranda any persons supposed to be obnoxious to these +distinguished guests? All such, even although there was still room +beneath the awning, were shown to seats far back in the inmost recesses +of the place. Only to the young officers and their intimates of the +first rank in society was it permitted to lounge indolently upon the +veranda, their cigars in their mouths, their chairs tipped back, and +their legs resting either upon other chairs or upon the wrought-iron +balustrade, in which graceful and easy attitude they could observe the +passers-by at their leisure.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus elegantly posed on this same sunny noon, two young cavalry +officers were scanning, eye-glass in eye, the passers-by, negligently +returning the greetings of acquaintances, and, careless as to whether +their remarks were overheard or not, ruthlessly criticising in a loud +voice the occupants of the various equipages rolling by.</p> + +<p class="normal">In their immediate neighbourhood two infantry officers were seated near +the balustrade, scorning however the negligent attitude of the two +dragoons; one of them was reading a newspaper, while the other was +gazing out at the passers-by.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe you mean to learn that paper by heart, Leo," one of them, a +young fellow of about three-and-twenty, remarked to his comrade, his +senior by two or three years, and also in rank as the star upon his +shoulder indicated.</p> + +<p class="normal">The man thus addressed looked up with a smile, disclosing a handsome, +expressive countenance of a forcible manly type. His thick, fair +moustache became him well, concealing somewhat as it did the rather +hard outline of the mouth and thus softening a certain sternness of +expression which had characterized his face while absorbed in his +newspaper, but which vanished entirely as he smiled. The mild lustre of +large dark eyes made the handsome face still more attractive.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're an awful bore to-day, Leo," the younger man continued; "we've +been sitting here full half an hour, and you have hardly opened your +lips. I cannot imagine what you find to read in that wretched 'Daily +Post;' it makes me yawn only to look at it; nothing would induce me to +read a line of it; 'tis full of such stupid stuff in these tiresome +times of peace."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're mistaken; the proceedings in Chambers are extremely interesting +to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The proceedings in Chambers!" the other cried, with comical dismay. +"Good heavens, the fellow is reading politics! Leo, Leo, as your true +friend, I must warn you: you are in perilous paths; read everything +else that you choose,--the trashiest novels, and even poems if you +insist upon it, but no politics; you will lose caste. Already you are +looked upon askance as a genius, more than half an artist; if it should +be whispered about that you are a politician you are ruined, Leo. An +officer with an interest in politics is a lost man; if my warning voice +has any influence Leo von Heydeck shall never fall so low. Throw the +paper away, my dear fellow, and be a man; let us follow the example of +our comrades the dragoons, Herr von Bertram and Count Waldheim, and +criticise the lovely ladies driving past; this is just the time for it. +Look! there comes the fairest of the fair, the richest of the rich, the +loveliest of the lovely, divine Eva Schommer!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo von Heydeck suddenly dropped his newspaper and glanced in the +direction indicated by his friend, but on the instant his face +darkened; he hastily looked around him to observe the effect produced +upon the group of officers beneath the awning by the approach of the +celebrated beauty, and then quietly took up his paper again and seemed +to become more than ever absorbed in it. He did not even look up as the +barouche in which the object of so much admiration sat rolled past.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was, however, the only one upon the veranda who accorded no notice +to the fair occupant of the barouche; every officer present gazed after +her with the greatest interest, and some few, who had enjoyed the happy +privilege of an introduction, saluted her with distinguished courtesy. +Among these fortunate individuals were the two dragoons, Herr von +Bertram and Count Waldheim; as soon as they were aware of the approach +of the equipage each started up from his negligent attitude and +standing close behind the balustrade bowed low as if to some princess. +Certainly no princess could have acknowledged their salute with a +slighter or haughtier inclination of the head than that with which it +was received in this instance.</p> + +<p class="normal">Carelessly leaning back among the satin cushions of the elegant +barouche of which she was the sole occupant, Fräulein Eva Schommer +seemed to receive the homage offered her but as a fitting tribute to +her beauty; no smile played about her pensive mouth as she thus +slightly bowed, and her large dark eyes scarcely deigned to rest for an +instant upon the two dragoons. Suddenly her cheek flushed a little, and +a degree of animation lit up her face for an instant as she shot one +fleeting glance at the figure sitting absorbed in the newspaper and not +even looking up as her barouche drove past. The next minute she turned +away her head and replied most courteously to the passing salutation of +a rider, who cantered on a blood horse past her equipage.</p> + +<p class="normal">Like an apparition the barouche drawn by its pair of thoroughbreds +flashed past Büchner's awning and was soon lost to sight as it turned +almost immediately into a cross street. With it the degree of +excitement which its approach had produced also vanished; the two +dragoons took their seats again, put their feet up upon the rail of the +balustrade, and balanced themselves after their old elegant fashion.</p> + +<p class="normal">The younger infantry officer, who had also sprung from his seat and +bowed to the lady most courteously without however receiving any +acknowledgment in return, now resumed his seat, and regarded his friend +still zealously perusing the newspaper with immense astonishment. "This +is too much, Leo!" he exclaimed. "There you sit and never even look up +as she drives past; have you a heart of stone? You were the only one +whom she looked at; the only one of us to whom she deigned a glance, +and you pore over your politics all the while as if you meditated +mounting the rostrum yourself. 'Pon honour, Leo, she did bestow a look +upon you which would have driven many a fellow who had chanced to get +it wild."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must have been mistaken, Kuno," Leo replied, indifferently, +although his friend's words did not seem quite devoid of interest for +him, for he folded his paper and laid it aside; perhaps he had entirely +finished his perusal of the most interesting proceedings in Chambers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Kuno von Herwarth is never mistaken," the young officer said, with +mock heroism. "I beg you to remember that I said, 'Upon my honour she +bestowed a look upon you,' which entirely forbids all possibility of a +mistake on my part."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course," Leo replied, good-humouredly. "I do not doubt you for an +instant. Why should the young lady not have accorded us a fleeting +glance? I only cannot believe that it rested especially upon me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And why not? Were you not presented to Fräulein Schommer by her uncle +at the <i>fête-champêtre</i> at Schönsee?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"True: the young lady was so gracious as to accede to her uncle's +request on the occasion, and I could not without discourtesy refuse to +be presented."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Refuse to be presented? Really, Leo, I cannot understand you. There is +not one of our comrades who would not think himself lucky if he could +contrive an introduction to Fräulein Schommer, and you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not join in the universal adulation, the nonsensical idolatry, +offered to the lady," Leo interrupted his friend. "I very unwillingly +consented to be presented to her, and was justly punished for my +consent by the negligent hauteur with which I was received. She +scarcely deigned me a glance, and received the few polite remarks which +I made to her after my presentation in so indifferent a silence that I +had no inducement to pursue a conversation evidently distasteful to +her. Afterwards, when by chance my seat was next hers in the boat upon +the lake, I again, as courtesy I thought required, said a few words to +her, to which however she returned such icy monosyllabic replies that I +gladly left her to her conversation with her neighbour on the other +side, the old Privy Councillor's wife, Madame von Sturmhaupt, with whom +she could talk fast enough."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take care of yourself, Leo!" Kuno replied, with a laugh. "This +indifference of yours towards Fräulein Schommer does not seem quite +genuine. Else why should you be so offended by her cold reception of +you when you were presented to her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are wrong; I am not in the least offended, for I do but share the +fate of all those who do not possess at least a million. Otherwise you +are perfectly correct in saying that I am not indifferent to Fräulein +Eva Schommer,--I do not like her! I will not deny that she is +handsome,--extremely handsome,--but her whole bearing is distasteful +to me. Pride or, to speak more correctly, self-conceit I always +dislike,--purse-pride is inexpressibly odious to me. But enough of +this, Kuno; do not let us talk of it: this at all events is not a fit +place for such discussion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You should have thought of that before, Herr von Heydeck," Lieutenant +von Bertram interposed at this point. He had been an attentive listener +to the foregoing conversation, and now rose and approached Leo with +much arrogance of manner.</p> + +<p class="normal">Guido von Bertram was about as old as Leo von Heydeck; if mere +regularity of features constitute beauty he was the handsomer man, but +in his face there was none of the frank manliness which lent such a +charm to Von Heydeck. He evidently affected the man of extreme fashion: +the eye-glass stuck in his right eye, and the drawling tone of his +voice, were in harmony with his entire bearing.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he stood before Leo von Heydeck he adjusted the said eye-glass more +firmly in position, and scanned his opponent most offensively. Leo +looked up in surprise; he had been on terms of intimacy with the +dragoon in former years, but this intimacy had long since ceased. +Bertram's sudden interruption therefore took him quite by surprise; +before he could reply Bertram continued, emphasizing each word +as he drawled it out, "You have allowed yourself to speak in a +highly-offensive manner of a young lady with whom I have the honour to +claim acquaintance; I must beg you to retract all that you have said."</p> + +<p class="normal">The words were too distinct to be misunderstood. Leo perceived that +Bertram was endeavouring to step forward as Fräulein Schommer's +champion; the tone of the dragoon's voice and his words were so +insulting that Leo's eyes flashed angrily; but the next instant he +mastered his first impulse of indignation at the sudden attack and +admitted to himself that he had been indiscreet. He should never have +allowed himself to indulge in any criticism of a lady in so public a +place; he was ready to atone as far as was possible for such an +indiscretion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I regret, Herr von Bertram," he said, quietly, "that words spoken in a +strictly private conversation with my friend Herr von Herwarth, and +intended solely for his ear, should have reached yours. I can assure +you that nothing was further from my thoughts than any insult to +Fräulein Schommer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This excuse does not satisfy me, Herr von Heydeck. As you spoke +sufficiently loud for me involuntarily to overhear every word, your +conversation with Herr von Herwarth cannot be considered 'strictly +private.' You spoke of annoyance, of conceit, of purse-pride. Although +Fräulein Schommer is above all possibility of insult from you, I will +not suffer a young lady whose acquaintance I have the honour to claim +to be thus spoken of in a public place. I therefore require you +instantly to declare your expressions a calumny and to retract them +upon the spot."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Bertram, let me entreat----" Kuno von Herwarth exclaimed, in +dismay; but before he could proceed the dragoon interposed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lieutenant von Herwarth, I must protest against any interference upon +your part in this matter between Herr von Heydeck and myself. Since you +are a witness to this conversation, you may shortly perchance act the +same part in another affair, where you may congratulate yourself upon +occupying a neutral position. Therefore I must beg you not to interrupt +this conversation." Then, turning to Leo and raising his voice, he +continued: "You have heard my demand, Herr von Heydeck; I require +immediate compliance with it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo von Heydeck started from his seat at these insolent words; his +cheek glowed with indignation, his hand involuntarily sought his +sword-hilt, but he quickly recovered himself. He folded his arms, +looked down thoughtfully, and then, after a pause that lasted but for +an instant, he replied to his insolent opponent with perfect repose of +manner, looking him full and calmly in the face the while,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have no right to make any such demand, Herr von Bertram. If you +are not bent upon a quarrel you will be satisfied by my reiterated +assurance that I had no intention of insulting Fräulein Schommer, and +that I regret that words which I had best not have uttered should have +been regarded as intentionally insulting. I hope this declaration will +satisfy you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, it does not satisfy me. As you do not retract your assertions, you +of course maintain them, and force me to assert myself! It is +dishonourable,--understand me, Herr von Heydeck,--I repeat, grossly +dishonourable to calumniate thus publicly a young lady who cannot +defend herself! It is a grossly dishonourable act, which I shall +chastise as it deserves!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Again Leo's eyes flashed, again his cheek flushed scarlet, but he gave +no words to his anger. One glance of intense scorn he cast at Bertram, +who stood insolently awaiting his reply, and then without a word he +turned and left the veranda.</p> + +<p class="normal">This extraordinary scene had arrested the attention of the other +officers present. Bertram's last words had been intentionally spoken so +loudly and with such emphasis as to be heard by all, and most of his +auditors were justly indignant.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the dragoon after Leo's departure went with a triumphant smile to +take his seat again beside his friend Count Waldheim, he was regarded +by his comrades with much disfavour, and expressions of their +displeasure reached his ears such as, "An insolent attack!" "An +entirely unjustifiable insult!" but he apparently cared little about +these utterances of opinion. Perfectly satisfied with his conduct, he +began to balance himself again comfortably on the hind legs of his +chair, and preserved his self-conceited smile even when Kuno von +Herwarth, without a word and with a glance of evident contempt, passed +by him to follow his friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Waldheim however was far from sharing in his content; moving his +chair more closely to Bertram's side, he whispered, "What do you mean, +Bertram? You have got yourself into trouble, I am afraid, and, if you +will pardon the expression, you've committed a great folly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think so?" Bertram rejoined in as low a tone, twirling the ends +of his moustache. "I assure you I never committed an act of less folly +in my life, or one more entirely successful."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! you were not carried away then by the impulse of the +moment?--you intentionally and designedly offered so deadly an insult +to Herr von Heydeck?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Intentionally and designedly. I was not in the least irritated, but as +calm as ever I was in my life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand you less than ever then. I am certainly not ignorant in +such matters, but I cannot conceive of provoking a mortal quarrel +without the slightest provocation. You know Heydeck's reputation as a +pistol-shot; he is famous for absolute certainty of aim and steadiness +of hand. Are you tired of life, Bertram?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not at all; it is in no danger from Herr von Heydeck," Bertram +replied, with the same serenity of manner. "Will you bet with me, +Count? I wager ten Friedrichs-d'or that Heydeck pockets my affront,--he +will not call me out. Eh?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Impossible! You accused him of dishonourable conduct; he must resent +such an insult, and----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you wager?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you choose; but you have lost already. In return I will act as your +second."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No need; Heydeck is too much of a coward to send me a challenge."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heydeck a coward? You're dreaming, Bertram. Why, his thorough scorn of +danger got him the iron cross at Gravelotte. He is known throughout the +entire regiment for his cool courage in facing deadly peril. I know +what I am saying; one of my cousins serves in his battalion and is very +intimate with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram shook his head with a contemptuous smile. "I know him better: +we were at school together; I tell you he is a coward who will never +dare to call me out. You say he showed courage in the field? Bah! what +is courage in the field? Every plough-boy displays it. The coward +pushes on there because he is sure of a bullet through his brains if he +runs away. You will soon learn to your cost, as far as your purse is +concerned, that I am right, but even were I wrong, and he were really +to send me a challenge, I should perhaps be better pleased. Let me +explain, for I see you shake your head incredulously. I should be only +too glad to fight him if thereby I might succeed in gaining one word of +gratitude from the lovely Eva, and here I depend upon your friendly +services, Count."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now I begin to comprehend," Waldheim said, in a tone of surprise; "but +the game you are playing, Bertram, is a dangerous one. Are you sure the +stakes are worth the winning thus? Fräulein Schommer to be sure is +handsome----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wonderfully handsome!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And rich too, they say."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Two millions at least!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very fair; but remember, Bertram, Fräulein Schommer comes from a very +low grade of society. Her uncle, Balthasar Schommer, is a common fellow +who submits to his niece's petting and scolding like some favourite +puppy. I believe her father was a miner, and it is extremely doubtful +whether he could read or write his own name although he died the +possessor of rich mines and a millionaire. You ought to think twice, +Bertram, before you make up your mind to marry into such a connection."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you visit at the Schommers', Count?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why not? The old fellow is common enough, but his wine, or rather the +fair Eva's, is capital; although really that makes very little +difference to me. All the world goes to the Schommers', and why should +not I follow its example? If I ever am tired of going there, I have but +to cease my visits and cut old Schommer when I meet him. Meanwhile I +like very well to talk and dance with the girl who is certainly very +lovely; but I never should dream of making her Countess Waldheim."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nor should I perhaps, were I the wealthy Count Waldheim, but such +scruples are not for a poor Herr von Bertram whose debts are +considerably larger than his estate. That which you disdain I covet, +and I ask you for your assistance in obtaining it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I really cannot see how I can be of assistance to you in so delicate +an affair."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nevertheless you can. Let me be frank with you; I know you will not +abuse my confidence. You know Fräulein Eva,--you know how proud and +reserved she is. Between ourselves what Heydeck said of her was true +enough. I myself have often suffered from her pride. All my exertions, +the most delicate attentions to her that I could devise, have never +advanced me one step in her favour. I should long ago have relinquished +all pretension to it if she had not treated every one else--yourself, +Count, perhaps excepted--with the same coldness and hauteur which I +have experienced from her. She cannot be approached after any ordinary +fashion, but I hope that to-day I have found out a means of awakening +her interest. When she learns how slightingly Heydeck spoke of her, +that he was instantly called to account for his expression, and that I +was the champion who undertook to vindicate her honour, and defended +her at the peril of his life----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have just wagered that Heydeck would not challenge you; the peril +then is not so very great."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, but she need not know that. The friend who tells her of the zeal +with which I undertook her defence might add for my sake that Heydeck +is famous as a perfect marksman, and that in case of a duel my life is +in the greatest danger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you ask me to be this friend?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you would so far oblige me, my dear Count, I should be forever +grateful to you. The charming Eva must take a deep interest in so +fearless a defender of her honour. She cannot treat him with the +cold formality which she accords to her other adorers. If once the ice +is broken, and the smallest opening made in her armour of cold +reserve,--if she admits me to the slightest degree of confidence, I +will take care of the rest. She is no woman if gratitude to her +champion is not at last metamorphosed into love. Will you help me, +Count?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hm,--the affair is not greatly to my taste," Count Waldheim slowly +answered; "but we have always been good comrades and I will not desert +you now; especially since I believe that you really stand in peril of +your life,--a peril foolishly incurred by yourself. I will call at the +Schommers' and see what I can do for you. She has just driven home, I +shall be admitted. Besides, I must leave you at all events. I confess I +am not comfortable here where every one is looking at us, and your name +is whispered at all the tables."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very natural after what has passed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But these whispers are by no means complimental to you, my dear +fellow; and in fact these comrades of ours are not far wrong in my +opinion. In your zeal to make yourself interesting to Fräulein Eva you +treated Heydeck badly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bah! he deserved nothing better."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not play your Mentor, but, I do not care to stay here and be +stared at any longer,--I am going. We shall meet at dinner at +the Casino, and I will report as to my visit at the Schommers'. +Good-morning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall stay here for a while. <i>Au revoir</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Herr von Bertram stayed, balancing himself as airily as before, and +gazing out upon the promenade, but nevertheless he was not quite +comfortable. He felt himself the object of universal observation; he +noticed that every fresh-comer--each officer who strolled into +Büchner's--was informed immediately in a low tone by some one of his +comrades of what had occurred. Among these new-comers were several of +his own intimates, but none of them, after hearing what there was to +tell, came near him or accorded his presence any acknowledgment save by +the most commonplace salutation.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last he rose, and walked through the rows of tables, bowing here and +there. He soon perceived how unanimous was the disapproval of his +comrades. His more intimate associates who had reason to expect that he +would address them evidently avoided him, and the other officers +returned his salutation in the coldest manner; some indeed turned away +and made as if they were so absorbed in conversation as not to notice +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">He bit his lip angrily and asked himself whether he had not a right to +demand an explanation of such conduct. Once when Baron Feldkirch of his +own regiment and his intimate acquaintance turned away with only the +salutation required in the service, he paused, half resolved to call +him to account, but he instantly reflected that it would only make +matters worse, and refrained.</p> + +<p class="normal">He hastily passed on, and felt wonderfully relieved when he reached the +open street; really he seemed to have been morally running the gauntlet +during the last few moments.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo von Heydeck had only gone a few steps after leaving Büchner's when +he was joined by Lieutenant von Herwarth. The two young men walked on +together for a while in silence, each too busy in reflecting upon the +previous scene to care to continue their former conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kuno von Herwarth was very angry; the unprovoked insult just offered to +his friend filled him with indignation against its author. He +remembered with much satisfaction the comments upon Bertram's conduct +which he had heard expressed upon all sides as he left the veranda, and +which were all indignantly condemnatory. Such a unanimous opinion on +the part of the corps of officers was very important. It made the +necessary consequences of the insult far less damaging to Leo than they +usually are in such cases to the insulted man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't look so grave, Leo," Herwarth said at last "The affair is not so +black as you think; fortunately you are sure of your man. Give him a +distinct memento--a ball in the upper arm will do--and we shall +probably be able to hush up all talk of the duel, which would really be +best since the authorities are rather hard upon duelling just now. Of +course you will choose pistols? Wing the insolent fellow and have done +with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo looked up at his friend as if awaking from a dream. "I cannot +answer you now," he replied. "I am not yet clear in my own mind. You +forget how often we have discussed this question. Must I bow now to a +prejudice against which I have hitherto contended with all my might? +Must I transgress the dictates of morality and my own profound +conviction and have recourse to arms to avenge words which, from the +lips of a scoundrel like Bertram, have really no power whatever to +injure me? You know my views with regard to duelling."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you cannot rest calmly beneath such an insult," his friend +replied. "Remember, he accused you of dishonourable conduct, and he +would add, of cowardice, if you failed to demand satisfaction for the +insult! And what would your brother officers think of you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know all you would say, Kuno," Leo replied, sadly. "I knew you would +reason thus, and that almost every one of my brother officers for whom +I have any real regard will agree with you. And this is just why it is +so difficult for me to come to a determination. I have a hard struggle +with myself to pass through,--give me time. Do not ask of me a decided +reply at once. This evening after I have taken counsel with myself you +shall have it, and I promise you that if I decide to bow to the +prejudice in favor of duelling you shall be my second."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If?" Herwarth cried, indignantly. "How can there be any 'if' in the +matter? Have you no blood in your veins? Mine boiled at that +'dishonourable,'--I could hardly keep myself from inflicting summary +chastisement upon the insolent fellow. And you to whom it was applied +can talk about an 'if' when the question is of the vindication of your +honour. Really, Leo, if I had not seen you in the field I might +misconceive you! And what will others, who do not know you as I do, +think of you? The mere thought of their calling you 'coward' makes me +furious! Make up your mind instantly, Leo! Do it for my sake! Upon my +life you owe it to me, for rely upon it I never will suffer mortal man +to call you coward, and in refusing to fight one duel yourself you'll +cause me to fight a dozen."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Coward!" How could the word fail of its effect upon Leo? His eyes +flashed, his cheek burned red to become pale the next instant, and for +a while he walked on beside his friend without a word. Then, when he +could command himself sufficiently to speak calmly, he said, "Your +words are harsh, Kuno, but I can forgive them for I know that you can +never think me a coward. Trust me, there is more courage required to +brave the condemnation of all who are dear to us than to use sword or +pistol. I do not yet know whether my courage now will stand me in +stead. I cannot yet decide what to do. Do not make the conflict with +myself in this matter harder for me than it is of necessity. If you +love me, Kuno, leave me for a while. Be sure I need all the powers of +my mind, all the strength that I possess, to come to a determination. +This evening you shall learn what that determination is."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo paused, shook hands with his friend, and hastily turned and left +him.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"Home!"</p> + +<p class="normal">This order came quite unexpectedly to the coachman. Fräulein Schommer +had already enumerated to him the various shops at which he was to +stop, and suddenly her plans were changed. Scarcely had the carriage +turned off the promenade into "Great Wilhelmstrasse" when she gave this +order, although she had not as yet purchased anything.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young lady held her parasol so closely before her face that it not +only shaded it but entirely concealed it; of course she did not +perceive the numerous bows and smiles of the acquaintances whom she +passed in her short drive home, but could resign herself undisturbed to +dreamy reflection. It was of no very pleasant description, as was plain +from the grave expression of her face, the defiant curl of her +beautiful lip, and the dark almost gloomy look of her black eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">The carriage stopped before an elegant villa; the footman opened the +door of the barouche, but Eva stepped hastily from the vehicle, +scorning his proffered help, and hurried into the house, acknowledging +only by a haughty nod the respectful greeting of the porter who stood +in the hall. Neither did she deign to notice the footman, who followed +her awaiting orders up the broad carpeted marble staircase, until she +reached the landing, when she forbade him by an imperious wave of her +hand to follow her further, and opened a door leading into the interior +apartments of the villa. One of these she entered; it was a small room +elegantly and comfortably but by no means splendidly furnished, with +windows leading out into the garden.</p> + +<p class="normal">A young girl coquettishly dressed who was seated at her sewing, sprang +up as the young lady entered and hastened towards her. "You are +returned very soon, my lady!" she said, as she assisted her to lay +aside her hat and light summer wrap.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How often must I tell you, Nanette, that I detest that silly 'my +lady'?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The reproof was administered with tolerable severity, and was by no +means grateful to Nanette, as was shown by her look as she received it. +She had learned, however, to control herself. "I beg pardon, Fräulein," +she said, with a low courtesy; "I will try to remember, but 'my lady' +comes so naturally; and who has a better right to the title than such a +beautiful, rich lady as Fräulein Schommer?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hush!" Fräulein Schommer exclaimed, in an imperious tone. "I hate all +such speeches! If you really desire to remain in my service you must +remember once for all that I forbid all flattery as well as the title +'my lady.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">Nanette cast one more venomous glance at her mistress, and made a +deeper courtesy than before. The young lady, however, noticed neither +the one nor the other; she walked up to the mirror and repaired some +slight disorder in the arrangement of her magnificent black hair, +impatiently disdaining Nanette's proffered help as she asked, "Where is +Fräulein von Schlicht? In my room or in the garden?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Fräulein is on the veranda with her embroidery."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this reply Eva turned to her maid impatiently and asked sternly, +"Are you transgressing my orders intentionally, or do you not know that +I have especially requested that all the servants of my household shall +speak of Fräulein Aline von Schlicht as the 'Lady Aline'?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot possibly give a hired companion a higher title than my +mistress! I thought because----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"When I command you are not to think, but to obey," Eva interrupted the +girl; "and I require you to give Fräulein von Schlicht the title of +'Lady,' which belongs to her. Nor is Fräulein von Schlicht in my +service, as you appear to think; she is not my hired companion, but my +friend who does me the honour to reside with me, and as such you are to +respect her, and to obey her commands even more strictly than my own. +Any forgetfulness in this respect will be punished by immediate +dismissal from my service."</p> + +<p class="normal">Of course there was no answer to be made to all this: Eva would +have suffered none; she never noticed that Nanette's face grew +scarlet,--that an ugly expression of hatred disfigured the otherwise +pretty mouth,--nor that the maid's hand trembled as she opened the door +leading into the next room for her mistress to pass. Eva left the +apartment without even glancing at the girl.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nanette, as the door closed behind her mistress, clenched her little +fist and shook it menacingly, while her whole face showed the malice +that she felt. Suddenly her gaze fell upon the mirror, and she started +at the countenance reflected there. She stood before it and tried to +smile; at first in vain,--those hateful lines were too firmly fixed +about the mouth, but they must be banished. Nanette saw herself how +ugly they were, and what must be done she could do,--she was not +wanting in strength of will.</p> + +<p class="normal">After spending some time before the mirror, every trace of the +disfigurement which anger at the imperiously-administered reproof had +produced, vanished. She contemplated the reflection of her pretty face +and figure with immense self-satisfaction; she nodded pleasantly to +herself, and then stepping on tiptoe to the door leading to the next +room, opened it noiselessly a very little way so that through the chink +she could command a view of the apartment and of the veranda adjoining.</p> + +<p class="normal">She bestowed no attention whatever on the luxuriously furnished +drawing-room. It had interested her somewhat a few days before when she +had first entered Fräulein Schommer's service; she had then examined +admiringly the costly furniture and the splendid pictures upon the +walls, while a bitter feeling of envy of the possessor of all these +treasures had filled her soul. Since then she had dusted and arranged +them frequently and she no longer admired. Admiration had vanished, +envy still existed in full force.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nanette's attention was concentrated upon the veranda, upon which the +drawing-room opened by two tall glass folding-doors. Sitting there in +the thick shade of a leafy climbing vine was a young lady, her hands +for the moment resting idly upon some embroidery in her lap. Her back +was towards Nanette so the girl could not see her face, and the +distance was too great to allow of her understanding what she +said,--the low voice reached the listener's ears only as a gentle +murmur.</p> + +<p class="normal">Beside this young lady Eva was sitting on a garden-chair. She too was +gazing abroad into the garden with her back towards the maid. She spoke +also in her turn but in so low a tone that not one syllable could be +distinguished by the listener. In vain did she strain her ears: she so +longed to overhear what the ladies were talking about, but she soon +found that this would be impossible unless she could contrive to slip +into the drawing-room and conceal herself in the embrasure of one of +the windows.</p> + +<p class="normal">She could not lose so delightful an opportunity of learning from the +intimate conversation of the two friends what could have put Fräulein +Schommer into such an ill humour to-day, and her resolution was soon +taken. Cautiously opening the door a little wider she entered the +drawing-room and had just noiselessly advanced to the centre of the +apartment when Fräulein Eva suddenly turned round and flashed a look of +indignant surprise upon the detected eavesdropper, who stopped short +reddening with mortification, and uncertain whether to advance or +withdraw.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you want there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">This question, conveying reproof not in words but in manner, restored +to Nanette all her wonted self-sufficiency. She quietly stepped out on +the veranda before replying, and then said, "I heard you call, Fräulein +Schommer. What are your orders?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva was not misled by this reply. The maid's sudden confusion had +betrayed her, and she easily guessed for what she had been slipping so +noiselessly into the drawing-room. With undisguised contempt in her +look she said sternly, "That is a falsehood! You know that I never +call,--that I always ring for you when I have any orders to give. You +were listening!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh Fräulein Schommer what an accusation to make! I assure you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hush! Not a word! I will not be contradicted! Your colour your +confusion betrayed you. I will let it pass this time, but if ever again +I find you listening I shall dismiss you instantly!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Eva dear, do not be so hard," her companion interposed. "What +possible temptation could Nanette have to listen to our conversation? +You are wronging her!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven knows I never wanted to listen!" Nanette cried, in an injured +tone. "I thought Fräulein Schommer called,--indeed, indeed, that was +why I came! I never listened in my life, and I would rather cut my +tongue out than tell a falsehood. I do not deserve to be accused of +such things! I am perfectly innocent, and it hurts my feelings very +much to have Fräulein Schommer suspect me so."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nanette put her handkerchief to her eyes, and from behind it came +inarticulate sounds that were really a creditable imitation of +suppressed sobbing, but her clever acting failed to impose upon her +mistress. Eva was not easily shaken in her convictions, and least of +all could Nanette's theatrical asseverations move her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not hear another word!" she said as sternly as before. "You +know now what you have to expect if you are ever found listening again. +Go to your sewing, and if I want you I will ring for you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">This command was so imperative that Nanette did not venture another +word in self-defence,--a very successful sob was her only reply. While +she was passing through the drawing-room she kept her handkerchief up +to her eyes, but once more alone, with the door closed behind her, she +tossed it aside and for a few minutes gave herself up to the envious +rage that possessed her. When she had grown quite calm once more, and +had, by a glance into the mirror, assured herself that her pretty face +retained no trace of her agitation, she left the little room, leaving +the door open that she might hear any summons from the veranda, and +went into the hall.</p> + +<p class="normal">Here she found the footman who had attended his mistress during her +drive pacing slowly to and fro; he was a fine-looking young fellow, +with a fresh good-humoured face; his handsome livery became him +excellently well.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nanette gave him her friendliest smile. "Good-morning, Wilhelm," she +whispered, evidently pleased. He returned her greeting with undisguised +admiration in look and tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't speak so loud, Wilhelm. Fräulein Schommer need not overhear us +if I like to talk a little with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would you like to talk a little with me, Nanette? That's kindly of you +now. I thought you never meant to take notice of me; you've hardly said +one word to me in the three days since you came, and when I was so glad +that we were going to have the same mistress."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What else could I do? Haven't I to sit in that little den all day long +just listening for Fräulein Schommer's bell? A pretty fuss she would +make if I chanced not to hear it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come now Nanette, she is not so bad as you think,--a little strict +perhaps,--but mind your orders and you never hear a hard word from +her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She's a fiend! a Zantuppy!" Nanette rejoined, pettishly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A Zantuppy?" Wilhelm asked, astonished. "What is a Zantuppy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Nanette regarded the ignorant fellow with condescending compassion. +"You have had no education, Wilhelm!" she said. "Every one who knows +anything calls every scolding woman a Zantuppy. I'd Zantuppy her if I +could with her proud and haughty airs treating us as if we were the +dirt under her feet!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here she suddenly recollected how her anger disfigured her, and +compelling her features to a smile that contrasted strangely with her +words, she went on: "And to-day she's bristling like a porkypine; first +she scolded me for saying 'my lady' to her, and then for not saying it +to the stupid companion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But that's nothing, Nanette; she doesn't like to be called my lady; +and if she wants us to bow and scrape to the lady Aline von Schlicht, +'tis easy done,--and the place is a good one. I've lived in the first +families; but such meals, and such perquisites! Rely upon it, Nanette, +you'll like it and thank me yet for helping to get you here. If +Fräulein Schommer gets out of bed the wrong side now and then never +mind it,--she's the right stuff at heart. She is a little out of sorts +to-day. I saw that when she so suddenly gave orders to drive home, +although she had not been to a single shop."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is in a bad humour then? I knew it; she flew at me as if she would +eat me. What went amiss? Did anything vex her on the drive?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not that I know of. We had scarcely driven through the promenade when +she suddenly called out, 'Home!'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Something's wrong. Perhaps she's in love. Did you meet any one who did +not seem pleased enough to see her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What queer ideas you have, Nanette! She never thinks of such +things,--never looks at a man. With all her millions she's twenty-two +and unmarried. She might furnish a worsted-shop with all the mittens +she's given the men, if she could collect them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course any one as rich as she can give as many mittens as she +chooses; there are always men enough to hanker after money, but there +are some who don't care for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And that's true enough, Nanette," Wilhelm replied, with a grin. "Now +here am I, who never think of money when I see such a pretty face as +yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nanette rewarded the compliment with her best smile. "But then you're +different from most of these grand gentlemen. Still, some have ideas of +their own. Now there's Count Waldheim, whom I used to see every day +when I lived with the Privy Councillor's lady, Frau von Sturmhaupt. +This princess of ours might throw her millions at his feet and he +wouldn't stoop to pick them up. All the money in the world wouldn't +persuade him to look at any one who had not a 'von' to her name."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're out there, Nanette. Count Waldheim comes here often, and likes +our Fräulein extremely well. It is 'charming Fräulein Schommer,' and +'lovely Fräulein Schommer,' and she treats him better than any of the +young men who come here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count Waldheim visits here?" Nanette asked, in surprise. "Well, I +wouldn't have thought it;--and our princess likes him? I'll lay my head +she's in love with him, and he wouldn't have her if she had shovelfuls +of money. I bet you she met him to-day when she was out driving, and he +never bowed to her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Out again, Nanette! We didn't meet him, but we saw him; he was sitting +at Büchner's under the awning with Herr von Bertram, the nephew of your +old mistress, Frau von Sturmhaupt, and he bowed so low that he almost +bumped his nose against the bar of the balustrade. Fräulein Eva has no +heart-ache for him, nor for any of the rest of them; they all bow when +she drives past, as if she were a princess. Only one man sat still and +read the newspaper without looking at us; but he does not visit here, +and I don't think our Fräulein knows him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed! Who was he?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lieutenant von Heydeck of the infantry. Why should our Fräulein look +at the infantry when she can have cavalrymen by the dozens?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's just why she doesn't care for them. 'Tis sure to be Herr von +Heydeck whom she's vexed about. I don't know him. Is he handsome?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know; he looks like all the other infantry fellows. I never +trouble my head about him. What does it all concern us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is just what does concern us!" Nanette replied, peevishly. "I'll +find out all my fine lady's tricks and teach her who I am! I tell you, +Wilhelm, we can do what we please with our masters and mistresses if we +only can find out their secrets; and to do that we must keep our eyes +and ears open and help each other, for what one doesn't see the other +may. So you must tell me everything that you learn, in or out of the +house, Wilhelm, and I'll put this and that together."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nanette's proposition did not appear to find much favour with Wilhelm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll tell you what, Nanette," he said. "I'd like nothing better than +to please you, but you'd better leave me out of this. I've no fancy for +spying on my mistress. I do my work and no more bother."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But if I were to beg you, dear Wilhelm?" Nanette asked, tenderly +laying her hand upon his shoulder and looking sweetly into his +face,--indeed, she was extremely pretty. "If I were to promise you a +kiss," she continued, "would you refuse to do what I ask?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The bribe was so seductive that honest Wilhelm's principles were hardly +strong enough to withstand the maid's request, coming as it did from +lips so rosy and inviting. Her cause was half won when he asked, with +some hesitation, "But what do you want me to do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing wrong, Wilhelm dear," the girl hastily answered; "nothing +wrong. I wouldn't ask it of you, but really we poor servants must stand +by each other if we wouldn't be trodden down into the very dirt. Is it +wrong in us to use the eyes and ears that God gave us? We are human +beings, and ought to know all that is going on around us. Keep your +eyes open when you drive out with our Fräulein, and never forget who +meets or speaks to her. And when you are waiting at table you can pick +up many a bit of information,--you must tell me what they talk about. +That's no wrong: you tell no one's secrets. If you'll only do this, +Wilhelm dear, I'll like you so much, and give you a kiss, or perhaps +two, for every piece of news you bring me. You shall have one now if +you'll promise to do as I say."</p> + +<p class="normal">The temptation was too great. Wilhelm could not resist. He gave a +prompt "yes," and for his reward took not one but a dozen kisses. +Nanette seeming nothing loth, he might have gone on receiving +prepayment for his services had he not been startled by a loud +exclamation behind him, followed by the words, in most distinct Saxon +German,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"By Jove! Deuce take the fellow! A pretty household this! and in broad +daylight, too!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The speaker was an elderly gentleman, dressed with extreme elegance, +who had been contemplating the embrace from the staircase-landing, his +fine Panama hat on his head, and his hands resting upon his gold-headed +cane. He continued to observe the couple with a good-humoured smile, as +they stood as if spell-bound in dismay.</p> + +<p class="normal">When, however, Wilhelm had sufficiently recovered himself to recognize +the elderly spectator, he looked much relieved. "Don't be frightened, +Nanette," he whispered; "'tis only our Fräulein's Uncle Balthasar. You +won't tell of us, Herr Schommer? 'An honest kiss ne'er comes amiss.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balthasar took the request in very good part, made though it was +rather familiarly than respectfully. He nodded good-humouredly to +Wilhelm, pinched Nanette's blooming cheek, and smiled broadly. "<i>A</i> +kiss," he said,--"a kiss, to be sure, is all very well, but you took a +dozen, you deuce of a fellow. If I should tell my wife or my niece +you're both done for."</p> + +<p class="normal">Wilhelm seemed little disturbed by the threat. "You wouldn't be so hard +on us, Herr Schommer," he said; and his security was fully justified by +the good nature that characterized this uncle of his mistress.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balthasar Schommer was a personification of good humour. It beamed +pure and unadulterated from his small gray eyes, it was distinctly +stamped on the broad smile of his large mouth. Whoever had once seen +Herr Balthasar knew that he could rely with certainty upon his thorough +goodness of heart. There was no guile in the man; his round face was +the mirror of his character. Try as the old gentleman would by twirling +the ends of his gray moustache straight into the air to give himself a +stern, martial air, no one was ever deceived by it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll let you off this once, deuce take you!" he said, vainly +endeavouring to make his words sound stern and dignified; "but another +time take care. And you too, you little minx," he went on, turning to +Nanette; "for I can tell you that if my niece had seen you--ah, by +Jove!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Again he pinched the girl's cheek, then laughed heartily, and tapped +Wilhelm on the shoulder with his cane. Then with a farewell nod he went +into the drawing-room to find his niece.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Won't he tell?" Nanette whispered anxiously as the door closed behind +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never!" Wilhelm replied in a tone of firm conviction. "Herr Balthasar +wouldn't for the world do an unkind thing by any one. Oh, he's a +splendid old gentleman!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He's a foolish old fop!" Nanette rejoined, saucily; "looking at me so +and pinching my cheek. It's my belief he'd have liked a kiss himself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, you might have given him one, Nanette; I wouldn't have been +jealous."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nanette's face grew dark, and she would have made some cutting +rejoinder, but she bethought herself in time that it behooved her to +keep Wilhelm in good humour, so she contented herself with saying, +"Thank you kindly for your permission, which I shall not need, however. +The vain old fool! He looks like a bedizened monkey in his light summer +costume. You can see with half an eye that he once weighed out sugar +and sold molasses. He can't hide that for all the big diamond in his +shirt-front. And then such language! 'Bai Chove!' and 'teuce of a +vellow!' at every third word. It is scandalous that a girl who has +always lived in the best families should have taken service with such +riff-raff!"</p> + +<p class="normal">In her zeal and irritation she had quite forgotten her resolution +always to be amiable when Wilhelm was by; one glance into his honest +face reminded her of this, and she forthwith controlled herself. None +too soon, however; for Wilhelm had just made the discovery that pretty +Nanette could be very cross and look almost ugly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know what you mean, Nanette," he said, with much less warmth. +"What has the good old man done to you? He is so good-hearted that I +should think no one could be angry with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not angry with him," Nanette answered, aware that she had made a +blunder, and anxious to repair it if possible. "I see he is a very +good-humoured old man; but when a girl has lived in the first families, +it is very difficult for her to become accustomed to low-bred manners. +If you were not here, Wilhelm, I could not stand it three days longer; +but for your sake I will stay, if you will keep your promise to me. We +have talked enough now, and I must go to my sewing, or Fräulein Eva +will know where I have been."</p> + +<p class="normal">She kissed the tips of her fingers to Wilhelm, whose irritation she had +thus quickly appeased, and returning to the small room adjoining the +drawing-room seated herself by the window and took up the sewing which +she had put down upon Fräulein Schommer's return from driving.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"You really are too severe with poor Nanette," Fräulein Aline von +Schlicht said to the young heiress.</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva Schommer was conscious that there was justice in her friend's +reproof. Her impulsive temperament often led her to make use of hasty +expressions which she regretted afterwards, especially if she had been +actuated by anger, and she frequently seemed to show an insensibility +to the feelings of others which was by no means part of her character. +When she was irritated she would rebuke any omission of duty upon the +part of her servants with an undeserved severity, and she admitted to +herself that this had just been the case with Nanette. She had reproved +the girl upon mere suspicion as sharply as if the fault had been +proven. She was vexed with herself for her hastiness, but the dislike +with which Nanette's whole conduct had inspired her, and her conviction +that the girl had actually tried to play the part of eavesdropper, were +by no means weakened.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right, Aline," she said, sadly; "I am ashamed of myself, but I +could not help it. The girl is so odious to me that I cannot conceive +how I came to take her into my service. I really think it would be best +to give her a quarter's or even a half-year's wages, and dismiss her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not be unjust, Eva. Has she given you any good reason to send her +away? Have you any right to break the contract which you tacitly +concluded with her when you engaged her as your maid?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I will not break it. I will indemnify her duly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"With money? Can it be done? If you send her away after three days in +your service, will it not be thought that she has been guilty of great +misconduct, perhaps even of dishonesty? Can money repair the harm done +to the girls reputation? How often you have told me how you despise the +wretched dross, and yet you propose to atone with money for the wrong +you will do poor Nanette by suddenly dismissing her from your service +without reason!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not do it, my dear, good Aline!" Eva cried, kissing her friend +tenderly. "You are my good angel," she continued; "you are always +right; I see how unjust I should be. I was wrong to take the girl into +my service simply upon Frau von Sturmhaupt's recommendation and +Wilhelm's request, when, in spite of her pretty face and figure, I was +not at all prepossessed by her, but now that I have made the mistake I +must bide by the consequences. I should have trusted my first +impressions and not taken her into the house. My dislike to her, which +increases daily, may easily make me unjust to her. Her affected smile, +her hypocritical humility, and her whole manner, indeed, confirm my +want of confidence in her. I do not believe her even when she is +telling the truth. I suspect her always of some sly ulterior motive in +all she says."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you not unjust again, Eva dear? You are prejudiced against the +girl, and see faults in her which I fail to discover. To me she seems +amiable and willing. I have not known her to tell a falsehood. She is +neat, capable, and industrious, pleasant in her manner, and in short, +so far as I can judge from the few days she has been in your service, +she possesses all the qualities of an excellent lady's-maid. That she +is honest and trustworthy is proved by the excellent character she +brought you from Frau von Sturmhaupt, with whom she lived several +years."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why did she leave if Frau von Sturmhaupt was satisfied with her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nanette told you herself that as she has an old mother dependent upon +her, she was obliged to ask higher wages than Frau von Sturmhaupt--who +is by no means wealthy--felt herself justified in giving. I cannot see +that we have any reason to doubt the truth of this explanation. Is it +not natural that a poor girl should try to improve her condition?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot argue the matter, Aline. All that you say is perfectly +correct, and nevertheless something that I can neither explain nor +contend with convinces me that Nanette is false, that her amiability is +hypocrisy, and that she returns with interest my dislike. I know she +hates me, and that she will show me that she does so as soon as she has +the opportunity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will not allow such a vague 'something' to influence you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Aline; I will follow your advice. I will try to conquer my +prejudice--for I confess that my dislike of Nanette is prejudice--but I +cannot promise more. I will not testify towards her the dislike with +which she inspires me, but I cannot command my confidence, and I cannot +pretend to show her any."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She has no right at present to ask that you should. Your confidence in +her must be the result of faithful performance of her duties; and I +hope she will succeed in winning it, for you are too dear and good not +to resign a prejudice as soon as you know that it is unjust."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will try, my darling Aline," said Eva, taking her friend's hand and +tenderly kissing it, "I will try, and perhaps I shall succeed since you +are with me, for you are, as I said, my good angel. When I look into +your kind, loving eyes, and hear your gentle words, I think I can be +better; my wild, impulsive nature grows calm. I am not dear and good, +as you call me, Aline. I know I am not, but I want to be so. When I see +your heavenly gentleness and repose, I feel how hateful are my hasty +judgments, my sharp hard words, my unfeminine obstinacy. I long to be +like you, but I cannot; I forget all my good resolutions as soon as I +am provoked. I know how odious this is, and, when I think of it, I +cannot conceive how you, who are so infinitely better and gentler than +I, can love me. Oh, if I could only be like you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Aline returned her friend's kiss, and said, with a smile, "Who would +believe that the charming Eva could be guilty of such folly, that the +proud beauty whom all adore could wish to resemble poor insignificant +me, whom no one cares for except the friend whose affection blinds her? +No, stay as you are, dear, for as you are you conquer every heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">The lovely, gentle smile that had transfigured Eva's face as she had +caressed her friend vanished at Aline's last words, her dark eyes +flashed, and the lines about her mouth grew hard. "Yes," she said, +bitterly, "as I am I conquer the hearts of all the men who have set +their hearts on my wretched millions, the most unfortunate inheritance +which my good father could have bequeathed to me. He never dreamed, +while he laboured night and day to give wealth to his darling child, +that this miserable money would be the curse of her existence, +poisoning her very soul!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Aline looked at her, with a smile. "If your wealth is your greatest +misfortune," she said, gayly, "I am afraid you will find but little +sympathy for it among your heartless fellow-mortals, and that you will +be obliged to learn to endure with stoicism the burden of your +millions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You too, Aline!" Eva cried, reproachfully. "Can you consider wealth a +blessing? I know perfectly well that others envy me, but if they +dreamed what misery this wretched money has brought me, how it daily +embitters every enjoyment of life, filling my mind with distrust and +suspicion, making me despise those about me, they would give me pity +instead of envy. Wherever I go I am received with delight and loaded +with courtesies. I? No, my millions! I represent to these sordid souls +their idol,--wealth. I am nothing to them but the heiress, and as such +beautiful, lovely, talented, fêted and caressed wherever I go. Have I +not known this from my earliest childhood? Gray-headed servants cringed +and yielded to every wish of the spoiled wayward child, finding all +that she did charming and attractive because she was an heiress. Can I +be happy in kindness shown not to me but to my money? As soon as I +appear in society all the men vie with each other in doing me homage. +One flatters me, another exerts all his wit to entertain me, a third +sighs and languishes at my feet,--and it is all a lie, all wretched +hypocrisy! These very men who flatter and woo me would never accord me +a moment's notice if I were poor. Oh it is hard to be obliged to repeat +over and over to one's self, 'You yourself are nothing; these wretches +adore your millions, not you!' What do they care although I treat them +with the greatest arrogance and contempt? I am rich, and all I say and +do is charming, and would be although I united in my one character +every possible vice. I despise them and show them that I do so, and +they adore me! They sue for my hand and not one thinks whether I can be +a faithful, loving wife. I bring the man whom I marry millions, and who +cares whether a heart accompanies them? The more persistently they pay +court to me the more I am humiliated in my own eyes, the more +thoroughly I hate these miserable, sordid men! Yes, I hate them so +thoroughly that even that vain aristocrat, Count Waldheim, and that +<i>blasé</i> fop, Paul Delmar, seem delightful to me, only because I know +that they never think of marrying me; they at least are not to be +bought with my money. Waldheim's pride of birth protects him from such +degradation, and Delmar is richer than I; he wants none of my fortune."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Poor child!" Aline said, sadly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, you are right now!" Eva continued, with emotion. "I am poor, +terribly poor; in the midst of my wealth I am destitute of everything +that constitutes happiness. It is a sad fate, indeed, never to be loved +for one's self alone!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never, Eva?" Aline asked, reproachfully. "Do you mistrust me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, never!" the girl cried. "You and dear old Uncle Balthasar are the +only people in the whole world whom I really love and trust with my +whole heart,--you two, and perhaps Aunt Minni, who, I think, gives me +as much affection as she can spare from her lap-dog Azor. If it were +not for you I should be desperate indeed in this cold heartless sordid +world!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because you see the world much more cold heartless and sordid than it +really is,--because you regard men with a suspicion that they do not +deserve. I cannot comprehend how you can be so mistaken as to believe +that every one who comes near you to show you kindness or preference +thinks only of your fortune,--that every man who wooes you desires your +money only. Look in your mirror, and if you are not blind it must tell +you that your beauty----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not another word, Aline! You argue against yourself. Is all their +homage paid to my beauty? Why, this is almost worse than if it were +paid to my wealth. How can beauty without mind and heart attract any +man of genuine worth? Because they all praise my beauty I despise them +the more. Has one of the crowd about me ever had an opportunity of +discovering whether I possess either heart or intellect? I scarcely +reply to their flatteries; I treat them with the cold contempt that +they merit, but they cringe all the more. Remember that fête at +Schönsee. I was in the worst of humours, and intentionally as +disagreeable as possible; you, on the contrary, were as charming, as +lovely, as--well, as you always are. You are much handsomer than I."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Eva----!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me finish. You have brought this on yourself. I know that I am not +ill-looking, but I am not so conceited as to compare myself with you. +And that day you looked so lovely that I was positively enchanted with +you. The air had deepened the colour on your cheeks, your glorious blue +eyes were sparkling with pleasure, and as the wind played among the +golden curls on your forehead you looked like some angel just flown +down from heaven."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Eva, Eva!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not be silenced; you shall hear me out. You were so lovely and +so gay, you talked so charmingly that all the women envied me for +having such a friend. And the men? they crowded about me, unamiable, +silent, repellant as I was, and neglected you who were all loveliness. +But no; now I recollect. Lieutenant von Herwarth did not neglect you; +but he was the only one who bestowed upon me no more than a due share +of attention, and therefore I liked him better than all the others."</p> + +<p class="normal">Aline's cheeks flushed crimson at this mention of Lieutenant von +Herwarth, and Eva laughed merrily. But it was her turn to blush when +Aline, recovering from her embarrassment, said, "Herr von Heydeck +certainly paid you no especial attention,--he and Herwarth make two; so +you see all the men do not deserve your censure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will except Herwarth for your sake!" Eva replied, gayly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And Herr von Heydeck?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know him too slightly. I suppose he would have been like all the +rest, but I scarcely spoke to him when Uncle Balthasar presented him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And he took it very ill of you, my dear," said a deep voice behind the +two girls.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was Uncle Balthasar who thus interrupted them; he had come through +the drawing-room without being perceived by the two friends, whose +faces were turned towards the garden, and he now stepped out upon the +veranda. Nodding pleasantly to his niece and raising his straw hat to +her friend, he drew a chair up to the table at which they were sitting +and took his place beside them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Uncle Balthasar was conscious of the possession of an important and +interesting piece of news, and he comported himself accordingly. He did +all that he could to assume a grave and dignified expression, +succeeding but ill however, for the good-humoured smile would not +resign its wonted place upon his face and shone through his affected +gravity. He twirled his moustache until the two ends pointed directly +upwards, then folded his arms and cast down his eyes reflectively, +never stooping to pick up his gold-headed cane, usually his favourite +toy, when it fell on the floor at his feet.</p> + +<p class="normal">The two girls exchanged a smiling glance of mutual understanding; they +knew Uncle Balthasar, and that he was longing to impart to them some +fresh piece of gossip.</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva, always ready to please him, opened the way for him by a question: +"You come from the city, uncle? Is there any news? You look so solemnly +important that we are dying of curiosity."</p> + +<p class="normal">Uncle Balthasar gave his moustache a fresh twirl and nodded with +exceeding gravity. "There is bad news," he said, slowly and seriously; +"yes, yes, my dear, very bad news, I can assure you. The thing occurred +as I tell you. I had just drunk my usual can, and was sauntering home, +when I met Count Waldheim, or rather he overtook me and tapped me on +the shoulder. 'Good-morning, Herr Balthasar,' said he. 'Count, your +most obedient servant,' said I. 'How is your niece to-day?' said he. +'Thanks for your kind inquiry; she is very well,' said I. And we went +on talking most sociably."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here he paused and looked thoughtfully at the mosaic top of the table +before him, pondering how to convey his news to his listeners in the +most impressive manner.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Eva misunderstood him; she thought he had finished, and she said, +laughing, "And is this your bad news, uncle?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Uncle Balthasar was quite offended by his niece's tone and words, and +gave vent to this feeling with all the sharpness in voice and manner of +which he was capable,--"I take your sneer extremely ill, my dear. I +take the greatest pains to consider how best to spare your feelings in +telling you what Count Waldheim has just told me of Herr von Heydeck, +and you sneer at me. My dear, you are wrong, very wrong."</p> + +<p class="normal">The merry smile vanished from Eva's face at her uncle's mention of the +name of Heydeck; she blushed and looked up at him eagerly. "Don't be +angry with me, uncle dear," she begged, "I did not mean to offend you. +Pray go on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not angry," the kindly old man declared, "but you have quite put +me out. I wanted to spare your feelings, and now I really do not know +how to begin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Spare my feelings? Has any misfortune occurred?" Eva asked, anxiously. +"But no, that is impossible! I saw Herr von Heydeck hardly half an hour +ago, under Büchner's awning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just so; it was at Büchner's that the affair took place. One of them +will of course be killed; probably Herr von Bertram, for Herr von +Heydeck is sure of his man at a hundred paces."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For God's sake what has happened? I pray you do not keep me in +suspense!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why you see, Eva my dear, I don't know very well myself. I only know +what Count Waldheim told me. He was there when Herr von Heydeck, under +Büchner's awning, abused you, and Herr von Bertram would not permit it; +and so they both went at it. The Count says there must be a duel, for +Herr von Bertram flew into such a rage that Herr von Heydeck must +challenge him and shoot him of course. But Herr von Bertram won't mind +giving his life for you in the least. That's what the Count said; and +he was coming to tell you all about it, but meeting me, he said I would +do just as well. He would send Herr von Bertram himself, who could tell +you everything. And that's all I know about it."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Uncle Balthasar, leaning back in his chair with an air of immense +satisfaction, picked up his cane, and lightly tapped with it his patent +leather boot-tips.</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva had listened eagerly to all he had to say, growing alternately red +and pale the while. When she heard that Herr von Heydeck had spoken ill +of her, her black eyes flashed and her cheeks burned with +mortification; when she heard that Bertram had been her champion, she +grew pale. That he--he whom of all her numerous admirers she most +hated--should have undertaken her defence, and against Heydeck! Her +heart beat violently: a mist came before her eyes; she sank back half +fainting into the arms of Aline, who kissed her brow tenderly and +compassionately.</p> + +<p class="normal">Uncle Balthasar, seeing the effect his narrative had produced upon his +niece, started to his feet. "Eva my dear girl, what is the matter?" he +cried, frightened out of his wits. "The doctor! where is the doctor? +Where is the bell? Send Wilhelm for the doctor!"</p> + +<p class="normal">In the wildest distress he ran hither and thither, perfectly uncertain +what to do; but his anxiety soon ceased, for Eva quickly recovered +herself and arose. "Compose yourself, uncle," she said, gently, "I am +not ill; the fright overcame me for a moment, but I need no physician. +I am quite strong again and ready for what must be done! This duel must +not take place!" She took from the table before her a little silver +bell and rang it violently.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are you going to do?" Aline asked, with anxiety.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know just yet; I only know that a duel must be +prevented,--prevented at all hazards."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nanette instantly obeyed her mistresses summons, and was devoured with +curiosity at sight of Eva's pale face and flashing eyes, although she +received her orders without any sign of interest. "Send Wilhelm," Eva +said, "to Lieutenant von Bertram. If he does not find him at home, let +him go after him, wherever he is, and beg him to come to me as quickly +as possible. I will await him here on the veranda."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Eva, you must not do this," Aline interposed. "What will Herr von +Bertram think of such an invitation?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are conventional forms to me when two human lives are at stake? +No, Aline, I shall follow the dictates of duty; nothing that you can +say will shake my resolution. Dearly as I love to follow your advice, I +cannot do so now. What are you waiting for, Nanette? Do you not +understand my orders?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought perhaps the Lady Aline----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva was about to give vent to the irritation caused her by these words, +but she remembered in time her late conversation with Aline, and she +merely said, in a gentler tone than she was used to employ towards +Nanette, "I wish Wilhelm to request Herr von Bertram to come to me as +soon as possible. Make haste and carry him my orders. Go!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then, when Nanette had left the veranda, she turned to Uncle Balthasar: +"Will you do me a favour, uncle dear?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A thousand if you will, my darling. You know I do everything that you +wish," Uncle Balthasar hastened to assure her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then pray go to Count Waldheim. I am afraid Wilhelm will not find Herr +von Bertram, but Count Waldheim will surely know where he is. I must +see Herr von Bertram. Bring him to me, there's a dear good uncle!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall have him, my pet, you shall have him! I'll bring him to you, +be sure, my poor little darling! I know where to find him. Count +Waldheim told me he was to dine with him at the Casino. You shall have +him; I'll bring him."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">With feverish impatience Eva awaited the arrival of Lieutenant von +Bertram, an impatience all the more intense from her inability to +hasten his visit, accustomed though she were to an instant fulfilment +of her every wish.</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva was one of fortune's spoiled darlings; her father, who from being a +common day-labourer had become the possessor of mines and millions, +cherished an idolatrous affection for his daughter. Was she not an only +child, the very image of the wife whom he had wooed for very many years +only to have her snatched from him by death after one short year of +marriage?</p> + +<p class="normal">Karl Schommer was universally held to be a hard, cold, stern man, +capable of only one passion--avarice. One woman, she to whom he had +given his whole heart, knew what he really was. For her sake, to win +for his wife the daughter of his wealthy, purse-proud employer, +Schommer had laboured with superhuman energy, and embarked his first +accumulated earnings in speculation. Everything that he attempted +succeeded. He won wealth, and with wealth the woman whom he loved. Her +death was a terrible blow; it would have crushed him had he not been +sustained by a sense of duty. He had a sacred charge to fulfil in care +for the little motherless daughter whom his dying wife had put into his +arms with her last loving smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">To little Eva he henceforth devoted himself with all the unselfish +tenderness which he had shown to his early-lost wife. For her he +continued to labour with the same restless energy and with the same +success as heretofore. The child needed a woman's care; the anxious +father would not entrust it to a hired nurse, but he bethought himself +of his sister-in-law, the wife of his brother Balthasar, and he begged +her to take charge of his motherless little one.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was no easy matter for Aunt Minni to make up her mind to leave +beautiful Dresden, where she kept a thriving haberdasher's shop; but +persuaded thereto by her kindly husband, who loved his brother dearly, +she did leave it and undertake to preside over her brother-in-law's +household and to take charge of little Eva.</p> + +<p class="normal">Karl Schommer could not have provided better for his child's physical +welfare than by summoning his sister-in-law to his aid. Never was there +a more devoted aunt and nurse, and she was rewarded by seeing her +charge develop into a strong, healthy child.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was decidedly questionable however whether Aunt Minni's capacity for +undertaking Eva's mental culture were equally good; but of this Karl +Schommer thought not at all. His own education was very defective; it +never troubled him that his brother and his brother's wife were alike +uncultivated; it was enough for him that they loved his child almost as +tenderly as he did himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">There could hardly have been worse training for a child than that under +which the little Eva grew up, and but for her admirable natural +endowments of disposition and intellect, she must have been entirely +ruined by the constant and injudicious indulgence with which she was +treated.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was still very young when her father died; her home-education was +after this neither better nor worse than it had been before. She +tyrannized over the entire household, over her teachers and +schoolmates. Only one of these last would not bend before her: this was +Aline, her present companion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Aline was quite as clever as Eva; they were rivals for first honours in +school and out. Out of this rivalry there grew a friendship between +them that ended only with their lives. Aline was the daughter of a man +of rank, who occupied a high position under government, but who was +dependent upon his official salary for the means to support an +extremely expensive family. He died suddenly, and there was no course +open for his daughter but to turn her talents to account in earning her +own living.</p> + +<p class="normal">No sooner did Eva hear of her friend's misfortune than she sought her +out, and did not relax her entreaties and persuasions until the poor +orphan had agreed to live with her, occupying the position of a dear +sister.</p> + +<p class="normal">Since the day when Aline had obeyed the call of the young heiress and +dwelt beneath her roof a new existence had begun for Eva. She gladly +resigned herself to the guidance of her wiser and better-disciplined +friend, whom she often called her good angel, and to whom she clung +with intense affection.</p> + +<p class="normal">To-day for the first time she had refused to listen to her friend; but +for the first time also her heart had made itself heard. Were not two +human lives at stake? While she waited she passed in review in her +memory all her past intercourse with Bertram and Heydeck, she recalled +every word spoken to her by either.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had frequently met Bertram in society; his aunt, Madame von +Sturmhaupt, never omitted to invite Eva to every entertainment, large +or small, which she gave. The old lady appeared exceedingly fond of the +young heiress, whom she heaped with attentions; for Eva's sake she +often endured hours of ennui with Aunt Minni, upon whom she called at +least once a week. But for the most part she arranged these visits so +as to find Eva at home, and then Aunt Minni's taciturnity served her +turn well, for she could dwell without interruption upon the fine +qualities of both mind and person of her nephew, Guido von Bertram, +whom she described with enthusiasm as the cleverest, noblest, best, +bravest, gentlest, and handsomest officer in the entire German army.</p> + +<p class="normal">Only one thing was to be regretted, and that was his insensibility to +female charms; he might have made the most advantageous alliances, so +many charming girls had been absolutely thrown in his way by their +parents, but really her dear Guido, who was possessed of every +requisite to make a wife perfectly happy, must have a heart of stone in +his breast, if indeed--and here Madame von Sturmhaupt would heave a +melancholy sigh--an unfortunate passion had not steeled that heart +against all the rest of the fair sex.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the good lady reached this climax, which was sure to crown all her +descriptions of Guido, she would cast a meaning look at Eva. An +unfortunate passion! Poor Guido, he was so sensitive, so unselfish! The +mere thought that perhaps a wealthy girl might suspect him of being +mercenary would drive him wild; his aunt was sure that the fear of +laying himself open to such a suspicion would deter him from ever +confessing his love to a girl who had money.</p> + +<p class="normal">That was why he was so often sad and pensive. Yes, there was no doubt +of it, he was sick at heart with an unhappy love.</p> + +<p class="normal">Such talk was infinitely annoying to Eva, but do what she would she +could not avoid it, for with incomparable dexterity Madame von +Sturmhaupt would lead the conversation back into her favourite channel +whenever Eva contrived to divert it thence for a while, and at all the +dinners which she gave the doting aunt arranged that her Guido should +sit beside the heiress.</p> + +<p class="normal">On such occasions Herr von Bertram played to perfection the part which +his aunt had assigned him. Sometimes he conversed fluently with Eva, +endeavouring to let his light shine and to be witty and amusing, and +then again he would sit silent, gazing moodily on the ground or casting +long melancholy looks at the heiress.</p> + +<p class="normal">Guido was an excellent actor, and his aunt seconded him ably, but Eva's +keen insight, sharpened as it was by the distrust of others, which was +becoming her second nature, enabled her to see through their schemes. +She was not deceived either by the enthusiastic praises lavished by the +aunt or by the assumed melancholy of the nephew. All this love and +devotion were for her millions, not for herself; of this she was well +assured, and the better Bertram played his part the more odious he was +to her. She despised him as a hypocrite, and she detested him because +she could not avoid his attentions, since there was a reason, which she +thought an important one, why she did not like to refuse any of his +aunt's invitations.</p> + +<p class="normal">At every entertainment given by Madame von Sturmhaupt Lieutenant von +Herwarth was sure to be present, and the young officer was devoted to +Aline. Eva knew that her friend did not regard him with indifference, +although she had never questioned her about him, and for Aline's sake +she endured Bertram's odious attentions, for Aline's sake she accepted +all his aunt's invitations, while all the more did she detest Bertram +himself. And he--he of all others--had stepped forward to defend her +against Leo von Heydeck!</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a pang at her heart as she thought that Heydeck, as Uncle +Balthasar had said, had allowed himself to make offensive remarks with +regard to her. Was this conceivable? Yes, it was possible; his +arrogance was great; had he not conducted himself at the fête at +Schönsee with such hauteur and reserve as to provoke Eva to treat him +with even more than her usual coldness of manner?</p> + +<p class="normal">She had been really glad when her uncle Balthasar presented to her the +young officer of whom she had heard so much that interested her. Aline, +who learned it all from Lieutenant von Herwarth, had told her that he +had distinguished himself as much for bravery and scorn of death in the +field as for humanity and kindness shown to the French peasantry. To +Herwarth, as he told Aline with enthusiasm, Leo von Heydeck was the +very ideal of a nobleman and officer. Herwarth could not say enough of +him, and Aline repeated faithfully to Eva all that he told her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus an interest in Leo was awakened in Eva's mind before she saw him, +and when they did meet, his manly bearing, his noble, expressive face, +answered to the impression of him already existing in her imagination.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Eva was a spoiled child of fortune. Accustomed to servile homage +from her numerous adorers, Leo's dignified quiet demeanour when they +first met, had seemed to her offensive, and she had resented it by an +increase of cold reserve on her part. And Leo hated her for it! Eva +knew it. She had watched him that day, and had detected him regarding +her with mistrust and dislike. And to-day!--he had recognized her; +their glances had met for one instant as he looked up from his +newspaper, but he had immediately and intentionally averted his eyes; +he was the only one there who had not accorded her even the simplest +salutation.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yes, Leo von Heydeck hated her, Eva knew it, and meant to give hatred +for hatred; she could have no effect upon him to prevent the duel, for +she never could so humble her pride as to address even the merest word +of friendly appeal to him. But she could prevail with Herr von Bertram. +True, it was very irksome to her to ask a favour of him for which she +should owe him gratitude, but a higher sense of duty forbade her to +yield any weight to this thought. This duel must not take place!</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva remembered her uncle's words, that Heydeck was an unerring +pistol-shot; she had formerly heard the same thing from Aline. +Heydeck's brilliant skill with this weapon had contributed to win him +Herwarth's enthusiastic admiration.</p> + +<p class="normal">A duel with deadly consequences! The idea was so horrible that it +banished every other consideration. A nameless, feverish horror +possessed the young girl; in imagination she saw the fatal combat: she +saw the foes stand opposite each other; the signal was given, the shots +were fired, and one sank on the ground with a bullet through his heart, +but this one was not Bertram, but Leo von Heydeck, whose pale face, +convulsed with the death-agony, seemed to hover before Eva's eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">The horrible waking dream was so vivid that Eva screamed aloud, and +only recovered herself when she felt Aline's gentle arm around her and +heard the kind voice in her ear begging her to be calm and composed +once more.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must control yourself, Eva," Aline said, gravely; "you cannot +receive Herr von Bertram while you are in this agitated state. It was +wrong to interfere as you have done, without due reflection, in an +affair between these two men. But now that you have gone so far you +must show no weakness when the lieutenant comes. You must not receive +him until you are entirely mistress of yourself. It would be better to +let me speak with him; tell me what you desire he should do; you really +are not in a condition to see him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Aline, I must see him; he will not refuse my request; I will +implore him to give up this wretched duel; I will not rest until he has +given me his promise, even although I should beg for it on my knees."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He cannot grant it; his honour as an officer is at stake. Take my +advice, Eva, let me speak with Herr von Bertram; if it is possible to +prevent this duel I promise you it shall be done, but pray do not you +appear in the matter. It is bad enough to have your name mixed up with +a scandal, which is town-talk by this time. Do not furnish any further +food for gossip."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is town-talk to me? Let gossip say what it will of me, I do not +care. Do not try to shake my resolution: it is perfectly firm; I shall +see Guido von Bertram, and force him to put a stop to this unhappy +duel, but I promise you to be calm, and to control myself. You shall be +present at the interview; I will look at you if my anger threatens to +master me; but, dearest Aline, do not talk to me, leave me to myself; +do not confuse me with entreaties now, when I must be calm and clear in +my own mind if I would obtain what I desire."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you please," Aline replied, disappointed; "I will not thrust my +counsel upon you." She took up the embroidery which she had laid aside, +and worked away industriously, but from time to time her eyes anxiously +followed Eva, who was restlessly pacing the veranda to and fro.</p> + +<p class="normal">An hour elapsed. Eva's state of expectancy had become almost +unendurable, when at last Uncle Balthasar's loud voice was heard at the +other end of the drawing-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come in, come in, Herr von Bertram, Eva is awaiting you on the +veranda."</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva pressed her hand to her throbbing heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be composed, Eva," Aline whispered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This way, pray, Herr von Bertram," Uncle Balthasar was heard saying, +and the time consumed in traversing the drawing-room was sufficient to +restore Eva's self-possession. She was only very pale when the +lieutenant presented himself upon the veranda, followed by Uncle +Balthasar. The hand which she rested lightly upon the back of her chair +as she arose to receive her guest trembled a little, but Aline alone +perceived this; even to Uncle Balthasar his niece appeared perfectly +calm and self-possessed.</p> + +<p class="normal">So thoroughly had she regained her self control that she greeted +Bertram with a slight smile, offering him her hand, which he kissed +with perhaps more warmth than custom warranted. This, however, Eva did +not seem to notice; she did not withdraw her hand until he relinquished +it, and then motioned him courteously to a seat.</p> + +<p class="normal">Guido obeyed her invitation silently; even he, whose heart was not wont +to be easily thrilled, perhaps because, as both his friends and foes +averred, he really did not own the article, could with difficulty +suppress his agitation; he knew that a decisive moment was at hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the way to the villa, Uncle Balthasar had told him, after his easy, +good-humoured fashion, how Eva had been quite beside herself with +terror when she heard of the impending duel. She had been half dead +with fear lest Herr von Heydeck should kill the man who had defended +her so stoutly. She had declared that she would prevent the duel at all +hazards.</p> + +<p class="normal">Guido could not but suppose, from Uncle Balthasar's words, that Eva's +terror and her intense desire to prevent the duel arose from fear lest +his life should be in danger, and in fact this was the old man's +belief. He himself had a certain regard for the handsome young officer.</p> + +<p class="normal">For months Guido had eagerly pursued his scheme of winning the hand of +the wealthy heiress. Hitherto he had been hopeless of success. Eva had +treated him with such cold reserve that he had frequently declared to +his aunt that he would relinquish his pursuit of her, he was but +wasting time, and his persistence had been owing to Madame von +Sturmhaupt's earnest entreaties.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old lady frequently told him that Eva's repellent manner and her +coldness were only feigned. She wad too proud to be easily won; in the +end, she would surely grant his suit. If Eva really disliked him, she +never would accept, as she did, every invitation to her, Madame von +Sturmhaupt's, house, since she knew she should meet him there. Her +readiness to accept these invitations was the surest possible proof +that she liked to meet him, and that her coldness was only a cloak for +the preference she secretly entertained for the handsome lieutenant.</p> + +<p class="normal">Such views harmonized so entirely with Guido's wishes that he could not +but lend them a ready ear. Still, he was not convinced, and every fresh +repulse of his attentions on Eva's part awakened fresh doubts in his +mind.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had resolved more than once to put his fate 'to the touch' and 'win +or lose,' so unendurable did these doubts seem to him, but his prudent +aunt besought him to have patience. Undue haste in declaring himself +would, she said, lose Eva to him forever. The heiress was proud, +wayward, and self-willed, full of whims and contradictions, and these +might easily influence her to say 'No' when she really meant 'Yes.' He +must wait for the right moment, and in the mean time his aunt promised +to advise him of everything that occurred at the Schommers', so that he +should on no account lose this right moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">It had come in a manner which the aunt had never dreamed of. After +Uncle Balthasar's communications, Bertram could not doubt that Eva was +impressed with profound gratitude for his defence of her against +Heydeck's insults, and filled with tender solicitude upon his behalf. +The smile with which she received him, in contrast to her former cold +greetings, confirmed Uncle Balthasar's words. She had not even shown +the slightest displeasure when he had bestowed so warm a kiss upon her +hand. Certainly there could be no more favourable moment than the +present for a formal declaration of his sentiments. He must use to his +advantage her solicitude for his safety, her gratitude, her emotion; +the next minute should be decisive!</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have kindly acceded instantly to my desire to see you, Herr von +Bertram," Eva began the conversation, after Uncle Balthasar had +withdrawn. "I thank you for so doing, and I hope you will as kindly +grant the great favour which I am about to ask of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be assured of it, Fräulein Schommer. Do you not know that I desire +nothing more earnestly than to fulfil your behests?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You promise fairly, Herr von Bertram; I hope not too fairly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Put me to the proof. You can ask nothing, dear lady, that I can deny +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was the first time that the lieutenant had ventured to make use of +such warmth of expression. Eva's pale cheeks flushed crimson, her eyes +flashed angrily; but bethinking herself how unadvisable it was to +provoke the man, she overlooked the familiarity of his address which +she would else have resented instantly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am going to put you to the proof, Herr von Bertram," she replied, +gravely. "My uncle learned to-day from Count Waldheim that there has +arisen between Herr von Heydeck and yourself a quarrel of which I am +the unhappy cause. More my uncle did not learn; wherefore I beg you to +tell me all about it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Guido found it difficult to suppress a satisfied smile and in its stead +to express upon his features painful regret, but he managed it very +successfully. With a sigh, he said, "After what Herr Schommer said to +me, I almost expected this demand from you; but it is, I confess, +extremely difficult for me to comply with it. My friend Count Waldheim, +with the best intentions of course, was excessively indiscreet in +mentioning to Herr Schommer what had just occurred beneath Büchner's +awning. I am greatly pained that you, my dear Fräulein Schommer, should +thus have learned what never should have reached your ears."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Since it has reached my ears, and, but for Count Waldheim's +communication, might have reached them too late, I refuse to be +satisfied by vague declarations. I wish to know just what happened, and +therefore entreat you to tell me the truth,--and the whole truth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I promised to fulfil your desire, and, hard as it is for me, I must +keep my promise. As Count Waldheim told your uncle, there is a quarrel +between Lieutenant von Heydeck and myself,--a quarrel which Heydeck +provoked by the insolence with which he dared to speak of you, my dear +Fräulein Schommer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This explanation does not suffice me. I must know--I have a right to +know--exactly what took place. You took upon yourself the office of my +champion. Herr von Bertram, I must know what acts or expressions of +Herr von Heydeck's gave you a right to do so. I desire you to repeat to +me word for word, if possible, what was said."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no encouragement in the tone in which Eva uttered these +words, especially when she spoke of Guido's right to champion her. The +lieutenant's lofty hopes were suddenly dashed to the ground, for there +was certainly no gratitude, no tender solicitude as to the issue of the +strife in Eva's manner; no, the air with which she regarded him as she +made her demand seemed almost hostile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You ask much of me," Bertram said. "My tongue rebels against repeating +the miserable words that scoundrel used."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I require it. Remember your promise!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I obey, though with a heavy heart. You remember, dear Fräulein +Schommer, that you drove past Büchner's to-day. You probably did not +notice that Herr von Heydeck was ill-bred enough not to salute you. +That irritated me, but my indignation was aroused when the man +discussed you aloud with his friend, Herr von Herwarth, in the most +offensive manner."</p> + +<p class="normal">Aline von Schlicht had hitherto been an attentive although silent +auditor of what passed. Now she suddenly turned to Bertram, and with a +sharpness and decision hardly to have been expected from so gentle and +retiring a young lady, said, "That cannot be true! Herr von Herwarth +never would have taken part in any 'offensive' discussion of Fräulein +Schommer. I know from himself how greatly he respects her----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I envy Herr von Herwarth so fair a defender," Bertram replied, +smiling, "and I willingly affirm that not the slightest reproach can +attach to him,--his expressions were perfectly respectful. I spoke only +of Heydeck----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Proceed! proceed!" Eva impatiently interrupted him. "What were the +offensive words used by Herr von Heydeck?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I obey your behest, and will repeat his words as exactly as I can +remember them, although I cannot possibly reproduce the arrogant tone, +which was more insulting than the words themselves. He first told Herr +von Herwarth that it was much against his inclination that he had been +presented to the 'fair princess,' as he expressed it, in silly +adoration of whom he never could join----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why was he presented, then?" Eva angrily interposed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Guido shrugged his shoulders, and continued: "He then proceeded in the +most reckless fashion to tell of how Fräulein Schommer had treated him +with contemptuous discourtesy, and at last dared to declare that +Fräulein Schommer was odious to him,--he hated her arrogance! her low +purse-pride! These are his very expressions!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva grew deadly pale; the little hand still leaning on the back of the +chair trembled convulsively. It was not anger that thus moved her, but +pain, real pain, as she exclaimed, "Purse-pride! low purse-pride! I, +purse-proud! Oh, if he knew how I loathe and despise the wretched +money! But I will not complain; it is my destiny to be made miserable +by this unhappy wealth. Go on, Herr von Bertram. What happened next? I +must know all."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram continued, thinking this the best possible opportunity to +present himself to the young girl in a favourable light: "I was +profoundly indignant at so contemptible an insult publicly offered to a +lady whom I esteem highly. I instantly required Herr von Heydeck to +retract his expressions. He refused to do so, and of course forced me +to brand him as guilty of dishonourable conduct."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And he? How did Herr von Heydeck resent your insult?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How could he resent it? Conscious of his guilt, he received my words +in silence; he left Büchner's, followed by his friend, Herr von +Herwarth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And who authorized you to stand forth as my champion?" Eva asked, when +she could collect herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">This question was so sudden, and as she put it Eva's eyes flashed such +angry menace at the lieutenant, that for an instant he knew not what to +reply, and could only stammer out, "But--dearest Fräulein Schommer, +what could I do? Had I not a right, was it not my duty, to resent an +insult offered you so disgracefully--in public?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No! You had as little right to do so as you have to annoy me by +repeatedly addressing me as 'dearest' Fräulein Schommer. You can hardly +expect me to be grateful to you for thus, by your officious +interference, making my name the theme of common gossip throughout the +city!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But that fellow's insult?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would have been forgotten as soon as it was uttered. Who cares, since +I do not, whether or not Herr von Heydeck hates me and thinks me +haughty and purse-proud? You had no right to accuse Herr von Heydeck of +dishonourable conduct because you overheard him make use of certain +expressions in conversation with an intimate friend. If my reputation +should suffer in this matter it is your fault, not his. He has done me +no injury; you have grossly insulted me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram angrily bit his lip; he saw his fairest hopes shattered, and by +his own fault; unconquerable dislike of him flashed in Eva's black +eyes; he felt that she never would forgive him. This was the end of all +his schemes for winning the hand of this beautiful heiress.</p> + +<p class="normal">With rage in his heart he turned to go, and would have left her +presence without another word, but a delicate hand laid on his arm +detained him. "You must not leave me yet, Herr von Bertram," said Eva. +"I have much to say to you; you have not even heard the favour I am +about to ask of you. Forgive my irritation; I did not mean to offend +you, and if I have done so unintentionally, you must ascribe it to the +natural agitation produced by this unfortunate occurrence. Do not go. +Must I remind you of your promise?"</p> + +<p class="normal">What transformation was this? The angry sparkle no longer shone in the +beautiful eyes; a smile played about the lovely mouth; the young girl's +words contained no menace, but a gentle entreaty. Bertram looked at her +in amazement; he could not understand the change, nor did he dream of +the mental struggle through which Eva had just passed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her hasty temperament had led her against her will into a frank avowal +of her sentiments, but scarcely had the words left her lips than she +saw the mistake she had made. She wished to prevent the impending duel; +this could only be done by an appeal to Bertram, and she had so +offended him that he had turned to leave her. He must be appeased if +she hoped to attain her end, and therefore she smothered the dislike +she felt for him, therefore she smiled and spoke gently.</p> + +<p class="normal">It had the desired effect. Bertram's anger passed away; he was induced +to take a seat and to listen to her request.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must recur once more to this unfortunate quarrel," Eva continued. +"You tell me that Herr von Heydeck received your insult in silence, and +immediately afterwards left the veranda. Tell me frankly, do you +believe that the quarrel will have no further consequences?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; I do not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what will happen now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What Herr von Heydeck will do of course I cannot foresee. I only know +what a man of honour would do in his place."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again Eva's cheeks flushed: "Herr von Heydeck is a man of honour! No +one dares to doubt it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I dare to doubt it, Fräulein Schommer," Bertram rejoined, with a +scornful laugh. "I knew what I was saying when I spoke to him as I did, +for a man who does not hesitate to calumniate an unprotected woman has +no sense of honour!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva, mindful of how necessary it was for her to keep her temper, made +no reply to this remark, but asked, in as quiet a voice as she could +command, "Do you think that Herr von Heydeck will accept your insult +without resenting it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know; but in any case he cannot escape punishment for his +unworthy conduct. If an officer should pocket calmly an accusation of +dishonourable behaviour and not challenge his accuser, he would be +outlawed from the corps of officers as a coward. Perhaps this will be +Heydeck's fate. But if he is really brave enough to challenge me, I +shall chastise him as he deserves for unworthy words with regard to a +lady for whom I have the highest esteem, although I am so unfortunate +as not to find favour in her eyes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A duel," Eva said, sadly, not noticing his last words, "a mortal +combat, on account of a few thoughtless words."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A duel will ensue if Heydeck has the courage to challenge me, which I +very much doubt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You need not doubt it, Herr von Bertram. Herr von Heydeck has proved +upon the field that fear is unknown to him; he will call you to +account. Do you know that his skill with the pistol is unerring; that +he never misses his aim; that your life will be at his mercy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I also know no fear, Fräulein Schommer. If it should be my fate to +fall in this duel, I shall die content, for my life will be a sacrifice +to my duty as a man of honour. Were the consciousness mine that you +would give a kindly thought to my memory, I should meet death +joyfully."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram spoke these words with immense pathos, looking earnestly at Eva +the while. To his chagrin, however, he could not but see that his +display of feeling produced no effect whatever upon the obdurate +beauty; indeed she scarcely seemed to hear what he had said. She gazed +thoughtfully before her for a few minutes that seemed like hours to +Bertram, and then, looking up at him, said hastily and with some +agitation, "This duel must not be, Herr von Bertram. You can prevent +it, and I now remind you of the promise you made me at the beginning of +our conversation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not understand you, Fräulein Schommer. It does not depend upon +me, but upon Herr von Heydeck, to accept my reproof calmly without +sending me a challenge."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you can so arrange matters that it need not be incumbent upon him +to challenge you. I have read that if, in such cases, the offending man +retracts what he has said and begs pardon of him whom he has offended, +the quarrel is made up and never proceeds to a bloody issue. It is in +your power thus to prevent any combat with Herr von Heydeck. Tell him +that you recall your offensive remarks, and ask his pardon; there will +be then no reason for his calling you out. Remember your promise, Herr +von Bertram; I implore you, speak a conciliating word. You can do it, +for Herr von Heydeck did not insult you, but me, and I forgive him. +Remember that I never could have another happy moment if I thought that +I had been the cause of mortal strife between two human beings. The +blood spilled for me would cleave to me like the curse of Cain. Be +magnanimous, Herr von Bertram, not towards your enemy, but towards me, +I pray you, I conjure you. Make me the sacrifice of the pride which +prevents you from speaking the conciliating word."</p> + +<p class="normal">The first impression produced upon Bertram by Eva's words was that of +immense surprise, her request astounded him; was it prompted by fear +for his life? No, assuredly not, he had not forgotten the look of +hatred which he had seen in her eyes a few moments before.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly another idea flashed upon him. Eva had defended Heydeck with a +warmth she had never as yet shown to any one besides. Was it his life +and his future for which she trembled if he should make up his mind to +fight? Her tender consideration was, then, all for Heydeck; for him her +intense desire that the quarrel should have a peaceful conclusion. She +loved Bertram's enemy, hence her sad surprise entirely devoid of anger, +when she heard that he had called her purse-proud. She loved Heydeck, +who despised her! For an instant, but only for an instant, this thought +filled Bertram with savage indignation; the next moment he smiled, for +there occurred to him with the swiftness of thought a scheme whereby he +might turn this love to his own account. New hopes immediately sprang +to being within him; he would not try to win Eva's heart. What did he +care for the girl's heart? She might give her hopeless, unrequited +affection to whomsoever she chose if she would give her millions to the +husband whom she hated.</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram needed but a few moments to decide how to act. Fortunately Eva +gave him these few moments to ponder upon her request, and when he +replied his mind was entirely made up. "You do not dream what you +require of me, Fräulein Schommer," he said with great gravity. "You ask +nothing more or less than the entire annihilation of my future. I spoke +the words in question to Heydeck in a public place before numerous +witnesses; they must be retracted in the same manner before Heydeck can +be justified in not fighting me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do so, Herr von Bertram,--I implore you, do so!" Eva begged afresh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And if I do so, what have I to expect? I will tell you, Fräulein +Schommer; it is right that you should know the full extent of the +request you have made of me. After I have made a public retractation +all my comrades who have hitherto been my friends will fall away from +me and despise me. 'He is a coward,' they will say; 'afraid evidently +of Heydeck's well-known unerring aim.' My honour is lost, and with it +my future career. I must leave the army, my comrades disdaining to +serve with me! I am poor, Fräulein Schommer. You, rolling in luxury, +have no conception of what it means to be poor. Having left the +service, I must accept any, even the meanest, position that can insure +me sufficient income to maintain a wretched existence, if indeed I do +not have recourse to a bullet through my brains to end a life that has +been such a wretched failure. This is my future if I fulfil your +request. To-day the world stands open to me. The highest honours that +crown a military career may be mine. In a few years I shall be captain +and in a condition to offer my hand, without exposing myself to the +charge of mercenary motives, to the lovely girl to whom I long since +gave my whole heart. These hopes you ask me to destroy with my own +hand; for how could I, a beggar, degraded in my own eyes and those of +the world, ever venture to aspire to one heaped with all that can make +life desirable? I should, and justly, be repulsed with scorn. Have you +a right to require this sacrifice of me? I have given you my promise, +and if you require it I will keep it, for there is nothing that you can +ask which I will not perform, but before I do so, before you ask the +sacrifice of my entire future, you must know what are the delicious +hopes which you thus annihilate. It is you, Eva Schommer, whom I have +loved passionately from the first moment when my eyes were gladdened by +the sight of you. I have religiously concealed this love, for what +right had a poor dragoon to reveal it? The thought that you might +suppose I wooed you for your wealth, and not for your sweet self alone, +would have driven me frantic. Therefore I was silent; therefore I +curbed the wild desires of my heart. I resolved to wait until with, +increase of rank I could offer you a position not unworthy of you. Yes, +Eva, I love you with an intensity of which you cannot dream, and hence +my right to step forth as the champion of your honour; hence the wound +I felt when you so harshly rebuked my presumption. It is but just that +I should tell you all this. Now decide my fate; it is in your hands. +Ask of me my life, or, what is infinitely more dear to me, my honour, I +will sacrifice everything to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">He ceased, and awaited Eva's reply. Possessed of histrionic talent by +no means contemptible, conscious that this was a decisive moment in his +life, he was really agitated; and this agitation lent to his words and +manner an appearance of reality that could not but impress Eva with a +belief in their sincerity. As he spoke, she grew very pale; she was not +surprised,--she had long foreseen with annoyance that she should some +day be obliged distinctly to reject his proffered affection; and yet +she had not looked for a declaration of it just at this time.</p> + +<p class="normal">What should she say to him? Had she a right to require of him the +sacrifice of his entire future? And yet, if she did not do it, this +terrible duel, sure to end in the death of one of the combatants, would +inevitably take place. It was her sacred duty to prevent this. Bertram +had given her a glimpse of a way in which the right to ask him to +relinquish his entire future would be hers.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sacrifice for sacrifice! Her heart seemed to cease beating at the +thought. Never had the handsome dragoon been so utterly detestable to +her as when he was pouring forth his glowing assurances of affection. +But could she hesitate to sacrifice herself? Two human lives depended +upon her decision. And what did she resign? A happy future? No! None +such could be hers with this curse of wealth cleaving to her. What did +it matter in the end whether she gave the hand so coveted to Bertram or +to another? were not all her wooers alike indifferent to her? They all +coveted her millions, and set no store by the poor girlish heart +hungering and thirsting for true affection. Bertram was no worse than +the rest; perhaps somewhat better,--at least he was willing to make a +sacrifice for her. Certainly his protestations of love had seemed +genuine.</p> + +<p class="normal">And yet, another image would rise before her mental vision,--was there +then one to whom she was not so entirely indifferent,--one lost to her +forever? Fie! she would not think of him: he was her enemy; he hated +and despised her, although he hardly knew her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is there no other way, no honourable way, in which this duel can be +avoided without imperilling your future?" Eva asked; her mind was +already half made up to sacrifice herself, but she hesitated to say the +fatal word.</p> + +<p class="normal">"None."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you will keep your promise, Herr von Bertram? You will sacrifice +your future to me if I desire it? You will make the public retractation +which will prevent the duel?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram hesitated for one instant. He had read Eva's countenance; he +hoped that his scheme had been successful, but he was not quite sure. +It was possible that she might require of him the fulfilment of his +promise and yet refuse him her hand! And, if she did, was not a hasty +promise better broken than kept? Is it not the brave whom fortune +favours? "I will! I swear it by my honour! In your hands lies my fate!" +he cried, with well-feigned enthusiasm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I accept your promise, Herr von Bertram, and requite it by my own, +that, as far as in me lies, I will try to repay the sacrifice you make +to me. If you succeed in avoiding this duel, then, Herr von Bertram, I +promise to deny you no request you may make of me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eva, what are you doing?" Aline here interposed. "I adjure you to +consider what you are saying, and the possible consequences of such a +promise!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Aline knew that her interference was hardly consistent with delicacy, +but her friend's happiness was at stake, and speak out she must at all +hazards.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have considered, and I know what I promise," Eva replied, calmly, in +a clear, firm voice. Having once forced herself to embrace a +resolution, she would not shrink from putting it into action.</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram could have shouted for joy, but he perfectly understood how to +retrain any excessive exhibition of delight. "Have I heard aright? Can +I trust my powers of comprehension, dearest Eva?" he said, with the due +amount of rapture beaming in his eyes, as he took her hand and kissed +it eagerly. "I hardly dare to believe it. Will you make me the happiest +of men? Will you grant any request of mine, even one for this lovely +hand?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Any one!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Aline lost her self-possession entirely. She seemed to see the friend +whom she loved about to plunge into an abyss from which she must rescue +her. Greatly agitated, she arose, and interposed. "You are going too +far, Eva!" she said, indignantly; "you must not purchase the prevention +of this duel at such a price; and you, Herr von Bertram, if you are a +man of honour, will not accept such a sacrifice,--you cannot thus take +advantage of the misery of a weak girl. I know that Eva does not love +you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva interrupted her friend. "Stay, Aline!" she said, in a tone so stern +and decided that it forbade all further contradiction. "Even from you I +cannot suffer any interference with my freedom of action. I will +deceive no one,--certainly not Herr von Bertram," and she turned to the +dragoon: "Aline has told you that I do not love you; she has told you +the truth! I can give you my hand, if you demand it. I cannot give you +my heart, but," she added, with a sad and bitter smile, "that will be a +matter of perfect indifference to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can you for an instant doubt what to reply, Herr von Bertram?" Aline +again interposed. Eva's harsh words had daunted her for a moment, but +anxiety for her friend gave her courage to make one more attempt to +save her. "Can you, if you are a man of honour, still ask Eva's hand of +her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Aline, I forbid you----!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are certainly the mistress and I the servant, I know that, Eva. +You often forget this; I never do! But now, the duty I owe to my +mistress is lost in that which I owe to my friend. You must not +obstinately persevere in making your whole future life unhappy, and if +I cannot prevail with you to refrain from making such a sacrifice, I +must appeal to Herr von Bertram, to his honour, which forbids his thus +bartering for your hand. What hard-driven bargain for money could be +half so disgraceful? You cannot accept this sacrifice, Herr von +Bertram, for you can never succeed in winning Eva's heart!"</p> + +<p class="normal">A mocking smile hovered upon the dragoon's lips, but he suppressed it, +and said, in the quiet tone of perfect conviction, "You are wrong, +Fräulein von Schlicht! I shall win this noble heart; it will be +conquered by my devoted affection. I am conscious of sufficient force +and courage to enable me to win it, and therefore, knowing that I shall +succeed in making her whom I love a happy wife, I claim the dear hand, +although she gives it to me without her heart. Yes, dearest Eva, I hold +you to your promise. I claim your 'yes'----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are not yet justified in doing so. My promise was coupled with a +condition," Eva said. She had listened with cold indifference to +Bertram's words. She had no faith in this triumphant love; his mocking +smile, fleeting although it were, had not escaped her, and had +confirmed her in the conviction that he coveted only her hand and her +fortune, and not her heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">The dragoon was nothing daunted by her coldness; he was determined not +to let the fortunate moment slip from his grasp.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your condition is fulfilled," he replied; "I give you my word of +honour that the duel you so dread shall not take place. As soon as I +leave you I will go to my friend Count Waldheim, and beg him to summon +Herr von Heydeck to meet me at Büchner's there to receive my apology +for whatever offensive words I may have used towards him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What if, nevertheless, Herr von Heydeck persists in his challenge, +since spoken words cannot be made unspoken?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is not conceivable, but should it be so, I still promise you that +there shall be no duel. I will repeat my apology, and, moreover, +declare that I will accept no challenge. You have promised, dearest +Eva, to atone to me, as far as you can, for the sacrifice of my honour +which I make to you. You can thus atone if I may carry from your +presence the 'yes' I long for. If I leave this house your future +husband, I can say to my comrades that I am bound by a promise to my +betrothed to avoid a duel with Herr von Heydeck. This statement, which +will then be strictly true, will greatly modify public opinion with +regard to my behaviour towards Herr von Heydeck. Be magnanimous, +dearest Eva; give me this precious 'yes' now, that I may leave this +house to fulfil your wishes, your promised bridegroom."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not do this, Eva!" Aline entreated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And why not? What difference can it make whether what must be happens +now or this evening?" Eva said, in a hopeless tone. "I am ready, Herr +von Bertram, to accede to your wishes, but upon certain conditions----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will fulfil any conditions that you can impose upon me----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"By their non-fulfilment, Herr von Bertram, I now declare here, in the +presence of my friend, you will forfeit the right to claim my promise. +I allow you to make known our betrothal, I will present you as my +betrothed to my uncle and aunt, but I require on the other hand that +you should never lay claim to any of a lover's privileges, never +venture to annoy me with professions of affection, or to look for any +such from me; also, the time of our marriage must be appointed by +myself alone, and you are upon no account to venture to influence me to +shorten the period of our engagement----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are cruel, Eva."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot be otherwise; let there be truth between us. I have told you +that I do not love you, and that only a sense of the duty I owe you in +atoning for the sacrifice you make me induces me to give you my hand. +But my indifference would become hatred should you force me to endure +caresses which I abhor,--the first attempt to do so dissolves our +engagement and sets me free! Do you accept my conditions, Herr von +Bertram?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are very, very cruel; but I cannot say no."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You agree, then, to my conditions?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So be it! Aline, let me present to you my betrothed. Follow me, Herr +von Bertram; I will conduct you to my uncle and aunt."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Before Leo von Heydeck returned to his apartments he took a long walk +in the park. He wished to be alone to hold communion quietly with +himself, that he might come to a decision with regard to his future +conduct. He knew that he had arrived at a crisis in his career.</p> + +<p class="normal">Forced, against his inclination, by a stern father, Colonel von +Heydeck, to embrace the military profession, he had, notwithstanding, +become reconciled to it during the war with France, which he had +entered into with patriotic enthusiasm, and in which he had greatly +distinguished himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">Esteemed and beloved by his comrades, he had never before now found +himself in a position either to send or to receive a challenge. He had +always considered duelling as a savage relic of mediæval barbarism; but +the insult offered him intentionally in the presence of numerous +witnesses, by Herr von Bertram, was certainly cause sufficient, if any +such could exist, to justify the savage practice.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he slowly sauntered along the secluded alleys of the park he weighed +and pondered every argument for and against his yielding in this case +to military prejudice. He had a hard struggle with himself to undergo, +but by the time he reached his home he had made up his mind,--he would +be true to his convictions and yield no jot to public opinion.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the stairs he met his servant who surprised him with the +intelligence that Colonel von Herwarth was in his apartment, where he +had awaited him for a quarter of an hour.</p> + +<p class="normal">Colonel von Herwarth, the commander of his regiment? What did this +visit portend? Had he heard already of the scene at Büchner's?</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo paused for an instant, and his heart beat undeniably faster. He +foresaw that the ensuing conversation with the man who was alike his +superior officer and his paternal friend would be of great importance +to him; he must be perfectly prepared before it began. Once more he +passed in mental review the reasons for the resolution he had taken. He +never wavered; for the first time in his life an opportunity was +offered him to step forward boldly and frankly in vindication of a +principle. Firm in his purpose to do so he entered the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel had not found the time spent in his young officer's room +long. He had been much interested in what he found there, where there +was nothing except the weapons, arranged upon a wall with an eye for +artistic effect, to remind one that this was the abode of a soldier. +The apartment might rather have been taken for a scholar's study or an +artist's studio.</p> + +<p class="normal">One side of the room was entirely covered with book-shelves, the +contents of which would hardly have tempted the lovers of light +reading, and the writing-table was loaded with books and papers in true +scholarly disorder; while quantities of sketches in oil, framed and +unframed, occupying every available spot upon the walls, and a large +easel in the centre of the room, upon which was an unfinished picture, +betrayed the artist.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before this picture, a portrait of a beautiful girl, the colonel was +standing, attentively surveying it, when Leo entered. The dress was +only sketched in, but the face was nearly finished; at least so the +colonel thought, as he admired the delicate features and the glorious +black eyes that seemed to gaze into his own.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo's entrance aroused him from its contemplation; he turned and held +out his hand. "I have been awaiting you for some time, Herr von +Heydeck," he said; "but I do not regret the quarter of an hour spent +here, since it has given me an opportunity of admiring your artistic +skill. I knew you were fond of the brush, but I had no idea that you +had reached such a pitch of perfection in the art. What a brilliant +sketch this is! I am sure I have seen that face somewhere. Who is she? +I surely know that girl."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Scarcely, I think, colonel," Leo replied, unable to conceal a certain +embarrassment. "It is but a daub,--just begun, and not at all like. You +never would recognize the original from seeing this thing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And yet--and yet--I surely remember having seen that, young girl +somewhere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Probably some chance resemblance, colonel. There is no trace of +likeness in this portrait; it is only a slight sketch from memory. If I +had known that I was to have the honour of a visit from you, I should +not have left it upon the easel. Permit me to remove it."</p> + +<p class="normal">He took the picture from the easel and leaned it with the face against +the wall,--the colonel shook his finger at him, with a smile: "You are +in a great hurry to hide it away. Have I, perchance, been indiscreet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not at all, colonel," said Leo, trying unsuccessfully to appear easy +and unembarrassed. "I do not know the lady at all. I met her once in +society, and hardly exchanged a couple of words with her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In spite of which she has made so profound an impression upon the +artist that he has painted a charming portrait from memory. But I will +not meddle with your secrets, my dear Heydeck, I have come upon other +and serious business. You will guess what it is when I tell you that my +nephew, Kuno, has been with me. He came to confide, not in Colonel von +Herwarth, but in his uncle; and so I come to you, my dear Heydeck, not +as your colonel and superior officer, but as your true friend, to +discuss this miserable matter in which Herr von Bertram's brutal +insults have entangled you. Give me your hand, Heydeck; I trust you are +convinced that I have your welfare at heart!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I certainly am, colonel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And there is good reason why it should be so; not because you saved my +life at Gravelotte at terrible risk of your own,--that was your duty, +and I would have done the same in your place,--but because you are the +best officer in my regiment, and a fast friend to that feather-headed +nephew of mine, Kuno, whose admiration and affection for you prevent +his getting into many a scrape. You see my friendship for you is rather +selfish, but none the less genuine.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To business, then! Kuno tells me that you have got into your head some +romantic and entirely incomprehensible ideas about the immorality of +duelling, and that in consequence you are in doubt as to calling out +Herr von Bertram. Is this true, my dear Heydeck?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not quite, colonel. I am no longer in doubt; I have decided: I shall +not challenge Herr von Bertram."</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel, who had been pacing the room to and fro at Leo's side, +suddenly stood still. "The devil you won't!" he exclaimed. "Why, it's +worse than I thought! Kuno was right, then! Do you know the fate of an +officer who allows himself to be accused of dishonourable conduct?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do, colonel, and therefore I am resolved to send in my resignation +immediately."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, forty thousand dev---- No, no, I will not swear; I will +be calm. Only tell me, are you stark, staring mad? Send in your +resignation!--you, before whom there is the most brilliant career? You +must not! 'Tis impossible!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must, colonel, and I rely upon your help in the matter, for this is +the only way in which mischief among my comrades can be prevented."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, deuce take it! why don't you send a bullet through that scoundrel +Bertram, as any other brave officer would do, and settle the matter +reasonably?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because my principles forbid duelling. My mind is made up, colonel. +Pray do not attempt to shake my resolution, for I give you my word of +honour that I will not fight a duel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There it is!" cried the colonel, in despair. "All's over now! Unhappy, +misguided young man, what have you done?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My duty, colonel; I but fulfil a sacred obligation. You, at least, +will not believe that I am actuated by cowardice."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cowardice! You? I'll fight the man myself who accuses you of cowardice +in my presence. Your courage has been proved a hundred times in France, +as I can testify. No one can accuse you of cowardice,--that's not what +vexes me; but you can't stay in the service for all that! What would +become of the corps of officers if these cursed democratic ideas of +yours were to find acceptance among us? But you have declared upon your +honour that you'll not fight, and there's no use talking any more about +it. You must send in your resignation, and I'll see that it's accepted. +That's all I can do for you now. Sit down this moment and write it, +and I'll take it with me and attend to it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo did so. While the colonel walked up and down the room, muttering +curses, not loud, but deep, upon the 'd----d democratic nonsense,' Leo +wrote his resignation, and handed it to his superior officer.</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel read the paper through. "It is all in order," he said, "and +shall be attended to. There is nothing else to be done now; but +confound that scoundrel Bertram! and deuce take me if I don't find some +way to reward him for his share in this business! I believe the dog +knew your craze about duelling. Did you ever mention your cursed +democratic ideas in his presence?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course he knows what my opinions are: we used to be friends."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought so. The confounded coward could play the hero cheaply; but +I've not done with him yet. He shall find it no joke to have driven my +best officer from the service. But that will not bring you back again. +I see well enough that with your principles you had better resign. And +you had best leave K---- as soon as possible. Take a journey to get out +of the way of all the gossip and fuss there will be. I'll give you a +leave upon my own responsibility,--and goodbye. I can't help loving +you, my dear fellow, though you are such a d----d democrat; and if ever +you need a true friend, remember Oswald von Herwarth, who never will +forget you at Gravelotte."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old officer cleared his throat violently, and indignantly winked +away a suspicious moisture from his eyes; then, pulling his cap low +over his forehead, he stamped down-stairs without one more word of +farewell.</p> + +<p class="normal">Scarcely was Leo alone than he took up the picture which he had leaned +against the wall, replaced it upon the easel, stepped backwards from +it, and regarded it sadly. "So you send me out into the world!" he +murmured. "It is your revenge upon me for my cowardly words of you in +your absence; for it was cowardly so to do violence to myself. Your +punishment is hard, but just. Now that I dare once more to gaze into +the depths of those dark, girlish eyes, why are they not scornful and +angry, but sad and dreamy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood for a while so lost in thoughts of the few moments he had +spent in Eva's presence, and in contemplation of the picture, that he +did not hear the door behind him open.</p> + +<p class="normal">An aged officer, leaning heavily upon a stout bamboo cane, entered the +room, and, standing still, gloomily surveyed the young man lost in +revery before the picture; then as he glanced at a mirror hanging on +the wall opposite the door, he saw reflected in its depths his own +image and his son's. He was startled; the astonishing likeness between +them, which he had never before admitted, struck him forcibly and +painfully at the moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So like, and yet so different!" the old man thought, "Yes, he is my +son. I could not disown him if I would. My only son,--so like me,--and +that he should disgrace our name,--'tis maddening!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood for a moment silently watching his son, and then struck the +floor violently with his bamboo cane. "Halloo, Herr Leo von Heydeck!" +he cried. "Colonel von Heydeck requests the honour of a few words with +you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo turned in surprise. "What, father, you here?" he asked. One glance +at his father's gloomy face told him plainly enough that the old man +was perfectly aware of the events of the last few hours, and had come +to call his son to account. Confused and annoyed, Leo bent his looks +upon the ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You did not expect a visit from me?" the colonel asked, +contemptuously. "You had indeed no right to do so, for old Colonel von +Heydeck has never had anything to do with scoundrels!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, don't you like the word? I should not have thought you would +notice it! I have just seen the Herwarths, uncle and nephew, and I know +everything. 'Tis the second time a Heydeck has tamely borne such an +insult,--first my vagabond of a brother, and now you, my only son!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man sat down, and continued: "I was on my way here to +remonstrate with you when I met your colonel; he told me you had +declared upon your honour that you would fight no duel, and that there +would be no use in anything I could say; that he had your resignation +in his pocket, and was going to attend to it. He spoke warmly in your +behalf,--my heart was touched by it; you have him to thank that I do +not bestow my curse upon you, as once I did upon my coward of a +brother, but that I am come to you to ask, 'What are you going to do +now?'" The old man looked about him in his son's room, to which this +was his first visit, and frowned, as he went on: "If you have one +single spark of affection for your old father do not disgrace our name +by a Heydeck's painting pictures for money. I know you will answer me +that you cannot live on air, or beg, or steal, and that I cannot +support you, since my pension barely suffices for my own wants. I know +this is what you will say, but I have a proposition to make. Leo, you +must marry!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Certainly this proposition was the last that Leo expected from his +father. "I marry?" he exclaimed, with a side-glance at the easel. +"Never! How could I dream of it now when I am about to enter upon a new +life, in which the struggle for existence will be hard enough with only +one to provide for."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All the more reason why this new life should never be sullied by any +occupation unworthy a nobleman," the colonel replied, quite unmoved by +his son's words, "Hear me quietly; we must understand each other, and I +have much to do to-day besides. Your colonel has promised that your +resignation shall find honourable acceptance. I myself will see to it +that Herr von Bertram does not go unpunished for an insult offered to a +Heydeck!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's no affair of yours; you are not my guardian. If you claim a +right to publish your convictions in direct opposition to universal +opinion, I, old man as I am, surely have a right to do as honour bids +me. I shall do so, and shall see that the name of Heydeck is not +sullied; it is your part, as far as in you lies, to keep it clear from +stain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you require of me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Before I tell you I must, that you may understand me, give you some +information concerning the past of a certain member of our family. You +know that I have a brother of whom I have never spoken to you; I am +going to do so now. We were two merry boys together,--Ferdinand two +years younger than I,--and we were very fond of each other, although we +were utterly dissimilar physically and mentally; he was a bookworm, +excellent at learning, while I was a wild, wayward fellow, fonder of my +rifle than of any book. When we left school he wanted to pursue his +studies, while I was bent on entering the army. Our father was a stern, +harsh man, and would not suffer any son of his to be a quill-driver. +All Ferdinand's entreaties, and even the tears of our mother, whose +favourite he was, were of no avail; he had to don the uniform. To the +last moment he implored my father not to force him to embrace a +profession which he hated, but my father contemptuously turned a deaf +ear, and did not even bid him good-bye when he left us, nor indeed did +I, for I was vexed with him for his womanish conduct.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And so Ferdinand became a soldier, and the reports received of him +from his colonel, an old friend of my father's, were extremely fair. He +was no favourite in the corps of officers: he was too staid and grave, +he was even accused of miserliness, but he did his duty, soon became +ensign, passed a brilliant examination, and scarcely a year after +entering the service gained his epaulettes, while I was two full years +gaining mine.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Several years went by; then we met on some great occasion. I had been +delighted with the prospect of seeing him, but I soon found that we +did not suit each other. He had grown more staid, I was wilder than +ever,--no two brothers could be more different. All our comrades said +so. I heard remarks of theirs about Ferdinand that made me furious, and +yet I could do nothing to contradict them, for there was no positive +expression of opinion in what was reported to me,--it mostly consisted +of vague sneers from which I drew the worst conclusions.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ferdinand was as unpopular as possible; the officers of his regiment +accused him of unsociability, and declared that instead of living with +them he was always shut up in his room, poring over his books, and that +he hoarded every penny of his pay. But they found fault with him +chiefly because he never took part in any social entertainment unless +he knew that gaming would form part of it. Play was his only passion; +his stakes were never large, although when he had a decided run of luck +he would play a little higher than usual, but then only with extreme +caution. It was owing to this caution that he won with great +regularity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My head used to spin when I heard my comrades talk of Ferdinand and +his never-failing luck at play, using expressions too vague to admit of +a reply, but easy enough to understand. I made up my mind to speak +frankly with him upon the subject, but before I could do so the +catastrophe occurred which separated us forever. One evening we were +both present at a gay gathering; Ferdinand knew that the thing would +close with play. A young officer of hussars, a Herr von Kleinschmidt, +kept the bank, and was unfortunate. He lost considerable sums and it +vexed him, but it irritated him still more that Ferdinand, whom he +could not bear, played with his usual caution and met with his usual +success. Every time Ferdinand won Herr von Kleinschmidt made some +cutting remark, and his observations were all the more bitter as +Ferdinand scarcely seemed to hear them. Others won far larger sums than +he, but he alone seemed to excite the venom of the angry bank-keeper; +he followed Ferdinand's play with suspicious eyes, and suddenly, when +Ferdinand had won several times upon the same card, the irritated +officer threw his cards upon the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'So long as Herr von Heydeck plays I will not draw another card,' he +said, angrily; and then, with a contemptuous glance at Ferdinand, he +continued: 'I am not a gamester by profession, and am not sufficiently +skilful to enter the lists against a man who makes gaming his study and +knows well how to assist his luck. I hold such play dishonourable, and +the man who practises it guilty of dishonourable conduct.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"This was followed by dead silence throughout the room. All eyes were +riveted upon Ferdinand, who stood by the card-table ghastly pale, +biting his lips. He replied not a word, but gathered in the money he +had won with a trembling hand and left the room. His comrades gave way +before him, seeming to avoid him as he passed out from among them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When I heard such disgraceful words applied to my brother I grew +almost wild with rage. I was on the point of rushing upon his insulter, +but a friend restrained me. 'You can do nothing, Heydeck,' he whispered +in my ear. 'Your brother's honour is lost if he leaves you to defend +it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"I saw that he was right. It was hard to bridle my fury, but I did it. +I followed Ferdinand, and overtook him near his lodgings. 'I am your +second,' I said to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He made no reply, and, as I looked at him as we passed beneath a +street-lamp, I saw his lips quiver spasmodically; his cheeks were +ashen, his eyes without lustre; he looked fearfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I went on talking to him, and asked him how I should word his +challenge, but still he did not answer me; and when we reached his +apartments he threw himself upon a lounge and sobbed like a child. My +brain reeled; I did not know what to think of his condition, for it +never occurred to me that fear, pitiable disgraceful cowardice, could +turn a Heydeck into a whining baby. I would not believe him when at +last he composed himself sufficiently to tell me, his teeth chattering +the while, that he could not fight,--could never summon sufficient +courage to stand in front of a loaded pistol. He was beside himself, +not with the thought of the insult that had been offered him, but with +fear!</p> + +<p class="normal">"He was a coward, an infamous coward; he confessed it to me, and cried +like a child, cursing his father's harshness that had forced him to +enter the army against his will, and that now condemned him to +dishonour, for he could not fight.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I stood as if turned to stone. I had never dreamed of the possibility +of such cowardice. I left him with contempt, and I have never seen him +since. The next morning I heard that he had sent in his resignation and +was gone; whither I did not learn until long afterwards."</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel paused in his story and bent his gaze gloomily upon the +ground. Memory was a greater pain to him than he cared to show.</p> + +<p class="normal">For Leo his father's narrative possessed an absorbing interest. He had +frequently heard allusions made to the irreconcilable quarrel that had +existed for many years between his father and his uncle, but this was +all he had ever known concerning it. Now the veil was lifted from the +mystery; this explained the scorn and hatred with which the colonel +mentioned the name of his brother, who was now a wealthy man, living +somewhere in the Tyrol. But the story had produced upon Leo an effect +which the narrator never intended. The young lieutenant was firmly +convinced that his father had been mistaken. His uncle Ferdinand had +never refused to fight a duel from cowardice; it was impossible! Had he +not passed through the same struggle with himself which his uncle had +formerly undergone? Small as was the old colonel's comprehension of his +son's motives to-day, it must have been infinitely less with regard to +his brother's motives in his hot-headed youth. Would he not have +suspected Leo of cowardice if his colonel had not borne such +enthusiastic testimony to the young officer's bravery?</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo was most desirous to hear the rest of the story, but he did not +venture to interrupt the old man's gloomy reverie. He sat silent until, +after a long pause, the colonel at last struck the floor violently with +his cane, and, lifting his head, said, in a loud, harsh voice, "What +good will thinking of it or regretting it do now? What is done is done, +and there's no help for it. The grave will not give up its dead. My +cowardly vagabond of a brother has burdened my soul with another's +blood! I can see him now, the handsome young fellow, curveting over +the field at a review, with his dolman fluttering gayly over his +shoulder,--and then it's all changed: I see only his pale face as he +lies dying with my bullet through his lungs. He forgave me; he knew I +could not help it. I could not endure that a Heydeck should tamely +suffer disgrace. With his dying breath he declared me a man of honour +whom he greatly esteemed, and he died in my arms.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can forgive Ferdinand everything but this, that he should have +forced me to shoot down that fine young fellow and rob a poor mother of +her only child! No, I can never, never forgive him! But enough of this; +I did my duty then, and I will do it again, only I hope the bullet this +time will not enter the youthful breast heaving with gay love of life, +but bring rest to the weary old cripple."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo would have interposed here, but his father gave him no opportunity, +and continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us finish this once for all. Do not interrupt me. I was sentenced +to one year's imprisonment. As soon as I was free again I hastened to +my father's death-bed. He gave me his blessing, and left his curse for +his unworthy son, whom he would have disinherited had he possessed +anything in the world save his honourable name. For a long time I heard +nothing of Ferdinand. After my father's death a letter arrived from +him; I never broke the seal, but returned it to him with, 'Unopened. +Hans von Heydeck,' written on the envelope. The letter bore the +official stamp of a Hungarian town. Some years afterwards a friend who +had been travelling in Hungary told me that he had met Ferdinand in +Pesth; that he was living there as tutor with a wealthy Hungarian +noble; and after several more years I learned that he had purchased +large estates in the Tyrol,--having become a very wealthy man by his +marriage with a rich tradesman's heiress; that his wife had died about +a year after her marriage in giving birth to a son, who had not long +survived his mother. Ferdinand, therefore, was the sole possessor of +great wealth, which, however, he did not seem to enjoy, as he lived the +life of a hermit in his lonely castle, which he left only for a few +weeks in the year, when his shattered health made a sojourn at one of +the baths desirable.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My last indirect news of Ferdinand I had about ten years ago. He had +married some time before a very beautiful girl of an ancient and noble +family. This second wife, however, whom he was said to have loved most +devotedly, also died after a short time, leaving him an only child,--a +daughter. He had been inconsolable for her loss, and was leading a more +retired life even than before, scarcely ever leaving his castle, +Reifenstein. Buried in his books, he repelled all advances from his +neighbours, and was regarded in all the country round as a proud, +inaccessible aristocrat. He had become a Catholic, and observed with +great rigour all the duties and fasts of his church, although, in +accordance with a promise made to her Protestant mother, he brought up +his daughter in the Protestant faith.</p> + +<p class="normal">"After this indirect intelligence, which I had some time since from a +friend visiting in the Tyrol, I heard nothing farther of my brother +until I received a letter from himself, about a week ago. At first I +was undecided whether to break the seal or to return it to him +unopened, as I had done by the first I had from him. At last I opened +it, and yet, after I had read it, I was more undecided than before. The +memory of the disgraceful past prompted me to burn it, while reason +bade me give it to you. Since I received it I have always carried it +about with me. Now I am glad that I did not burn it, since that has +happened which I never could have anticipated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was convinced that an honourable career was assured to you; that, +without any outside aid, you would have attained the highest military +honours. All that is past. Here is your uncle's letter; read it +yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo took the letter which his father handed him, and eagerly ran +through it. It was as follows:</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"More than thirty years have passed since that miserable evening which +exiled me forever from my native country. Are you still implacable, +Hans? My first letter to you, begging your forgiveness, was returned to +me unopened. Will this one share the same fate? If it should, we are +parted forever. For humbled as is my pride I cannot, for the third +time, offer in reconciliation a hand that has been twice rejected. But +no; I know you will read these lines. These long years must surely have +softened your hard judgment. You will remember sadly, as I do, the +happy days of childhood, and no longer think with hatred and aversion +of the brother whom you once loved so tenderly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us now, as old men, Hans, forget what occurred in that wretched +night. Let us reflect that we, brothers, are the last of the noble race +of the von Heydecks, and resolve together to do what we can to revive +the half-extinguished lustre of our ancient name.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Daring the thirty melancholy years which I have passed in exile,--by +my father's curse an outcast from my family,--the consciousness of +being a Heydeck has upheld me and saved me from much degradation to +which want might have compelled me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You can never dream of the suffering I brought upon myself by +refusing, as I did, to comply with a custom so long upheld by +aristocratic authority. All the wretchedness of my life has been the +consequence of the events of that night which drove me forth from my +parents,--from you and from my country. My punishment has been bitter!</p> + +<p class="normal">"At first I became tutor in the family of a Hungarian magnate; then I +entered that of a wealthy banker. In this dependent position I was +subjected to humiliations of every kind. My blood boils now at the +remembrance of how I was forced to yield to the whims of others: to +humour dulness on the one side and intellectual superficiality on the +other. It was a terrible ordeal! After some years, I became acquainted +with a young and beautiful woman, the wealthy widow of a manufacturer, +who had left her all his property. Her beauty attracted me, her wealth +allured me! I was fearfully punished. She made my life a hell on earth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I Was foolish enough at the time of our marriage to allow myself to be +persuaded to sign a paper giving to her the entire right of disposal of +her property, and of bequeathing it as she chose in case of her death. +I had sold myself, and did not even receive the proceeds of the sale! I +actually believed that love would bend my wife's wishes to my will, and +went so far, in my devotion to my bride, as to change my faith for her +sake,--I became a Catholic!</p> + +<p class="normal">"My punishment was sure and speedy. My wife reduced me almost to +despair. While she scarcely allowed me sufficient means for the bare +necessities of existence, she indulged in the wildest extravagance. I +had to resign my beloved studies to accompany her to balls and +masquerades, to concerts and the theatre. If I did not go with her she +found some other escort. It was a horrible time! I was pursued by +continual dread lest my wife might dishonour me. And I had to endure it +all, for if I had attempted a separation I should have been a beggar. +Death came at last to relieve me from my wretched thraldom. She died a +few months after giving birth to a son, and on her death-bed she +testified her hatred of me. She made a will which gave every penny +which she possessed to her son; to me she left nothing. As during her +life I lived but by her bounty, I was, after her death, to be dependent +upon that of her son. I say hers, for I never believed him to be mine! +She died with a smile of satisfied hatred upon her lips. She thought me +crushed forever; but she had forgotten to appoint a guardian for her +child, and this was my salvation. In the eye of the law I was his +father, and as such his natural guardian. Moreover, when after a short +time he died, I was his heir.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will say no more, dear Hans, of that horrible time. I was a prey to +the stings of conscience. The thought that I had sold myself for gold +never left me. I was doubly dishonoured!</p> + +<p class="normal">"Henceforth I lived solitary and alone, given over to my historical and +scientific studies in my old castle in the Tyrol, until my health +obliged me to try the waters at Carlsbad. There I became acquainted +with a charming girl, Countess Hilda von Sarnstein. I won her hand, and +she came with me to the Tyrol. She was an angel. If the memory of my +miserable past had not still poisoned my existence I should have been +the happiest man in the world while by her side. She left me all too +soon; but in my Hilda I have her living image. My daughter is my sole +joy and pride; her gay, happy temperament enlivens as far as is +possible my melancholy retired existence. When I hear her joyous +laughter, I forget for a moment the wretched past. My dearest wish is +to make her happy; and it is in the hope of doing so that I have for +years nourished the scheme which I now tell you. I am rich; after my +death all my property will devolve upon my child, who will bring it to +her future husband. Shall it go to a stranger? Affection for my kindred +has always filled my heart. In the saddest times of my life I +remembered with loving fidelity my home and my parents, of whom I +always contrived to procure tidings until their death; since when I +have followed your career, Hans, with the deepest interest. I have +never lost sight of you or yours.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When a son was born to you, I rejoiced with you that our noble name +would once more have a worthy representative. I could have wished that +he had been a scholar instead of a soldier, but I am nevertheless proud +of my nephew, the last genuine Heydeck. I have taken pains to learn all +that I could of him, and I know how brilliantly he distinguished +himself in the French war.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have often told my Hilda of you and of Leo; her blue eyes sparkle +when she hears his name; she is proud of her cousin, and loves him +without ever having seen him. Could I but see Leo and Hilda man and +wife! I conjure you, Hans, forget what parted us; help me to provide a +happy future for our children. We old people could depart in peace if +we knew our name thus destined to flourish worthily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Answer me, Hans, as soon as you can, or better still send your Leo to +me at Castle Reifenstein; he will be received with open arms by your +brother,</p> + +<p class="right">"<span class="sc">Ferdinand</span>."</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Leo dropped the letter, which he had read with the greatest attention. +"Now I understand you, father," he said, sadly. "You desire me to +accede to my uncle's proposition that I should go to the Tyrol and sell +my freedom."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, that is what I desire," the colonel burst out; "but I see that +you are minded to reject also this last means of securing to our family +a dignified independence in the world!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it honourable to accept the gift of wealth at the hands of a man +whom you have always heaped with opprobrium?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have no right to condemn him as I do, since you have followed his +example. I have had hard work to make up my mind; but now that it is +made up, I will not yield one jot! Yesterday, I thought my son's +marriage with the daughter of my wretched brother a disgrace; to-day, I +see in it the only possible means of avoiding the shame of having the +last Heydeck depend for existence upon quill-driving or daubing. I give +you my honour that we are separated forever, you and I, if you do not +set off for the Tyrol and your uncle to-morrow! Now you know that there +is no use in one word more. Make your decision, and let me have it in +writing. I will not see you again before your departure!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man arose to leave the room, and Leo did not attempt to detain +him. He knew perfectly well that after the colonel had given 'his +honour' no power on earth could induce him to alter his determination.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leaning heavily on his bamboo cane, the colonel hobbled to the door, +opened it, and stood pondering for one moment upon the threshold. Then +he turned once more to his son, and, in a much gentler tone than he had +hitherto used, said, "We part, Leo, certainly for a long time, perhaps +forever. If you hear that sudden death has overtaken me, do not think +hardly of your old father; but if you have a spark of love for me obey +me and go to the Tyrol!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free +to indulge in his own reflections. What troubled him most was his +father's resolve to fight Bertram. It was but too certain that the +obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as +possible. In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the +man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he +thought only of how this duel might be prevented.</p> + +<p class="normal">A sudden idea flashed upon him, showing him he hoped a means of +attaining this end. In the greatest haste he changed his dress, laying +aside his uniform forever,--since he had already handed in his +resignation and received leave of absence, he no longer considered +himself as belonging to the service, and he hoped, moreover, in the +dress of a civilian to escape immediate recognition on the part of his +former comrades.</p> + +<p class="normal">Once more he paused before the picture on the easel, and murmured as he +gazed at it, "All this is your work. You drive me forth into the world; +you have destroyed all my hopes; and yet I cannot chide you,--not even +although you turn from me those dark, enchanting eyes! Farewell! I dare +not gaze longer into their depths: they bewilder my heart and soul, and +now I need every faculty I possess to help me to carve out my future. +Farewell, forever! I must see you never again!"</p> + +<p class="normal">After one long, last look, he took the portrait from the easel and +leaned it with its face against the wall. Then he hurriedly left the +room and the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the street, seeing Count Waldheim in the distance, and wishing to +avoid all discussion of his affairs with any one for the present, he +turned in an opposite direction, called a fiacre, and was driven +rapidly to a retired and extremely handsome villa in the suburbs. Here +a footman in rich livery instantly appeared, opened the carriage-door, +and evidently had been taught to regard Leo as an honoured guest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is Herr Delmar at home?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To you, Herr Lieutenant, but to no one else. My master is at dinner, +but he has given orders that you are to be admitted at all hours. I +will announce you immediately."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No need, I will announce myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you please, Herr Lieutenant; my master dines in the garden-room."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo nodded in answer to the man's low bow, and then hurriedly passed +through the hall and several antechambers on his way to the familiar +garden-room. He paid no heed to the more than princely luxury of the +surroundings, scarcely even glancing at the splendid pictures with +which the walls were hung, but hurried on.</p> + +<p class="normal">Surrounded by rare tropical plants, in a room the walls of which were +almost entirely of glass, but kept perfectly cool by the constant play +of a fountain, a table was spread, at which sat Herr Paul Delmar, with +a liveried servant behind his chair.</p> + +<p class="normal">The lord of this magnificent villa, of several other princely estates, +and of a capital of several millions, was a young man thirty years old +at most,--not strictly handsome, but of an interesting, cheerful +countenance, in which sparkled a pair of brilliant black eyes. The nose +was too large and the skin too sallow for beauty, otherwise the +features were admirable, and the whole bearing and air of the man +extremely attractive, especially when the face was lit up by the +frequent half-kindly, half-ironical smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is that you, Leo?" he cried to the new-comer. "A rare guest, indeed; +sit down. A place for Herr von Heydeck," he gave orders to the servant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no, Paul, I cannot; thanks," Leo replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you dined?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, but----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I'll take no excuse. Not on your account, Leo; you know how +selfish I am,--my own comfort is my chief care. Nothing would taste as +it should with you sitting there fasting and hungry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I'm not hungry; I assure you I have not the least appetite."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I have, and you shall not spoil it by sitting there eating nothing +and watching me. There is nothing in this world of more importance than +a good dinner; I pity any man who does not know how to appreciate so +refined an enjoyment. A bad dinner is the greatest of losses: it can +never be repaired,--it has gone forever! He only who knows how to eat +appreciates the full value of life. Here is your plate, Leo,--my Jean +is an active fellow,--and now take your soup; season it as you like it, +and, for heaven's sake, look like a reasonable being. Such a long face +as yours is as bad for the soup as if the cook had over-salted it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar set his friend an excellent example, which Leo gradually +followed. The events of the day had made him forget his dinner and turn +from the idea of food, but youth and health soon asserted themselves, +and to his host's satisfaction he did ample justice to the admirable +repast before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">During dinner he did not touch upon what he had come to say,--he knew +that his friend disliked all disturbing emotions during his meal-times, +and as he wished to secure his entire and undivided attention he waited +until the servant had brought coffee and retired before he began. "I +have come to you to-day, Paul, to ask you to help me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed! I shall be only too delighted; but I mistrust you,--you know +it is an old quarrel between us that you always give and never accept."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To-day I will accept, and a great service from you too,--if you will +do it for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anything in my power, Leo, is done for you before you ask it. You +could hardly ask too much, as you know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I knew what you would say, Paul," the other cried, grasping his +friend's hand cordially.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Paul withdrew it with a smile. "For heaven's sake don't be +sentimental," he said; "and pray don't imagine that I stir a finger for +you out of consideration for you. Everything that I do, I do solely for +my own sake. It gives me pleasure to do something for you,--it disturbs +the tedious monotony of existence. I may perhaps hit upon something +entertaining; that is why, and only why, you could hardly ask too much +of me! You know very well that I am an incorrigible egotist, and +therefore, and because I am devoured by curiosity, tell me what you +want."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall learn, you miserable egotist, whom gross selfishness drives +to any amount of self-sacrifice for a friend; but before I tell you you +must know what has happened to-day." And Leo described calmly and +frankly the events of the day.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he repeated his expressions with regard to Eva Schommer Delmar +gave a nod of assent, and said, "A severe but perfectly correct summary +of the heiress's character. I met her to-day just as you were +discoursing so amiably about her. I rode past her carriage and had a +most gracious bow. The fair Eva knows that my millions outnumber her +own, and esteems me accordingly. You are right, Leo; pride of purse is +more disgusting than pride of birth. Fräulein Schommer is an odious +creature."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul gave one keen glance at Leo as he spoke, and noticed that the +latter suddenly flushed as he replied, "Certainly <i>you</i> have no right, +Paul, to speak thus of Fräulein Schommer. I did not know that she had +injured you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not speaking of myself. I was only confirming your judgment, your +own words."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which I acknowledge to have been hasty and unjust. You do not dream, +Paul, what disastrous results they had for me. Listen!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul smiled and nodded, promising not to interrupt again; but he did +not keep his word, for when his friend described Bertram's +interference, and repeated word for word what he had said, he started +up in violent agitation, threw away the cigar which he had just +lighted, and exclaimed, "What! the scoundrel dared to accuse you of +dishonourable conduct? Is the fellow mad? And what did you do, Leo? +Struck him across the face with the flat of your sword I trust as he +deserves. At all events, I hope you were not insane enough to challenge +a rogue who could not insult you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know my principles with regard to duelling."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of courage; but who thinks of principles in such a case? I envy you +the capacity to do so. Fortunately then you did not challenge him. Of +course you gave him a suitable memento of the occasion? Go on, Leo; I +will control my cursed temper if I can and not interrupt again."</p> + +<p class="normal">He lighted another cigar and leaning back in his chair kept his word +this time. With exemplary patience he listened while Leo +circumstantially related all that had occurred: his conversation with +Colonel von Herwarth, his resignation from the service, and then his +interview with his father, finally giving Delmar his uncle Ferdinand's +letter to read.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the story went on Paul was strongly tempted to break his promise. He +moved uneasily in his chair when Leo told of his resignation, and when +he heard that the old colonel proposed calling out Bertram he was on +the point of bursting into a rage, but he controlled himself, and +suppressed all comment. On the other hand, he quite chuckled over the +old colonel's command that his son should forbear to earn his living by +honest labour, and instead rescue the family honour by a wealthy +marriage. And he read through Ferdinand's letter without a word.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, Paul, you know everything," Leo said in conclusion, "and you must +have some suspicion of what I want of you. It lies in your power to +prevent any duel between my father and Bertram. You once hinted to me +in confidence that you were privy to some disgraceful conduct of +Bertram's. You have but to tell my father of this, and his principles +will forbid his calling out a scoundrel. This is why I am come to you. +I am sure you will relieve me of this anxiety, which is the worst that +I have to endure at present."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul leaned back comfortably in his arm-chair and blew forth several +artistically-formed rings of smoke, then sipped his coffee and +proceeded to blow forth more rings, as was his custom when buried in +reflection.</p> + +<p class="normal">His silence troubled Leo. "You do not answer me, Paul. Can you not or +will you not help me? I remember you were with Bertram a great deal +last winter, but I never really regarded you as his friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Friend of that scoundrel? I wouldn't give that for his friendship!" +And he snapped his fingers. "He was my slave," he continued. "I paid +him well, that I might get rid of him when I did not want to use him +any longer, and I will do it now! Cast the shadow from your brow, you +anxious, heavily-principled son of a hot-headed father. This +nonsensical duel is out of the question. I promise you that I will +prevent it. I settled that in my mind instantly, and it seemed such +child's play to me that I had ceased to think of it. I was thinking of +you, Leo; the fact is that I am more and more convinced that you are +the strangest, most enigmatical human being on God's earth. I regard +you as I should some fabled monster of prehistoric times. We have grown +up together, I thought I knew you, and yet you are continually taking +me by surprise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I really cannot see what eccentricity of mine has just at present +provoked this rather unflattering outburst," Leo remarked, not very +well pleased.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suppose not; the fact is it is useless to be surprised at you, for +you are made up of eccentricities and never do anything like other +people. You are an artist and a scholar, opposed on principle to war, +nevertheless you became an officer in the army, and behaved like a hero +in the field. You have a friend--a millionaire--who desires nothing +more ardently than to serve you, and you live with the greatest economy +upon your meagre pay, denying yourself every enjoyment, although I +confess you never look like a poor man. You are a democrat of the +purest type, and yet get along delightfully with your aristocratic +comrades without ever being false to your principles."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should have thought all this was nothing new to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True; but to-day you have capped the climax of your inconsistencies. +You say yourself that it pains you to send in your resignation, and yet +you do it, although you could by a single word have crushed to the +earth the infamous coward who insulted you, and who of course knew that +you would not call him out. You cannot fight a scoundrel any more than +can your father. You might have done for yourself what you have done +for him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That would have been cowardice, and a falsehood besides; for I refrain +from calling Bertram out not because the fellow is a scoundrel, but +because I consider duelling criminal. I will never disgrace myself by +hypocrisy and a denial of my principles."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heroism! extraordinary, antediluvian heroism! I repeat, I regard you +with admiring awe, Leo; although I, poor grovelling earth-worm that I +am, cannot climb to your sublime heights. And this is just why I am so +infatuated about you,--for if you were like me! should find you as +desperately tiresome as all the rest of the world,--and why I am +anxious about you, for with your prehistoric truth and honour you'll +hardly have much luck in this present world. Just now for example, you +are in a charming little scrape, and I am really anxious to know how +you will pull through it. You have sent in your resignation and have to +begin life with nothing, or next to nothing. Tell me frankly how much +money you have laid by, for I am convinced that you are an admirable +economist and have contrived to lay by something."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I have laid by nothing, but I inherited from my mother about two +thousand thalers which I have never touched, and which will be amply +sufficient to support me until I have arranged my future existence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you are going to diminish that pittance? Will you not at last be +reasonable, Leo, and see that you can give me no greater pleasure----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not a word more, Paul! You know that you can never offend me except by +offering me money."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am dumb, but I cannot suppress the remark that you are a greater +egotist than I. What the deuce is the good of my money if the man whom +I love best in the world will never take a penny of it, and looks as if +he would bite me if I so mach as mention his doing so? But there, I am +dumb. I must take you as you are. You will live on your two thousand +thalers then until you have arranged your future existence,--what sort +of an existence? I am greatly mistaken if you contemplate acceding to +your amiable uncle's proposal."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never! the mere idea of marrying for money disgusts me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought so. For my part, my sentiments are expressed in the saying, +'Wealth is no disgrace, and poverty no virtue;' but you would of course +refuse your cousin Hilda's hand, just because she happened to be +wealthy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; if I loved her and was loved by her, I should, although I admit it +would be difficult and against the grain, try to forget that she was +rich; but I do not love her, and I never can love her!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You don't know her yet. To be sure, judging from her father, whose +letter is not exactly instinct in every line with delicacy of +sentiment, there is not very much to be expected of her; but she may, +nevertheless, be an extremely charming girl."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And if she were,--if she were possessed of the beauty and amiability +of an angel,--still I could never love her!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In--deed, in--deed? You seem surprisingly secure in your knowledge of +yourself. Hm! I suspected as much. I remarked, you may remember, that +you were in a deuce of a scrape. You'll have, at all events, to +sacrifice some one of your principles, for I suppose you number filial +duty among them. Do you forget that your father threatens to disown you +if you sully his name by quill-driving or daubing canvas for a living, +and if you do not start to-morrow for the Tyrol to see your uncle? Take +one piece of advice from me, Leo: obey this last demand of your +father's. Go to the Tyrol and make your uncle a visit,--you bind +yourself to nothing by doing so. It cannot hurt you just to look at +your cousin Hilda--the name sounds really very pretty--besides, it is +best for you to be out of the way for the present of all the gossip +that there will be here. Nothing surely can be more beneficial to your +art than a sojourn among the glorious Alps. Be reasonable for once, +Leo. Time is everything to you now. In time your father, even though he +be as thick-skulled as yourself, must listen to reason, and see that a +Heydeck can work without disgrace if he has not money enough to live +upon."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul's advice was so reasonable that Leo could not but accept it. +Undesirable as nearer intercourse with his uncle and cousin must be, +judging from the letter which had produced a very unfavourable +impression, he could not but feel it his duty to conquer his aversion +to the journey which his father had enjoined upon him. Paul was right; +it was very desirable to gain time, for only with time was there any +chance of combating successfully the old soldier's prejudices. And so, +after a short pause of reflection, Leo declared that he would follow +his friend's advice and set out for the Tyrol the next morning, if +Delmar would first assure him that the duel between the old colonel and +Bertram should not take place.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You may be certain of it this very evening," Delmar said, highly +delighted. "My slave is bound to me by such fetters that if I choose he +will ask your pardon on his knees!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I do not desire."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What you desire does not concern me at present, but that I fulfil my +promise and make this crazy duel impossible for your father, and that +shall be done immediately. Do me a favour in return, I pray. Take me +with you to the Tyrol to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You want to go to the Tyrol with me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I do; it is horribly tiresome and stupid here in K----. I cannot +stand it any longer. I want to breathe Alpine air."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Paul, we cannot possibly travel together. Remember I must husband +my means and travel third-class, and stop at second-rate inns."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will travel third-class with you; it will be a change, and much +cooler and pleasanter in summer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the second-class hotels? Do you forget what you said only a little +while ago about a bad dinner?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For heaven's sake don't call me to account for all the nonsense I +talk! In short, I want to go with you. We will travel afoot, student +fashion, and sketch and amuse ourselves as we can. Of course you will +have to stay with your uncle at Castle Reifenstein, but there will +surely be a tolerable inn somewhere near, where I can take up my +quarters. I want to be at hand to see what becomes of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you insist then upon making this sacrifice for me, Paul?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For the love of heaven don't grow sentimental again! I have no idea of +making any sacrifice for you. I am not thinking of you, but of myself. +I shall like the joke of it, of travelling afoot instead of <i>en +millionnaire</i>, I wish to study life in its various phases, with you for +my companion. On the whole, you see, you are a very entertaining +fellow, that is all. Pure selfishness,--nothing else, I assure you. So +now go home and pack your portmanteau, that we may start early +to-morrow, while I look for our mutual friend at Büchner's, where he is +sure to be at this time, and where I propose to rattle his chains in +his ears."</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Bertram had at last attained the summit of his hopes. The lovely +heiress, Eva Schommer, was his betrothed; his dearest wish was +fulfilled, and yet he could not thoroughly enjoy his good fortune. He +listened most amiably to the congratulations of the astonished and +delighted Uncle Balthasar, and to those also of Aunt Minni, who was +less astonished and less delighted, or at all events refrained from any +distinct expression of astonishment and delight. He reciprocated +good-humoured old Balthasar's expressions of esteem and good will, but +yet he could not help feeling as if the betrothal in some way were not +genuine.</p> + +<p class="normal">And yet Eva, her resolution once taken, accommodated herself to her +position with much more readiness than Bertram would, from what she had +said to him, have supposed possible. She received her uncle's and +aunt's congratulations pleasantly, and when Uncle Balthasar suggested +that she should address her lover familiarly by his Christian name, and +seal their betrothal with a kiss, she refused it is true, but not +unkindly and with a smile. She gave Bertram permission to make the +betrothal public after the usual fashion, by sending cards to all their +acquaintances, but insisted that all congratulations should be +addressed solely to him, positively refusing to receive the usual +congratulatory visits. The next day, if her kind uncle Balthasar was +agreed, she meant to leave K---- for several weeks or even months.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this unexpected intelligence Uncle Balthasar opened his eyes in +astonishment. "Good gracious, Eva my dear," he said, "the thing is +impossible! You can't think of going alone, and how are we all to be +ready by to-morrow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Eva declared that it would be very easy. She had long desired to +see Switzerland or the Tyrol, and very little luggage was necessary for +a journey to the mountains. Nanette and Wilhelm could easily get +everything ready in the course of the evening: she herself and Aline +might assist; and, if her kind uncle and aunt would only not say no, +nothing should hinder their departure by noon the next day in the +express train.</p> + +<p class="normal">When did Uncle Balthasar ever say no to any request of his niece's? He +could no more do so than could Aunt Minni, who with a gentle sigh +resigned herself to her fate, and only asked meekly whither they were +going; a question which Eva could not answer. She begged her uncle to +decide where to go,--it would perhaps be best that he should consult +with Aline,--there was the whole evening in which to make their choice.</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva never asked Bertram's advice as to their destination, and when, +with some hesitation, he asked whether it would not be possible to +postpone for one day their departure, in order that his aunt, Madame +von Sturmhaupt, might express to Eva the pleasure she would so surely +feel in her nephew's betrothal, he received from Eva so quiet and firm +a refusal by way of reply, that it was plain to see that he was not to +found upon the fact of his betrothal any right to make requests. +She declared positively that she would receive no congratulatory +visits,--not one. Her intention to leave K---- on the morrow was, since +Uncle Balthasar had given his consent to the plan, unalterable, and +would assuredly be put into execution.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was very sharp and decided, but the effect of it was a little +softened when Eva kindly added that she hoped Herr von Bertram would +spend this last evening before her departure in her home-circle, and +that when he returned with the intelligence that his quarrel with Herr +von Heydeck was satisfactorily adjusted, he should learn whither they +intended to go.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was a distinct dismissal and reminder that his promise was yet to +be fulfilled, and Bertram thus understood it.</p> + +<p class="normal">He kissed the hand which Eva extended to him, did the same by Aunt +Minni, and took his departure, refusing Uncle Balthasar's offer to +accompany him, on the ground that only the absence of all formal +ceremony on the old man's part could make him really feel like a member +of the family.</p> + +<p class="normal">But this was not his reason for desiring to leave the room alone; he +had a presentiment that he should find Nanette in the antechamber, +and he had good grounds for wishing to see her alone. He was not +deceived,--the first thing that met his eyes as the door of the +drawing-room closed behind him was the waiting-maid, who was busy very +near the door. She greeted him with a low courtesy; her face was +crimson, and she regarded him with a malicious smile as she whispered, +"I give you joy, Herr Lieutenant----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have been listening!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course; what was I here for?" she replied, pertly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not blaming you, my dear; quite the contrary."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, indeed, I'm not going to listen for you. It is bad enough without +that to have brought me here to this proud Zantuppy. I hate her, I do! +And I'll not stand it long in this low place, let me tell you! 'Tis a +sin and a shame that I must look on while you betroth yourself to the +creature, and you asking me to help you, too!"</p> + +<p class="normal">In her agitation Nanette forgot to whisper, as she had done when she +first addressed Bertram. She did not speak loudly, although +sufficiently so to cause Bertram fear lest she should be heard in the +drawing-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do be quiet; speak softly, my dear girl," he begged, seizing her hand. +"You know it is only out of love for you, and that I may be able to +provide more handsomely for you, that I am forced to make a wealthy +marriage. But we cannot talk here,--we may be discovered at any moment. +Come early to-morrow to my aunt's; I will be there. Keep your eyes +open, my dear child, for both our sakes. Farewell, my little darling, +till we meet."</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked cautiously towards the door: it was tightly closed; he then +snatched one kiss from the extremely placable Nanette and was gone.</p> + +<p class="normal">This meeting with Nanette did but increase his anxiety of mind. The tie +that bound him to Eva was as yet but weak and frail; until the +betrothal was publicly known it might easily be dissolved, which it +certainly would be if Eva's desire with regard to the quarrel with +Heydeck were not fulfilled. It was of the first importance that this +tie should be made firm and indissoluble, and to this end he must act +with energy and promptitude.</p> + +<p class="normal">He decided upon a plan of action as soon as he left the villa, but he +did not proceed to its execution with any very great satisfaction, for +he was staking his whole future upon a single card. He had made an +appointment with Count Waldheim to meet him at the Casino, and thither +he betook himself. This interview with Waldheim was the first step in +the carrying out of his scheme; the first, and by no means the +easiest,--he dreaded it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Waldheim was a gay young officer, but a man of stainless honour, +wherefore Bertram considered him a most important ally. He dreaded +greatly lest he should refuse him his support.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he reached the Casino he found to his satisfaction that it was +nearly deserted. Count Waldheim sat solitary at a table in the large +dining-hall, a cup of coffee before him, reading a newspaper. He had +remained there solely to redeem his promise to Bertram. "You have +sorely tried my patience," he grumbled, when the man he had been +waiting for at last appeared. "I have been bored here for more than an +hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will forgive me I know, my dear Count, when you learn that the +hour has brought me the fulfilment of my dearest hopes. You are the +first to learn from me the intelligence of my betrothal to Fräulein Eva +Schommer!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah--I give you joy!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The wish did not sound quite cordial, preceded as it was by a +long-drawn-out 'ah,' not at all flattering in emphasis; but Bertram +took no notice of this. He knew Waldheim's opinion of the connection, +and he refrained from saying anything to induce a further expression of +it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am a fortunate man," he continued; "and to you, to your friendship, +I owe my good fortune. Everything has happened as I had anticipated it +would. After your speaking, according to your promise, to Balthasar, +Eva sent for me. I should never have dared to declare myself to her if +she had maintained her former cold reserve, but in this interview her +pride gave way,--her heart betrayed itself. Her agitation, her maidenly +terror, lent me courage. I confessed my love for her; she did not +reject it, and thus I may thank you for my present happiness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not owe it to me, but to your own skilful play," the Count +replied. "I only hope you will be as content in the end as you are at +present; that you will not find Herr von Heydeck's friend waiting for +you at your rooms."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No fear of that; but indeed, to speak frankly, I am now extremely +sorry for my attack upon Heydeck. I wish I could recall it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! when it has been the means of your betrothal?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, in spite of that, for I cannot but feel that I have done very +wrong. I have attacked a man who possesses no means of defence. I +thought Heydeck a coward, and was content to insult him, but I have +learned better. He will not challenge me; he will bear my insult +unavenged; not from cowardice, but because his principles forbid his +fighting a duel, and he will sooner endure any disgrace than be false +to them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Impossible! you are dreaming!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I am sure of what I say,--sure. If you doubt it ask Heydeck's best +friend, Herr von Herwarth, who will confirm my words."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did Herr von Herwarth give you this extraordinary piece of +intelligence?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; I learned it from another source quite as trustworthy. I am not at +liberty to say more with regard to it, but I am in a most embarrassing +position. I have mortally insulted a man whose principles forbid his +avenging the insult, which will consequently ruin his future career. He +will be forced to leave the service in disgrace, and he has no fortune. +In spite of his strange ideas Heydeck is an excellent officer. I cannot +reconcile it to my conscience that I have been the means of driving so +good an officer from the army. Advise me, my dear Count, what to do in +this case."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Waldheim listened with increasing surprise to Bertram's words. "I +advise you?" he replied. "I am utterly confused by the contradictory +statements you make. Heydeck is an excellent officer and no coward, and +yet his principles require him to prefer disgrace to duelling. This is +incredible--a contradiction in terms. And then your sudden regret, this +tender consideration for the man whom, saving your presence, you +wilfully and grossly insulted to serve your own purpose. I cannot +understand you nor advise you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I feared so, for unfortunately the whole matter is so strange that my +regret must seem incomprehensible. Who can advise me if you, who saw +the whole affair, cannot? I cannot be the ruin of this unfortunate man. +He is capable of putting a bullet through his brains in his despair, +and if by my fault he should do so I never should forgive myself. If +you will not and cannot advise me, I must follow the dictates of my +conscience. I must retract my offensive expressions to Heydeck in the +presence of witnesses and ask his pardon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This then is what you wished to lead up to by the extraordinary story +you have been telling me, Herr von Bertram," the Count said, with +undisguised contempt in voice and look. He arose and buckled the belt +of his sabre. "Do what you think best, or, as you are pleased to +express it, 'follow the dictates of your conscience,' but pray do not +require me or your other comrades to believe that Herr von Heydeck's +unerring aim with a pistol has no share in your magnanimous resolve!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Casting a last contemptuous glance at Bertram, the Count was about to +leave him, but the dragoon detained him. "You must not leave me thus, +Count Waldheim," he said, "with a suspicion in your mind of my courage +and integrity. The disgraceful doubt which you have expressed gives me +a claim upon your honour to see that justice is done me. I now request +you to see Herr von Heydeck and learn from his own lips the +confirmation of what I told you. If he announces his intention of +calling me out for insulting him, I entirely resign all thought of +begging his pardon. I shall gladly accept his challenge, and rely upon +the fulfilment of your promise to act as my second. If, on the other +hand, he confirms what I told you, and will not send me a challenge +because his principles will not allow of his doing so, you will tell +him from me that I shall await him at Büchner's to retract my words in +the presence of witnesses. Only by fulfilling this my request, Count +Waldheim, can you atone for the shameful suspicion which you have +expressed of an old friend and comrade."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram had his voice and countenance under perfect control, and was +moreover, as we have said, an excellent actor. His simulated +indignation would have deceived a much keener observer than honest +Count Waldheim, and it produced the effect he had intended. Waldheim +felt ashamed of his hasty judgment; he acknowledged that he had sinned +against friendship for a comrade, and, in his regret for having done +so, he consented to do as Bertram requested, which in any other case he +would hardly have done. He promised to find Heydeck, and either to +bring him to Büchner's or to return to Bertram with the intelligence +that he might expect a challenge.</p> + +<p class="normal">With a pressure of the hand, which the Count returned but half +cordially, Bertram bade him farewell, and took a long and roundabout +way to Büchner's, where the momentous interview was to take place.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he reached the restaurant most of the tables beneath the awning +were already occupied by the officers of the various regiments in +garrison at K----. Many of those present had been witnesses of the +morning's occurrence, and all were perfectly informed of what had taken +place. The affair had made a great stir among the corps of officers, as +Bertram could plainly see by the gloomy looks with which he was +regarded by his comrades, some of whom took evident pains to avoid +seeing him, that they might not be forced to return his salute.</p> + +<p class="normal">His self-satisfied mood was somewhat impaired by the annoyance that the +evident avoidance of his comrades caused him. He would have liked to +turn away and leave the restaurant, but he had promised to wait for +Count Waldheim and Heydeck. He looked round to find a seat. If any +table had been quite unoccupied he would have seated himself at it; but +there was not one such to be found,--a few single seats were empty, and +towards one of these he made his way. It was at a corner table, and two +of the officers of his own regiment, and his personal acquaintances, +were already seated at it.</p> + +<p class="normal">He approached, and, nodding with his usual easy familiarity, he asked, +without noticing the icy acknowledgment of his greeting,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is this chair taken?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," was the reply, "nor the table either; we are just going." And the +two men arose and with a brief salutation left the table, although +their coffee-cups were scarcely half emptied. That they left simply to +avoid Bertram's society was evident, since they stopped near another +table, and, entering into conversation with some acquaintances, ordered +a waiter to bring chairs. Thus they did not leave the place, but took +their seats at another table.</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram bit his lips in a rage, but he was powerless to resent the +silent contempt of his comrades. He could not demand satisfaction for +cold glances and slighting acknowledgments of his salute. He was +excessively uncomfortable among these men whom he had been wont to call +his friends, but who avoided him as they would not have done had they +been strangers. The minutes passed on leaden wings; he cast many an +expectant glance towards the promenade outside, but full half an hour +elapsed before Count Waldheim appeared--alone. The Count's humour was +apparently none of the best: his brow was dark. He came up to the table +at which Bertram was sitting, but did not take the chair which the +dragoon pushed forward for him. As he stood beside it he said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not find Herr von Heydeck at home; his servant told me that he +had gone out just before, in plain clothes; whither he could not say, +nor did he know when his master would return. From there I went to Herr +von Herwarth, whom I found at home, and I asked him frankly if he knew +anything of Heydeck's intentions with regard to your affair."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well? He must have confirmed what I told you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He did and he did not. At first he seemed unwilling to speak out. He +believed Herr von Heydeck had not as yet made up his mind. He displayed +a certain hesitation, a reserve, which I only overcame by extreme +frankness. I asked him directly whether it were true that Herr von +Heydeck was opposed to duelling from principle, and he admitted that it +was so, but expressed the hope that in this case his friend would prove +false to his principles and comply with the law of honour. I thought +myself justified after this in telling him exactly what had passed +between us, and it was well that I did so, for Herr von Herwarth is a +man of honour, and quite agrees with me that this matter can be +honourably adjusted only by a duel. He promised to find Herr von +Heydeck, and to use all his influence with him to induce him to +repudiate his extraordinary principles, and only in case he should +prove unsuccessful is he to tell him that he will find you here, +prepared to make him full reparation. I hope I have acted according to +your wishes, Herr von Bertram."</p> + +<p class="normal">This was not precisely the case, but Bertram dared not confess that the +insistance upon the duel was not at all according to his wishes, and he +thanked Waldheim warmly for his services.</p> + +<p class="normal">While engaged in conversation with the Count, he had not noticed that +there had suddenly arisen an unwonted stir among the military men +assembled at Büchner's. All eyes were turned towards an aged officer, +who had just appeared beneath the awning. He was standing at the +entrance, leaning on a stout bamboo cane, scanning the assemblage; his +grave stern glance passed from table to table, apparently seeking some +one whom he could not readily distinguish among the numbers of officers +present.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gentlemen, does either of you know First Lieutenant von Bertram?" the +old man asked of two young infantry officers, who were seated at a +table playing dominoes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before either could reply, Paul Delmar, who had appeared beneath the +awning simultaneously with the old man, answered, "Do you wish to speak +to Herr von Bertram, colonel? Yonder he sits beneath the awning, but in +the farthest comer. Count Waldheim is standing beside him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My old eyes are not worth much," growled the colonel. "Sir, I thank +you. Your face is familiar to me, but just at present I cannot recall +your name; my memory leaves me in the lurch. 'Tis the curse of old age; +my senses fail me, and even my memory forsakes me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is many years, colonel, since I had the honour of seeing you, and I +may well be changed since then. I went to school with your son, and as +his friend used to be continually at your house. My name is Paul +Delmar."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, little Paul, son of the wealthy banker. It is indeed long since I +saw you last. And you know Herr von Bertram?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do, colonel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then do me the favour to conduct me to him and introduce me. I have +something to say to the gentleman, and I know him but slightly, or +rather not at all. Will you oblige me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, colonel; this way, if you please."</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar led the way, the colonel following slowly. Every step evidently +caused the old man pain, but he mastered it and walked on, leaning +heavily on his cane, and saluted respectfully on all sides by the +younger officers, who looked after him with unfeigned sympathy.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he reached the table at which Bertram was sitting, Delmar said, by +way of introduction, "Herr Premier Lieutenant von Bertram, Colonel von +Heydeck."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram sprang up and suddenly became very pale at sight of the old +officer, whose approach he had not noticed. A grim smile hovered upon +the old man's lips as he remarked the impression he produced; his tall, +slightly bent figure straightened itself proudly as he gazed scornfully +at the dragoon, whose glance could not meet the eyes so bent upon him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have asked for an introduction, Herr von Bertram," said the colonel, +in a loud voice that was distinctly heard everywhere beneath the +awning, "that I might call you to account for a scoundrelly----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay, colonel! You must not go on!" Paul Delmar interrupted the old +man at this point.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir, by what earthly right?" the colonel burst out, angrily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I appeal to your honour, colonel. I am firmly convinced that it is an +unalterable axiom of yours that no man of honour can fight with a +scoundrel whose word is worthless, and it is one of my axioms that no +man of honour has the right to quarrel with a scoundrel with whom he +cannot fight. Herr von Bertram is no opponent for you. You can no more +fight with Herr von Bertram than can any words spoken by him insult +your son; and, besides, there shall be not the smallest provocation for +your challenge, inasmuch as the gentleman will instantly declare before +all present that he recalls every offensive word addressed to your son +this morning, and that he humbly begs pardon for having uttered them."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul's words produced a truly magical effect. Bertram upon whom all +eyes were fixed, stood, with downcast looks, like a condemned criminal +incapable of any reply, the consciousness of guilt so manifest in his +countenance that even the unsuspicious Count Waldheim was disgusted +with his friend's cowardice, and stepped back leaving him standing +alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel was thunderstruck. That a civilian should dare to treat an +officer thus in a public place transcended his power of belief; his +amazement deprived him of utterance. He looked from Bertram to Delmar. +What to think of it all he did not know. But one thing was perfectly +clear,--that Herr von Bertram must be a scoundrel, with whom no man of +honour could condescend to fight.</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar allowed several seconds to pass to give the old officer time to +collect himself, and then continued: "Let me beg, colonel, that you +will allow me to say several words to Herr von Bertram in private, +after which you shall receive from him any satisfaction you may desire. +Herr von Bertram, have the kindness to step into this empty room with +me. You cannot but desire that what I have to say should be said in +private. Go first, if you please."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul motioned towards the glass door of a room frequented by Büchner's +guests in winter or in rainy weather. Bertram entered it, and Delmar +followed him. They were quite alone in the large, empty room, and could +speak in low tones without being overheard, although a hundred eyes +were watching them through the wide folding-doors and open windows.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have heard what I require of you, Herr von Bertram," Delmar began +the short interview. "I advise you to comply immediately, or you will +force me to produce a certain worthless note, in which you promise to +pay upon your word of honour, and to prove that you have broken that +word by showing a certain check, bearing the signature of Count +Waldheim, which I should like to have him verify."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What have I done, Delmar, to provoke you to treat a friend with such +cruelty?" Bertram asked, in despair.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not profane the word <i>friend</i>," Delmar replied, sternly. "I never +honoured you with my friendship, as you well know. I never concealed my +contempt for you. I bought you with my money. It amused me for a while +to be introduced to certain exclusive aristocratic circles which were +closed to me in spite of my wealth. I made use of you for this purpose. +When you presented me everywhere as your dearest friend, you knew +perfectly well why you did so. I never said one word to you that could +justify you in calling me your friend. But of what use are these +explanations? They are entirely unnecessary between us. I ask now, are +you willing to make the humble--I repeat the word--humble apology which +I require, outside, beneath the awning? Decide quickly. I can give you +no more time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I do so, will you promise me to show no one my note and the check?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will promise you nothing, except that in the case of your refusing +to comply with my demand I will show both publicly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But by so doing you will destroy all chance of my ever paying you. You +will lose ten thousand thalers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which you never will pay in any case while you live!" Delmar replied, +with a smile of contempt.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which I certainly will pay, and that shortly. I have been betrothed +to-day to Eva Schommer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed? I congratulate you. I never had an exalted opinion of the +lady, but I should not have thought she would have chosen exactly such +a husband."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see now that I can pay my debt as soon as I am married to the +heiress, but if you ruin me----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will be sent to jail as a forger, and will never refund the money +which I once foolishly lent you and which I considered lost long ago. +True, but that is a matter of entire indifference to me. I require you +to obey me! Make up your mind! Do you hesitate? Well then your fate is +decided!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar turned towards the door, but Bertram seized his hand, and cried +in a tone of entreaty, "Have pity upon me! Do not ruin me! I will do +what you ask,--only let me make the apology in a less humiliating +form!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not a word shall be changed. I insist upon a humble apology!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will make it, but let me add that my betrothed has requested me to +do so publicly."</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar laughed aloud. "A request as modest as it is extraordinary. For +the sake of its oddity I will grant it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram's face, as he returned beneath the awning, followed by Delmar, +was ashy pale, and there was a strange flitter in his eyes, but his +demeanour was calm and composed. He stepped up to Colonel von Heydeck, +who was awaiting his return with the utmost impatience.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Colonel von Heydeck," he began in a low voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Louder," said Delmar.</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram obeyed; he raised his voice so that it could be heard by most +of those present. "It is my duty as a man of honour, Colonel von +Heydeck, to atone for a wrong committed in my haste this morning, and +this is the more incumbent upon me, as I have been earnestly entreated +by my betrothed, Fräulein Eva Schommer, to do so."</p> + +<p class="normal">A murmur was heard among the officers present. "Betrothed to the lovely +Eva Schommer! Impossible! Scandalous! Poor girl!" These and similar +expressions were uttered so loudly that for a moment they interrupted +what Bertram had to say, but when curiosity had got the better of +surprise, he continued: "This morning I grossly insulted your son in +this place; I herewith retract the offensive expressions I then made +use of, and publicly beg his forgiveness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Humbly!" Delmar interrupted him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And humbly beg your son's pardon," Bertram obediently repeated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Disgraceful! Infamous! Shameless! The fellow must leave the service!" +Such exclamations were heard on all sides, no longer muttered in low +tones but spoken aloud in disregard as to whether or not they were +overheard by Bertram. The officers retreated from about their late +comrade as from some plague-stricken wretch whose vicinity was +contagion, and Bertram, with Paul Delmar and the old colonel, was left +standing in the centre of a wide circle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you entirely satisfied, colonel?" Paul whispered to the old man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You were right, the fellow could insult neither my son nor myself," +the colonel replied, not deigning another glance at the lieutenant. +"Come, my young friend, give me your arm, I need some support, and I +may well look to you for it, for you have just done me a most important +service. I should like to thank you, but not here with these hundred +eyes upon us. Let us go outside and walk a while beneath the lindens."</p> + +<p class="normal">And leaning on Delmar's arm, the colonel hobbled towards the entrance, +the young officers saluting him respectfully as they made way for him +to pass.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus Bertram was left alone, shunned by every officer and stared at by +every civilian present. He felt that his fate was sealed, but he would +nevertheless make one more struggle against it. His last hope was in +Count Waldheim, who was standing at a little distance in conversation +with two other dragoons. Bertram approached him, and the Count did not +retreat, but with a haughty air awaited the address of his former +friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was a good sign. He was not too angry then to be appeased. Bertram +relied upon his smooth words, which had so often imposed upon the +Count's guileless good nature,--he summoned all his impudence to his +aid, and succeeded in assuming an air of entire nonchalance as he said, +turning to Waldheim, "That was a hard duty to fulfil. Come, my dear +Count, let us go to Herr von Herwarth that he may confirm what I know +to be true. The fulfilment of my intention of which you were informed +and of which you approved, has been hastened by the appearance of the +old colonel, for my conscience would never have allowed me to quarrel +with one so aged and so honourable. I should----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg you, sir, to spare me any further remarks," Waldheim said, +interrupting the flow of Bertram's speech; "I forbid you ever to +address me again. I awaited your approach solely for the purpose of +saying this to you. I should else have followed the example of my +comrades and turned my back upon you with contempt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count Waldheim, you shall answer to me for this. I demand +satisfaction----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have lost all right this day to demand satisfaction of any +gentleman; the only weapon I should use upon you is a horse-whip."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Count spoke so loud that his words were heard by all the +by-standers. "Bravo!" they exclaimed, while Bertram, trembling with +rage, half drew, his sabre from its sheath. His brother officers, +however, closed in a group around Count Waldheim, as if to shield him +from attack.</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram stood alone. He might have had the courage to reply to +Waldheim's mortal insult by a cut with his sabre; but he could not +brave such numbers of antagonists. With an oath, he dashed the sabre +back into its scabbard, cast a glance of deadly hatred about him, and +strode away. Behind him he heard scornful laughter and loud expressions +of contempt, but he did not venture to heed them or to look back.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">In the heart of the Tyrol, where the Rothwalderbach and Schwarzenbach +unite to form the waters of the Tausenser Aar, lies the village of +Tausens; it is the centre of the most retired portion of the Tyrolean +highlands.</p> + +<p class="normal">In former years, before there was any railway near, scarcely a single +stranger ever visited Tausens, although the village is only about four +leagues distant from the nearest town, which is reached by a very good +high-road. Since this town, however, has been provided with a railway +station the village is somewhat more frequented, although even now its +visitors are still confined to a few stout Alpine explorers, who pass +through Tausens to wander up the Schwarzenbach valley and find a path +over the lofty Schiechjoch to the Zillerthal, or who seek the Tauern +mountain group by the way of the Rothwald valley.</p> + +<p class="normal">The inhabitants of the valleys look after such pedestrians with +a smile,--they cannot imagine what these fellows, with their long +mountain-staffs and ice-picks, their knapsacks on their backs, and +their hob-nailed shoes, according so ill with their city costume, can +want among the mountains. That these people from the city should +undertake such difficult and wearisome expeditions for pleasure, that +they should at peril of their lives ascend the most inaccessible +mountain-peaks to find a passage to a place which they could otherwise +reach much more quickly and easily, seems to these honest countryfolk +so silly that they have but one explanation for it, doubtless a +harmless insanity; and they call these restless, indefatigable climbers +of glaciers and snow-peaks, Bergfaxes (mountain fools). They are very +fond of the Bergfaxes nevertheless, for they always need guides and +carriers for their mountain expeditions, and are willing enough to pay +their guilders for service rendered, thus bringing some cash at least +into the retired valleys.</p> + +<p class="normal">With the exception of the Bergfaxes, who sometimes take up their abode +in Tausens for a few days to make the ascent of the Drei Maidelspitz or +the Weisshorn from the Schwarzbachthal, or of the Spitzhorn from the +Rothwalden, and who finally depart for the Zillerthal over the +Schiechjoch, scarcely a traveller ever visits Tausens, although its +magnificent situation makes it well worthy of a sojourn.</p> + +<p class="normal">The view from the platform in front of the inn, which is also the +post-office, is magnificent, and enchantingly lovely. Towards the south +the eye revels for leagues in the broad green fertile valley of the +Tausenser Aar, lying between two fir-clad mountain-ranges, and closed +in in the far distance by the jagged and rocky peaks of the Dolomites. +To the northeast lie the beautiful forests of the Rothwald, with the +snowy pile of the Spitzhorn for a background, and to the northwest the +two glorious glaciers of the Maidelspitz and the Weisshorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">In this wondrously lovely country the ancient castle of Reifenstein is +a most striking object, commanding as it does the entire panorama of +mountain, river, and valley. The glorious old pile is still in +tolerable repair,--a careful hand has stayed the ravages of time, which +have buried in ruins so many of its contemporaries. Some of the old +walls are crumbling, it is true, but the main structure is in thorough +repair, and two huge round towers are propped from decay by a modern +substructure. Although in the interior these towers are so ruinous that +their summits are inaccessible, their massive masonry defies the +tempests that rage against them from the south and northeast, and will +still for coming centuries bear witness to the despotic sway once +exercised over the three valleys by the lords of Reifenstein.</p> + +<p class="normal">The reason why, in spite of the great beauty of the view from Tausens, +to which Castle Reifenstein adds its charm, so few travellers in +comparison visit the village, is partly that such comfort can hardly be +expected here as is to be found in the more frequented parts of the +Tyrol, and partly that the passage of the Tausenser Aar valley is +rather tedious, and tourists prefer to reach the chief points of +interest among the mountains by railway. All the more welcome are the +few who visit Tausens, all the more cordially are they received by mine +host the postmaster.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was always a holiday for Hansel, as he was called by his friends in +spite or his dignified position as postmaster, when a traveller came to +Tausens; not because he reckoned upon the gain it would bring him,--he +cared little for that, for the couple or so of guilders were of but +small account to him. His inn was frequented sufficiently without the +tourists; its comfortable room was never empty of guests, for the +peasants from all the three valleys came by choice to the Post at +Tausens, where the best wine was to be had for miles around. Their +marriages and their burials were celebrated at the Post. To the Post +came every evening, in winter as in summer, the gentlemen of the +place,--the district judge, his associate, the collector, and the +forester. These constant guests were far more profitable to the +postmaster than any traveller could be, and besides he possessed many +an acre of meadow and pasture-land, a good strip of forest, and some +beautiful alms.<a name="div2Ref_01" href="#div2_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a> He was accounted a wealthy man in all the country +round, but his pride was hurt that so few strangers came to Tausens, +while in the Zillerthal and in the Pusterthal the inns were filled to +overflowing with tourists during the months of July and August. This +vexed the worthy Hansel; he had so often heard the judge and the other +gentlemen in his best parlour say that the natural beauty of Tausens +made it well worthy to attract strangers, and hence the small number of +tourists that came his way seemed to him like an unmerited neglect of +his native place. The idea that he could conduce to render the village +more attractive never occurred to him. He would have indignantly +rejected any suggestion that he should modify or change the ancient +customs of his inn for any stranger in the world.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was standing at his inn-door on a certain beautiful day in July very +much out of sorts. The day before he had been in Niederdorf, where he +had found the inns so crowded that not another traveller could be +received there, and a very grand gentleman had been forced to sleep in +a hayloft, because there was no bed to be had. And he had heard that +the inns at Sandro, Schleuderbach, and Cortina were just as full, not +to mention Brunneck, where for a week every little farm-house had been +filled with tourists.</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole valley of the Puster was filled with visitors, and not a +single one, not even a Bergfax, had come to Tausens! Thoroughly vexed. +Hansel blew the smoke from his pipe in short angry puffs; he swept the +landscape far and wide with his glance, but it was deserted everywhere, +not a traveller was to be seen.</p> + +<p class="normal">He turned away in disgust, and was about to enter the house, when +suddenly the frown cleared away from his brow. He had accidentally +overlooked the Schwarzenbach valley, thence, where he had least +expected them, were coming the desired guests; his sharp eye recognized +them in the distance. From his point of view he could see but a short +stretch of the valley-road which followed the many windings of the +rushing, gurgling Schwarzenbach, but walking along this very stretch he +discovered three city-clad gentlemen, followed by two peasants. The +gentlemen carried long alpenstocks, and were walking briskly down the +valley towards the village,--the peasants were loaded with portmanteaus +and plaids.</p> + +<p class="normal">From the point which the travellers had reached they had a glorious +view of the valley of the Tausenser Aar and of the village. They +paused, and one produced a glass and looked through it. For a while +they stood drinking in the beauty around them, and then they strode +onwards, vanishing in the Lerchenwald, through which the road ran.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Hansel had seen enough; he rubbed his hands gleefully, and called +loudly into the house, "Nannerl! Nannerl!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The inn-maid, a fresh, buxom lass, came running at his call. From the +tone of his voice she judged that strangers were to be received, and +she gave her smooth hair a stroke and twitched down her blue apron as +she ran. When however she found no one but Hansel himself, she said, +peevishly, "Here I am. What are you shouting for? There's no one here!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But they're coming,--three Bergfaxes on the way from +Schwarzenbach,--they'll be here in a quarter of an hour!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And true enough, they did come in a quarter of an hour, the three +Bergfaxes,--three broad-shouldered young men, whose city clothes, +terribly dusty although it was, showed that they were gentlemen of good +position.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hansel called out a lusty "God greet ye!" as they appeared, and offered +his hand heartily to each in turn in sign of welcome. The one with a +black beard shook it with great cordiality, and regarded the postmaster +with a friendly smile. "Hail, beloved son of the Alps!" he said, with +mock pathos. "Receive us weary wanderers beneath your hospitable roof; +strengthen our famished and thirsty frames with food and drink. By Jove +the eternal, I am so rejoiced to get out of that dark wood and to see +your good, stupid face, that I could kiss it but for the stifling +tobacco-smoke."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do hush your nonsense, Paul!" one of his companions entreated him.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the one addressed as Paul exclaimed, "Who dares talk of nonsense +when I give vent to my pent-up emotion in a poetic greeting? Be not +annoyed, oh worthy son of the Alps, by the words of this prosaic +person,--he cannot help it,--there is no poetry in his soul. And would +you earn from me a gratitude that shall endure till time is no more, +bring us wine,--a great deal of wine,--good wine,--the best in your +cellar!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Hansel understood very little of this address, the northern German +dialect was unfamiliar to his ears; but he comprehended distinctly that +the black-bearded stranger was a little crazy, and very thirsty, as was +to be expected of Bergfaxes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A bottle of the best red," he called out to Nannerl, while he relieved +the three strangers of their alpenstocks and conducted them into the +spacious best room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Here the black-bearded stranger looked about him with a sharp +scrutinizing glance. "Bravo!" he cried. "I like this. Here let us pitch +our tents! Everything clean and shining! Not a speck of dust on the +window-panes, nor a spot upon the table. If the meat and drink are good +one might stay here for a while very contentedly. What think you, +Herwarth?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think," replied the man addressed, "that I shall surely stay some +time here, even although the meat and drink are not all that could be +desired."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see, Leo, of what sacrifices a true friend to whom egotism is +unknown is capable. Noble Knight von Herwarth, I bow myself in the dust +before you; it is truly great thus to remain at hand at the service of +your friend, resigning yourself to devour daily the toughest beef that +the Tyrolean cow can afford. You are sublime in your self-renunciation. +You have plunged with genuine heroism into all the perils that await +the respectable northern German from Tyrolean cooking, and you even eat +Leo's portion in addition to your own, lest the poor fellow should +overload his stomach, which, sunk in melancholy as he is at present, +might be injurious for him. Your efforts are Titanic. I daily bless the +lucky star (I mean the golden one at Innspruck) which brought us +together. I bless it in spite of the gnats there which kept me awake +all night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Considering that he did not sleep, poor Delmar snored very loudly. +What do you think, Leo?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought he did very well----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well; that is not the right word," Herwarth cried. "Delmar snored +wonderfully. There is no discord, from the thunderous groan of a heavy +wagon to the shrill creaking of a rusty lock, that he did not produce. +He is a master of the art. I snore pretty well after a commonplace +fashion, but I bow before you, Delmar."</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Tis a base calumny. I never snore; you heard yourself in your dreams. +I could not sleep for the gnats, and for admiration of the heroism with +which you have followed your friend into exile. I admire you, and I +long to resemble you, but unfortunately I am made of too coarse a +material. I cannot waft myself aloft to the empyreal heights of your +magnanimity. Now you are determined to remain in this inn even if the +cooking is bad!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you not going to stay here too?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall probably stay, not for Leo's sake, but because I like it. I am +determined, in the lack of all other suitable occupation, to devote +myself in future to novel-writing. I can certainly emulate in that line +the many crazy women and hungry literati who fill our magazines with +their intellectual abortions. Leo is to be the hero of my first +romance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How flattering! Much obliged, I am sure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not at all, not at all! A hero of romance must always be very +high-toned, very exaggerated, and a little unsound in mind. You see how +well it all fits. An unhappy love is desirable, but not indispensable. +Also we must have a faithful friend. Here are two. Also a romantic +situation. We have it. Leo ought to marry the daughter of a wealthy old +uncle, but he hates the lovely Hilda, and is consumed by a secret +passion for a little milliner's apprentice. Here we have the unhappy +love. He is in deep despair, when his redeeming angel appears in the +person of his faithful friend Kuno von Herwarth. Whilst Leo is +suffering all the pangs of his unhappy love, and working away in the +castle upon the mountains, Kuno, in a noble spirit of self-sacrifice, +has been eating veal three times a day at the 'Post' in Tausens and +drinking sour Tyrolean wine. He rushes to the castle to rescue his +friend. He sees Hilda. He loves her; she loves him. He threatens to +murder the wealthy old uncle if he does not release his friend. A +terrible scene ensues. But he does not murder him: he overcomes him by +his amiable conduct. Final tableau: the old uncle blessing Hilda and +Kuno, while friend No. 2 joins the hands of Leo and his little +milliner. Universal emotion and general content. End.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There you have a romance as poetic as it is thrilling, especially if a +few episodes are sprinkled about here and there, such as, for example, +a small murder in the torture-chamber of Castle Reifenstein, and a +combat with foils between Hilda and the little milliner, who has +secretly followed her Leo and has gone mad with jealousy. Of course +Kuno separates the combatants. What a scene that will make! I tell you +the romance will produce a sensation. Now I am going to stay here to +study up for this novel; not upon Leo's account. I yield the privilege +of self-sacrifice to you, oh noble Knight von Herwarth, and cleave to +my long-tried selfishness."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo and Kuno laughed, but were spared the necessity of a reply to +Paul's long exordium by the entrance of the pretty maid-servant with +the wine. "Will the gentlemen have anything to eat?" she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed they will, Maidele" (Tyrolean for Marie); "they are as hungry +as wolves," Delmar replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Maidele?" the girl asked, in surprise. "And suppose I am not Maidele?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, then, you must be Nannerl?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I am Nannerl; but how could the gentleman know my name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A little bird whispered it to me on the Schiechpass, of course; how +else should I have known it? But never trouble your head about that, my +pretty Nannerl, but tell us what you can give us to eat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Veal steaks, veal cutlets, veal chops, roast veal, and stewed veal."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For heaven's sake stop! For one whole week I have heard, morning, +noon, and night, nothing but that fearful word <i>veal</i>, nothing but +veal. I cannot understand how there can be an ox or a cow in the Tyrol. +Ah, my poor Herwarth, my prophecy is about to be fulfilled: 'veal three +times a day.' If there is a feeling heart in your bosom, pretty +Nannerl, try to save me from veal for to-day at least."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nannerl would have been very glad to do so, for she was much pleased +with the stranger gentleman, but she could not, for, as she now +explained, there was no beef to-day, and the chickens were all too +young to kill. By night she could get a pair of larger ones from the +castle, and the next day they could have plenty of beef; but for dinner +to-day they must have veal, since the fisherman had happened to bring +no trout; but Nannerl promised to give the gentlemen an excellent soup +and capital fritters, and thus Paul's comical despair was allayed, the +very good wine having already produced a soothing effect.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You confuse these people with your nonsense, Paul," Leo said, when +Nannerl had left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not a bit of it; I shall get on with these worthy souls excellently +well; they think me harmlessly insane, and they like it. Our noble +Knight von Herwarth thinks the same of me, but I shall convince him +that I can be very serious, and that immediately. We must now plan our +campaign, for after the soup is on the table I refuse to open my mouth +except to eat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What have you in your head now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am composing the introduction to my romance. After a week of +wandering, after climbing the terrible Schiechpass, over rocks and +glaciers, we are at last arrived in Tausens. We find ourselves at the +foot of the rock that bears upon its summit the enchanted castle +Reifenstein. High above us sits enthroned the old monster Uncle Heydeck +and the wicked fairy Hilda, who intends to ensnare our Leo in her +golden enchanted net; but we two, the Knight von Herwarth and the +simple squire Delmar, must rescue our friend, our first duty being to +learn how the land lies, so to speak. At present we know nothing of the +old monster and the wicked fairy Hilda, for the little told us in the +famous letter from Uncle Heydeck has, since it comes from himself, no +claim to be believed. Before we can do anything we must know more of +Uncle Heydeck: what he is thought of here, how he lives, what he does. +We must know further what kind of a person is the blue-eyed Hilda who +is to ensnare our Leo. A blue-eyed Hilda may be either pretty or +confoundedly ugly, a good-natured fool or a dragon. The honest +postmaster, mine host of this hospitable house, will doubtless tell us +all we wish to know upon these points. And here I am ready to sacrifice +myself to friendship. I will inhale the highly unfragrant smoke of the +postmaster's pipe, I will treat the worthy man with the loftiest +courtesy, and in spite of his shooting-jacket, short stockings, and +bare knees, always entitle him Herr Postmaster, that I may learn what +he has to tell. I will drink with him, lead him on to be confidential, +and he shall reveal all that he knows of Uncle Heydeck and the +blue-eyed Hilda. Thus we shall become familiar with the people. We will +investigate the country when, being strengthened by our dinner, we +conduct our friend Leo to the gate of the enchanted castle, where of +course we must separate. He will take up his abode within its walls, +while we, the Knight Kuno and myself, will remain here in Tausens ready +to hasten to his aid so soon as he needs us. He will daily visit us +here, and if possible present us to the old monster and the blue-eyed +Hilda, that we may in turn visit him at the castle. This is a brief +sketch of my plan of our campaign, the details must be left to the +future. If any one has anything to say in objection let him speak now, +or for ever after hold his peace. You first, Kuno, my noble knight; +what do you think of my plan?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not see what else we can do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you, Leo?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I agree in everything but the last part. I hope my uncle will not +suffer my friends to remain down here in the inn. He will certainly +invite you to stay at the castle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't reckon upon that too surely; I doubt very much whether he +possesses the virtue of hospitality or indeed any virtue at all. Even +should he do so, I shall not accept his invitation. I wish to be +entirely free and unfettered, and am determined to live on veal sooner +than stay at the castle. What do you think about it, Herwarth?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I agree with you. We will stay here at the Post and engage rooms, that +Leo may be free to stay with us when we make excursions together among +the mountains."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Agreed; the rooms are a decided improvement upon my plan. Then it is +all settled, and 'tis fortunate, for here comes the soup."</p> + +<p class="normal">While the three strangers had been talking together in the inn parlour +the postmaster had been having a gossip with the two peasants from the +Zillerthal who had been their guides across the Schiechjoch. It was +just such a gossip as he enjoyed.</p> + +<p class="normal">The men, who were in the habit of seeing many strangers and of +continually acting as guides across the glaciers and in difficult +ascents, maintained that of all the Bergfaxes they had ever seen the +gentleman with the black beard and the sallow face was the biggest +fool. They had been with him and his companions four days, and he had +some fresh nonsense for every hour in the day. But he had <i>nous</i> enough +for all that, and he was always first in all the steepest paths. He +didn't care where they walked: ice or rocks were all the same to him; +he was never dizzy, and never tired either. Day before yesterday, when +they went up the Drei Maidelspitz, they had had such a snow-storm that +the guides themselves had been almost frozen, but neither of the three +gentlemen had uttered a word of complaint, and the black-bearded one +had laughed and sung and thought it all right, and the whole expedition +a capital joke.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was teasing the others all the time, especially the youngest, whom +he called 'Knight;' but he didn't mind it, he only laughed, and all +three were the best possible friends. The youngest was a merry +gentleman and joked a good deal, but he was not such a fool as the +black-beard. The third gentleman, whom they called Leo, was the most +sensible. When he was walking alone he often looked very grave, and +even sad, but then Delmar would join him and talk such crazy nonsense +that he had to laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">All three were first-rate people, but they liked Delmar best; he saw to +all the money matters, and was generous as a prince. He was always +deceiving the others, and in a very odd way, very different from the +usual one; when for example he paid three guilders he would pretend +that he had only paid one, and would go on declaring that never in his +life had he known travelling so cheap as it was in the Tyrol.</p> + +<p class="normal">Jackel, the eldest of the guides, had settled with Delmar what he +should pay them. He told how he had asked for himself and for Seppel +four guilders a day; how Herr Delmar had fallen into a rage and +declared that two guilders a day was extortion. The two other gentlemen +had reasoned with him, but he had insisted that he was a poor +millionaire who could not afford to throw his money away, and that +nothing should induce him to pay more than two guilders a day. Jackel +had then consulted with Seppel to see whether they should go for two +guilders a day, and Herr Delmar had interfered and shouted and stormed +and insisted that they should go for two guilders a day whether they +wanted to or no, and then he thrust a twenty-guilder note into Jackel's +hand and whispered to him to divide it with Seppel, but to say nothing +about it to the two other gentlemen but consent to go for two guilders +a day, and he would give them something besides. And then he went on +screaming and raging as if he were crazy. And when Jackel said he would +go for the two guilders, then Herr Delmar boasted to the others that he +knew how to manage people so as to travel cheaply, and how would the +others get along without him?</p> + +<p class="normal">And so he had gone on all the four days. He must have as mach money as +the king. He was a great fool; but he had <i>nous</i> enough, and was so +kind no one could help liking him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The postmaster listened to all this with the greatest interest. +Especially delighted was he when he heard that the three gentlemen had +talked together of staying a long time in Tausens. He instantly called +to Nannerl, and told her to prepare the best room in the house,--the +large corner room, with the view of the castle and the Weisshorn,--and +to make up three beds in it. Such guests were rare in Tausens, and +Hansel determined that they should be made as comfortable as possible.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Zillerthalers' account had made him very curious to see more of his +odd guests, and especially of Herr Delmar. He was a little afraid of +him, but he determined nevertheless to go to the inn parlour and have a +gossip with the strangers.</p> + +<p class="normal">He went at the right time. Delmar had just eaten his last mouthful and +was about to light a cigar. The others had also finished their dinner, +and that they had enjoyed it the empty dishes bore witness. The wine +too, as Hansel saw with satisfaction, had been duly appreciated: the +bottle was empty.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Delmar--Hansel knew him at once by his black beard and sallow +face--nodded kindly, and pushing another chair up to the table, said, +"Sit down, Herr Postmaster. We want to spend some time with you here in +Tausens, and would like to hear something about the place. But it's ill +talking with dry lips. Let us have another bottle of wine; and I hope +you will take a glass with us."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hansel opened his eyes. Here was Herr Delmar talking very sensibly, and +indeed courteously. "Herr Postmaster!" The title was all the dearer to +the worthy man since he heard it so seldom. Friends and acquaintances +always called him Hansel; the men and maids, as well as the peasants, +called him 'Landlord;' but he never, or almost never, was addressed as +'Postmaster,' although he had as good a right to the title as the +postmaster at Bozen. Whoever called him thus won his heart immediately, +and Herr Delmar had taken it by storm.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was not often that Hansel served the guests himself. He left that to +Nannerl: it was her duty. But to-day he made an exception. He took the +bottle from the table, and himself descended to the cellar, where he +filled it with his very best. His round face beamed as he brought it to +his guests; and when Paul again invited him to sit down and take a +glass, he took his place at the table very proud of the honour.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hansel was in the best of humours; he was ready to do anything in the +world for these guests,--a mood of which Delmar was not slow to take +advantage. He understood how, by skilful questioning and a remark +thrown out now and then, to draw out the postmaster who was fond of +talking, in the most thorough manner.</p> + +<p class="normal">He began by asking about the various points of interest in the +surrounding country; about the way to the famous Tausenser waterfalls; +about the names and the height of the mountain-peaks that could be seen +from the windows; thence he led the conversation to Castle Reifenstein, +and of course to its possessor, Herr von Heydeck, and his daughter +Hilda; and when it had arrived at this point all went swimmingly, for +this was a theme upon which the worthy Hansel, who had no idea that he +was being systematically pumped, could talk by the hour together.</p> + +<p class="normal">With ready garrulity and in the broadest Tyrolean patois, which had +frequently to be explained by him to his North-German questioner, he +answered all questions put to him. The Herr who lived in the castle had +been for many years an object of curiosity, of admiration, and of +superstitious fear to all the country-people about, and to Hansel +himself no less than to the rest. They whispered many a queer thing +about him and his castle among the peasants in the common room of the +inn; and there were terrible ghost-stories told of the old castle. +Everything--the whispers and the stories--was faithfully detailed by +Hansel. He was in his element, and Delmar's skilful questions and +repeated glasses of wine combined to keep him there.</p> + +<p class="normal">The worthy postmaster's story was no connected narrative, and he often +diverged to expatiate upon other themes; but Delmar always managed to +bring him back to Castle Reifenstein and Herr von Heydeck, so that the +breaks in his account were gradually filled up and the strangers had at +last a distinct picture of the life and character of Herr von Heydeck. +Only the picture, it is true, which existed in the fantastic brains of +Hansel and the Tausens peasantry, and which perhaps resembled but +little the original. Truth and fiction, fact, and fable begotten of +superstition, were mingled in the postmaster's account in a wonderful +mosaic, as was plain to be seen; but nevertheless it possessed the +greatest interest for Leo and his friends.</p> + +<p class="normal">Many many years before, as Hansel related, the old castle had belonged +to a Count Menotti, who had leased it to a peasant, for the Count never +came to Tausens himself. He lived at Riva on the Lake of Garda, and +cared nothing for his Tyrolean estate except to see that the rent was +paid punctually; of course his tenant had no interest in preserving the +huge pile in good order. Large portions of the gigantic walls fell down +from the rocks into the valley below, and one of the three towers which +Hansel could remember, as a boy, still standing, crumbled to ruins; but +the main building where the tenant lived, and in which he had his barns +granaries and cattle-stalls, was still standing. Its massive masonry +had defied decay.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although there were valuable forests meadows and pasturelands belonging +to the castle, besides some fertile cultivated fields, the tenant paid +only a small rent; and very naturally, for the Count could hardly have +found another tenant.</p> + +<p class="normal">In fine all was not right at the castle; strange things happened there +and stranger sights were seen. It was haunted! There were very few old +peasants in Tausens who had not, at some time, had a scare 'up there.' +From the ruined part could often be heard, far down in the valley, +shrieks and groans and wild laughter.</p> + +<p class="normal">Even by day few of those who lived in the valley willingly went near +the dreadful old pile, and by night no one could be induced to go +there. Old Stoffel, the tenant, could not persuade either man or maid +to sleep there, although he offered them the highest wages and assured +them that the ghost would do no good Christian any harm. No one would +believe him; and so he and his three sons and his two daughters had +to live by themselves in the haunted castle. He had to pay high for +day-labourers. In the brightest sunshine no one liked to enter the +castle, and the bravest fellow would not have taken any money to go +inside either of the great round towers.</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Stoffel was afraid of these towers himself. Not of the ghosts, he +said with a laugh, but of the stones that might fall from their +crumbling walls. Still the people in Tausens knew better; they did not +believe him; they were sure he had been frightened by the ghost there, +and would not confess it for fear of getting no men to work for him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Stoffel was a wild daring fellow who feared neither God nor the +devil. Indeed, many people thought he had made a bargain with the Evil +One. He never went to church, but frequented the tavern, where he drank +up all his gains. He made his children work for him: he never did +anything himself, and although he was a very old man, he spent his time +in going from tavern to tavern until he died. One morning he was found +dead on the road from Tausens to the castle,--his corpse was perfectly +blue.</p> + +<p class="normal">The postmaster remembered well that Dr. Putzer said that the old man +had had a stroke, but no one in Tausens believed it, for the doctor was +as great a blasphemer and tippler and as bad a Christian then as he is +at present. Stoffel's time was up, and the devil had wrung his neck, +which was why his corpse was blue,--every Christian knew that.</p> + +<p class="normal">After the old man's death the Count could find no tenant for the +castle, for no one could be found to pay rent for it. Stoffel's sons, +although they could work, had not sense enough to know how to manage, +and the daughters were not much better. They stayed all together at the +castle, however, although Count Menotti never got much rent out of +them. He tried to sell the estate, and offered it for almost a nominal +price, but who wanted to buy a haunted old nest on a misty mountain in +the Tyrol?</p> + +<p class="normal">A couple of years had passed, when one day, how long since the +postmaster could not exactly say, but nearly thirty years he should +think, a grand gentleman with his beautiful wife had driven to Tausens. +They stopped at the old Oberwieser's, the postmaster's father's,--the +inn had not then been named the Post. The stranger was Herr von +Heydeck, who had bought the castle of Count Menotti and had come to +inspect it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hansel was then a young fellow about eighteen years old, and he had +been bidden by his father to show the strangers up to the castle. He +did not like to do it, but there was no joking with the old Oberwieser, +and so he obeyed.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the way he told Herr von Heydeck and the handsome lady-wife about +the ghosts in the castle, and how the devil had wrung old Stoffel's +neck when his time was up, and they both laughed,--the lady laughed +most. She often paused on the way up and looked around. She thought the +country lovely, and when they had reached the summit of the rocks and +saw the view from the balcony of the main building of the castle, she +was enchanted. The whole castle must be repaired and newly furnished, +she said, and then it would be a delightful place to invite one's +friends to in summer-time.</p> + +<p class="normal">In a few days the old place was turned inside out; an architect arrived +with numbers of workmen, and they all went to work. They began +rebuilding in the middle of May, and by the middle of July everything +was finished, and the whole castle splendidly furnished ready for the +master and mistress, who were not slow in making their appearance, with +quantities of servants and numerous guests, mostly officers. There were +but a couple of ladies among them.</p> + +<p class="normal">And now began such a life in the castle as no one in Tausens had ever +seen before; no emperor and empress could have lived more splendidly. +Every evening almost all the windows in the old pile blazed with light, +and down from the rocks came floating the sounds of revelry and wild +dance-music. In the old baronial hall there was singing and playing and +dancing and feasting and carousing until deep into the night.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the mean time nothing was heard of the ghost,--the devil was +probably highly content with the goings on, for they were surely far +from correct. Why the mistress and the couple of ladies went about in +the evenings with their shoulders all bare and never minded the men, +but danced and jested with them.</p> + +<p class="normal">The mistress outdid them all: she was the gayest, and was always +friendly and kind to her guests, and to the servants, and even to the +country-people, to every one except to her husband; he must have felt +very uncomfortable in the splendid castle, and he went alone among the +mountains as often as he could.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame, too, often made excursions with her guests, to the waterfalls +in the Rothwald valley, to the lake on the Frauenalm, and to other +beautiful places, but she never went with her husband. She was a +capital mountain-climber, but she was always accompanied by one of the +other gentlemen, most often of all by Count Menotti, a younger brother +of the former possessor of the castle. The Count and madame were always +together, so that even the villagers talked about it. Whether they were +right in declaring that there was sinful intercourse between the Count +and the lady the postmaster did not know: he had never seen anything +wrong, but there was plenty of malicious gossip about them, when one +day there came to Tausens a travelling merchant, who said he had known +madame before her marriage to Herr von Heydeck.</p> + +<p class="normal">In a gossip over a can of wine he told of how the Count, although a +married man, had been madame's lover for a long time, and that she had +married Herr von Heydeck because it was the only way in which to avoid +public scandal. And certainly all was not right between madame and the +Count and Herr von Heydeck, for the latter's face would grow gloomier +than ever when he chanced on his walks to meet his wife with Count +Menotti. He avoided them as far as he could; accompanied by a guide +only, he explored the loneliest parts of the country, and while madame +was making merry with her guests he was collecting all kinds of herbs +butterflies ugly worms, and even venomous snakes and vipers, which he +would bring home to a room he had had arranged for himself in the +castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">This wild life lasted for four weeks, and then every one +departed,--leaving however a theme for gossip in Tausens during the +whole ensuing winter. Nothing else was talked of in the inn parlour +among the gentlemen, or in the common room among the peasants. The +postmaster, a young fellow at the time, had to serve the gentlemen who +came in the evening to drink their wine at the inn, and he heard all +they had to say among themselves. Of all the gentlemen there was only +one. Dr. Putzer, who had ever been to the castle while its possessors +were there, and he had gone only because one of the ladies had been +slightly ill and there was no other physician to be had. Herr von +Heydeck had received him very politely, but madame had hardly looked at +him, and so he hated her, and had all sorts of bad stories to tell of +her.</p> + +<p class="normal">About a year had passed since the gay doings at the castle, when one +day Dr. Putzer brought a piece of news to the gentlemen in the inn +parlour that excited them greatly. He had just had a letter from his +brother, an advocate in Vienna, and he read it aloud. The Vienna man +wrote that madame had died in her confinement, and had left an immense +fortune, not to her husband, but to her new-born child. Castle +Reifenstein belonged to him now, and Herr von Heydeck was only his +son's guardian. After the letter had been read, the gentlemen made many +malicious remarks,--the worst came from Dr. Putzer, who in his tipsy +mood boasted that if he were Herr von Heydeck he would tie a stone +about the little bastard's neck and drown him like a kitten, but Herr +von Heydeck had no <i>nous</i>. As he had shut his eyes for fear of his wife +and Count Menotti, and taken no notice of what all the world knew, so +now he would patiently acknowledge the Count's son, and live on as the +brat's steward.</p> + +<p class="normal">About four days after this conversation Herr von Heydeck arrived at +Tausens, this time accompanied by no brilliant company or numerous +retinue. Only one servant sat beside the coachman on the box of the +carriage inside of which was Herr von Heydeck and opposite him a woman +with a child carefully wrapped in shawls and blankets; it was the nurse +with his dead wife's child.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Herr only stopped in Tausens long enough to leave word at the inn +for Dr. Putzer to come to the castle as soon as possible, and then +drove on to Reifenstein. Here he took up his abode in his old room, +while the nurse and child lived in another wing of the building. He +sent to the farm in the valley for old Stoffel's two daughters. Trine +and Lene, and the youngest son, Melcher, the stupidest of all, a +perfect blockhead, and they were hired to do all the work of the +household.</p> + +<p class="normal">Henceforth Herr von Heydeck led the life of a hermit in the castle; the +only man with whom he had any intercourse in all the country round was +tipsy Dr. Putzer, whom he often sent for to visit the child and report +to him the state of its health, for the Herr himself never saw it. The +nurse was strictly forbidden ever to take it out of the apartments +appropriated to her; if she was obliged to leave them herself, she was +ordered to leave the child in the cradle and lock the door after her. +Except the doctor, nobody in Tausens ever saw the baby; even the +servants were not allowed to go into the room where it was.</p> + +<p class="normal">The nurse was a very proud person; she never condescended to speak a +word to any one except the doctor; she was always polite enough to him. +They two understood one another extremely well; they would sometimes +sit together for hours, while the master was in his room buried in his +books. Once Trine saw him kiss her.</p> + +<p class="normal">One evening--it was in the beginning of the winter--the doctor came to +the inn parlour and told the gentlemen who were sitting there over +their wine that he had just come from the castle, where matters looked +badly; the child was seriously ill. He could not yet say what was the +matter with it, but he thought it had the smallpox.</p> + +<p class="normal">The gentlemen were greatly surprised at this intelligence. There had +been one or two cases of smallpox in the neighbouring valleys, but none +in Tausens or its immediate vicinity. It seemed impossible that the +child should have taken it, living as he did in one part of the castle +and seeing no one but his nurse and the doctor. But nevertheless it was +the case, for a few days afterwards he proved to have the smallpox in +its most malignant form, and within a week he was dead.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was buried the day he died. The doctor ordered this for fear of +contagion. Herr von Heydeck spared no expense. The child had a splendid +funeral, and the master paid a lot of money for masses for his soul, +besides giving the priest a large sum to distribute among the poor. But +for all that he could not stop people's mouths. There were strange +tales told in the village. No one spoke out loud; they only whispered +among themselves. But one and all, gentlemen as well as peasants, +thought that all had not been right at the castle. They did not believe +in the smallpox. The child had died some other way, of which the +master, who was his heir, would know nothing. That was why no one had +been allowed to see the little corpse. This which was whispered at +first was soon talked of loudly, and the doctor confirmed the tale, for +he married the nurse. The wedding was celebrated scarcely two months +after the child's death. The doctor bought the house in Tausens where +he still lives with his wife. Where he got the money no one knew, for +until the boy died he had more debts than hairs on his head; and +when Herr von Heydeck furnished and fitted up the house for the +newly-married pair as if a count and countess were going to live there, +every one in the village said plainly that the master had good reasons +for doing so. He had to show his gratitude to the doctor and his wife, +who had made him a wealthy man.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the inn parlour the matter was thoroughly discussed in the doctor's +absence. The forester boldly declared his belief that the doctor had +poisoned the poor little boy; but the district judge took him sharply +to account for his words. He had no right to accuse the doctor of what +would warrant the interference of the law; the gossip of the villagers +was unworthy of repetition, and the doctor would be justified in +dealing hardly with whoever did repeat it.</p> + +<p class="normal">After this warning from the judge, which was soon known throughout the +village, no one dared to utter a suspicion aloud, but the peasants +thought that if a poor labouring man, and not a rich gentleman and a +Herr Doctor, had been suspected of such a crime, the district judge +would have spoken differently.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Heydeck was a very wealthy man after the death of the boy, but +he altered nothing in his manner of life. He lived just as solitary as +before in the old castle, only leaving it for a few weeks in the year +to visit the baths, for the sake of his health, the doctor said. Then +occurred what surprised every one. Many years had passed since the +boy's death, when, just nineteen years ago, Herr von Heydeck returned +from one of his summer excursions that had lasted longer than usual; +and this time he was not alone. In the carriage beside him sat a lovely +young wife, looking like an angel with her blue eyes and golden curls. +"The gentlemen can see now how she looked," the postmaster remarked, +"for our Fräulein Hilda is very like her."</p> + +<p class="normal">And the young mistress of Reifenstein was an angel. The village priest +acknowledged that, although she was a heretic. No one in the village +believed it when the doctor told them so until the Herr Pastor had +confirmed it.</p> + +<p class="normal">At first the people shook their heads and declared that such a thing +had never been heard of in the Tyrol,--that a heretic should be +mistress of Reifenstein. But the Herr Pastor himself comforted them, +and he had good reasons for doing so, for a golden time had come for +the poor in Tausens with the new mistress's arrival. Before long the +people had forgotten that madame was a heretic. Although she never went +to mass or to confession, she used often to go to church to listen to +the sermon, and no one there could be more devout than she.</p> + +<p class="normal">She never was haughty to any one, but had a kind word for the poorest. +The only people she could not endure were the doctor and his wife. She +made the first visit herself to the wife of the district judge, and +begged her to come often to the castle, but although the doctor's wife +went up to the castle the day after the bride arrived there, Madame von +Heydeck could not have liked the former nurse from the first, for she +never asked her to repeat her visit; and never as long as she lived did +she set foot beneath the doctor's roof. She could not endure the doctor +himself either. She told the judge's wife that she was afraid of his +cunning gray eyes, but since there was no other physician in the +country for miles round, she had to send for him whenever there was +sickness at the castle. He never went there at other times, although +they said he was still good friends with Herr von Heydeck, else how +could he live as he did? He could hardly buy the wine that he drank +with the couple of hundred guilders that he got from the peasants +yearly; and certainly they would not have paid for the silk dresses and +ornaments that his wife wore even on weekdays, not to speak of the show +she made when she went to church on Sundays, or took a journey to +Vienna, which she did two or three times every year.</p> + +<p class="normal">All the villagers loved the mistress, and the master perfectly idolized +her; he had become another man. There never were again such doings at +the castle as there had been during the first mistress's reign. Herr +and Madame von Heydeck lived for the most part a very quiet retired +life, but they were not entirely without society. The judge and the +collector, with their wives, were often invited to the castle, and +sometimes there were grand visitors from Germany, relatives of madame, +who was a countess.</p> + +<p class="normal">But this happy life in the castle lasted only a few years. The second +wife began to sicken: she lost her fresh colour; the doctor said the +keen mountain-air did not agree with her, but she would not leave the +beautiful country where she was so happy. At last, one autumn, she had +to follow the doctor's advice. It is just twelve years ago now; her +cough grew so bad that she herself saw that she could not spend another +winter in the castle, around which the cold northern blasts swept +continually. She went away with her husband and her little daughter, +then six years old.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the carriage drove through Tausens, all the villagers crowded +about it to have a last word from the lovely lady, and she spoke to +every one as kindly as she did to the judge himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">She never came back. The doctor said she followed his advice too late. +In Italy, at Nizza, they buried her. She died there hardly a year after +she took leave of Tausens.</p> + +<p class="normal">In a short time the master and his little girl returned. He brought a +governess with him for his daughter, but she found it too lonely at the +old castle. She soon went away again, and the master lived on alone, +and the poor child would have had no woman to speak to if the judge's +wife had not taken pity on it. She talked seriously to the Herr about +his duty to his child, and told him how wrong it was to pay no +attention to her education. And so the Herr took the little girl to +Vienna to school. After that he led a more solitary life than ever at +Castle Reifenstein, never leaving it except to go to Vienna three or +four times a year to see his child; the rest of the time he spent +without one human being to speak to: even the doctor was not allowed to +go often to the castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">And thus it has gone on until the present day, for even when a year ago +Fräulein Hilda came home from Vienna, her father never altered his way +of life. He sits up there in his gloomy old room with his books and +plants and worms; he has grown old and feeble, so that he cannot take +long walks among the mountains, but only in the castle garden, and he +studies all day long,--his daughter is with him only at dinner and in +the evenings.</p> + +<p class="normal">But if he is not changed, the Fräulein's return has brought back the +golden time for the poor people in Tausens; the same time that there +was while her mother was alive. Fräulein Hilda is the image of her +mother; just as lovely, but fresher healthier and stronger; just as +kind, but merrier and a wee hit wild,--no rock is too steep and no +mountain too high for her. Not a boy in the village can outstrip her in +a mountain walk, and she clambers about everywhere by herself, looking +for the plants which she thinks will give her father pleasure. If any +one is ill, she is upon the spot to aid wherever help is necessary. She +is a heretic to be sure like her mother, but every one loves her, and +the poorest most of all.</p> + +<p class="normal">During his narrative the postmaster had emptied many a glass, and when +he described the fair Hilda, her golden curls, her frank blue eyes that +looked for all the world like those of the Holy Mother in the picture +over the altar in church, he grew very earnest, and would have gone on +expatiating upon a theme so dear to him had he not been called away.</p> + +<p class="normal">His wife had several times timidly opened the door of the parlour a +little way and peeped through the crack, but had quickly withdrawn when +she saw Paul turn and look at her. She did not dare to call her husband +while he was talking so earnestly with the stranger gentlemen, but at +last she lost patience, and sent the maid into the room for him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you want, Loisel?" the postmaster asked his wife, impatiently; +he would have liked to talk longer with the gentlemen who listened so +attentively to what he had to say; he had quite forgotten that the +post-bag was not yet locked, and that the wagon was waiting that +carried the mail to town once a day.</p> + +<p class="normal">Quite vexed Hansel set about this duty,--almost the only one which his +office of postmaster imposed upon him,--and in a quarter of an hour it +was concluded. His wife stood quietly by his side while he clumsily +made the necessary entries in the books, then counted over the letters +and locked them up in the old leather bag, which he handed over to the +driver of the wagon. She waited patiently until the crack of the whip +was heard and the wagon rolled off, and then she said to her husband, +"Did you take a good look at the stranger gentlemen, Hansel?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At the one with the black beard and the yellow face? My mind misgives +me I've seen his face before!"</p> + +<p class="normal">This remark of his wife's made Hansel very thoughtful. He too when +Delmar first spoke to him had thought his face and figure familiar, and +yet he could not remember ever having seen the stranger before. And +when in the course of conversation it appeared that neither of the +three gentlemen had ever been in the Tyrol, it was plain that he never +could have seen Delmar, since he himself had never been farther from +home than Linz, Bozen, and Innspruck.</p> + +<p class="normal">During the long conversation Paul had been the principal speaker; the +others had listened in silence. It was Paul who by a timely remark now +and then had recalled mine host, when he was disposed to be discursive, +to the interesting story which was thus related quite connectedly. +Therefore to Delmar Hansel had always addressed himself, and again and +again he found himself wondering why this peculiarly keen face seemed +so strangely familiar to him. Now that his wife had remarked the same +thing, he once more puzzled his brains to remember where he could have +seen the stranger before; but in vain, and Loisel could not help him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the three friends had taken counsel together in the +postmaster's absence; his recital had given them food for reflection.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My poor Leo!" said Paul, as soon as the door had closed upon Hansel's +sturdy figure. "Fine stories these! Your uncle appears possessed of +even less honour and courage than your father gave him credit for; but +then on the other hand the fairy Hilda seems worthy of a trial,--she +spurs us on to conquest. What shall we do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, what is to be done?" said Leo. "I am more irresolute than ever. +After what we have just heard of my uncle I am very unwilling to +present myself at the castle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you promised your father."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unfortunately, yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your visit to the castle is settled, and you will soon see what next +ought to be done. Be sure matters are not so bad as they seem from the +gossip of the bare-kneed postmaster. The noble Herr von Heydeck, it is +true, does not appear to suffer from an excess of amiability, but the +devil is never so black as he is painted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you forget the suspicion that rests upon him with regard to the +death of his child?" said Herwarth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nonsense, my noble knight! mad inane nonsense, such as is only +conceived in the superstitious stupid heads of Tyrolean peasants. That +suspicion of murder is of a piece with the ghost-stories which every +old ass in Tausens--our worthy postmaster among them--believes firmly, +and with the highly probable explanation of the death of the old tenant +when 'his time was up.' The judge and the doctor seem to be the only +sensible men in the village. We must try, and I suppose it will not be +very difficult, to make their acquaintance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You take the suspicion of murder confoundedly coolly," Kuno rejoined.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I take it as such nonsense must be taken,--not coolly. I attach a +certain significance to it as showing the low estimation in which uncle +monster is held. It is certainly significant that he should be +suspected of murder; but this may be only a consequence of his +misanthropy and his tastes for herbs, worms, and poisonous reptiles. +Nothing is essentially changed by the postmaster's narrative; therefore +I think we had best adhere to our plans. I, as quartermaster of the +party, will inspect the accommodations of the house and select our +rooms. We will then remove as far as is possible the traces of our +glacier tour, so that Leo at least may present a respectable appearance +to his uncle and the golden-haired Hilda. The Knight Kuno and I will +accompany him as far as the castle, and then leave him to his fate for +a while and return here to rest upon the laurels which we have won upon +our wanderings. Are you agreed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo and Herwarth had no objection to make, and Paul proceeded to carry +out his plan. He went to the postmaster, whom he found in conversation +with his wife. Both greeted him with a gaze of keen scrutiny, to which +he paid no heed, informing Hansel that he with his friends was minded +to spend some time at the inn if they liked their quarters.</p> + +<p class="normal">The postmaster highly delighted displayed the accommodations that his +house afforded, and Delmar found the rooms far more numerous and +spacious than he could have anticipated. He engaged the largest and +finest with a glorious view from the windows, of the castle and the +snowy peaks in the background, for a sitting-room, and also a huge room +adjoining with three beds in it, and then, after a short conversation +with Hansel, returned with him to the inn parlour and informed his +friends that they might inspect and approve his choice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So everything is arranged," said Paul, rubbing his hands, "except the +price we have to pay. What do you want for the two rooms, Herr +Postmaster? Don't ask too much; be reasonable, and we shall stay here +all the longer."</p> + +<p class="normal">The postmaster regarded him with a sly smile. "Would two guilders a day +be too much for the two rooms?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Two guilders a day! Man, do you think we are made of money? One +guilder is enough, and I will not give more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Delmar, pray----" Herwarth interposed, but Paul would not let him +speak.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am quartermaster, and allow no interference in my affairs. Are you +satisfied, postmaster, with one guilder?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Tis not much, but it will do," Hansel replied, apparently not greatly +disappointed at this reduction in the rent of his rooms. In fact he +laughed when Paul explained that he would have no money transactions +with an underling, but would settle with the postmaster himself daily. +He assured the gentlemen that they should be well provided for and not +overcharged, and then he went off grinning to the kitchen, and told +Loisel that he had rented his two best rooms, and that the gentleman +with the black beard had offered him four guilders a day for them, but +the others were not to know it, to suppose he was only paid one +guilder.</p> + +<p class="normal">The gentlemen's portmanteaus were carried up to their rooms, and half +an hour later the three friends, having changed their dress, appeared, +and inquired the way to the castle. Hansel advised them to go by the +road, which--although it ran circuitously around the base of the +mountain--would take them to the castle in an hour, and upon which +there was no danger of their losing their way, rather than by the much +shorter foot-path which led from the last house in the village, and +upon which they might easily go astray. He described the foot-path to +them, but counselled them, if they should decide to go by it, to hire +some lad in the village to act as guide.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks, we will," Paul rejoined; and then the three walked briskly off +up the valley in the direction of the castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hansel gazed thoughtfully after them. "I have seen the black-bearded +one somewhere!" he exclaimed to Loisel, "but I cannot for the life of +me remember where."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">This eleventh of July was an eventful day for the Post inn at Tausens, +and certainly merited to be underscored with a red pencil, as it was +that very evening by Hansel in the almanac.</p> + +<p class="normal">The postmaster was still standing at his inn-door looking up the valley +after the three friends, when, just as a winding in the road hid them +from sight, he rubbed his eyes which he had lazily turned in another +direction, and thought he must be dreaming. No, it was no dream, he saw +advancing upon the high-road towards the village the realization of his +most extravagant hopes. Two equipages, each drawn by four horses, were +coming rapidly along the highway.</p> + +<p class="normal">Since the death of the first madame, for more than a quarter of a +century no four-horse equipage had been seen upon the road to Tausens, +and here were two, one behind the other, and each, as Hansel's sharp +eyes discerned even at a distance, laden with large trunks, while the +light dresses of ladies were visible inside the carriages. These were +certainly grand and wealthy travellers, and that they meant to stay in +Tausens was plain from the quantity of luggage.</p> + +<p class="normal">With intense eagerness Hansel awaited their arrival; he did not have to +wait long,--the first carriage was close at hand; all right: it turned +aside from the road, and with a sharp turn the coachman reined in his +four fiery steeds before the door of the Post.</p> + +<p class="normal">A servant in rich livery sprang from the box to open the door and +assist the occupants of the carriage to descend. They consisted of a +very stout elderly lady, a gentleman also elderly, and a young +gentleman who had been sitting on the back seat.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man refused the footman's proffered aid; he sprang out, and +turned to assist his elderly companions. With the greatest care and +attention he helped out the stout lady, who descended from her seat +with difficulty, and then he gave his hand to her companion. The lady +thanked him with a pleasant smile, the gentleman in words. "Thanks, my +dear Guido. Here we are at last; my legs are positively stiff, and my +clothes are sticking to me with the heat. There comes the other +carriage. Eva looks as red as a cherry."</p> + +<p class="normal">The second carriage now drove up; two young ladies were sitting inside, +and on the box beside the driver sat a third, much more showily dressed +than the others. The liveried footman hastened to help this last to +descend from her high perch, and his aid was accepted most willingly, +the young person leaning on his arm as if loth to leave his support.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young gentleman who offered his aid to the occupants of the +carriage was not as fortunate as the footman; one of the young ladies +said, coldly, "Thank you, Herr von Bertram, I do not need any help," +and the other said nothing, but the glance of her dark eyes spoke +plainly enough,--his assistance was rejected.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why will you not allow me to render you even the small service you +would accept from your servant?" Bertram whispered, quite aggrieved by +his repulse.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I do not wish services forced upon me which I do not require. +When I need your aid I shall certainly request it," was Eva's sharp +reply, as she swept past him towards her Uncle Balthasar, who was in +eager consultation with the postmaster.</p> + +<p class="normal">Poor Hansel! He stood there like some convicted criminal. He had taken +his short pipe from his mouth out of respect for the grand arrivals, +and in the other hand he held his black cap, with which he repeatedly +slapped his bare knee in his embarrassment. For the stranger gentleman +had demanded three rooms with five beds, with two smaller rooms for the +servants, the one for the lady's-maid near her young mistress, and two +sitting-rooms besides; and with the best will in the world Hansel could +not accommodate him, for the entire inn did not contain so many rooms.</p> + +<p class="normal">If the three 'Bergfaxes' had not already been in possession! Hansel had +three unoccupied rooms, and beds enough. The servants could also be +taken care of, but that was all the accommodation the house could +afford, since the two best rooms were already occupied by the three +'Bergfaxes.' This Hansel told the stranger gentleman, who was in great +consternation at the intelligence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Uncle Balthasar gazed in despair at the various huge trunks which the +coachman was taking from the carriages; where could they all find room +in the two apartments? for one of the three must be given up to +Bertram. And what in the world would become of Aunt Minni if she had no +sitting-room where she could recline comfortably all day on the sofa? +And was Eva to be cramped up in one room with Fräulein Aline? The thing +was impossible!</p> + +<p class="normal">Poor Uncle Balthasar contemplated with horror the tedious drive back to +the town,--five long hours of jolting,--for he thought he foresaw that +Eva would never consent to remain here a single night. He imparted to +her the sad intelligence that the two best rooms had been appropriated +by three gentlemen, who were going to remain some time, so that only +three sleeping-rooms were to be had.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only three rooms? That is not very pleasant, to be sure," Eva said, +much less alarmed than Uncle Balthasar had supposed she would be. "What +can be done with Wilhelm and Nanette?"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was room for the servants. The maid could sleep in the same room +with Nannerl, and the footman in the garret, the postmaster said.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this arrangement, and at the word 'maid' from worthy Hansel's lips, +Nanette made a wry face, and her anger was great when Eva said quietly, +"That might be arranged. If the rooms are clean and neat we might +manage to stay here for a while."</p> + +<p class="normal">For a while! The postmaster's face shone at the prospect of a visit of +some duration from such grand guests, while a corresponding gloom +settled upon Uncle Balthazar's countenance. "Well, yes, my dearest +Eva," he assented with a resigned air, "if you say so we will try it. +It will be a little crowded, but just as you say, my dear."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will contrive to make ourselves comfortable. The country is +enchanting, and I hope we shall be able to spend some weeks here very +pleasantly and quietly in the enjoyment of nature in this retired +valley, undisturbed by the hordes of detestable tourists that make so +much of the Tyrol odious at this season of the year. First of all let +us see the rooms; the largest and most convenient will of course be +yours and Aunt Minni's, uncle dear. Aunt Minni must be comfortable. +There will surely be a place in her room where we can put a nice sofa; +and if there is no sofa here, Wilhelm must drive to the town before +night and buy one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, we have a sofa," the postmaster declared.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this joyful intelligence every cloud disappeared from Aunt Minni's +face. If she could have a good sofa, where she could doze away most of +the day, and if the cooking was good, she was abundantly content.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is another thing that can be done," Bertram remarked. "The host +might ask the three gentlemen to give up one of their rooms. Men do not +need a special sitting-room in an inn; they can make use of the inn +parlour in the daytime. If the host insists, they will consent to +vacate one room, and if they do not, they must be forced to do so!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva cast a look of great disapprobation upon the speaker. "We are not +so selfish as to wish to interfere with the rights of others," she +said. "We shall certainly confine ourselves to our three rooms."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't think Herr Delmar would give up the room," the postmaster +remarked.</p> + +<p class="normal">The name of Delmar produced an electric effect upon Eva and Bertram. +Guido's face suddenly became leaden in hue, and across Eva's there +flitted a crimson flush, but she quickly recovered herself. "Is one of +the gentlemen who have taken the other rooms called Delmar?" she asked +the postmaster.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, one of them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is he a northern German?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A young man about thirty years old, with dark eyes, black hair and +beard, and an olive complexion?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just so; I think I knew him once somewhere, but I can't tell where."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the two other gentlemen? Do you know their names?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"One I do; they call him Leo. I didn't hear the other's name at all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Paul Delmar and his friend Herr von Heydeck!" Eva exclaimed in +some agitation. "What an unfortunate encounter!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram was not less moved; he bit his lips and did his best to +preserve his composure and not betray the dismay that he felt in +discovering that his two hated enemies, Delmar and Leo von Heydeck, +were in Tausens, and that he might at any moment be brought face to +face with them.</p> + +<p class="normal">What terrible consequences might ensue from such a meeting if any +explanations should be made! If Delmar should ever give Eva an +account of the odious scene beneath Büchner's awning; if she should +learn by what means Bertram had been forced to make his disgraceful +apology,--that it had not been made in compliance with her wish but for +fear of ruinous revelations,--all would be lost!</p> + +<p class="normal">He breathed more freely when Aline took Eva's hand and said in a voice +full of tenderness, "We cannot stay here, Eva dear; such a meeting, +such unavoidable encounters in this retired place would be too painful +for you and for all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must say, Eva my dear, that I think Fräulein Aline is right. Let the +trunks be taken out again to the carriages, landlord; we shall not stay +here."</p> + +<p class="normal">Uncle Balthasar gave this order, quite convinced that Eva would +immediately desire, as he did himself, to leave Tausens; and it almost +seemed as if she agreed with him, for she did not object to his +directions to poor Hansel, when suddenly Bertram, by an imprudent word, +prevented what he himself most desired. He meant to reinforce Aline's +words and Uncle Balthasar's remark, and to confirm Eva's wavering +resolution. "We must go, go instantly, my dear Eva," he said. "We +cannot possibly expose ourselves to a meeting with that man and his +friend Delmar. We cannot subject ourselves to fresh insults, which I +must not even avenge. You owe it to yourself, you owe it to me, to +avoid such an encounter!"</p> + +<p class="normal">His remark was most unfortunate. It decided Eva to act in direct +opposition to his wishes. "I am the best judge of what I owe to +myself," she said, proudly. "I will not have Herr von Heydeck believe +that I avoid meeting him because I am afraid of him. We shall certainly +remain here for the present."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eva, I entreat you not to be headstrong," Aline interposed. "Herr von +Bertram is quite right in this instance. You owe it to him and to all +of us to avoid all chance of a meeting which might have disastrous +consequences. Let us leave here, if we only go as far as the next +village. We can rest there and then continue our tour. Do it for my +sake, Eva!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva would certainly have yielded to Aline's entreaty if coward fear of +an encounter with Delmar and Heydeck had not been plainly imprinted +upon Bertram's pale face. This fear seemed to her so pitiable, so +despicable, that her pride revolted at the idea of flight. No, she +would not retreat; she would not grant such a triumph to the man who +had insulted her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot comply with your request, Aline," she said firmly. "Do not +urge it: my resolution is fixed; I shall stay. Come, dear, let us see +the rooms; the landlord will show us to them." She followed the +postmaster into the hall, and the others could do no less than imitate +her example. Guido alone was left standing in front of the house. His +portmanteau was not yet taken from the foot-board of the carriage, and +one of the men was busied in untying the rope that bound it there. +Should he order it to be left where it was? It was not easy to decide. +Like a flash of lightning all that had lately occurred passed through +his mind. Eva had indeed thanked him when he brought her the +intelligence that the duel had been made impossible, but then she had +asked for particulars with regard to what had occurred at Büchner's, +and he had been forced to give her an account that had some similitude +to the truth lest she should hear of it elsewhere.</p> + +<p class="normal">He told her that after an interview with Count Waldheim he had awaited +Leo von Heydeck at Büchner's, to make him the apology which he had +promised Eva should be made, but that the execution of his design had +been hastened by the intervention of the old colonel and Delmar. He had +skilfully interwoven truth and falsehood in his narrative, but it had +not escaped him that Eva's countenance betrayed a certain distrust of +him while he spoke. He had begged her to allow him to accompany her +upon her tour, and she had not refused, but this journey had been to +him a daily source of the greatest humiliation. He would have liked +nothing better than to withdraw, but he could not leave the field to +his enemies; he must stay.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take the small leather trunk to my room," he gave orders to the man, +and then followed the servant into the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile, Eva had subjected the three vacant rooms to a thorough +inspection, and had found that their neatness and comfort far exceeded +her expectations. One was very spacious; besides two beds it contained +a sofa, wardrobe, bureau, washstands, and two cushioned easy-chairs. It +would be easy to be comfortable here for a while. The second was +considerably smaller, and contained neither sofa nor wardrobe, but then +the prospect from the windows was perfectly enchanting. They looked out +upon the picturesque ruins of Castle Reifenstein, which here intervened +between the eye and the inhabited part of the building. In the +background the view was bounded by the snowy peaks of the Weisshorn and +the Drei Maidelspitz, with the blue shimmering glaciers of the +Schiechhorn between them. The third room, between the first and third, +and connected with each by a door, was small enough, with only one +window; a bed, washstand, and two chairs were all it could contain.</p> + +<p class="normal">Such were the apartments which the postmaster placed at the command of +the travellers; in addition they could have the exclusive use of a +balcony, upon which a door opened from the wide hall. The magnificent +view from it of Castle Reifenstein and the glacier background made it +seem a most attractive resort, and even in bad weather it might be +used, since it was protected by a broad roof.</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva's arrangements, after she had seen the three rooms and the balcony, +were soon made. "We will stay here," she said; "we can make ourselves +very comfortable here for a while. The large room with the sofa is +yours and uncle's of course, Aunt Minni; Aline and I shall do very well +in this next largest room, and Nanette can have the one with one window +if Herr von Bertram leaves us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which he certainly will not do," Guido rejoined, having overheard the +last words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then Nanette will sleep in Nannerl's room, and the little room is +yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">Guido made no reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, Aline," Eva said to her friend, "let us arrange our room." With +these words she left the spacious hall in which the conversation had +been held and entered her apartment. Then, while Aline closed the door +after them, she examined the door leading to the room she had assigned +to Bertram. To her satisfaction she found it provided with a heavy iron +bolt, which she pushed home, and then turned to her friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hitherto she had exerted herself to preserve an appearance of quiet +composure, while all the while her heart was beating so violently that +she could scarcely bear it. Now that she was at last alone with her +friend and there was no need longer to control her emotion, she threw +her arms around her and leaned her weary head upon her bosom.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My poor, poor Eva!" said Aline, with tender sympathy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Aline, I am so wretchedly unhappy!"</p> + +<p class="normal">With a gentle hand Aline stroked the dark curls from her friend's brow +and kissed her. "Cry, my poor Eva, as much as you want to," she said +lovingly; "the tears which you have so long restrained will soothe your +pain. And then you shall bathe your eyes and compose yourself. Your +betrothed must not see that you have been weeping."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My betrothed! Why do you torture me with that word? You know how from +the very depths of my soul I hate it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then it is your duty to break this miserable engagement," Aline +rejoined gravely. "You would not listen to me when you gave your hasty +promise, and therefore I have been silent until now, but I cannot bear +to see you so unhappy. It is my duty as your friend to advise and to +warn you even although I should offend you by doing so. I will not +quietly look on when I see you obstinately determined to seal your +unhappiness forever!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what shall I do, Aline?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must make up your mind to break the fetters which you yourself +forged."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I have promised."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Promised? And is this wretched promise to annihilate your happiness +for life? You used to be indifferent to Bertram, and that was bad +enough; but now I can read in your eyes as in an open book, he becomes +more odious to you every hour of every day, and you would give +yourself--swear love and fidelity before the altar--to this man whose +very touch inspires you with loathing. Will it not be perjury and a far +greater wrong to Bertram than if you should break your hasty promise?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He knows well that I do not love him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So much the worse. If he does not wish for your heart, for your +love, he is speculating upon your money. Give him a share of your +fortune,--you are rich enough,--but do not sacrifice yourself!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How gladly would I do so, but he will not release me. Do not urge me +further. Aline, you only make me more unhappy. I have had a hard +struggle with myself; indeed the fulfilment of the duty I have +undertaken demands all the strength I am mistress of, but it must be +fulfilled. Bertram has sacrificed his future to me. Can money requite +him for the honour he has lost? I cannot retreat. My destiny must be +fulfilled!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The road to Castle Reifenstein, upon which the three friends had +started, ran through the village of Tausens and the isolated dwellings +of the peasants on the bank of the Schwarzenbach. After passing the +last of these it left the broad beaten valley road, turned to the +right, and passed around the mountain crowned by the castle, gradually +ascending on the northern more gentle slope until, after many windings, +it reached a bridge leading across a broad, deep chasm in the rocks to +the ancient portals of the castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before the invention of gunpowder Castle Reifenstein had been an +impregnable fortress, although it owed little of its impregnability to +art. Nature had provided for the discomfiture of any possible besiegers +by the inaccessibility of the steep rocks that formed its base on the +southern side.</p> + +<p class="normal">If the ancient Counts of Tausens, whose nest it was, raised the +drawbridge they were secure from any attack, for on one side it was as +impossible to climb the smooth, straight wall of rock, on the summit of +which stood the castle, as it was to spring across the broad and ugly +chasm, several hundred feet deep, across which the bridge was flung, +and which cut off the rock from the gentle declivity of the mountain on +its northern side. Thus a few archers, placed behind the walls and in +the round tower, could command the entire road up from the valley.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the eastern side alone the rock was connected with the mountain. A +green meadow, which had latterly been converted into a garden, extended +from the forest upwards to the wall. Art had here contributed towards +rendering the fortress impregnable. A single huge door opened out of +the castle courtyard upon this garden. At either end of the wall had +stood a huge round tower; of one of these nothing remained but the base +in ruins, while the other, in good preservation, stood proudly erect in +close vicinity to the inhabited wing of the castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">The two towers and the wall of the court-yard formed a more than +sufficient protection for this eastern side of the castle, for only a +few besiegers at a time could approach it through the irregular and +broken masses of rock that covered this part of the mountain. Even the +peasants seldom ventured to approach the castle on this side. They used +the broad road from Tausens almost exclusively, and only a few stout +mountaineers preferred the narrow foot-path that left the broad road +just behind the last house in Tausens and led straight up the mountain, +then turning to the left cut off many of the windings of the road until +it joined it again on the summit at the bridge.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul paused at the spot where this foot-path left the road. "Is there +anything more tiresome in the world than a broad, well-kept road like +this?" he said. "All the world can use it,--any fool may walk along it +and go dreaming on to his destination. I hate the smooth white dusty +thing! Look at this inviting foot-path, Leo; it is wonderfully +attractive. Suppose we leave the stupid road?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The landlord warned us against it," Leo replied. "He said we should +surely lose our way if we took it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bah, nonsense! These peasants always think that city men will lose +their way; we have the castle always in sight, how can we go astray? +Noble Knight von Herwarth, what do you think?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am for the foot-path."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forwards, then! The majority carries the day."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul struck into the foot-path which, leading through thick alders, was +too narrow to allow of the friends walking abreast. Leo followed Paul, +and Herwarth came last, but he had hardly gone a few steps before he +stepped upon a loose stone and almost fell. He recovered himself +instantly, but when he attempted to proceed he felt a violent pain in +his ankle. He stood still for a moment and then tried again to walk, +but the pain was too severe: he could not go on.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the matter, noble knight?" Delmar called back to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know: I must stop a moment; my foot pains me. I hope it will +pass away in a moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">But it did not pass away. The pain, on the contrary, increased with +every attempt to walk. Herwarth had to sit down upon a fallen tree: he +could not go on.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was a most unpleasant interruption to their expedition. They +consulted what had best be done. Paul proposed to go back immediately +to the village to procure surgical aid, but this Kuno would not listen +to; he was sure that rest would bring him relief; it would be quite +time enough to consult a Tyrolean village doctor when the hurt was +proved to be serious, which he was quite certain was not the case. He +begged his friends to proceed quietly without him, and he would wait +here a couple of hours until Paul should return, after having +accompanied Leo to the castle-gate. By that time the pain would have +abated sufficiently to allow of his walking back the short distance +they had come. It certainly was no misfortune to lie on the soft moss +for a couple of hours and enjoy the lovely landscape.</p> + +<p class="normal">At first Paul and Leo refused to agree to Kuno's plan, but after they +had examined his ankle, and convinced themselves as far as was possible +for the uninitiated in the science of surgery that the leg was neither +broken nor seriously injured, they consented to do as he desired. They +left him lying comfortably on the grass lighting a cigar, and once more +Leo advised Paul to pursue the road where they could not go wrong. +This, however, the latter was less inclined to do than before.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can I leave our wounded knight alone in the desert for so long?" he +asked. "The foot-path is much shorter than the worthy postmaster said. +As soon as I have delivered you safely to your uncle I shall return by +the same path to Kuno."</p> + +<p class="normal">The shortest road! Many a one among the mountains has found that the +shortest road to his destination has proved the longest for him in the +end. Thus it was with Delmar and Leo.</p> + +<p class="normal">As long as the foot-path led through the bushes it was easy to trace; +it was evidently not much frequented, but the grass was worn upon it +and it could not be missed; the case, however, was different when it +emerged upon a steep, stony waste,--here it suddenly vanished, and even +Leo's practised eye could find no signs of it over the stones.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think it would be better to go back to the road," said Leo, after +vainly searching about.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then we must retrace our steps, for we cannot turn to the left, where +it lies, because of that deep chasm."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Better go all the way back than lose our time and our way, as the +landlord warned us we should among these stones."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have come a quarter of a mile at least, and as we have been +always ascending we must be half-way up. I cannot see how we can go +wrong,--there is the castle always before us to point the way. The +nearest way is the best. Let us scramble directly up over these stones, +and we must reach the castle."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo was not convinced, but he yielded and followed Paul, who began to +clamber sturdily over the stones.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a wearisome ascent. At first the stones were small, often +slipping and turning beneath the feet; but gradually they grew larger, +until they became huge blocks, between which it was often very +difficult to find a way.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was no longer a stony waste which they were trying to traverse, but +a chaos of immense masses of rock piled one upon another. There was not +the slightest trace of a path; and Delmar, who went first, had to turn +to the right and left continually to advance a single step upwards. +"Leo," he said at last, stopping to wipe his heated brow, "I see now +that you were right, and that I am an ass,--a discovery, by the way, +which I have made frequently during my life. This climbing is the very +devil!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If it only led somewhere!" Leo replied; "but I am afraid we are among +the rocks against which our host warned us. I cannot see the castle any +longer."</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact the castle had vanished. In vain did Paul look in all +directions for its massive proportions. He had forgotten to keep it in +view lately, absorbed as he had been in the difficulties that beset +their progress, and now he noticed for the first time that it was +nowhere to be seen.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the direction in which Delmar had thought to find it there arose +perpendicularly from among the chaos of rough blocks of stone, a smooth +wall of rock. It might be that the castle was upon its summit, but they +were too near to it to decide this question.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We're in a deuce of a scrape!" Delmar exclaimed in irritation. "We are +positively lost. I can see no way forwards or backwards. The enchanted +castle has vanished, and I have no idea where it is. I believe the evil +fairy Hilda has conjured it away."</p> + +<p class="normal">A clear, merry laugh answered this outburst of irritation. Leo and Paul +looked startled in the direction whence it proceeded; but in vain: no +human being was to be seen. So melodious a peal of laughter could have +come only from the throat of a young girl, and she must be hidden by +some one of the giant masses of rock that barred both way and vision on +every side.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul thought he knew exactly whence the sound came. His curiosity was +strongly excited, and without reflecting he left the spot where he was +standing with Leo and began forthwith to climb a huge rock upon his +right, from the top of which he hoped to have a more extended view. It +was a difficult undertaking, and not without peril; but Paul's frame +was lithe and his muscles steeled by constant gymnastic exercise. He +succeeded in gaining the summit, and the result amply rewarded his +exertions; for not only could he see far and wide over the chaos of +rocks, but he found himself face to face with the girl whose gleeful +laughter had just resounded in his ears,--she was sitting on this very +rock, a little beneath the summit, on the other side. As she looked up +at the young man there was evident in her eyes an admiration of his +strength and agility which did not escape him and which flattered his +vanity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellently done. Cousin Leo!" she said, laughing. "You have atoned +for your blunder in losing your way among the Reifenstein rocks by your +agility in climbing them."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul was startled by the frank, fearless tone of this address. 'Cousin +Leo!' Hilda von Heydeck then was sitting at his feet, and she took him +for the expected cousin whom she thus familiarly accosted. Even had she +not spoken he would have recognized her, remembering the postmaster's +description, by the masses of golden curls beneath her picturesque +straw hat, only she was far more charming and lovely than he had +anticipated. He had smiled when Hansel, in his enthusiasm, had compared +Hilda to an angel; now he thought the comparison admirable. There was a +rare and wondrous charm in the expression that animated the young +girl's lovely features; and nevertheless the merry, unrestrained +laughter became her well, and did not disturb the truly feminine grace +of her whole bearing.</p> + +<p class="normal">For the first moment Paul was so surprised by the girl's extraordinary +beauty that he, usually so ready with an answer, could not find a word +to say in reply. His amazement, so evident in his face, increased +Hilda's merriment. She sprang up lightly from where she was sitting and +made a profound courtesy, saying, "I see I must introduce myself, or my +cousin Leo will not deign to say one word to me. Fräulein Hilda von +Heydeck has the honour to receive her cousin among the Reifenstein +rocks. In her own distinguished person she has descended from the +enchanted castle to guide her bewildered cousin into the right path. +And now give me your hand, Leo; we shall soon be the best of friends, +if you are only half as delightful as papa says you are."</p> + +<p class="normal">She held out her hand to Paul, who took it and kissed it, whereupon she +withdrew it hastily, saying, with a blush, "That is not the custom with +us, cousin!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In Germany a man has a right to kiss his lovely cousin's cheek," Paul +replied, having quickly recovered from his first surprise; "but I dare +not lay claim to such a privilege, since I am not the happy man you +think me, but only his poor friend, Paul Delmar."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hilda blushed crimson. "You are not my cousin Leo?" she asked, in great +confusion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, unfortunately not; I wish I were. My friend Leo is down below +somewhere trying to find a path out of this rocky labyrinth. Leo! Leo! +where are you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here!" Leo's voice replied, from a considerable distance. He had +mistaken the direction whence the sound of Hilda's laugh was heard, and +had consequently plunged more deeply into the bewildering labyrinth. +Paul's repeated call told him where his friend was to be found; he +scrambled over several rocks and finally reached the foot of the huge +mass upon which Paul and Hilda were standing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most fortunate of mortals!" Delmar called down to him, "come up here. +I will give you a hand, that you may display all the grace you are +master of in ascending. Here you will find the lovely fairy who reigns +in the enchanted Castle Reifenstein, and who has descended to aid us +miserable mortals."</p> + +<p class="normal">With no less astonishment than Delmar had experienced Leo now looked up +at Hilda, who was standing beside his friend; he, too, recognized her +from the postmaster's description, and he, too, thought her extremely +beautiful. Still her beauty made no extraordinary impression upon him; +he thought the worthy innkeeper's enthusiastic comparison of her to an +angel rather exaggerated; nevertheless he was most pleasantly surprised +by this encounter with his cousin.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before Paul could hold out a hand to help her she sprang lightly down +from rock to rock until she stood beside Leo, to whom she held out her +hand with the same easy grace with which she had offered it to his +friend. This time, however, although it was grasped cordially, it was +not kissed, and was instantly relinquished.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo had anticipated with a certain anxiety his first meeting with the +cousin whose hand had been destined by the will of her father and of +his own to be bestowed upon him. He now stood face to face with the +destined bride whom he had made up his mind never to marry, without any +of the embarrassment he had expected to feel when he should first see +her. No; any uncomfortable sensation of the kind was entirely dispelled +by Hilda's easy frank reception of him as a near relative. She +evidently saw in him, not a future lover, but simply her cousin Leo, to +whom she was ready and pleased to show all the familiar kindness +warranted by their close relationship, and he was instantly as much at +his ease with her as if they had known each other for years.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a very extraordinary but none the less delightful chance. Cousin +Hilda, that led you here to us in the midst of this rocky waste, where, +of all places in the world, I least expected to meet you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is no chance," she replied, looking with a smile at Delmar, who had +just made his descent from the rock. "Papa and I have been expecting +you for some days; a letter from your father told us that you and one +of your friends were coming to the Tyrol. When a little while ago I saw +from my window two strangers coming up to the castle, I instantly +divined that you were one of them, and when I saw you go astray among +the Reifenstein rocks I made haste to join you to show you the path, +which it is impossible that any stranger should find. I had just +climbed this rock to see where you were when I heard voices close by. I +sat down instantly I confess to play the part of eavesdropper, and when +I heard that the 'evil fairy Hilda' had 'conjured away' the castle I +could not help laughing aloud."</p> + +<p class="normal">As she spoke Hilda gave Paul an arch smile. "To be sure, the 'evil +fairy' afterwards became a 'lovely fairy,' but she will always remember +the first adjective bestowed upon her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be merciful to a poor sinner," Paul begged, "and do not reckon against +him words wrung from his despair in finding himself lost in such a +labyrinth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We shall see hereafter whether I can exercise mercy for justice; first +of all I must guide these two erring wanderers up the mountain and into +the foot-path."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you not come down from the castle by some other way, Fräulein +Hilda?" Delmar asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did, it is true, come by another and a much shorter way," Hilda +replied; "but it is fit only for the feet of the evil mountain-fairy of +an enchanted castle, and not for two fashionable men from the city; I +cannot show you that way."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you suppose that a path you can use will be too difficult for us? +You show very little confidence in our powers. Pray show us the nearest +path."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will do so in punishment for your presumption, but upon one +condition. Promise me that the instant you are dizzy you will say so, +that we may turn back; the path lies along the very brink of an abyss."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I promise; but I shall not have to redeem my word."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you promise too, Cousin Leo?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; but you need have no fear, neither Delmar nor I know what it is +to have vertigo."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then follow me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hilda walked on before. In perfect security, and with an airy grace +that enchanted Delmar, she sprang from stone to stone, and in a few +minutes they had reached the base of the wall of rock, which here +ascended nearly perpendicularly several hundred feet. Here she paused. +"There is still time to turn back," she said, seriously, "and I beg +you, Herr Delmar, and you, Cousin Leo, to do so; I ought not to show +you the path up the rock, an accident might so easily happen for which +I never should forgive myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall have no cause for self-reproach," Paul replied, "for I see +the path clearly now. You do not show it to me, I choose it myself. It +leads up the rock just here; it has been worn by the goats, and is just +what I like,--perfectly easy to follow."</p> + +<p class="normal">The path was certainly plain to be seen by any one who chose to follow +it. It was scarcely a foot broad, and went directly up the side of the +mountain; on one hand was the perpendicular wall of rock, and on the +other the abyss, and the higher it went the steeper and dizzier the +path became.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul had taken in at a glance the difficulty and danger of the ascent; +but he did not hesitate a moment to begin it, nor would he have done so +had the path been twice as steep and giddy as it was.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Delmar, I pray you turn back!" Hilda exclaimed, anxiously; but he +continued to advance fearlessly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us follow him, cousin," Leo said, with a smile. "Make your mind +easy about Paul; he will carry through whatever he attempts; no power +on earth can stay him. I am convinced that he would take that path even +although he knew that he should fall into the abyss. But he will not +fall; he has no fear, and he is never dizzy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you, Cousin Leo?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I? Why should I fear? Only those who love life fear to lose it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What can you mean, cousin?" There was a genuine compassion and ready +sympathy in her words that soothed Leo. Hilda looked at him very +reproachfully. Did she know that her father had destined her to be his +bride, and was she wounded that he could speak thus?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, Leo, are you going to stay down there?" asked Paul, who had +already ascended about fifty feet of the path, and who now turned and +looked down at the two cousins. As he looked he leaned forwards so far +over the abyss that Hilda experienced a sudden vertigo. Hitherto she +had never known the sensation even when looking from the dizziest +heights; but when she saw how carelessly Delmar leaned forwards so far +that it seemed as if he must fall, she fairly trembled. "For God's +sake, Herr Delmar, turn away!" she exclaimed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have no fear, lovely fairy!" was the reply. "'Tis true that a magic +power draws me towards you, but I will not choose the direct way to +reach you at present. Indeed, you have calumniated this path,--it is as +easy as possible, and commands a glorious view. Well, Leo, are you not +coming? Do you not like it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am coming," Leo cried, and quietly walked on after his friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hilda followed him up the height. How often she had ascended the rock +by this path! how often, when, only the hardiest mountaineer could +follow her, had she descended by it into the valley, and never before +to day had she thought of its danger! Now she was fairly tormented by +anxiety.</p> + +<p class="normal">Not upon Leo's account; he walked on before her with as firm and even a +step as if he had been upon level ground. He, however, neglected no +necessary precaution, testing the firmness of the stony soil, as Hilda +saw, at every step; for him the path had no danger, but it was full of +peril for Delmar, who seemed to challenge it in the wildest fashion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Where the path was so narrow that there was almost none at all, and the +greatest caution was necessary at every step, Delmar walked as +carelessly as if he were upon a broad road, and at the very most +perilous point he stopped, coolly relighted his cigar, and then walked +on, not even looking down to pick his way, but with his gaze riveted +upon the distant view.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hilda's heart throbbed as she observed his careless demeanour; she had +warned him, but she did not venture to call to him again. The ascent of +the rocks had never seemed to her half so long, and only when she saw +that Paul had reached in safety the small but secure strip of +meadowland that intervened between the old castle-wall and the edge of +the precipice, did she once more breathe freely and with an easy mind +follow Leo, with whom she soon joined his friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul received her with a laugh. "Thanks, charming fairy," he said, +again advancing to the edge of the precipice and leaning forwards so as +to overlook the entire path up the rock; "thanks for the greatest +enjoyment I have had in our mountain tour. I delight in a path like +this; it is inspiriting to climb the rocks by it. One false step is +certain death. Life is the meed only of strength and sureness of foot. +Let fear once assail the climber, vertigo is sure to follow and he is +lost; but for a steady brain and strong muscles there is no danger; and +what a glorious prospect we have had over the fertile valleys to the +snowy peaks that bound the horizon on the south! If I lived at Castle +Reifenstein I should choose no other path save this by which to reach +the valley, and I am sure that you also. Leo, will visit us in Tausens +by no other."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are much mistaken," Leo quietly replied. "I have come once by this +path, and I shall not again pass over it, least of all in descending to +the valley. I shall take the safer footpath or the road, even although +it be somewhat longer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How can an artist be so terrible a Philistine!" Paul exclaimed, +indignantly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If not to run into unnecessary peril is to be a Philistine, I +certainly am one. You will admit, I know, that I am not backward in +facing danger when any good end is to be gained thereby."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should be the last to dispute that. Do I not know that you, my +unattainable model and example, are all compact of the strongest and +loftiest principles? Do I even try to emulate you? I should be the most +tiresome fellow in the world if but the half of your virtues were mine, +although I confess that they suit you remarkably well; so keep them +all, I pray. Trust one who knows, lovely fairy; your excellent cousin +is the embodiment of pure principles and strong good sense; he has only +one fault: he chooses his friends very foolishly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you not one of them?" asked Hilda.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Exactly; that is just it. His reputation suffers from my friendship. I +am principled against principle. My aim in life is to do what I like. I +am a thorough egotist, who has no idol but self. Now is such a man a +fit companion for Leo von Heydeck? He should blush to own such a +friend, by whom he may be judged by others. But here we are safely +arrived at the castle, and I will take my leave. I must bid you +farewell, Fräulein von Heydeck, only asking permission to return and +visit my friend Leo at Castle Reifenstein."</p> + +<p class="normal">They had, in fact, reached the garden, which lay on the eastern +declivity of the mountain, and before them was the colossal old pile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are not going to leave us, Herr Delmar?" Hilda asked, in surprise. +"You cannot be in earnest. Rooms were arranged for you and Leo two days +ago. Of course you will stay at Castle Reifenstein with my cousin?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A most kind and amiable invitation, and so tempting from such lovely +lips that I should not perhaps be able to refuse it had I not promised +to return immediately to Tausens. As, unfortunately, I have so +promised, there is nothing for me to do except to thank you most +sincerely for the hospitality, which, to my regret, I cannot accept."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To whom can you possibly have made such a promise?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To a third friend, the noble knight Kuno von Herwarth, who, but for a +slight accident upon the way, would have accompanied us to the castle. +I promised him that I would return to him as soon as possible, and hard +as it is, I must keep my word."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Paul is right," Leo added. "Kuno expects him, and I know that his +peculiar egotism would make all persuasion to stay useless. His +selfishness will not permit him to allow Herwarth to wait for him +longer than is absolutely necessary."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not at all; you have no comprehension of good sensible selfishness. I +don't trouble myself about Herwarth one whit; but it gives me an +uncomfortable sensation to know that he is lying down below there upon +the grass, looking up at the castle, pulling out his watch every few +minutes, and thinking I might have returned long since. And so for my +own sake--what is Herwarth to me?--I shall hurry back to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Exactly; that is the very kind of egotism in which you excel +particularly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you suppose your sneer will have any effect in detaining me, you +are mistaken. It only confirms my purpose. The delightful goat's track +will take me to our unfortunate friend in half an hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hilda's heart beat afresh as she heard Delmar announce this intention; +she knew how much more dangerous was the descent than the ascent of the +steep path. True, she had fearlessly tripped up and down by it many a +time; but then she knew every stone, every dangerous spot, and was, +besides, accustomed to mountain-climbing. The peril was twice as great +for a stranger, and she trembled at the thought that if his foot should +slip he was lost. She had known Delmar but one half-hour; but his odd +talk and manner interested her much, and he was her cousin's friend. +Surely she might treat him with some degree of familiarity. So when +Paul lifted his hat by way of farewell, she held out her hand to him +with a slight blush at the remembrance of the kiss bestowed upon it +half an hour before. The blush made her look lovelier than ever, and +Paul absolutely lost his heart as he slightly pressed the little hand +thus graciously offered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot ask you to break your promise to your friend, Herr Delmar," +the girl said, not without a shade of embarrassment. "I can only hope +that both you and my cousin Leo's other friend will consent to be my +father's guests at Castle Reifenstein. This I trust my cousin will +arrange with you and your friend to-morrow morning. In the mean time I +have a request to make of you. Perhaps your selfishness will allow you +to grant it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, my selfishness is a very convenient selfishness; of course it +allows me to do whatever gives me pleasure, and nothing, I am sure, +could give me greater pleasure than to fulfil any request of yours, +Fräulein von Heydeck."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is certainly a most courteous selfishness," Hilda said, with such a +bewitchingly merry glance that Paul registered a silent vow upon the +spot to bring her the moon from the skies if she asked for it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only tell me what you desire, Fräulein von Heydeck," he exclaimed, +"and I will make impossibilities easy!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not quite so exacting," Hilda replied. "My desire can be easily +complied with: it is only that you should return to Tausens by the +usual way. Since you are such an admirable mountaineer, I will allow +you to take the common foot-path, and show you myself where it is; you +cannot miss your way by it in descending the mountain. Will you do as I +ask, Herr Delmar?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, here I recognize the lovely but evil fairy who has already cast +her spells upon me! Nevertheless, a promise is a promise, and must be +kept."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hilda thanked him merrily, especially for the title of "evil fairy," +and declared herself quite ready to act as his guide to the foot-path +down the mountain, the shortest way to which was through the garden and +court-yard of the castle. She went first, Leo and Paul following.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul could see nothing but his lovely guide; he had no eyes for the +beauty of the garden through which they were passing, and he scarcely +noticed that as they entered a shady walk an old gentleman appeared +walking towards them. Only when Hilda paused and, addressing the old +man, cried joyously, "Papa! here is Cousin Leo with his friend!" did he +turn to scrutinize with a certain curiosity the man of whom he had +heard so much.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old gentleman was evidently not prepared for the encounter: he had +a book in his hand, and was walking in the garden, reading; apparently +he never would have noticed the strangers if Hilda's exclamation had +not called his attention to them.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he heard the name of Leo a smile passed over his withered face, +but it vanished in an instant as, with an expression of positive +horror, his eyes opened to their utmost extent, he gazed at Paul, who +approached and, lifting his hat, bowed courteously.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was an extraordinary reception. For a minute the old man seemed +incapable of speech; he gazed silently at Delmar, whom he waved off +with his hand, retreating a step at his approach. He never even looked +at Leo: Paul absorbed his entire attention.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, papa, what is the matter?" Hilda asked, in surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">But her father did not seem to hear her; the longer he looked at Paul +the more intense was the expression of terror upon his face and in his +eyes; several seconds passed before he could so far control himself as +to stammer in broken words, "What do you want of me?--How did you come +here?--Who are you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar had, it is true, cherished no expectation of any particularly +kind or courteous reception at the hands of "uncle monster," and the +picture formed of him in his imagination had not been very flattering, +but what he now saw and heard transcended his expectations: he had not +believed in such a monster as this.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Heydeck, once tall and handsome, was now a sickly, emaciated +old man, his tall figure was bent, his withered features showed no +trace of their former beauty, and were entirely wanting in the +expression of dignified repose which makes an aged face attractive. The +working of the lips, the protruding light-gray eyes the uncertain +glance of which always avoided your own, made the spare wrinkled +countenance positively ugly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul experienced actual repulsion at first sight of this old man, and +the sensation was heightened by the strange broken questions addressed +to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was not Delmar's habit to show much consideration towards those whom +he disliked, and a sharp reply to the inhospitable queries was upon his +lips, when his glance fell upon Hilda; he saw in her face the terror +and surprise which her father's reception of him was causing her. Could +he wound her? However ugly and unpleasant this old man might be, he was +nevertheless the father of the lovely fairy, and Leo's uncle. In +consideration of this he suppressed the angry retort upon his lips and +replied quietly, "My name is Delmar; I am a friend of your nephew Leo, +whom I have accompanied upon his journey to the Tyrol. I do not know +what further particulars I can give you with regard to myself at +present, Herr von Heydeck."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man did not hear his last words, the name alone riveted his +attention. "Delmar! Paul Delmar!" he muttered to himself "I knew it +must be he! What do you want of me?" he continued, aloud. "I must know +what you want. Do not imagine that I am afraid of you! It was only the +first shock of surprise; but I am not in the least afraid of you, not +in the least. Speak! what do you want of me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul listened with increasing astonishment to these unconnected, +unmeaning words. Had the old man a sudden attack of insanity? It must +be so, else how could he thus receive his nephew's friend? Such a +reception was utterly inexplicable, and least of all could Paul +conceive how Herr von Heydeck had got hold of the name Paul, which he +had muttered to himself. He did not trouble himself, however, to ponder +this, but, seeing Hilda's distress, resolved to cut short so +disagreeable a scene.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I want nothing of you, Herr von Heydeck," he replied, courteously; "on +the contrary, I bring you something in the person of your nephew +Leo,--my dearest friend. And now I must beg your permission to leave +you, as I must immediately return to Tausens to a friend who awaits me +there."</p> + +<p class="normal">This quiet reply had the effect of partially allaying the horror that +had filled the old man's mind, and with a degree of self-control he +recovered the consciousness which had nearly forsaken him. He still +regarded Paul with a strange, scrutinizing look, without venturing to +meet his eye. But his composure returned by degrees; his glance fell +upon Leo, and remembering Hilda's words and Delmar's explanation, he +was conscious that he had been guilty of discourtesy and had not yet +spoken to his nephew. "Welcome, Leo!" he said, offering him his hand. +"Yes, I should know you anywhere, you look so like your father, my +Hans. Welcome to Castle Reifenstein. And you, sir, are Leo's friend? +Yes, I remember my brother's letter mentioned that Leo was coming to +the Tyrol with a friend. You, then, are Leo's friend? Herr Delmar? Herr +Delmar? Is that your name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is; my name is Paul Delmar."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Paul Delmar; exactly, I knew it; and it is only as Leo's friend that +you come here? you have no further intentions?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What further intentions could I possibly have?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course, of course! What further intentions could you have? Forgive +me for my strange reception of you: my mind sometimes wanders; you must +not take it ill of a feeble old man. I hope, Hilda, that you have the +rooms ready for Leo, and Herr Delmar, Leo's friend?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, papa; they were all ready two days ago; but Herr Delmar +refuses to stay with us, and says he must return to the Post at +Tausens."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed? I am very sorry."</p> + +<p class="normal">The 'very sorry' did not sound genuine. The old man's mind was +evidently relieved when he heard that Paul had declined to be his guest +at the castle. Apparently the coldness of his expression of regret +struck him also, for he hastened to atone for it by a request that Paul +would reconsider the refusal. But upon receiving Paul's courteous +excuse for not complying with this request, he forbore to urge it, and +when Delmar expressed his regret in being obliged to return immediately +to Tausens, he did not press him to remain, but gave him his hand in +token of farewell, and expressed, although with some hesitation, a hope +that he would frequently visit his friend Leo at the castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hilda fulfilled her promise; she accompanied Paul through the garden, +the castle court-yard, and the large gateway, across the bridge to the +foot-path, which, lying to the left of the road, passed down the +mountain at some distance from the steep rocky side. She walked beside +Delmar in silence; her father's strange conduct had filled her with +vague anxiety. She felt that there must be some relation which she did +not understand existing between him and Herr Delmar, and she vainly +wondered what it could be. She knew that her father was misanthropic +and inhospitable, but with regard to Leo and his friend he had not been +in the least so until a few moments previously, but had given express +orders that everything should be done to make the young men's stay at +Castle Reifenstein agreeable to them.</p> + +<p class="normal">What reason could he have for such terror at sight of a stranger, and +for receiving him so disagreeably? She longed to say some word to +Delmar in excuse: she was afraid that he was offended; but what could +she say? In vain she tried to find words suitable to the occasion, and +while she was trying they had crossed the bridge, and she had +accompanied the young man as far as was fitting, and not one word had +she uttered.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul, too, who was not often at a loss for words, had been vainly +searching for something to say during their short walk; and thus both +went on together in silence until Hilda held out her hand to him by way +of farewell, when he asked, "Has the lovely fairy no word for me that I +may take as a permission to return?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Hilda blushed. Why should the words 'lovely fairy' move her strangely +at this moment? She had heard them and laughed at them repeatedly in +the last hour, but now she could not laugh,--she was confused,--for the +tone of Delmar's voice was far more serious than before. She did not +reply directly, but asked in her turn, "Oh, Herr Delmar, what will you +think of us? I do not know what papa had in his mind, but I am sure he +did not mean to offend you. I beg you not to be angry with us!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How could I be angry? Your father was under some mistake with regard +to me. What puzzles me is how he should have known that my name is +Paul. Perhaps Colonel von Heydeck mentioned it in his letter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; he wrote only a few words to say that my cousin Leo had gone to +the Tyrol accompanied by a friend, whose name he did not mention, and +that in a few days he would arrive at Castle Reifenstein."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And yet your father knew my first name, Paul, although I only told him +of my family name."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot understand it!" Hilda said, dejectedly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A riddle indeed. But time will surely bring its solution, and of one +thing I am sure: that I have never given your father any reason to be +angry with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most certainly not; and I entreat you not to be vexed with papa for +his unkind reception; the next time you come he will be kinder."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I come again? Will you allow me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Assuredly; Cousin Leo will be delighted to see you often at the +castle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the lovely fairy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will never be an evil fairy for you. Adieu, and come soon."</p> + +<p class="normal">She nodded smiling, and hurried back to the castle much lighter of +heart than she had been a few minutes before.</p> + +<p class="normal">While Hilda was acting as guide to his friend, Leo had remained in the +castle garden with his uncle. The strange scene of which he had been a +witness had made a disagreeable impression upon him also. While it +lasted he had observed his uncle narrowly, the profound horror he had +testified at sight of Delmar, a horror increased by hearing his name, +and the effort it had cost him to regain his composure. At last the +morbid interest with which the old man watched Paul while he was +present, and with which he followed his retreating figure until it +disappeared behind the wall of the courtyard, vanished. For the first +time Herr von Heydeck seemed to breathe freely, although his mind was +apparently still occupied with Paul alone; he did not turn to welcome +the nephew who had come upon his pressing invitation to visit him from +distant Germany; he did not ask after the brother whom he had not seen +for thirty years; his first words were of Paul.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This Herr Paul Delmar is your friend?" he asked Leo, with a keen, +suspicious glance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dearest friend from my childhood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah? from your childhood? You have known him, then, a long while?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We were playmates and schoolfellows; we grew up together. He is a few +years older than I, but the slight difference in our ages never +interfered with our friendship."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again the old man shot a sharp glance of suspicion at his nephew; but +seeing that Leo met his gaze freely and frankly, he shyly averted his +eyes. Lost in thought, he walked silently by Leo's side, forgetting +that the duties of hospitality demanded that he should conduct his +nephew to the castle; he was lost to the present and buried in +recollection of a time long past. Tormenting memories which he had long +laboured to forget, but which would not be forgotten, arose within him +more distinctly and more tormentingly than ever: they filled his mind; +his nephew was forgotten.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo did not disturb his uncle's revery, and was very glad not to be +expected to converse. He watched keenly the varying expression in the +features of the old man, who was all unconscious that a scrutinizing +eye was endeavouring to read his very soul. He would else have put a +force upon himself; his hand would not have been clenched, nor would so +gloomy a frown have appeared upon his brow. And certainly he would have +controlled the angry twitching of the thin lips that gave so hateful an +expression to the wrinkled face.</p> + +<p class="normal">What was going on in this man's soul? Leo asked himself. He no longer +inclined, as he had hitherto, to excuse his uncle's faults, to think +more kindly of him than his knowledge of the past would warrant. +Although he could not divine the mystery that enveloped the old man's +reception of Paul, although he had no conception of what cause his +uncle had to hate Delmar, Leo nevertheless felt that he did hate him +with a fierce hatred that he strove in vain to conceal. The ugly face +was animated by an expression of such savage malice, that Leo could no +longer be in doubt as to the character of this his nearest relative. +The man had no heart; he could not love: he could only hate,--hate with +all his soul!</p> + +<p class="normal">But no; Leo was wrong! Suddenly there flitted over the sullen, wrinkled +face a smile like a ray of sunshine,--a gentle, loving smile that +transfigured it. Leo, startled by such a contradiction to his thoughts, +looked up to see what had caused such a transformation. The cause was +plain: Hilda was coming quickly towards them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, dearest papa," she called out from some distance, "why are you +and Leo still in the garden? I could not believe you were here when old +Melcher told me. Cousin Leo must be hungry and tired, and you keep him +walking in the garden!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Heydeck passed his hand across his forehead as if to smooth +away the ugly frown, and really he almost succeeded in doing so. He +could hardly look kind, but he looked far less sullen and angry, as he +said, in a tone meant to be amiable and gay, "Forgive me, Leo; the +child reminds me of my duty; I was wrong not to take you into the +castle to your room. I am a feeble old man and very forgetful. I have +so much sometimes to confuse me, you must not take it amiss if I have +sinned against hospitality; my Hilda will atone for my omissions."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Hilda did so; with graceful cordiality she conducted Leo into the +castle and to the rooms that had been prepared for himself and his +friend, her charming face lit up by a happy smile as she saw his +pleased surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo was indeed no less surprised than pleased at sight of the bright, +cheerful room they reached after traversing various rooms and a long +dark corridor, and of the glorious view, through open windows, of the +wooded Schwarzenbach valley and its magnificent background of glaciers.</p> + +<p class="normal">A careful, feminine hand had evidently been busy here in providing +every luxury that could make the expected guest comfortable. Leo was +most touched, however, at seeing a new easel set up by one of the +windows, and beside it, leaning against the wall, a couple of canvases +ready stretched.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, how kind!" he exclaimed. "A northern room with a glorious +view,--an easel and canvases all ready! I am indeed surprised. How +could you know of my love of painting, my dear Hilda?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know you better than you think, Leo," Hilda replied, gayly. "I have +long known that you were an artist, and I look forward with delight to +overlooking your work. I draw a little, and you must give me some +lessons; my father has told me all about you. Although he shuns all +personal contact with strangers, he is in constant correspondence with +the principal naturalists in all the larger European cities. He has +long made use of his extensive acquaintance among scientific men in +K---- to procure tidings of you and of Uncle Hans. In every letter he +sent there he asked about you both, and nothing pleased him so much as +to receive good news of his only brother and of his nephew. His friends +faithfully replied to him, and thus he has followed your career, even +all through the war; and when I came home from school to live here in +this lonely castle with him, he told me everything that he knew of his +dear relatives. Now you understand how I know that you are not only a +brave officer, but an excellent artist."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am no longer an officer, and I only wish I were an artist," Leo +rejoined.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are no longer an officer?" Hilda asked, in surprise. "We had not +heard of that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very naturally; I only sent in my resignation a few days ago. My +reasons for doing so I will shortly give to yourself and your father. I +hope he will find them sufficient."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hilda gave a little nod of assent. She had no doubt that his reasons +for resigning were good, and it never entered her head to imagine that +he had been forced into it by any fault of his own. Desirous as she +naturally was to know what had induced him to quit a career in which, +as her father had informed her, a brilliant future awaited him, her +sense of delicacy prevented her from all further question.</p> + +<p class="normal">Once more she cast a glance around the room to see that nothing was +wanting, and then took her leave, begging Leo to establish himself +thoroughly in his new home, and assuring him that his luggage would +arrive from Tausens in less than an hour, since she would instantly +despatch a messenger for it. After which, she added, she would await +him in the garden, where the table would be spread in the large +summer-house, and whither she begged he would come to partake of some +refreshment.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo was now left alone to occupy himself with a careful examination of +the apartment which was for some time to be his. Everywhere he observed +proofs of kindly loving care. By one window stood a writing-table, +provided with everything that he could require in that line. A +paint-box filled with water-colors and pencils and brushes of all sizes +lay open upon it, and two vases of mountain-flowers adorned a shelf in +the corner of the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">In a bookcase he found a fine collection of German authors, and the +preponderance of historical works showed that Hilda and his uncle had +been aware of his preference for the study of history.</p> + +<p class="normal">This regard for his peculiar inclinations, this evident desire to make +his stay in Castle Reifenstein pleasant to him, awakened in Leo a +feeling of remorse. He remembered how unwillingly he had complied with +his father's imperious desire that he should visit these relatives who +received him with such affection. How charming had been the kindly +familiarity of Hilda's manner to him! How evident her desire, by her +care for his comfort, that he should feel at home beneath her father's +roof!</p> + +<p class="normal">But this father! Leo had never met a human being who had impressed him +so disagreeably at first sight; and yet had not this very uncle given +convincing proof of his friendly interest in his nephew? Would Hilda +ever have been able so to minister to her cousin's tastes and +inclinations if her father had not first taken the trouble to ascertain +what those tastes and inclinations were? Leo reflected that, +disagreeably impressed though he were by his uncle's conduct, the +strange harshness of his first words had borne reference to Paul, and +not to his nephew. What cause the old man could have to hate Delmar Leo +could not guess, but it was none the less certain that, in the sudden +terror caused by Paul's appearance, he had given vent to his hatred in +those first few broken words. The coldness of his uncle's reception of +himself was due entirely to his hatred of Paul, and Leo had no right to +be aggrieved by it,--he had reason to be grateful to the old man for +the kindness shown in the provisions made for his comfort.</p> + +<p class="normal">True to the principle which forbade his yielding undue influence to +first impressions, Leo was no sooner convinced that he had no cause for +resentment towards his uncle than he exerted himself to conquer all +feeling of repulsion for the old man, or rather to transform any such +feeling into gratitude for the kindness shown him. Although he could +not comply with his wishes in regard to a union between Hilda and +himself, he could at least do his part towards establishing friendly +relations between his nearest of kin and himself, and pave the way for +his father to be reconciled to his only brother.</p> + +<p class="normal">Filled with this resolve as the result of his short season of +reflection, Leo went into the comfortable sleeping-room adjoining his +sitting-room to remove from his dress all traces of his dusty walk +among the Reifenstein rocks. After which he set out to join his cousin +and uncle in the garden, in compliance with Hilda's invitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">The way thither, however, after he had left his rooms, was not so easy +to find. He remembered passing through numerous apartments, decorated +partly in mediæval style and partly according to modern ideas, but how +many he had seen of these, or in what direction he had come after +reaching a large central room into which numerous doors opened, he +could not say. He trusted to his luck, however, and from this central +apartment, which he easily reached, he entered a small room, which he +thought he remembered. The beautiful old wainscoting on the walls had +struck his artistic eye, and he now paused to examine it more +leisurely. The work must have dated from the end of the fourteenth or +the beginning of the fifteenth century, and the carving had evidently +been executed by a master's hand. Around the wall, directly under the +ceiling, ran a long inscription cut into the wood-work. Leo tried to +decipher it, but it baffled him, and he determined to devote himself to +the task when he should be less hurried; at present he would not keep +his cousin waiting for him.</p> + +<p class="normal">He wandered through a long range of rooms. In each he found interesting +and extremely valuable relics of mediæval splendour, and many precious +works of art, upon each of which he would have gladly bestowed +attention had he had the time. One room in especial interested him +greatly: it was Herr von Heydeck's study; a large, gloomy apartment, +into which the narrow windows admitted so little light that a dim +twilight reigned in its remote corners although the sun outside was +shining brightly. Its rays could not penetrate the thick octagonal +panes of glass, set in leaden frames, which had apparently not been +cleaned for years and were hardly transparent any longer. All the walls +were covered with wide shelves filled partly with old books, partly +with boxes and bundles of papers, and partly with bottles; these +bottles, containing all sorts of snakes, lizards, and fish, preserved +in spirits, might well have inspired the uninitiated with disgust.</p> + +<p class="normal">Close by a window, in a deep embrasure of the wall, stood Herr von +Heydeck's writing-table. It was half covered with open books, +and a microscope placed just against the window and several +magnifying-glasses bore witness to the industry of their possessor.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo would have greatly enjoyed a thorough examination of the various +objects of interest that made this old room the very ideal of the +magician's den of an enchanted castle, but he preferred to do so in his +uncle's society, and at present what he most desired was to find the +way to the court-yard. He opened a door in this room, and discovered a +dark, steep winding staircase, which he descended, quite sure that it +would lead him into the open air; but when he reached the bottom he +found himself in a dim, deserted kitchen, only so far lighted by a +window high up in the wall as to enable him to distinguish where he +was. Opening an opposite door, he was disappointed to find, not another +room or hall of entrance from the court-yard, but a narrow, dim +passage, which evidently did not lead out to light and air. Probably +this was the way to the round tower of which the postmaster had had so +much to tell.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo's curiosity was now excited. He could not withstand the temptation +to go on and have a look at the haunted tower, especially as he found +that the passage was only a few feet long in the thickness of the old +wall, and that a door at the other end was secured only by a large +bolt. This bolt, although as rusty as such old bolts are sure to be, he +managed to slip quite easily, with a noise that sounded ghostly enough +in the dim, low passage, and the door opened without any difficulty, +but his hopes of finding any interesting mediæval relics here were +disappointed. He had entered a huge round room, evidently occupying the +entire basement of the tower, which must have served in former times +for the dwelling of the warder of the castle, although it had +apparently not been inhabited for many years. The room was lighted by +the old loop-holes, that had been glazed in modern times, and were high +up near the ceiling of the apartment.</p> + +<p class="normal">Several old pieces of furniture, a dilapidated table, and a child's +crib, in which there were still some dirty pieces of bedding, were +standing in disorder about the room. The thick coating of dust that lay +everywhere upon everything was evidence that for years no one had used +the apartment.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo made haste to leave so uninteresting a spot; he closed the door +behind him, producing, as he bolted it again, the same unearthly creak +that had startled the echoes a moment previously, and soon found +himself once more in the spacious deserted kitchen. Here he now +discovered a second door unbolted, by which he entered a large room +with windows opening upon the court-yard. The coarse furniture and +arrangement of this room bore evidence to Leo's mind that it was +probably the abode of the old servant of whom the postmaster had made +mention in his narrative. He would have passed through it to reach the +court-yard by the opposite door, when this was suddenly opened from +without, and an old man appeared upon the threshold with features +inflamed with rage. He shouted out several words in utterly +unintelligible German, and then threw himself upon the young man, +clutching his throat with both hands with a strength and ferocity which +could never have been looked for from his age and appearance. As he did +so he uttered a shriek of rage that sounded more like the howl of a +wild beast than any sound from human lungs.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a moment Leo was confused by so unexpected an attack. He recoiled +as the man rushed upon him with the evident intention of throttling +him; but in the next instant he freed himself from the griping fingers +at his throat, and threw off his assailant, exclaiming, "Take care! +What do you mean?" words which received no reply save the same +unmeaning howl and a second attack on the part of the old man. This +time however Leo was prepared, and he repulsed his assailant with such +vigour that he staggered backwards and fell on the floor.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nothing daunted however, the furious creature was on his feet in +an instant, and looking wildly about him, found what he sought,--a +broad-bladed knife that lay upon the window-ledge. This he seized, and +with another cry, rushed once more upon the young man.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a struggle for life. Hitherto Leo had only acted in +self-defence; he could no longer spare his assailant. He avoided his +savage thrust by stepping aside, and felled him to the floor with a +blow on the side of his head. He fell headlong and for a moment lost +his hold of the knife; it was but for a moment however: he had not lost +consciousness; and again he would have imperilled Leo's life, when, +"What is the matter here? Melcher, are you crazy?" was heard in a deep +voice, and Herr von Heydeck appeared at the open door. The old man's +hand, raised to strike, fell by his side, and the knife dropped from +his grasp.</p> + +<p class="normal">Left at liberty by his furious assailant, Leo could see what manner of +man he was. The vacant, animal expression of the old fellow's coarse +features placed it beyond all doubt that he had been attacked by a +maniac. Leo remembered now that when he heard the name 'Melcher' the +Tausens landlord had spoken of this son of old Stoffel's as a +'Troddel,' a name synonymous in the Tyrol with idiot.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yes, old Melcher was an idiot; the vacant face and the protruding, +watery blue eyes were idiotic; the sudden change in the countenance so +lately animated by bestial rage, and now smiling a dull, unmeaning +smile, was idiotic, and so also was the unintelligible, stammering +speech in which he replied to Herr von Heydeck.</p> + +<p class="normal">Was there any sense in what he said? Leo could not understand a single +word, but he saw Herr von Heydeck's face grow dark, and noticed that he +glanced anxiously towards the door of the old kitchen and then keenly +at his nephew.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was evident that his anger was roused by the old man's words; he +turned hastily to Leo with, "What are you prying about here for? Why +should you intrude here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not understand you, sir," Leo replied, haughtily. "What possible +motive could I have for 'prying'? Accident led me hither. I was seeking +some means of egress into the court-yard when this old maniac assaulted +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Accident? Melcher tells me he heard the bolt creak."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He did. I found a door in that deserted kitchen leading to the old +tower. Curiosity prompted me to penetrate its depths, as I would have +explored any other mediæval dungeon. I had no idea you could be angry +about it or I should not have done so."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Heydeck grew pale as he heard that Leo had penetrated to the +room in the tower. He paid no heed to his apology, the only thing that +interested him was the fact that Leo had seen this room. "And what did +you find there?" he asked in a trembling voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A wretched, uninteresting, deserted peasant-room, which you however +must know far better than I do, and I cannot conceive why my harmless +curiosity should have so vexed you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo's frank quiet explanation had its effect upon Herr von Heydeck; he +saw that he had been hasty with his nephew, and in a much more composed +manner "You are right," he said, "a wretched, uninteresting, deserted +peasant-room; Melcher used to sleep in that tower-room, but it was too +damp, and so it has not been used for years. There is nothing to see +there. There is indeed no reason for my being vexed, but I do not like +to have people ranging all over the castle, and I cannot see how you +came here, since your rooms are in the other wing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I lost my way in the labyrinth of rooms as I was looking for the +stairs leading to the court-yard, and I found myself in your study, +whence I thought to descend into the court-yard by the winding +staircase, which however brought me to the old kitchen. Thence I +penetrated to the tower-room."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see, I see. Any one not familiar with the castle will very likely +lose his way, but I advise you to be more careful in future. Melcher +will not suffer any man except myself in his quarters. He is an idiot, +but old as he is his muscles are iron; and if I had not chanced to come +into the courtyard to look after you, you might have had the worst of +it. It was fortunate that I came."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was indeed, for the old man and for myself, for I should have been +sorry to do him an injury, and yet I might have been forced into it. +How, sir, can you allow so dangerous a maniac to go at large in the +castle?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is not dangerous; he is a harmless idiot. There is no need to mind +him, except when he is irritated and falls into a rage. Take no notice +of him, and be careful to avoid this part of the castle, and he will +not molest you. Look here, Melcher; this gentleman is my nephew; he +will not come here again; you must let him alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">With a vacant smile Melcher nodded to his master, and picked up and +laid aside the knife, uttering, as he did so, some unmeaning sounds +which were entirely unintelligible to Leo, but which Herr von Heydeck, +acquainted with the Tyrolean patois, and used to the old man's +indistinct utterance, seemed to understand, for he replied to them, +"That's right, Melcher; only lock the door, and I will see you again by +and by."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then turning to Leo his uncle continued: "The old fellow is afraid you +will intrude upon him again. Be careful not to do it, for it would +throw him into a rage in which he would be quite capable of murder."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not afraid of him," Leo quietly replied; "but I shall certainly +not provoke him intentionally."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Promise me that you will never try to open that door into the tower +again," Herr von Heydeck said to his nephew as they passed out into the +court-yard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly; your wish is quite sufficient."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you. Then you will have nothing to fear from old Melcher. You +have had but a sorry reception in Castle Reifenstein, Leo, but I trust +you will forget it and yet feel yourself at home here. Now let us go +directly to Hilda, in the garden."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo followed his uncle through the court-yard to the shady +summer-house, where Hilda was awaiting them at the head of a +delicately-spread table. She reproached her cousin laughingly for +spending so long a time over his toilette,--her father had grown so +impatient that he had gone in search of him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo's excuses gave his uncle a pretext for inquiring more closely into +the manner in which he had gone astray, and while Hilda poured out his +coffee, Leo described minutely the way he had taken upon leaving his +room. It appeared that instead of taking the door opening upon the +staircase from the large centre apartment he had left it by one leading +to the wing in which Herr von Heydeck had his study. This simple +explanation entirely banished the mistrust which had been evident in +his uncle's manner. The old man saw clearly that it had been with no +desire to pry, but from accident, that Leo had penetrated into the +hidden recesses of the castle. The frown on his brow disappeared, and +he became genial and cordial.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hilda listened eagerly to her cousin's account of his error; and when +he told of reaching the deserted tower-room by the narrow passage from +the old kitchen, she was greatly amazed. She had never even heard of +such a room; she had been no farther than into Melcher's kitchen, and +had not gone even there since her return from school, for she could +perfectly remember, as a child, making the old servant very angry by +going once alone into his kitchen and looking about her. Why he should +be so jealous of the solitude of his kitchen, and why he should make +such a mystery of the tower-room, Hilda could not divine.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Heydeck showed uneasiness at the continuation of the +discussion with regard to Melcher and his tower-room, and he several +times tried to change the subject of conversation; but Hilda's +curiosity was excited, and she would recur to it. She was no less +surprised by Melcher's outburst of insane fury than by the existence +of the tower-room. She had always known the old servant as a +good-humoured, harmless old fellow, ready to fulfil her every wish, and +she asked so many questions about the attack he had made upon Leo, that +her father, after fruitless efforts to change the subject, at last lost +patience.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not tease Leo with any more questions, my dear," he said. "The +disagreeable scene is over; do not let us discuss it further."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I cannot imagine, papa, why Melcher, who never does harm to any +one, should attack Leo with such fury just because he found him in his +room."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should we try to imagine the motives that rule the actions of an +idiot?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, papa, you know very well that Melcher is no idiot. He knows +perfectly what to do and what not to do, and he certainly would not +guard this tower-chamber, of which I never heard before, so jealously +if he had not some reason for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps he hoards his savings there, and is afraid of being robbed; +perhaps he keeps some articles of special value to him hidden there. +Who can tell what fancies he may have in his feeble brain? If he is not +entirely idiotic, he is certainly not a responsible person: he has not +the usual amount of intellect. It would be impossible to conceive of +the workings of his small amount of mind. But indeed we have wasted too +much time upon him. I do not want to hear another word about him. We +have far other things to talk of with our Leo than of old Melcher, and +his deserted tower-chamber with which we certainly have nothing to do."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hilda could not gainsay so determined an expression of her father's +will; she questioned Leo no further upon the forbidden topic, but +listened attentively to the conversation which her father skilfully led +to the subject which interested him most at the moment. Leo had to give +an account of his life in K----, of his father the old colonel, and of +his friends.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a matter of course that Delmar's name occurred frequently in his +discourse.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was what Herr von Heydeck wanted. For good reasons he was very +anxious for exact intelligence concerning Paul's past life, +intelligence which he could procure nowhere so easily as from Paul's +most intimate friend, and to learn all possible particulars with regard +to Delmar he had given the conversation its present turn.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man now had his features under perfect control; his face +betrayed no emotion beyond a justifiable curiosity as he said, "Your +friend interests me; he is very like a man, now dead, with whom I had +relations at a most eventful period of my life. The memory of that time +always agitates me, and therefore the sudden appearance of the young +man was such a shock that I lost my self-control and transgressed the +duties of hospitality. I should like to know whether the resemblance +that so struck me is accidental, or whether your friend is really +distantly connected with my old acquaintance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Delmar has no relatives; he is alone in the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But he certainly must once have had relatives. Where was he born and +educated? What are his circumstances? You would oblige me very much if +you would tell me all you know of him, for, as I said, I am greatly +interested in him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Should Leo comply with this direct request? He called to mind the +expression of intense hatred and of horror with which his uncle had +regarded Paul. The quiet manner in which the old man now questioned him +with regard to his friend's past did not impose upon him; he divined +that the information he asked for had a deeper interest for his uncle +than that excited by a chance resemblance, and yet he saw no reasons +for concealing what he knew about Paul. Therefore he made up his mind +to accede to his uncle's desire. He told all that he knew of his +friend, and as he did so he involuntarily warmed with his topic; his +love for Paul, and the esteem in which he held him, lent glowing +colours to the picture that he drew. He observed with pleasure that not +only did his uncle listen to him with interest, but that Hilda's eyes +sparkled as she leaned forward in eager attention.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo had known Delmar from childhood; they had gone to the same school, +and as they were near neighbours at home, they had grown to be +inseparable playfellows, and afterwards loyal friends.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul's father had not been a wealthy man in the old schooldays. He had +come to K---- with his only son to invest a small capital in some +business. He lived only for this business, which he established and +conducted with great success. He was so engrossed by it that he had not +much time or attention to bestow upon little Paul, whose mother had +died a few hours after the birth of her child.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus the boy, who was full of talent, grew up in his father's house +over which an old housekeeper presided, left entirely to himself, and +his heart would have been fairly starved had he not found in Leo a +faithful friend upon whom he could lavish the tenderest affection.</p> + +<p class="normal">During his school-life, however, a great change took place in his +circumstances. His father embarked in daring speculations, and they +were successful. Herr Delmar grew rich; the small business he had +founded became the greatest banking establishment in K----. The +merchant's time was more than ever absorbed by the cares of business in +his unceasing efforts to accumulate wealth; he saw his son only at +meal-times.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Paul passed through his college examinations he devoted himself to +the study of history and philosophy. He had pursued these with ardour +for about a year, when his course of life suddenly changed. The young +student had noticed for some time that his father's manner had been +absent, and his air grave and even depressed; the reason of this was +explained to him in a conversation he held with the head book-keeper of +the banking-house. It appeared that Herr Delmar, with unequalled +daring, had, in the hope of doubling his wealth, embarked in a giant +speculation, involving not only his every penny, but also all the +credit that he possessed. If it was unsuccessful complete ruin was +unavoidable, and at present affairs looked gloomy. The money market was +uncertain; the credit of the house was shaken. Herr Delmar was +anxiously awaiting what the future might bring forth.</p> + +<p class="normal">One day, as the banker was sitting, silent as usual, opposite his son +at the dinner-table, letters were brought to him so unfavourable in +their contents that he broke the silence to say to his son, with a +glance of irritation, "If you had turned your attention to business +instead of studying philosophy and such stuff, you might now have been +of some service to me!" He made no further remark, but arose from +table, leaving his untouched dinner, and shut himself up in his office.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next morning when the office opened, Paul was standing behind a +desk,--he had applied himself to his father's business, and he then +received from Herr Delmar the first look and smile of affection that he +could remember in his life.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man was endowed with so keen an intellect, so excellent a +memory, and such power of ready comprehension, that he soon mastered +the difficulties of a commercial career. Under the skilful tuition of +the head book-keeper he soon became an admirable business man, and +when, a few weeks later, his father, oppressed with care, was stricken +down by illness, he was perfectly capable of conducting his affairs, +with the assistance of the faithful book-keeper.</p> + +<p class="normal">This time of trial developed all the strength and intellectual vigour +of Paul's character. Under his prudent but brilliant direction the +great banking-house passed successfully through the dangerous crisis. +As bold, but not as venturous, as his father, he avoided all too daring +speculations: he established the business upon a firm basis; and when +Herr Delmar, though only half convalescent, was driven by anxiety to +leave his bed for his office, he found, to his astonishment, that all +peril was past. The great banking-house had emerged from the crisis +with greater wealth and firmer credit than ever.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Herr Delmar had left his bed too soon. A relapse was the +consequence: recovery was impossible; although too feeble to take any +part in the conduct of his affairs, he lived on confined to his couch +for three years longer. At the end of this time, in the midst of a +night of intense suffering, he felt that his last hour was at hand. He +had Paul awakened and summoned to his bedside. He was in entire +possession of his faculties; his long illness had been powerless to +weaken his vigorous intellect and the conviction that he was dying +never for a moment disturbed the repose of his mind.</p> + +<p class="normal">He smiled affectionately at Paul when he entered the room, and replied +to his inquiries by a cordial pressure of the hand. "I sent for you," +he said, in a failing voice, "because I know I shall not live until +morning. I want to thank you for the filial affection you have always +shown me. To you I owe all that I possess; through you I have been +enabled to establish my house; your unselfish devotion preserved my +wealth for me when my previous good fortune threatened to leave me. +Your care and prudence have tripled my property during these years of +sickness when I have been unable to attend to business, and it is no +more than just and right that you should be the only heir to the +fortune you have so contributed to make. There is no one in the world +with any just claim upon my estate. While I was poor my distant +relatives took no notice of me, and since I have grown rich I have +treated them in the same manner. You alone therefore, my dear Paul, +will inherit my property, and with my lawyer's help, I have made a will +to confirm you in the possession of your inheritance if any +unjustifiable claims should be made upon my estate.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see that you do not comprehend why a will should be necessary when, +as my only son, you are legally my only heir. I could explain this to +you, but I beg you not to require me to do so. You have always honoured +and loved me as a father should be honoured and loved by a son. I thank +you for it from my very soul, and my last wish is that you should +retain the same affection for my memory."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul would indeed have liked some explanation of his father's strange +words, but he did not venture to ask for them, and a few more words of +gratitude for this forbearance were the last uttered by the dying man. +He soon after fell asleep with a smile upon his pale lips, and did not +wake again.</p> + +<p class="normal">The day after his father's death Paul received a visit from one of the +best-known lawyers in K----, who came to read to him the will which he +had drawn up a year before at Herr Delmar's desire. To Paul's +disappointment it contained no explanation of his father's last words, +but on the contrary surprised all who were present at the opening. In +the introduction to the will Herr Delmar stated that Paul had always +performed all the duties of a son with the greatest self-forgetfulness; +that the maintenance and increase of his business were owing to the +young man's skill and devotion; and that therefore, and not because he +was his son, the testator declared him his sole heir. At the close of +the will Herr Delmar expressly mentioned that he left behind him no +relatives legally entitled to any portion of his estate or who could +have the slightest claim upon Paul.</p> + +<p class="normal">The singular wording of the testament caused considerable talk in legal +circles in K----, and the lawyer who had drawn it up was of course +applied to by many people, and indeed by Paul himself, for an +explanation, but he assured every one that he knew nothing; he had +strictly followed Herr Delmar's instructions in drawing up the will, +the wording of which was the testator's own.</p> + +<p class="normal">Why Herr Delmar should have taken such pains to secure his property to +a son who was legally his heir remained a mystery, since no one +appeared to put forward any claim to the young man's inheritance.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus Paul entered into undisputed possession of his father's immense +wealth. There was no longer any reason for his continuing to carry on a +business, in which he had never had the least interest, merely to +accumulate money. To the surprise of every one on 'Change, he disposed +of the entire business to a stock company at a very reasonable price, +and invested his capital in safe government securities, in bonds, +mortgages, and real estate. This done, he devoted all his energies to +scientific research.</p> + +<p class="normal">He lived in K---- the life of a man of wealth. He filled his +magnificent villa with the finest paintings and statuary, and spent +enormous sums upon his library. The greater part of his income, +however, was expended in satisfying what he called his egotism,--his +love of self,--which prompted him to purchase whenever he could the +pleasure of assisting the poor in the quietest manner possible.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And as an egotist to whom no sacrifice seems great in the interest of +a friend,--whose aid is always ready whenever aid is necessary,--Paul +Delmar lives in K----, where every one who knows him loves and respects +him. I am proud that he honours me with his friendship." Thus Leo +concluded his account of his friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Heydeck had listened to every word, and when his nephew had +finished he nodded in approval; his face wore a very different +expression from that which had animated it while he was questioning Leo +with regard to Paul. He even smiled quite gayly. "Your friend seems to +be an admirable fellow," he said. "I am very glad, doubly so, for I +think I have some reason for special interest in him. I will tell you +about it hereafter. Very rich you say he is,--a millionaire, eh?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know the amount of his wealth; he never speaks of it, and +seems to value it but little. In K---- he is said to be worth four +million thalers at least. He is the wealthiest man there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Four millions!" exclaimed Herr von Heydeck. "That is enormous! I had +no idea of it! Four millions! Then he certainly does not need any more. +He would not care for a few hundred thousand guilders, and therefore +will not----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Heydeck suddenly paused and cast a timid glance at Leo, who +looked inquiringly at him expecting the end of his remark. The old man +did not finish it, but arose and, half turning away, said without +meeting Leo's eyes, "But what nonsense I am talking! What is this Paul +Delmar to me? He is your friend, and as such shall be a welcome guest +at the castle; but don't ask me to interest myself about him. I am an +old man, often ill, and unaccustomed to social intercourse. My head +aches if I converse for any length of time, and then I grow very +confused. That is why I receive no visitors. My head aches to-day. You +must forgive me if I retire to my room. To-morrow we will talk more +together; to-day I must leave you to Hilda. Good-evening."</p> + +<p class="normal">He waited for no reply, but nodded to Leo without looking at him, and +left the summer-house. Passing quickly through the garden, he was soon +lost to sight among the shrubbery.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">When Hilda left him, Paul Delmar walked on quickly down the mountain. +The pathway was charming and well worthy of more attention than Delmar +bestowed upon it. It passed by turns through groups of tall larches, +and then through low shrubbery, where there were continual glimpses of +the lovely valley, with the shining snow-peaks in the distance. But +sensitive as Paul was to the charms of mountain-scenery, just now his +mind was too much occupied with his late reception at Castle +Reifenstein to allow of his enjoying this walk down the mountain as he +would have done at another time.</p> + +<p class="normal">And yet what most occupied his thoughts was not what one might have +supposed would have made the deepest impression upon him,--the strange +and unjustifiable dislike shown him by Herr von Heydeck,--no, the +farewell words of his charming guide were what he dwelt upon,--"At +least I will not be an evil fairy to you. Good-bye, and come soon +again."</p> + +<p class="normal">How lovely Hilda had looked as she said those words! They were not a +merely conventional phrase: they were sincere. Of course he must do her +bidding; he should indeed have to repeat his visit to the castle on +Leo's account. Only on Leo's account?</p> + +<p class="normal">He suddenly experienced a sensation almost of pain. Leo had, it is +true, come to the Tyrol only in compliance with his father's desire, +and firmly resolved never to further his uncle's scheme. But could he +remain faithful to this resolve after he had seen Hilda, the 'Fair one +with the golden locks'? Surely her grace and loveliness must conquer +the distaste Leo had for the union desired by his uncle; he never could +withstand such charms.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul sighed profoundly as he reflected thus. "He is a lucky +fellow,--Leo!" he said to himself. "Happiness drops into his grasp +without any effort on his part. He needs no help from me. He must soon +see that the union he would have avoided will be his greatest blessing. +What have I to do at the castle? It is better that I should escape from +the enchanted ground before I am too surely entangled in the spells of +the enchantress! It would be base in me to place a pebble in Leo's path +towards happiness,--I, who came to serve him if I could. Happy Leo!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He sighed again. He was sorry, near as he was to Castle Reifenstein, +not to be able to avail himself of the invitation of the charming fairy +of the place, but loyalty to Leo forbade his seeing Hilda again.</p> + +<p class="normal">Still, would she not have just cause for offence if he took no notice +of her kind invitation? Oh, she would soon forget the stranger, who was +to her only her cousin's friend. And he would try to forget her, +although he doubted his power to succeed in the attempt.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul was so deep in reflections of this kind that he hardly thought of +where he was going, and was greatly surprised at a turning in the path +to see before him the grassy opening where he had left Herwarth. At the +same moment he was hailed by Kuno, who had thought him long in +returning.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here you are at last!" he exclaimed. "I was afraid you had lost your +way among the mountains."</p> + +<p class="normal">His call aroused Paul completely from his revery, and he was instantly +himself again. Herwarth must not guess at the gloomy nature of his +thoughts, and he replied,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are a model of wisdom, noble knight, and a true prophet, who must +of course be without honour in his own country. We did lose our way up +there among the rocks, where we should have been at this moment if a +golden-haired angel had not descended and borne us aloft to Paradise, +where I left our Leo, while I returned to this sordid earth to succour +a wounded knight. How are you? Is your foot better?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You did get to the castle then? And you have seen Leo's lovely cousin? +Tell me about it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All in due order; you shall hear everything, and the account shall be +as full and detailed as you desire, but you must wait for it until we +are back at the inn. First answer me, as a docile patient should, how +is your foot?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Better; it does not pain me now. I think I shall be able to walk very +well after my rest."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herwarth arose, but his first attempt to walk renewed his pain. "It is +worse than I thought," he said. "I must beg you for your arm to help me +even on the short way back to the inn."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall I not get some of the people from the village with a litter?" +Delmar asked anxiously. "The injury seems graver than we suspected. I +am afraid your ankle is broken."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, it is not; I am sure of that. I shall certainly not be carried +through the village on a litter like a dying warrior because of a +slight sprain or bruise. If you will give me your arm I will hobble +back to the inn without more delay."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you please. His own way is a man's kingdom of heaven; and if you +choose to hobble through Tausens, you shall do it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Propped upon Delmar's arm, Herwarth contrived, although with great pain +and frequent pauses for rest, to walk back to the inn. Just before +reaching it he paused once more, not however to rest this time, but in +astonishment. "I must be dreaming!" he exclaimed. "Look up, Delmar, at +the fourth window of our inn. Is it possible? Fräulein Aline von +Schlicht, and Fräulein Schommer."</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar, whose eyes had been fixed upon the road, in his desire to help +his companion, looked up, and laughed aloud when he recognized the two +young girls. "Fräulein Eva, sure enough!" he said. "What a charming +meeting we shall have! 'Tis a pity that Leo did not take up his +quarters down here with us; he would take such a childlike delight in +the happy chance that has brought the fair Eva to Tausens. The presence +of my friend Bertram is all that is wanting to make the party quite +perfect."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not wanting: there the scoundrel goes!" Herwarth cried eagerly; +and he was right. Delmar recognized Bertram in the distance walking +along the road, his head bent as if lost in thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">"True! there goes the worthy soul!" Delmar said, laughing. "What say +you, Kuno? shall I bestow a few more attentions upon him for the sake +of his fair betrothed? The fellow ought to be punished for his +insolence in crossing our path again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let him alone, Delmar. Why provoke gossip? He probably does not cross +our path intentionally."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As I have before had occasion to remark, you are a model of wisdom, +noble knight. You are right; we will let the rogue alone. Let us leave +him to all the joys of his betrothal,--to the lovely Eva. It is an +admirable match. Lean more heavily on my arm, Herwarth. It is time you +were on the sofa. Come!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Kuno summoned up all his resolution to endure the violent pain in his +foot that he might not seem a weakling in the eyes of the ladies, who +were regarding him with great compassion. He could not bear his weight +upon it, however, and even with Delmar's assistance he had great +difficulty in gaining the house, where he took what consolation he +could from Aline's pitying smile as she returned his salutation.</p> + +<p class="normal">More carried than led by Delmar, he reached the apartment Paul had +engaged for their sitting-room, and sank exhausted upon the sofa. +Delmar did all that he could to make him comfortable, relieving the +foot of its boot and swathing the ankle in wet bandages, after which he +declared his intention of going in search of medical aid. "If the +postmaster's tale be true," said he, "the physician here, Dr. Putzer, +although a thorough-paced vagabond, is a man of skill and experience. I +am going to find him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What trouble you take for me, Paul! How shall I thank you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Paul had already left the room. In the hall he met the postmaster, +who showed him the way to the doctor's house. At the inner door he +encountered Bertram just returning from his walk, and saluted him after +his usual mocking fashion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rejoiced to see you, Herr von Bertram. The tender regard which has +prompted you to follow me thus touches me and deserves recognition. I +trust your charming betrothed is well. What refreshment I shall have in +the contemplation of your new-born bliss! It will be a lesson in the +noble art of love."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram replied to this sneer by a furious glance, but he suppressed +his rage and only asked humbly, "May I ask for a few moments of +conversation in private with you, Herr Delmar?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What can we possibly have to discuss in private, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg you to listen to me for a few minutes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your modesty shall receive its reward. You may accompany me in a short +walk I am obliged to take through the village, and on the way you can +tell me what you have to say. I have no more time for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">With these words Paul left the inn, leaving Bertram to follow him, and +rightly suspecting what the ex-lieutenant (he had been forced to leave +his regiment) had to say.</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram walked at his side for some time without speaking. He had been +debating with himself for the last hour as to how he should approach +his detested enemy, how induce him to be silent. He had prepared +himself for this interview with the greatest care, and yet, now that he +found himself confronted with Delmar's mocking smile, he forgot all the +fine phrases he had made ready, and did not know how to begin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well?" Delmar asked, when the two men had walked for some distance +without one word from Bertram. "You are silent? If you have anything to +say to me, I advise you to do so quickly, or you may lose the +opportunity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not detain you long, Herr Delmar," Bertram humbly replied. +"Have patience for a few minutes. As unhappy chance will have it we +meet thus unexpectedly in this retired spot."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Chance! and you call it unhappy? Then it was not a desire for my +amiable society which attracted you hither? Herr von Bertram, it wounds +me to be thus undeceived."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You sneer, Herr Delmar, and I cannot answer you, for I am powerless +against you. Is it honourable thus to triumph over the defenceless?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; you are right, and I take shame to myself that I have deserved the +reproof. Tell me briefly and without circumlocution what you desire of +me, and you shall be safe from my contempt for the next few minutes, +but take care not to cross my path again; my promise holds good only +for this interview. What do you want? Answer me at once and to the +point."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wish to implore you not to let my betrothed know of the means by +which you forced me to make the declaration to Herr Leo von Heydeck +which drove me from the army. Have compassion upon me, Herr Delmar!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you deserve compassion?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I sinned my punishment has been great. I never injured you, and yet +you have been the one to give the deathblow to my honour. Do you wish +to rob me of my last hope in life? You have terribly avenged the insult +to your friend. I cannot resent your doing so, but I implore you not to +drive me to despair. Do not take from me the last thing left to me in +life,--the love of my betrothed!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be honest, Herr von Bertram. If you really wish me to spare you, +answer me frankly. Is it really the love of the fair Eva which you +prize so highly? Is it not her millions which are so dear to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I give you my word of honour, Herr Delmar----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let your honour alone if you wish me to believe you. I want a frank +answer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I assure you that I love my betrothed from the depths of my soul. It +is this love that drove me to the course that ruined me. I hoped by a +duel with Herr von Heydeck to win Fräulein Schommer's gratitude and +affection."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You knew that Leo was principled against duelling."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was convinced that he would prove false to his principles. You may +judge of the sincerity of my love for Eva by my submission to her +wishes. Without your intervention I should have offered an apology to +Herr von Heydeck, the same in substance with the one you insisted upon, +although couched in language less humiliating to me. Fräulein Schommer +required this of me when she consented to our betrothal."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Really? That then was no empty subterfuge of yours. Fräulein Schommer +required that you should make an apology?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She did. Only upon this condition would she yield an assent to my +suit."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Strange! I had not credited the young lady with such delicacy of +feeling. This information so exalts her in my opinion that I doubt +whether I have a right to conceal from her what manner of man he is to +whom she has entrusted her future happiness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will not use my frankness against me? You will not ruin me +because, in accordance with your wish, I have told you the entire +truth? You could not take so mean an advantage of me, Herr Delmar? On +that terrible day you gave me hopes that you would spare me if I +complied with your demand. I did comply, to the annihilation of my +future career. Will you take the last thing that I possess from me, +when you promised to spare me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I expressly told you that I would promise you nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you justified me in hoping."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I dispute; nevertheless, I will consider the matter. I have made +you no promises, and I will make you none. For the present I see no +reason for pointing out to Fräulein Eva the worthlessness or the +excellence of the man upon whom she has bestowed her fair hand; if time +should develop any reason for my doing so, I shall act as I see fit. +And now, no more of this. We have reached the house I came to seek, and +I have no desire to prolong this interview. One more question. Are you +going to stay any length of time at Tausens?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know; Fräulein Schommer seems to think of doing so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does Fräulein Schommer know that Herr von Heydeck is staying here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; and for that very reason she has determined to remain. She does +not wish to appear to avoid Herr von Heydeck."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She shows pluck, upon my word! Then we can hardly avoid seeing and +speaking with each other occasionally; but I would advise you, Herr von +Bertram, to spare me such annoyance as far as you can. The seldomer we +meet the better it will be for you." And not waiting for a reply, +Delmar, having reached Dr. Putzer's house, left Bertram without another +word. Then, opening a gate in the low iron railing, he entered a front +garden, at the end of which was an arbour, where sat a lady and +gentleman.</p> + +<p class="normal">Dr. Putzer's house, the style of which was more pretentious than that +of most of the houses in the village, lay at quite a distance from the +road, from which it was separated by a large, carefully-cultivated +garden, that, with its tasteful flower-beds and various rare plants +certainly not to be found in any other of the village gardens, was +worthy of more attention than Delmar now bestowed upon it. Without a +glance at the fragrant and beautiful shrubs on either side of his path, +he walked directly along the white-pebbled way leading to the arbour, +where, as he suspected, the doctor was.</p> + +<p class="normal">His approach was unnoticed. The lady sitting in the arbour was busy +with some embroidery,--so busy that she did not look up; the gentleman +was leaning back in one arm-chair with his feet resting upon another, +comfortably resigning himself to the enjoyment of a cigar. He sat, or +rather he reclined, with his back towards the approach from the garden.</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar paused at the entrance of the arbour; although he had taken no +pains to tread softly, neither the lady nor the gentleman had heard his +step. If he had ever cared to imagine what this couple were like, the +reality would have accorded well with the fancied presentment.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor's wife was still an imposing woman; indeed, her +well-preserved features would have been beautiful if they had not been +disfigured by her girlish cap with pink ribbons, and quantities of +pearl-powder and rouge. The old woman's efforts to look young destroyed +the charm that her regular features might else have possessed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her youthful dress, fluttering all over with ribbons and fringes and +lace, bore testimony to a craving for admiration, all the more +ridiculous because, in the retired village where she lived, there was +not probably a man, woman, or child who was not perfectly aware that +she had long passed fifty.</p> + +<p class="normal">In striking contrast to the extreme elegance of his wife's appearance +Dr. Putzer's dress displayed no care whatever. The white summer coat +that covered his broad shoulders was rumpled and dirty; two buttons +were gone from the front, and it hung loosely about his huge figure. +His still abundant coarse sandy hair was in wild disorder, and the +spectator was led to suspect that the doctor did not often come in +contact with soap and water.</p> + +<p class="normal">Dr. Putzer was not handsome, although one could see that he might once +have been a personable man. His fat, flabby face had the purple hue of +an habitual drinker; his light-gray eyes were dull and watery, and his +figure, which must formerly have been good, was marred by corpulence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul took in this worthy couple at a glance; he did not need to scan +them long to come to a conclusion with regard to them. Their +distinguishing characteristics were patent to view,--the ridiculous +vanity of the woman and the man's indolence and love of eating and +drinking.</p> + +<p class="normal">For one moment Paul hesitated. Could he confide his friend to this +drunkard's surgical skill? On the table beside the man was a half-empty +bottle of wine; he had evidently been partaking freely. But Delmar +called to mind that the postmaster, in his story, had laid great +emphasis upon the fact that the doctor, in spite of his dissipation and +general worthlessness, was a skilful physician,--the best in all the +country round,--and this reflection confirmed his resolve. "Have I the +pleasure of seeing Herr Doctor Putzer?" he asked courteously, lifting +his hat.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor's wife looked up at this unexpected address, and at sight of +Paul uttered a slight scream of surprise; the embroidery dropped from +her hand, and she stared at the stranger with wide-open eyes. If her +cheeks had not been plastered with white and red paint, Paul, who +noticed her startled look, would have seen her become ghastly pale.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor, too, seemed strangely startled by Paul's appearance. Upon +first hearing himself addressed he turned his head heavily and +clumsily, but with one glance at his visitor he started to his feet +with a celerity that was almost comical in so corpulent a personage. He +ran his hands through his dishevelled bushy hair, and his little gray +eyes were riveted upon Paul's face. "Holy Apostles!" he cried, in +terror. "Who are you, sir? What do you want of me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here was another strange reception, precisely similar to that accorded +to Delmar by old Herr von Heydeck. Was Tausens then so secluded from +the world that the appearance of an ordinary stranger brought with it +terror and dismay? Just as the doctor and his wife were now doing had +Herr von Heydeck stared Paul in the face.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul could conceive no reason for the extraordinary manner in which he +was received in Tausens: he would have liked to make some inquiries +with regard to it; but all that he wanted at present was to procure +medical aid for Kuno as quickly as possible, and he therefore answered, +"My name, which can possess but little interest for you, is Delmar. I +come to request your services for a friend who has injured his foot +among the mountains; will you have the kindness to return with me to +the inn, where he is in great need of your skill?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Delmar?" the doctor muttered, seeming to heed nothing but the name in +the young man's reply. "Your name is Delmar, then,--not Menotti?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar gazed at him in surprise; what made the man think of this name +of Menotti? Paul remembered to have heard it, but he could not recall +at the moment when or where; he only knew that he had heard the name +lately of a Count Menotti, if he were not mistaken.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why do you mention the name of Menotti?" he asked, curiously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then it is not your name?" the doctor repeated, without answering.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; as I told you, my name is Delmar,--Paul Delmar."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Strange! The resemblance is most striking. But what am I thinking of? +Young Count Menotti cannot be more than twenty years of age, and the +younger brother is a cripple. But the resemblance! Rosy, what do you +say to it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor's wife said nothing, she only nodded her head, never turning +her eyes away from Delmar. She scanned his features with eager +scrutiny, as if to stamp them upon her memory.</p> + +<p class="normal">For Paul the whole scene was extremely annoying, he especially disliked +being stared at by this odious woman; he did not like charades, and to +find himself a principal actor in one was very disagreeable. He asked +rather sharply, "Who is this Count Menotti whom I so strangely +resemble?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A very distinguished nobleman," the doctor replied, continuing to +regard Delmar with curiosity, although he had regained his indolent +calm of manner, out of which it needed some special occurrence to +startle him. "You need not be ashamed of the resemblance, Herr Delmar, +Count Menotti was a very handsome man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was a handsome man? Is he no longer living, then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He died a few years ago. 'Tis strange that you have never heard of +him. Your resemblance to him is so great that I could have sworn you +were akin to him. No son could look more like a father. And you know +nothing of him,--you never heard of him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think I have heard the name, although I cannot now remember when or +where. But let us drop this resemblance at present, Herr Doctor; at +some future time I hope you will tell me more of Count Menotti. I shall +be some weeks here in Tausens, and shall have abundant opportunity of +conversing with you about this Count whom I so greatly resemble. At +present let me beg you to come to the inn with me as quickly as +possible to the assistance of my friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excuse me; in my astonishment at sight of you I forgot. Injured his +foot, you say? Pray tell me as briefly as possible how it occurred."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul told, and the doctor listened attentively, now and then +interrupting him with an intelligent question. He then declared himself +ready to accompany Paul immediately to the inn, only asking him to wait +until he should fetch some bandages from the house, whither he repaired +with more briskness than could have been expected of his ungainly form.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul was left alone with the doctor's wife. He tried to converse with +the lady, but in vain; he received such curt replies to his few general +remarks as made it plain that she did not mean to be drawn into +conversation with the stranger, although she continued to regard him +with the same wearisome curiosity. Therefore Delmar was more than +content when the doctor's clumsy tread was heard approaching from the +house. He had hurriedly made a kind of toilette, and the dirty linen +coat was replaced by one of cloth, rather more respectable in +appearance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here I am, at your service, Herr Delmar," he said. "I am ready to +accompany you, but I must beg you to walk slowly as my size forbids +speed."</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar took leave of the lady with a courteous inclination, which she +did not return, and then walked beside the doctor down the pebbled path +to the road. At the gate he turned and saw that Frau Putzer had arisen +from her seat and was standing at the entrance of the arbour, still +watching him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul was annoyed by so disagreeable a degree of attention, and walked +on in silence, while the doctor also seemed to feel no inclination for +conversation; and thus they reached the inn with the exchange of but +very few words upon the way.</p> + +<p class="normal">They found Kuno sitting at the open window, awaiting them impatiently. +He arose to greet the doctor, but violent pain in his foot made him +wince as he did so. The doctor saw this, and immediately took charge +most intelligently of the case. "The pain is severe," he said. "Let us +see what is the matter. The bone is not broken; that I could see as you +arose. Lean upon me as heavily as you please, my shoulders are broad, +and I will lead you to the sofa, where we will make a thorough +examination."</p> + +<p class="normal">He spoke with calm and kindly decision. As a physician he perfectly +understood how to inspire confidence in his skill and experience. Kuno, +although he had been prejudiced against the man by what he had heard of +him from the postmaster, could not but yield to the influence exerted +by him upon all his patients. He did just as he was bidden, and a +thorough examination of the foot was made.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, doctor, what is it? Is there any serious injury?" Delmar asked +anxiously, when the doctor had at last finished his investigations.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I can reassure you; it is only a sprain. If Herr von Herwarth is a +docile patient all will be right in a couple of weeks; if not, I cannot +say when the foot will be well again. For two weeks you must not use +the foot at all. You ought to lie in bed. But this would I suppose be +asking too much, and I will allow you to recline on the sofa, begging +you upon no account to touch the injured foot to the floor. If you will +follow my directions, I will promise that you shall walk again in two +weeks, and that after a month you will hardly remember the injury."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Am I not to walk for two weeks?" Kuno asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not for two weeks. I will not assume any responsibility in the matter +unless my orders are strictly obeyed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They shall be obeyed. I will answer for it," Delmar interposed. To his +own surprise, he found himself agreeably impressed by the doctor's +manner. "A patient is not an individual, but a case; he should have no +will of his own. I will take care of him. I shall see life from a new +point of view. I will enact my part of nurse well. It will be a fresh +sensation in this everlasting monotony. Do not be anxious about this +amiable young fellow, doctor. He shall obey orders, put on bandages, +hobble or sit still, just as you command."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellent! Then I will answer for the result," the doctor said. "I see +that my patient is in good hands. I may leave him. To-morrow afternoon +I will come again and bandage the ankle. Until then, farewell!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Dr. Putzer yawned and stretched his huge limbs as he left Herwarth's +room and the door was closed behind him. In a sick-room and in +intercourse with strangers he was a different man from the Dr. Putzer +of private life. Towards a patient and with those whose rank in life +was superior to his own and with whom he had not yet become familiar, +he displayed a gentle courtesy which was entirely foreign to his usual +manner, and which was quite attractive. Whenever he pleased he could +thus assume the air and bearing of a man of refinement and culture; but +as soon as he was left to himself, or to his daily associates, he threw +off all such self-restraint and took no pains to conceal his innate +coarseness of nature.</p> + +<p class="normal">He descended the stairs, which creaked beneath his heavy tread, and +opening the door of the parlour, called, in thundering tones, "Nannerl! +Where the deuce is the lazy hussy! A half-measure of red!" he added, as +the maid came hurrying from the kitchen. "And send the landlord here. I +have something to say to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he finished he pinched the girl's red cheek with an ugly leer +and laughed coarsely as she recoiled from his familiarity. Then +turning into the parlour he settled himself comfortably in his usual +position,--leaning back in one of the large strong chairs, with his +feet on another of them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nannerl soon appeared with the wine, which she placed upon the table, +carefully avoiding, as she did so, any contact with the man whose +coarse familiarity she dreaded.</p> + +<p class="normal">While she was thus setting out the wine Hansel entered the room, and +observing her annoyance, said angrily, "Let Nannerl alone, Herr Doctor; +your old head ought to teach you better than to tease a poor girl."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor was not at all offended by the rough rebuke, but with a +laugh, offered a glass of wine to the postmaster. "That's right. +Hansel," he said. "Keep strict watch over your maid's virtue. Take a +sip to cool your anger, and then we'll have a gossip. Fine doings here. +Hansel! Two four-horse carriages have not been seen together for many a +year in Tausens; and a couple of strangers into the bargain. I have +just left one of them, who has sprained his ankle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know it. Herr Delmar asked me where you lived."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Exactly; Herr Delmar came for me. Do you know Herr Delmar? where he +comes from? who he is?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I don't, but I know his face, although I can't remember where I +have seen it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you remember Count Menotti, Hansel?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Scarcely had the doctor uttered this name when Hansel struck the table +with his fist and exclaimed, "That's the man! The Count Menotti! Yes, +yes; just so he looked with his black eyes and yellow face! Now I see! +He may call himself Delmar if he will; he's a Count Menotti for all +that. That's why he wanted me to tell him all those old stories,--about +Herr von Heydeck, and his first wife, and Count Menotti, and the child +that died of smallpox."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor suddenly started from his reclining posture and frowned +furiously at the postmaster. "And you told him all that, you cursed old +blab!" he exclaimed angrily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's no secret. Herr Delmar may as well know what everybody else +knows," Hansel replied stoutly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor's wrath was not at all appeased, but he made an effort to +control any further expression of it, and rejoined, "True, Hansel, it +is no secret, but where's the use of raking up such old forgotten +tales? Well, it can't be helped,--only I should really like to know +what you did tell him."</p> + +<p class="normal">The postmaster was not perfectly comfortable at this request. When he +called to mind his long conversation with the strangers, and the +extraordinary eagerness that Herr Delmar had shown in inducing him to +tell all that he knew of the life at the castle and of Herr von +Heydeck, he could not help thinking that the stranger who was so very +like Count Menotti had cross-examined him very skilfully, and the +doctor's request strengthened him in this conviction.</p> + +<p class="normal">Why had the doctor been so vexed to learn that Hansel had told of Herr +von Heydeck's dead child? Try as he would to seem composed the Herr +Doctor could not conceal his agitation. He was evidently afraid that +the postmaster had told too much, and honest Hansel began to share this +fear himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">The poor fellow found himself in a very disagreeable situation; if he +refused to tell what he had told the strangers, the doctor would +suspect matters of being worse than they really were, and yet if he +informed him of all that he had said, matters were bad enough, for he +had told enough to make the doctor his bitter enemy. It was very hard +to give the right answer, but something must be done, and Hansel did +his best, extricating himself from his dilemma with greater cunning +than would have been thought possible for him. He told the doctor +faithfully of all he had said to Herr Delmar about Herr von Heydeck, +the life at the castle, about the first mistress, and her relations +with Count Menotti. He reported also that he had spoken of the report +that Herr von Heydeck was by no means sorry for his child's death, but +he never hinted that he had once made mention in the narrative of the +doctor or his wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hansel had the reputation in Tausens of being so honest and +simple-minded a fellow that it never occurred to the doctor to doubt +his frankness, and his mind was set at rest with regard to the extent +of Hansel's revelations; not so, however, as to the stranger's motive +in questioning the postmaster. It could not, the doctor was convinced, +have been ordinary curiosity.</p> + +<p class="normal">What could have interested the strangers in Herr von Heydeck? Delmar's +striking resemblance to Count Menotti could be no mere chance freak of +nature. Such resemblances between strangers in blood do occur, it is +true, but they are very exceptional, and Delmar's curiosity regarding +matters connected with Castle Reifenstein showed plainly that this was +not one of the exceptions.</p> + +<p class="normal">But if Delmar were related to Count Menotti, and had not come by chance +to Tausens, what could he want there?</p> + +<p class="normal">A sudden suspicion flashed upon the doctor's mind, but he rejected it +immediately,--it was so wild and improbable; still, Delmar's presence +made him excessively uncomfortable. To conceal this discomfort from the +postmaster, he talked and drank incessantly. The measure of wine was +emptied and refilled several times, while the doctor's bloated face +grew redder and redder, his eyes more watery, and his speech thicker. +He tried to learn more of the strangers from Hansel, but in vain; the +postmaster knew nothing of them except what he had heard from their +guides from the Zillerthal, and this he freely imparted without in the +least satisfying the other's curiosity. In his good humour the +innkeeper was recounting every particular for the fourth time, although +he could not conceive what interest it could have for the doctor, when +he was interrupted by a message from the doctor's wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">A servant reported that her mistress was very much annoyed that the +doctor was staying so long from home, and that she begged he would +return thither immediately, since a message from the castle was +awaiting him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor started up and, pouring down a last glassful of wine, set +out for his home, but his progress thitherward was not of the swiftest, +for his gait was unsteady and his head was confused,--he could not +collect his senses when he tried to divine whether this message from +the castle had any connection with Herr Delmar's arrival at Tausens.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor's wife awaited her husband in the arbour, where she had been +ever since his departure. She was standing at the entrance looking out +for him; but as she saw him approach with a heavy, unsteady gait, she +received him with anything but a smile of welcome, and the words, +spoken in a tone of profound contempt, "The brute is drunk again!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor was perhaps not entirely unaccustomed to such tender +addresses, at all events he did not resent her words, but replied quite +humbly, "No, Rosy dear, sober,--perfectly sober,--s'help me God," the +thickness of his utterance belying his words.</p> + +<p class="normal">His wife took no notice of his reply, but, with the expression of +contempt upon her face intensified, she ordered him harshly, "Go to the +brook this instant, and when you are fit to hear it I have a message +for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor ventured no word of remonstrance; with wavering steps +he went towards the spot where, to the left of the arbour, a +mountain-brook was pouring through a hollow tree into a stone basin in +the grass. He held his hot hand under the icy stream and hesitated for +a moment, but at the sound of a sharp 'make haste' from the arbour he +delayed no longer, but stooped and let the water pour over his head. +His breath came in quick, loud pants, his face grew dark purple in hue, +and his limbs trembled,--it was a hard ordeal, but he bore the shock +bravely, and let the icy water stream over his brow and temples for +several minutes. Then he stood erect, and shaking his dishevelled shock +of hair like a dog emerging from the water, dried his face with his +cotton pocket-handkerchief, and went back to his affectionate wife in +the arbour. The cold bath had produced its effect,--his gait was +steadier and his head clearer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you sober enough now to understand what is said to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sober enough; but I shall have a stroke one of these days."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Drink less then, and you will not have to resort to such violent +measures to make yourself sober. You are to go to the castle. Herr von +Heydeck has sent for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not his slave; let him wait."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You'd better go to the brook again,--you can't be sober yet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sober, I tell you; but I can't see why I should always dance to +his piping. Let him come to me if he wants to talk with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You'll never be anything but a blockhead in spite of all your +book-learning. Don't you see that we must keep straight with the old +man? We are all in the same danger, and must stand together."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What danger?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What danger, stupid? Have you no grain of understanding? Don't you +know who this man is who calls himself Delmar, and what he wants here +in Tausens? You recognized him at once as the son of Count Menotti!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; but I can't for the life of me see----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course not,--but I can tell you! He is the son of Count Menotti and +the noble Frau von Heydeck, the heir of Castle Reifenstein, and he has +come for his inheritance!"</p> + +<p class="normal">His wife's words did not surprise the doctor; the same idea had +occurred to him, but he had rejected it as impossible. Now the uttered +words gave it distinct form in his mind, and he began to yield it +credence. "I thought of that," he said, reflectively; "but it is +impossible. The boy died long since."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The old fellow invented that tale for us. Rely upon it he is alive, +and has come to claim his own. It is for this the old man wishes to see +you, and you must go to him, but take care what you say. You must make +him confess that he lied to us. You must threaten him,--you can do +anything with such a coward. But you must not break with him, for we +are all alike in danger. You wrote the certificate of death,--the man +will revenge himself upon you as well as upon the old scoundrel at the +castle. Try to get as much money as you can out of the old fellow. If +the worst comes to the worst we must leave Tausens,--I have no mind to +end my days in a jail."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It wouldn't be as bad as that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would be bad enough. That man will have no pity for us. I saw that +in his bold black eyes. And you in your stupidity made matters as +desperate as you could by letting him see that you recognized him at +once."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was so startled----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's no excuse. But that's over, and we can't help it; we must do as +well as we can. If you are really sober, go immediately to the castle. +Speak as little as possible, and get all that you can out of the old +man's cowardice. I wish I were going in your stead, for it's likely +you'll spoil all. Now go!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor's wife thus dismissed her liege lord, who did as he was +bidden, although he had but little inclination at present for an +interview with Herr von Heydeck. The fumes of the wine he had drunk +were still clouding his intellect; he could not collect his thoughts as +he wished, and the way to the castle was long and steep.</p> + +<p class="normal">The warm July day had hardly grown cooler at its close. The sun, it is +true, had already set behind the mountains, but the air of the valley +was heavy and sultry, and made every step a weariness to Dr. Putzer's +massive frame.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was frequently obliged to rest while on the way, and heat and +fatigue combined to increase his irritation against the lord of the +castle. When at last he gained the bridge leading across the chasm, old +Melcher met him, and in the broken babble which few could understand, +but which was perfectly intelligible to the doctor's accustomed ears, +gave him to understand that his master had been impatiently awaiting +him for more than an hour.</p> + +<p class="normal">A savage oath was the doctor's only reply, but he hastened his steps, +and passed directly across the court-yard to Melcher's quarters. He +well knew the most direct way to Herr von Heydeck's study; he had been +familiar enough with it in years long gone by. By the winding staircase +from Melcher's room he mounted to the master's study, which he entered +without knocking.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here you are at last!" the lord of the castle exclaimed. He had been +pacing the room to and fro for a long while in extreme impatience. +"Could you not come sooner? I sent for you more than two hours ago!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The imperious tone in which Herr von Heydeck spoke irritated the doctor +still more deeply. "Am I your slave?" he asked angrily. "I ought not to +have come at all in obedience to a command which should have been a +request. A pretty reception you give me! I've more than half a mind to +turn round and go home again."</p> + +<p class="normal">These words, spoken in a coarse, loud voice, had a strange effect upon +Herr von Heydeck. He recoiled timidly from the angry man; his wrinkled +features twitched nervously, and it was not until he had moved, so as +to place the heavy round table, covered with books, between himself and +his visitor, that he said in a changed and gentle tone, "You need not +be offended, doctor. I did not mean to be cross. You must not take it +amiss that I am a little impatient. I have waited more than an hour, +and have very important matters to discuss with you. Pray be seated."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor threw himself into an arm-chair, that creaked in every joint +with his weight. "I know what you want," he said sullenly; "but get me +some wine first. My tongue fairly rattles in my mouth."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Heydeck rang a bell, and old Melcher, who answered the +summons, was sent for 'a measure of red' for the doctor. When it was +placed upon the table, Putzer poured out a glassful, emptied it at a +draught, and then, after settling himself comfortably in his chair, +said, "Now I am ready to listen. What do you want of me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Heydeck did not reply. He had waited for the doctor with the +greatest impatience, but now that he had come he could not find words +in which to tell him of what was weighing upon his mind. Startled and +terrified by Delmar's appearance at Castle Reifenstein, Leo's narrative +had banished his fears but for a short time. As soon as he was alone in +his room they returned to torture him. While he gazed into his nephew's +frank, honest eyes, he gave him full credence, but when left to himself +to review the dark past, he was haunted by suspicion lest other reasons +besides friendship for Leo had brought Delmar hither. He felt himself +suddenly menaced by a peril which he had indeed dreaded many years +before, but which had long since ceased to trouble him.</p> + +<p class="normal">What should he do to avert disaster? He was helpless; a terrible future +was present to his excited imagination. He saw himself driven forth a +dishonoured beggar from the castle which he had for so long considered +his own; saw the gates of a prison open to receive him, condemned to a +disgraceful punishment for a deed which he hoped and believed had been +buried in oblivion.</p> + +<p class="normal">And there was no one to aid him in this extremity! Suddenly he thought +of Putzer, the accomplice in his schemes,--the man who must suffer with +himself if their secret was discovered,--and he despatched a messenger +to Tausens to require his immediate presence at the castle. The doctor +alone could advise and assist him. But now, when the man sat opposite +to him, and he looked into the bloated face, the leering, watery eyes, +he lost all hope of any support or aid from such a source, and +hesitated to ask him for advice, since in doing so he must confess that +for years he had deceived him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor waited for a while in vain expectation that Herr von Heydeck +would begin what he had to say. He divined what was passing in the old +man's mind, and inwardly exulted in the terror and embarrassment +plainly to be seen in his face. At last however he grew weary of +waiting, and bringing his fist down heavily upon the table, exclaimed +with brutal violence, "Well! are you going to speak or not? Did you +send for me to come here to be stared at? Tell me what you want of me."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor knew perfectly well that it was only by brutal violence of +manner that anything could be done with Herr von Heydeck. Smooth words +had no effect upon him; but every violent gesture, every menacing word, +inspired him with fear, and fear made him docile. Cowardice was Herr +von Heydeck's distinguishing characteristic, and influenced all his +actions.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus the doctor's angry words did not now fail of their effect Herr von +Heydeck moved uneasily. "Why should you be so violent, doctor?" he +asked timidly. "I did not mean to offend you. I was only thinking how +best to put into words the important intelligence I have to +communicate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you not had time enough for that? If you are puzzling your brains +with the invention of fresh lies with which to impose upon me, you may +spare yourself the trouble. Do you suppose I don't know that you have +sent for me because you are afraid of this Herr Delmar?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How?--You know?" Herr von Heydeck asked, his anxiety increasing with +every word uttered by Putzer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know more than you care to tell me. You are afraid of this fellow; +and well you may be, for he knows what he wants. Have you seen him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then there's no need to warn you. One look into his black eyes will +tell you that you've no mercy to look for there. I don't know whether I +can help you. You deceived me and lied to me; you told me your son had +died in Switzerland!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My son!" Herr von Heydeck exclaimed indignantly. "You know perfectly +well----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well then, your wife's son. What is that to me? You needn't look so +furious,--I'm not afraid of you. Your cunning has overreached itself, +that's all. If you had been honest and open with me you would have had +nothing to fear now. I could have settled the boy so that you would +never have heard from him again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps that would have been best," Herr von Heydeck said humbly; "but +I could not make up my mind to it then, nor could I now. I hated the +boy whose undeniable resemblance to his father was a constant disgrace +to my name. My dearest wish was for his death, but by natural means, +not by poisonous drugs. If I had left him to you, as you advised, I +should never have had another peaceful moment. Murder!--the very sound +of the word freezes the blood in my veins! I should have been frenzied +by the thought that I had permitted the deed, even although I had not +caused it to be done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who talks of murder? I forbid all such expressions as far as I am +concerned," the doctor rejoined angrily. "Do you imagine that to make +you a rich man I would have stained my soul with blood and put my neck +into a noose?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you offered the first time I spoke to you of the boy----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I offered nothing except to relieve you from all anxiety. And that I +would have done if, after I had made out the certificate of the child's +death, you would have handed him over to me instead of keeping him here +in the basement of the tower, in care of Melcher, for a year, and then +carrying him off yourself. What is done should be done thoroughly. But +you are a coward, too timid to act decidedly. You were afraid of me, +and so you cheated me with the story that the boy died a year after you +had put him to board in Switzerland. Now, when he suddenly appears here +to claim his rights, you are trembling again in terror."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has really come then to claim his rights? Oh, what do you know +about him, doctor?" cried Herr von Heydeck, wringing his hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor gazed with a scornful smile at the despair of the old man, +whom fear seemed to deprive of the capacity for thought. Putzer felt +vastly superior,--his blood was quickened by the wine, his pulses +throbbed feverishly, but his brain had regained more than its wonted +clearness. He had suddenly and advisedly uttered as fact what was only +suspicion, and thus won from Herr von Heydeck an indirect confession; +but this was not enough,--he must know the whole truth, and he was sure +that he could extort it by increasing to the uttermost the coward's +terror.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Time enough by and by to tell what I know about Herr Delmar, as he +calls himself," Putzer continued. "You will find to your cost that I +know more than you ever meant I should. Perhaps I can devise a means of +getting you out of the scrape, although your affairs do look black +enough; but not one step will I take in the matter, rely upon it, +unless you treat me with entire frankness. You must tell me exactly +what you did with the boy, where you put him to board, and everything +else that you know of him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But if you know all about it----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is no affair of yours. I want to hear it from you, and I advise +you not to try to deceive me. I have already meditated whether to offer +my services to Herr Delmar or to stick to you. If you lie to me you +will force me for my own sake to go over to the enemy's camp, and you +know best what that means!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For the love of heaven, doctor, you would not betray me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not unless you force me to it by lies or concealment. Come, begin! +Tell me all that you know of this Herr Delmar, from the moment when I +saw the boy for the last time until the present day."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Heydeck sprang up from his seat and paced the room to and fro +in the wildest distress. He tried to reflect, to come to some +determination, but his mind was confused; the doctor's threat had so +terrified him that he could think of nothing but the wretched +consequences of such a betrayal, and he lost sight of the fact that his +guilty accomplice had an equal interest with himself in preserving his +secret.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor allowed him no time for reflection. "Will you do as I say, +or not?" he asked roughly. And his threatening manner was, as ever, +effectual.</p> + +<p class="normal">Incapable of further resistance, the old man again sank into his +arm-chair, and, in the fear of offending the doctor by suppressing some +fact that he might have learned from other sources, gave him the full +and circumstantial account that he demanded.</p> + +<p class="normal">After Herr von Heydeck had, with the help of the doctor and of the +woman who afterwards became Frau Putzer, established the fact of the +death of the child of his late wife by means of the mock funeral and +the false certificate of death, he kept the boy, whom he loathed doubly +as the child of Count Menotti and as the obstacle to his own fortune, +in the basement of the old tower, tended by Melcher and his half-idiot +sister. Herr von Heydeck never saw it, but, as he sat in his study at +night, he could frequently hear its cries, and they not only awakened +in him the stings of conscience, but tortured him with the dread lest, +if heard by other ears, they should lead to detection and punishment. +The false certificate of death had given him all the wealth that should +have been the child's.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again and again the doctor's offer to rid him forever of the detested +infant recurred to him, but he recoiled from a crime that seemed to him +far more odious than the child's concealment.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus a year passed amid pangs unspeakable for the lord of the castle. +He had cherished a secret hope that the child would not live long in +the gloomy tower, but this hope was blighted by Melcher's account of +the boy's thriving condition. He was almost in despair. He had not +sufficient courage for a fresh crime; and yet it would be impossible to +keep a growing child in the basement of the tower much longer without +discovery. His cries had already been heard by the villagers in the +silence of night, but superstition had lent its aid to protect the +guilty.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The devil is at his pranks again in the castle," the peasants in +Tausens would say, and they avoided the haunted tower as far as was +possible,--crossing themselves with a muttered prayer if they were ever +near enough to it to hear any inexplicable sounds.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus far their superstition had shielded Herr von Heydeck; but who +could say when some man, more courageous than his fellows, might not +attempt to explore the source whence the ghostly cries proceeded? And +then? Why, then discovery, disgrace, and misery were the inevitable +consequences.</p> + +<p class="normal">The wretched man had almost made up his mind to have recourse once more +to the doctor's aid, when chance pointed a way of release for him. He +saw an advertisement in a paper offering a child for adoption. An +unnatural mother, pleading extreme poverty, appealed to the compassion +of any generous individual who would adopt her child, and consented, if +any such were found, to relinquish all her maternal rights.</p> + +<p class="normal">As Heydeck read he thought of the hidden child. If this woman had been +successful in only appealing to human compassion, could he not be far +more sure of success in invoking the aid of man's cupidity? And he +devised the scheme which he proceeded to carry into execution.</p> + +<p class="normal">He put an advertisement in a Berlin newspaper offering a sum of ten +thousand thalers to any one who would adopt an orphan boy and so +educate him as his own that the child should never learn that he was +not the genuine offspring of his adopted parent.</p> + +<p class="normal">He used every caution with regard to this advertisement. He went to +Berlin, and there, under an assumed name, he himself received all the +answers to his offer,--destroying them after he had read them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Among these one seemed especially desirable. A merchant by the name of +Delmar, residing in a distant provincial town, declared himself ready +to take the boy. He wrote that he had had the misfortune a short time +before to lose his wife and only child, Paul. The care of another child +would soothe his grief, and by a judicious outlay of the promised +capital he trusted he might insure the boy's future welfare.</p> + +<p class="normal">That this letter seemed less than the rest the result of greed of gain +would hardly alone have decided Heydeck to accept it as the answer to +his offer, but he was also moved thereto by the consideration that it +came from a small provincial town so distant from the Tyrol that it +could never have had the slightest cognizance of Castle Reifenstein.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Heydeck went to H----, and made inquiries at the inn there +concerning the man who had written to him. The intelligence that he +received was satisfactory. Delmar was a small tradesman, living very +quietly, but with an excellent reputation. He was a solid, sensible +man, but had been very unfortunate. He had not only lost his wife and +only child, but the bankruptcy of a large Berlin house had so +imperilled his business that his townsfolk were afraid he would be +obliged to dispose of his stock in trade to satisfy his creditors.</p> + +<p class="normal">After learning these particulars, Herr von Heydeck called upon Delmar. +He introduced himself as a Herr Steineck, commissioned by a lady of +rank to provide for her illegitimate child. If Herr Delmar would bind +himself never to inquire after the child's parents, but to bring him up +as his own son, giving him his own name,--if further, in order that the +boy might never learn from strangers that he was an adopted child, he +would consent to leave H---- and establish himself in another place, +whither he could take the child as his son Paul, the boy should be +immediately handed over to him and also the ten thousand thalers.</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar gladly acceded to all these conditions. He promised to leave his +present place of abode, which was full of sad memories for him, to sell +his business and go to some other German town, where he hoped to invest +the ten thousand thalers with success, and where he might make use of +his dead child's baptismal certificate to legitimate his adopted son, +so that no one could have the slightest cause for suspicion that he was +not really and truly his son.</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar and Steineck were thus soon agreed; the latter paid down a +thousand thalers for a retainer as it were, and it was settled that +Delmar should immediately proceed to close up his affairs in H----, and +should inform Steineck when he was ready to move elsewhere by an +advertisement in a certain Berlin newspaper. It was made a principal +condition of their agreement that Delmar should never make the +slightest attempt to discover Steineck's place of residence.</p> + +<p class="normal">A month later Herr von Heydeck read in the Berlin paper that Delmar was +ready to receive the child. To effect the infant's removal was the +hardest part of Heydeck's task. He would admit no one to his confidence +in the matter; neither Dr. Putzer nor his wife should know whither the +child was taken; thus only could the secret remain such forever.</p> + +<p class="normal">Late in the evening Heydeck left the castle in his carriage, driven by +Melcher; the boy had been drugged, and was in deep slumber. The +Bavarian town of Rosenheim was selected by Delmar as the place where +the child was to be delivered up to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">All went well: Delmar was on the spot, and received the boy with the +promised sum of money. He immediately departed for Munich, and Herr von +Heydeck returned to the Tyrol, firmly convinced that Delmar had no idea +who had delivered the child to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Six months later he informed Dr. Putzer that he had placed the child in +an establishment in Switzerland, where it had died of the measles. As +there was no reason to doubt this, Putzer made no further +investigations in the matter: indeed, any such would have been useless, +so perfect had been Herr von Heydeck's precautions.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus everything seemed happily concluded. Herr von Heydeck had no +treachery to fear, for Dr. Putzer and his wife had as much to dread +from discovery as he had himself, and Melcher and his sister, if they +had been capable of understanding matters, were entirely dependent upon +their master, to whom they clung with slavish devotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">And yet Herr von Heydeck was not content. The phantom of possible +discovery pursued him awake and in dreams. In vain he repeated to +himself that he had nothing to fear, that there was no flaw in the +precautions he had taken; he could not banish the dread lest his sin +should one day find him out.</p> + +<p class="normal">Become more misanthropic than ever, he secluded himself from all human +companionship, and if he had not been obliged to visit the baths every +year for the sake of his health, he never would have left Castle +Reifenstein.</p> + +<p class="normal">But when years passed by and nothing was heard further of the boy, when +he married again and enjoyed a happiness of which he had never dreamed, +he became reassured. The dreadful dreams in which he saw his secret +discovered and himself about to receive the punishment of his crime, +tortured him no longer; he had even felt perfectly secure for years, +when suddenly he had been startled out of this security by the +appearance at the castle of his nephew's companion.</p> + +<p class="normal">His fears had become reality. It was impossible that the dreaded +stranger could have any motive but revenge and the recovery of his +property. Leo's information that his friend was a millionaire, and had +accompanied him to the Tyrol solely out of friendship for him, had +satisfied Herr von Heydeck but for a few moments,--the more he pondered +this information the more improbable did it seem to him. He could not +believe that this meeting was due solely to accident.</p> + +<p class="normal">Therefore he had in this moment of supreme peril sent for Dr. Putzer, +as the only living being to whom he could look for aid and advice, and +therefore, a prey to torturing anxiety, he made his long confession +with the greatest minuteness, interrupted but rarely by a question from +his listener.</p> + +<p class="normal">While he gave his utmost attention to these revelations, the idea which +he had thrown out just before, simply to intimidate Herr von Heydeck, +recurred to Dr. Putzer's mind. He too was now more than ever convinced +that Paul Delmar was aware of his parentage and of the right which he +possessed to all that Herr von Heydeck possessed, and that he had come +to Tausens to assert this right. But if this were the case, what the +millionaire coveted was certainly not the possession of an old castle +and some hundred thousand guilders which he could not possibly need, +but the ancient noble name and title, upon which the plebeian merchant +would of course place the greatest value.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now this was just what Herr von Heydeck had the right to withhold from +his opponent. The doctor knew perfectly well that, in view of the +proofs which Heydeck could adduce, no court in Germany could force him +to give his name to his wife's illegitimate child. Delmar's right to +his mother's property was indisputable, but he had none whatever to the +name and title of a Herr von Heydeck. If he coveted this, he must be +reconciled to Herr von Heydeck, in which case he would no longer be +dangerous, but would doubtless be willing richly to reward the man who +should help him to the fulfilment of his desires.</p> + +<p class="normal">And this man the doctor would be. In imagination he saw a shining +stream of gold flowing from the millionaire's money-bags into his own +open pockets, for such a lavish young Crœsus was a very different +customer from miserly old Herr von Heydeck, from whom it had been +difficult, latterly, to extort even as much as sufficed to pay the +doctor's wine-bill.</p> + +<p class="normal">He would ally himself with Paul Delmar: his safety as well as his +advantage required it; he was not yet quite clear as to how this +alliance was to be most advantageously concluded; he would see about +all that later, when his head should be a little clearer. Now he must +take great care lest Herr von Heydeck should suspect his scheme. Its +success was perhaps dependent upon the old man's placing implicit +confidence in him.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the doctor was busy thinking he was fond of refreshing himself +with a glass of wine; therefore, while Herr von Heydeck was making his +revelations, he had frequent recourse to the bottle, which, when the +narrator had come to an end, was nearly emptied, while the listener's +good humour had so increased that he found it difficult to restrain the +expression of it. "'Tis a confounded queer story, and you are in for +it," he said, at last. "This Delmar is a devil of a fellow; he'll make +you squeak. I should like to know where the deuce he heard it all. You +say you took every precaution."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot understand it: I thought I was perfectly safe," Heydeck +replied despairingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must have done something stupid; what it was the devil only knows; +but you're in for it now; the fellow will pull the house down about +your ears!"</p> + +<p class="normal">This expression seemed to the doctor so eminently fitted to the +occasion that he burst into a coarse laugh, which so irritated Herr von +Heydeck that he started up, exclaiming, "What are you laughing at? I +should think matters looked grave enough! I ask you for counsel, not +for idiotic laughter----"</p> + +<p class="normal">This angry outbreak only increased the doctor's tipsy merriment. +"You're a wonderfully fine old fellow!" he said, vainly trying to +steady his voice. "But, still, you're an old coward, afraid of your own +shadow, and a skinflint into the bargain! But never mind, we're the +best of friends, and I'll stand by you in this matter with your wife's +son. He shall not hurt you, depend upon me. But we'll have no more of +the stupid old story to-day: we'll drink and be merry. Take a glass, +you old sinner; come, and don't put such a d----d wry face on the +matter."</p> + +<p class="normal">He held out to Herr von Heydeck a glass of wine as he spoke, but the +old man rejected it angrily. He had been so absorbed by interest in his +own narrative that he had not until this moment noticed the condition +of his listener. What advice or aid could he look for from this sot? +"You are drunk again," he said with contempt. "Go home and sleep it +off!"</p> + +<p class="normal">This was just what the doctor desired. He knew that his brain was +confused, and that he was not in a condition to talk without betraying +his secret intentions; therefore he had feigned to be more drunk than +he really was, hoping thus to end the conversation for to-day. "You may +be right, old Solomon!" he exclaimed, with a loud laugh. "I am a little +cloudy, and a nap can do me no harm. I'll come again tomorrow and have +another talk. Sleep in peace; you need not be afraid; you and I are +more than a match for the young fellow!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He arose, and although he knew he had already drunk too much, he could +not withstand the temptation of the glass that was standing filled upon +the table, but emptied it before he turned towards the door. Then, +nodding a familiar farewell to Herr von Heydeck, who took no notice of +it, he left the room by the same door by which he had entered. When he +reached Melcher's apartment he thought his head felt less confused and +that his gait was sufficiently steady to justify his refusing the old +man's proffered guidance down the mountain, and accordingly he left the +castle alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he reached the court-yard a cool breeze was blowing down the valley +from the snow-mountains in the north, and by the time he had crossed +the bridge the wine had produced its full effect upon him. So far from +being able to reflect upon the best way in which to carry out his +schemes, he needed all the mind he could muster to provide for his +safety in descending the mountain. His capacity for thought was not +quite destroyed, although his brain was thoroughly bewildered.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"Two weeks to spend in hobbling from the bed to the sofa, and from the +sofa to the bed! it is insufferable!" Herwarth exclaimed when he was +again alone with Paul, after Dr. Putzer had left his room.</p> + +<p class="normal">In his vexation he did not meet with much sympathy from his friend. +"You are wrong, noble knight," Paul replied, mockingly. "You will not +only suffer it, but after a while you will admit that this enforced +rest is highly beneficial for both of us. I at least am always +delighted to have a good excuse for luxurious idleness. With what +ecstasy shall I now survey from a distance the blue ice-rifts in the +glaciers, in the consciousness that I am not called upon to ascend them +in the sweat of my brow! I verily believe, my dear Herwarth, that you +divined my secret wishes, and in heroic self-sacrifice sprained your +knightly ankle to do me pleasure, that I might lounge and dawdle here +for two weeks. It was true magnanimity on your part, my noble friend. +We shall have some delightful days together. I will send for piles +of books from Innspruck and Bozen, and I have any quantity of good +cigars,--that is, as good as can be had in this confounded Austria. Oh, +we will idle away the time gloriously!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think I shall allow you to sit still here in the inn on my +account while such delightful excursions are to be made all round the +country?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"On your account? You know perfectly well that you have nothing to do +with it, noble knight. I act to please myself. I follow my inclination +for the <i>dolce far niente</i>--for a season of repose after all these +nonsensical, tiresome mountain-ascents, of which I have had in the last +week enough to last me my lifetime. I have a horror of your delightful +excursions, where your only gain is an unquenchable thirst. The view of +the mountains from below is far finer than that of the valleys from +above. I will have none of your mountain-excursions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Delmar, you are the most indefatigable mountain-climber. You have +been the chief instigator of our boldest efforts."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have I? Very likely. I sometimes am a prey to whims. I suppose it is +because I have done so much of it that I feel such an unconquerable +repugnance now to any mountain ascent."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You cannot convince me. I will never consent to have you tied to the +house on my account."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will never consent? You do not consider the significance of the +words so calmly uttered, noble knight. You have not the slightest idea +of all to which you will consent. As I said just now, a patient is not +an individual but a case. You will therefore consent to whatever I see +fit; for example, to let me put a fresh wet bandage upon your foot at +this moment. Let me advise you not to irritate me by opposition. Do not +force me to cool your head also with a wet bandage."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Delmar, let us speak seriously."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are not to speak at all," Paul replied with a laugh; "but to keep +quiet while I bandage your foot." He proceeded to do this with a firm +and gentle hand, and then continued: "And now, noble knight, let me +beseech you not to fatigue yourself with representations and remarks +which will be of no avail against my obstinacy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Delmar, I myself cannot bear being shut up in this room for two +weeks, and how can I allow you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As I said before, you will not be consulted upon the subject. Besides, +the doctor spoke of a balcony whither I might take you, with a lovely +view of the castle and the distant mountains. I will immediately +proceed to discover where this balcony is, and whether I can arrange a +comfortable seat there for you. If I can, we will stay in the open air +all day long, and all the evening too if you desire it."</p> + +<p class="normal">He left his friend, and summoned Hansel in stentorian tones to show him +the way to the balcony. This balcony was the worthy postmaster's pride. +He had himself added it to his inn, and it flattered him not a little +that every stranger who visited Tausens declared it to be a charming +place to enjoy the prospect.</p> + +<p class="normal">And in truth there could be no more delightful abiding-place for any +one unable to walk than this spacious balcony at the back of the house. +It was protected from sun and rain by a stout roof, and from the blasts +of wind by the house itself, and it was large enough to accommodate +easily more than thirty people. The view from it was glorious, +comprehending a distant prospect of the densely-wooded mountainside of +the valley of the Schwarzenbach, with Castle Reifenstein proudly +crowning the rocky wall at its entrance, and also the glaciers in the +background with the three peaks the Maidelspitz, the Weisshorn, and the +Schiechjoch.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wonderful!" Paul exclaimed. "Here let us build our cots." And he +straightway proceeded to make every arrangement for Herwarth's +establishment in ease and comfort, being most cordially assisted in his +task by the good-humoured innkeeper.</p> + +<p class="normal">When all was ready he returned to Kuno's room for his friend, whom he +supported in triumph to the comfortable easy-chair provided for him. +The injured foot was placed upon another cushioned chair, and a plaid +thrown over it that the noble knight, as Paul said with a laugh, might +present a respectable appearance in case any ladies should visit the +balcony.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I think they will not be long in coming," he added. "I remarked +Fräulein von Schlicht's expression as she looked down at you. A wounded +warrior of this description has the same attraction for the fair sex as +a candle has for moths."</p> + +<p class="normal">Kuno would have resented this unseemly comparison, but how could he +resent anything from so kind a nurse? And besides, Delmar's words were +almost immediately confirmed, for before Herwarth could reply Eva +Schommer and Aline von Schlicht appeared upon the balcony.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was I not right?" Paul whispered. "Here come the moths already."</p> + +<p class="normal">Kuno would have sprung up from his arm-chair to receive the ladies, but +Delmar detained him with a firm hand. "Sit still, my noble knight," he +said; "a patient has no right to be chivalric. Pray take the will for +the deed, ladies," he went on, turning to Eva and Aline. "You see that +this wounded warrior, in his joy at this unexpected meeting in a +strange land, would fain arise to do you reverence, but my strong grasp +detains him. The doctor has forbidden him to stand, and I am an +incorruptible nurse. As his present natural guardian, and in his stead, +I salute you with my most profound obeisance." And he bowed low, still +keeping his hand upon Kuno's shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">The latter still made efforts to rise, until Aline von Schlicht said in +a gentle tone of entreaty, "Do not drive us away from this charming +balcony, Herr von Herwarth. We must go if you are not perfectly quiet. +I hope the injury to your foot is not grave?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing of any consequence, Fräulein von Schlicht," Paul answered in +Kuno's stead; "nothing that will prevent his waltzing as gracefully as +ever next winter, if he will only keep quiet for two weeks and obey +orders, which now that I have so charming an ally in my efforts to that +end I have good hopes of his doing. One word from your lips, fair lady, +will be of more effect than whole sermons from mine."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul spoke to Aline, but as he spoke he looked at Eva, and scarcely +noticed that Aline approached Kuno's arm-chair and frankly extended to +him a hand, which the lieutenant kissed with more warmth than the +occasion seemed to require.</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar's attention was absorbed by Eva, who did not follow her friend's +example, but leaning against the balustrade of the balcony had taken no +part in the short conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hitherto Paul had seen Eva only in full dress at balls or in brilliant +assemblages, or driving in her carriage. He had always thought her +beautiful, but he regarded her as a purse-proud woman of fashion, and +as such he had a prejudice against her,--a prejudice strengthened by +the marked friendliness of her manner towards himself, the wealthiest +man of her acquaintance, in contrast with the cold reserve she +maintained towards all the other men about her, with the exception +perhaps of Count Waldheim.</p> + +<p class="normal">Money was of so little value in his eyes, he so detested pride of +purse, that he had intentionally kept aloof from the beautiful heiress; +he would not add another to the crowd of her adorers, and the sweet +smile with which Eva replied to his bow, instead of acknowledging it by +the haughty bend of her head which she accorded to others, increased +his dislike of her, for he thought this smile was given to his money +and not to himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">By her betrothal to the man for whom Delmar had so thorough a contempt +Eva had lost every claim to his regard. That she had made an apology to +Leo the condition of her betrothal caused him to waver for a moment in +his judgment of her. Only for a moment, however; he had not thought it +worth while to inquire into her reasons for so doing; very likely she +acted from fear lest her precious lover should be wounded, or perhaps +from mere whim. What did he care about the motives actuating the +purse-proud heiress?</p> + +<p class="normal">His prejudice against her was in full force when she appeared upon the +balcony with Aline, and yet he could not help regarding her with a +degree of interest. She had never looked as lovely, he thought, as in +her simple travelling-dress. The brilliant lady of fashion receiving, +in diamonds and lace, the homage of her ball-room adorers as her right, +with a haughty, disdainful air, was scarcely to be recognized in the +simple lovely girl who stood leaning against the balustrade of the +balcony contemplating Herwarth's reception of her friend, with a look +full of loving sympathy. The dark eyes, wont to flash with disdain, +were full of gentle tenderness, while a charming smile transfigured her +face for an instant as Kuno bestowed his eager kiss upon Aline's hand. +It vanished immediately however to give place to an expression of +profound melancholy, while the dark eyes sought the ground. It would +almost seem that the girl whom Delmar had always thought heartless was +a prey to some deep-seated grief.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul was no sentimental enthusiast. When he found himself, after +observing the melancholy in Eva's face, upon the high-road towards +sympathy for the sorrow that brought it there, he started off in the +opposite direction. He was vexed with himself that a pretty face could +have such an influence upon him; his old aversion for Eva stirred +within him, and awakened a desire to prove to the purse-proud girl that +she could not drag every man at her chariot-wheels; that there was one +at least who saw through her and was dazzled neither by her beauty nor +her wealth.</p> + +<p class="normal">With the scornful smile which so often hovered upon his lips and did +not at all add to his attractions, Paul bowed low to Eva as he +approached, and addressed her in a low tone, "'Tis an unexpected +pleasure, Fräulein Schommer, to meet you here in this retired corner of +the world. I am the more delighted, as it gives me an opportunity to +offer you my congratulations upon your betrothal; congratulations as +sincere as is my admiration for Herr von Bertram, who certainly, as far +as manliness and nobility of disposition are concerned, is worthy of +his lovely betrothed."</p> + +<p class="normal">As Delmar approached her Eva had raised her eyes to his for a moment, +but at sight of his scornful smile she instantly averted them. A +burning blush crimsoned her cheek and tears rushed to her eyes as she +listened to his words.</p> + +<p class="normal">With an effort to control herself, she replied, "What have I done, Herr +Delmar,--how have I ever offended you? How given you the right thus to +wound me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul was prepared for a sharp reply, to which he would have made as +sharp a rejoinder; but tears, and this gentle reproof! He had never +been so nonplussed; he felt ashamed and confused, and hardly knowing +what he said, he stammered, "Indeed, Fräulein Schommer--you are +mistaken--I did not mean to wound you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You did mean to wound me, and you succeeded excellently well," Eva +rejoined, still mastering her emotion, and looking directly at Delmar +with eyes before which his own sought the ground. "I know how +unfavourable is your opinion of Herr von Bertram. Your sarcastic +congratulation was an intentional offence which I have not deserved at +your hands."</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar felt precisely like some school-boy caught in a particularly +disgraceful trick and forced to listen without a word of reply to a +severe reprimand, the justice of which he could not but acknowledge. +The quiet dignity and the feminine gentleness of Eva's reply to his +ironical address completely disarmed him. His wonted skill in repartee +forsook him, and he could only say simply, in excuse, "Forgive me!" +From the altered expression of his face Eva saw clearly that these +words were prompted by sincere regret for his late attack. The sneer +had entirely vanished, and there was such genuine entreaty for +forgiveness in his eyes that she could not but accord it to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not angry," she said, not unkindly; "but it pains me that even +you, whom I have never offended, can take pleasure in wounding me. I +will forget the words in which you couched your congratulations just +now if you will frankly tell me in what way I have provoked your +hostility."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You subject me to painful embarrassment. I assure you that I entertain +not the slightest hostility towards you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You evade me, but I cannot let you escape. I have a right to know of +what you accuse me, what you think gives you the right to speak +slighting words to a poor, defenceless girl. You are Herr von Heydeck's +friend, perhaps you accuse me, as he did publicly, of arrogance, +self-conceit, and despicable pride of purse, and therefore feel +yourself justified in humiliating me? You need not answer, I see in +your face that if you spoke honestly you would be obliged to say 'Yes;' +but I solemnly declare that you do me bitter injustice! You, who know +the misery of being rich, will believe me when I tell you how I detest +and despise this wretched wealth that poisons every enjoyment of life +for me. I purse-proud! I who am forced to feel with shame and pain +every hour of the day that I myself am nothing, that with the exception +of two or three friends every human being who comes near me values me +for my money! And never was I so painfully conscious of this as at the +present moment. For you, with your millions, my wealth is valueless. In +your eyes I am simply an insignificant girl whom you regard with +contempt, and whom you feel yourself justified in humiliating by +offensive words of reproof. But I promised to forget what you said, and +I will keep my word. Let us speak of something else.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I came out upon this balcony with my friend Aline with a purpose in +view. I knew you were here, and I wished to speak with you. Chance has +brought me to Tausens. I wished to avoid the stream of tourists, and if +possible to spend a few quiet weeks in some retired corner of the +Tyrol. I hoped to find this asylum in Tausens, and my kind uncle +consented to accompany me hither, although he knew that he should be +obliged to forego here many of his daily luxuries and even comforts. +Upon arriving at noon to-day we learned that three gentlemen were +already lodging at the 'Post.' Your name was mentioned, and also that +of Herr von Heydeck, whereupon my uncle and Herr von Bertram would have +left Tausens immediately. But I refused to do so. I am quite sure of +never having given Herr von Heydeck the slightest reason for the +offensive expressions which were the cause of his quarrel with Herr von +Bertram. I can therefore meet him frankly and fearlessly. There is no +reason why I should run away from him, and I shall certainly not do so. +This is why I stayed."</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva's long explanation had given Paul time to recover from his +embarrassment, and the change in her manner helped him to overcome his +confusion; but he had lost all desire for a war of words. He no longer +regarded Eva with his late dislike. Her frankness and candour inspired +him with esteem and interest; her lament over the misery of wealth +aroused his sympathy. Had he not often felt thus while he despised +those who flattered and cringed to him? He had known that their homage +was paid only to his money, and he could easily conceive how a like +knowledge should embitter Eva's very soul. Her determination, so boldly +expressed, to meet Leo frankly and fearlessly pleased him, and he could +not but say, "I admire your courage, Fräulein Schommer, and I expressed +this admiration to your betrothed when he told me of your resolve."</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva blushed as Delmar uttered the word 'betrothed.' It sounded +strangely in her ears from his lips. True, there was not a shade of +sarcasm now in his tone, and yet it offended her to hear of Bertram as +her betrothed. She knew that she had no right to object, that any +objection would be extremely unbecoming, and yet when she asked, "You +have already spoken with Herr von Bertram?" she laid a sharp emphasis +upon the 'Herr von.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar noticed this; it was not the way in which a true-hearted girl +would speak of her lover, and he called to mind Bertram's uneasy +anxiety in the conversation they had had shortly before. Paul was now +convinced that love had hardly tied the knot of this engagement, and he +wondered what inducement could have led the lovely heiress to bestow +her hand upon such a suitor. This wonder so occupied his thoughts that +it was not until Eva had repeated her question that he replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I have had a conversation with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By your own desire?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why do you ask?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"From certain expressions of Herr von Bertram's I am led to suspect +that you are no friend of his, nor does he regard you with friendly +sentiments. He feared a meeting with you and with Herr von Heydeck, and +so urged me to leave Tausens that I am surprised to hear of a +conversation between you. Therefore I asked. I wished to know whether +you had sought an opportunity to express the same congratulations to +him that you offered to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He accosted me, and begged me to grant him an interview.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was it of a peaceful character?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You parted friends?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must excuse me from replying to that question, Fräulein Schommer. +I do not wish to offend you again, and therefore we will say no more +with regard to your betrothed; my opinion of whom must be a matter of +entire indifference to you. Since chance has brought us together here, +and as we shall probably often meet in the next few weeks upon this +balcony, let us avoid all allusion to disagreeable topics. Let us +follow the example of my friend Kuno, and of yours Fräulein von +Schlicht, who, to judge from their cheerful countenances, are certainly +not discussing anything disagreeable, but conversing together most +amicably. I think we can do so, too, if we only consent to forget the +past, and to consider ourselves merely as a couple of travellers +meeting in a retired and beautiful part of the Tyrol, where in the +beauty around us, and in our daily experiences, we can surely find +matter enough for pleasant talk."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right; I will follow your advice; only answer me one question. +I do not see Herr von Heydeck, but only Herr von Herwarth, who I did +not know was your travelling companion; has Herr von Heydeck gone +away?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not very far; he is staying up there in the fine old Castle of +Reifenstein, which belongs to his uncle, a Herr von Heydeck. He will +probably visit us down here but rarely, since he is held in magic +thrall by the soft spells of a lovely fairy, his beautiful cousin +Hilda."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hilda von Heydeck?" Eva exclaimed. "An exquisitely beautiful young +girl with lustrous blue eyes and magnificent golden hair. A merry, +frank, charming creature! Hilda von Heydeck a near relative of your +friend's?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know Fräulein von Heydeck?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I met her at an evening party two years ago, in Vienna, where I with +my uncle Balthasar stayed a few weeks, and I was so delighted with her +loveliness and gayety that I talked with her almost the entire evening. +How strange that I should find myself so near to her now without having +intended it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is the cause of our presence in the Tyrol. Leo came to Tausens to +make acquaintance with his charming cousin, whom his father wishes him +to marry, and Herwarth and I accompanied him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva did not reply, she gazed up at the castle on the rocks with eyes +full of a dreamy melancholy; the image of the lovely Hilda arose in her +mind side by side with that of Leo von Heydeck. How often had she +thought of him lately!--not in hatred, but in profound sadness. She +could not hate him, although he had insulted her; she could not but +feel that by her own cold reserve she had given him some reason for his +harsh words. She had thought of him almost as of a departed spirit. Was +he not dead to her,--the betrothed of his mortal enemy? And yet now a +sharp pain, inexplicable to herself, stirred within her at the thought +of the happy hours he was passing in the old castle with his lovely +cousin, who was one day to be his wife. But she knew that such vague, +unjustifiable emotion was unworthy of her; that it was her duty to +endeavour to conquer it; and she did so, forcing herself to say with +apparent calm, "I thank you, Herr Delmar, I trust any disagreeable +meeting with Herr von Heydeck may be spared myself or Herr von Bertram. +Although I do not fear it I would rather avoid it, and I think this may +be quite possible, since Herr von Heydeck must find the castle with its +fairy most attractive. And now let us join our friends, who have a +right to take it amiss that we have held ourselves aloof from them so +long."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was doubtful whether Eva really entertained the fear lest Aline and +Herwarth should take her <i>tête-à-tête</i> with Delmar amiss. Had she done +so, one glance at the pair would have reassured her; they evidently +needed no other companionship.</p> + +<p class="normal">Aline stood beside Kuno's arm-chair, and had asked about the manner of +his accident with such tender sympathy, that the happy lieutenant +inwardly declared that such gentle, kindly words from such lovely lips +were cheaply bought by a sprained ankle. He told her how devoted and +kind was Delmar, whom he had only lately learned really to know; and +although Paul had never before particularly interested Aline, she +suddenly found him extremely amiable and agreeable.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kuno also told of Leo, and of his visit to Castle Reifenstein, finding +a most attentive listener. So absorbed were they that they never +thought of finding Eva's conversation with Delmar too long. Now, when +Eva made kindly inquiries of Kuno as to his suffering, he thanked her +courteously, and all took part in a conversation inaugurated by Delmar +about Tausens and the wonders of scenery in its neighbourhood.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul was in the best of humours; he brought chairs for the ladies, +placing them where they could have the finest view of the Schwarzenbach +valley, and then gave a humorous account of all the friends had gone +through on their walk from the Zillerthal. His talent for conversation +was undeniable, and Eva felt the charm of it for the first time. +Meeting him only at balls and large assemblies in K----, she had always +regarded him as a <i>blasé</i> man of the world, probably because his +dislike of the haughty heiress had never permitted him to think it +worth the trouble to let his light shine in her presence. To-day, +however, resigning himself entirely to his natural mood, he soon +overcame the prejudices of his listeners. His dry humour even provoked +the grave Eva's frequent laughter, and she soon almost forgot how +unpleasant had been the first few moments of their meeting. Aline too +was much interested in Herr Delmar's talk, but what provoked her +special admiration was his constant care and consideration for Herr von +Herwarth, and the conscientious fulfilment of his duties as nurse.</p> + +<p class="normal">The appearance of Uncle Balthasar on the balcony was no interruption to +the pleasant conversation. He greeted Delmar and Herwarth with his +usual kindly good humour, and they returned his salutation in kind. Eva +was especially pleased to see that Delmar, who was generally so ready +with the sharp arrows of his sarcasm in view of any silliness or +weakness, had neither sneering word nor look for Uncle Balthasar.</p> + +<p class="normal">And yet the young man might well have thought Uncle Balthasar fair +game, as he came tripping out upon the balcony in his trim elegance of +costume, in one hand his fine straw hat, and in the other a delicate +cane, addressing Delmar in the richest Saxon patois: "Aha, my good Herr +Delmar, monstrous glad to see you in the Tyrol, I'm <i>suah</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Delmar never seemed to hear Uncle Balthasar's mistakes either of +grammar or pronunciation; he treated him with all the respectful +courtesy due from a young man to one much older, thereby taking the +kindly old man's heart by storm.</p> + +<p class="normal">A couple of hours flew swiftly by; the sun had long set behind the +mountains, the valley of the Schwarzenbach lay in dim shadow, from +which only the distant peaks of the Weisshorn emerged, glowing in +crimson light; soon it, too, faded, and a dull ashen gray followed upon +the last shimmer of departed day. The increasing darkness warned Eva +that it was time to leave the balcony, and she arose. "We must not +leave Aunt Minni alone any longer," she said. "She will certainly be +waiting for us at her tea-table."</p> + +<p class="normal">Uncle Balthasar was enjoying himself hugely,--he would have liked to +spend another hour upon the balcony,--but he followed Eva's lead +immediately, and took leave of Delmar and Herwarth, assuring Paul that +it was <i>too</i> delightful to find such entertaining society in Tausens, +and that he only regretted that "the dear Guido"--it was thus he spoke +of Herr von Bertram--was prevented by headache from taking part in the +delightful conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">The name of Guido again provoked on Delmar's face the sarcastic smile +which had vanished from it during the last two hours. "Do you share +this regret, Fräulein Schommer?" he asked hardily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No! Good-night," was the brief reply, as, taking her uncle's arm and +followed by Aline, Eva left the balcony.</p> + +<p class="normal">After the ladies had left, Paul walked to the balustrade and, leaning +upon it, gazed thoughtfully abroad upon the landscape now fading +quickly into the gloom of night.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kuno, occupied in reflecting upon the last few hours, and upon many a +gentle word of Aline's, did not disturb his revery, which had been +prolonged for nearly half an hour, when suddenly Delmar turned to the +lieutenant and said, "Do you know, noble knight, that I have just made +a discovery which will not be half as new to you as it is humiliating +to me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What have you discovered?" Kuno asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I have been a confounded ass, a stupid, addled ass! And it is all +the more humiliating to find this out just when I thought myself so +very wise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Confessions of a fair soul!" Kuno laughed. "May I ask what has led you +to so unflattering a discovery with regard to yourself?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, you may ask, and it is my duty to answer, because it is to you +also that I have so often and so conceitedly displayed my superhuman +wisdom. I must confess to you, and in especial to Leo, the terrible +grief to which I am come with my boasted knowledge of human nature. I +deserve to have my ears boxed,--if there were only some one to do it +for me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You make me curious."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have often heard me speak of Fräulein Schommer; do you remember +what opinion of her I expressed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not a very flattering one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was brutal, thick-headed, idiotic! I called her purse-proud, vain, +arrogant, cold, heartless, and I have no doubt I used a great many more +adjectives equally stupid. It is not sufficient that I inwardly confess +and regret the wrong I have done her. I must apologize to you and to +Leo, with whom I have often spoken of her. She is a charming and lovely +girl, noble in disposition, and of great sensibility,--incapable of an +unworthy thought. Faults she may have,--I cannot say,--but pride of +purse is not among them, that I'll swear to."</p> + +<p class="normal">Kuno laughed. "Take care, take care!" he said. "You seem to me to have +been gazing too deeply into the lovely Eva's dreamy dark eyes. I have +never heard you speak of a girl thus. Keep fast hold of your heart or +you will lose it here on the balcony."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think so?" Paul asked mockingly. "Your wisdom is profound, +noble knight, almost as profound as my own. One cannot lose what one +does not possess; my admiration for the fair Eva has nothing to do with +my heart. I should hardly have spoken of her so frankly to you had I +been in love with her; reassure yourself on that score. I am only +filled with remorse for having so misjudged her, and perhaps thereby +strengthened others--our Leo for example--in their false estimate of +her. Do you know what I have been pondering for the last half-hour?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How should I?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will tell you; I have been dreaming of a happy future for our +friend. It is particularly stupid to indulge in waking dreams, but it +is a habit of mine, and I cannot get rid of it. I saw Leo with a +charming young wife,--saw him wealthy and happy, valued by every one as +a true artist and scholar, and beloved as a friend by all who stand in +need of aid or counsel. I saw him thus, and his lovely young wife gave +me a bewitching glance from her dreamy dark eyes, and smiled the +gentle, kindly smile which I saw to-day for the first time. It was a +dream, Herwarth, but a delightful dream, and I wish I could make it a +reality. Leo and Eva! What a charming couple they would make!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You forget that Fräulein Schommer is betrothed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To that scoundrel Bertram! That is what vexes me, and what I cannot +understand. This betrothal was a puzzle to me when I thought Fräulein +Schommer a cold, heartless, vain, purse-proud creature; even then I did +not see how she could throw herself away upon the fellow, and the only +explanation I could find was that she had fallen in love with his +smooth, handsome face. But she does not love him; I know it now, and I +know more than that,--I read in her face to-day that this engagement is +a disgrace in her eyes, and that she despises Bertram. And yet she is +betrothed to him! She shrinks when he is spoken of as her lover; she +never speaks of him except as <i>Herr von Bertram</i>; she confesses that +his presence wearies her, and yet she is his betrothed! I cannot +understand these contradictions; I must discover what they mean; and if +I find that this Herr von Bertram has played false with Fräulein Eva, +and perhaps with me, let him look to himself. He has not yet reached +the goal of his hopes,--an engagement may be broken,--and I do not +relinquish the hope that my dream may be fulfilled,--that Leo and Eva +may come together at last!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you quite forget Leo's profound aversion for Fräulein +Schommer,--an aversion which was the cause of that wretched scene at +Büchner's. You have indeed been dreaming, my friend; your fancy has run +away with your understanding. Eva and Leo! The strangest combination +imaginable! I find it much easier, after your glowing description of +the beauty and loveliness of his charming cousin, to believe that Leo +will find a balm for all his woes up there at the castle, and that he +will return to K---- happily betrothed to the 'Fair one with the golden +locks.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That he never will!" Paul cried angrily. "I tell you---- But no, I had +better tell you nothing, but change the bandage on your foot; it will +be pleasanter both for you and for myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">He did so, and then walked again to the balustrade to look out once +more over the valley, now shrouded in black darkness. Nannerl brought a +lamp with a screen, which she placed upon a table beside Kuno. Paul +never noticed it; she asked what the gentlemen would have for supper; +he did not hear her, and Kuno, contrary to custom, gave orders in his +stead. Paul dreamed on, resigning himself to the unrestrained play of +his fancy, although he had just denounced all waking dreams as folly.</p> + +<p class="normal">A coarse, rough voice saying loudly, "Good-evening, Herr Delmar!" +recalled him to earth from the realms of imagination, and turning, he +saw before him the bloated, purple face of Dr. Putzer, who had just +come with an uncertain step from the house out upon the balcony, and +who thus greeted him with repulsive friendliness.</p> + +<p class="normal">One look into the doctor's eyes sufficed to tell Paul that he was +intoxicated, and the good impression he had produced upon his first +visit to his patient was entirely obliterated by his present air and +manner. With positive disgust Delmar withdrew the hand that Putzer +would have grasped.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor was in too exalted a frame of mind with the wine he had +taken to notice this repulse; he staggered to the table, dropped into a +chair, and drummed with his fingers upon the table-top. "A can of red, +Nannerl!" he bawled hoarsely, "and be quick! My throat is as dry as +dust with my long walk! Do you know where I have been?" he continued, +turning to Delmar, after Nannerl had brought him the wine and he had +tossed off a glass. "Guess where!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think, Herwarth, we had better go to our rooms," Paul said, paying +no heed to the doctor's question; he did not want to enter into +conversation with the man in his present state, and he thought it best +to vacate the field.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are you talking about?" the doctor interposed. "Nonsense! We are +just beginning to enjoy ourselves. Here comes your supper. A measure of +wine for the gentlemen, Nannerl! We'll show you how we drink in the +Tyrol!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Nannerl, who had just brought the supper ordered by Herwarth, looked +from the doctor to Delmar, and the latter was about to give orders that +the supper should be carried to his room, when Kuno whispered, "Stay, +Delmar; the fellow is tipsy, and may be off his guard in speaking of +the castle and Heydeck. Stay for Leo's sake."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul nodded assent and stayed. He could not bring himself to take a +seat beside Putzer, so great was his disgust at the man, but he pushed +his plate and napkin over to the other side, and took his place just +where he could look directly into the doctor's face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now where have I come from?" the doctor repeated after Paul had seated +himself. "Guess! You won't guess? Aha, I see you're a sly one! You know +well enough where I have been. With the old man up there of course. +You've put him in a deuce of a worry. Yes, you're a sly one, but you +can't fool me, and I am not afraid of you as that old coward is. He +thinks his castle and his property are all gone. Such a fright as he is +in! You should have seen him shaking! Ha, ha, ha!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor leaned back in his chair and laughed, or rather roared, +until it took him some moments to recover his breath.</p> + +<p class="normal">What did these tipsy sentences mean? Delmar would have attached no +significance to them, coming from such a source, had he not remembered +the strange manner in which Herr von Heydeck had received him, and the +disconnected words he had then uttered. The doctor now spoke of the old +man's dread of losing his castle and his property. Had Herr von Heydeck +in former years had money transactions with Paul's father, the deceased +banker? Was there any bond or note of hand hidden away somewhere? The +name of Delmar had evidently not been unknown to Herr von Heydeck. He +had muttered 'Paul Delmar' without having heard the name of Paul from +its owner.</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar's curiosity was excited. He was anxious to learn what was the +mystery at the foundation of Herr von Heydeck's terror of him, and +surely no better opportunity than the present could be found for +gaining this knowledge. The doctor's tipsy garrulity was driving him to +tell all that he knew. By taking care not to awaken any suspicion in +him that he was under examination, Paul might easily learn as much as +he wished.</p> + +<p class="normal">In an instant he had decided what course to pursue. He went on +carefully cutting the loaf which Nannerl had brought, and, without +looking at Putzer, he casually remarked, "The old man is afraid, eh? +Well, perhaps he has reason to be so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Found out! found out!" the doctor roared, with another coarse laugh. +"I told you you couldn't fool me. That's what you've come for, then! +Well, the old miser deserves it. But if you think you can force him to +acknowledge you as his son and give you his name, you're mistaken +indeed. If you can bring proof you can take from him his castle and all +he owns, but not his name and rank. You can never be a Herr von Heydeck +unless he chooses, I tell you that; I, Dr. Putzer!"</p> + +<p class="normal">With all Paul's self-control he could not quite suppress some +expression of the measureless astonishment which he felt at these +words. The doctor observed this, and laughed more uproariously than +ever, ascribing the look of startled amazement upon Delmar's face to +the young man's dismay at finding his schemes discovered,--a view in +which he was confirmed by Paul's laconic "Do you think so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do I think so!" he exclaimed, amid peals of stentorian laughter. "Do I +think so! I don't think so at all, I know it; I know everything. You're +a sly one, and so is the old fellow up there, but Dr. Putzer is slyer +than the pair of you together. You can't fool me; I know more than you +think. You may look as mild as milk, but I know what I know! The old +fellow is rich enough, to be sure, but you won't go to law with him for +that. If a man has millions, what does he care for a paltry couple of +hundred thousand guilders? You want to be a Herr von Heydeck, a +nobleman with an ancient name; that's all you need. Ha, ha, ha!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he laughed until he brought on a coughing-fit, from which it took +him some time to recover.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul's desire to know more was now aroused to the utmost, but he forced +himself to appear quite calm. Replying to Kuno's whispered "Is the +fellow only drunk, or is he insane?" by a sign to remain quiet, he went +on eating his supper with an air of perfect indifference until the +doctor had ceased laughing, and then asked, with a contemptuous shrug, +"Can you prevent my getting it, doctor?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I? On the contrary, I'll help you to it!" exclaimed the doctor, +emphasizing his declaration by a blow of his fist upon the table. "The +old man will struggle and resist. You will never be able to do anything +with him, as I know well enough. But leave him to me; I know how to +work upon his fears. If you don't mind a matter of ten thousand +guilders or so, I am yours; but if you are such an infernal miser as +the old fellow up there, you'll never be a Herr von Heydeck as long as +you live. There's nothing to be done with the old man by violence; +cunning must be used, and I have more of that than both of you +together."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You ask ten thousand guilders? That is a very large sum."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you not a millionaire? And you can do nothing without me, +nothing!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul was prevented from replying by the arrival upon the balcony of +several of the village dignitaries.</p> + +<p class="normal">The circuit judge, who had been stationed for about half a year at +Tausens, the forester, and the collector, having just returned from a +walk, had come to the inn to enjoy the pleasant breeze upon the balcony +after the sultry day. They were regular evening guests at the Post, and +were a little later to-night than usual on account of the aforesaid +walk.</p> + +<p class="normal">They saluted the two strangers with great courtesy, nodding to the +doctor with a degree of contemptuous familiarity that testified to the +estimation in which he was held by them. With kindly sympathy they +inquired about the injury to Kuno's foot, adding the soothing assurance +that however grave it might be he could rely upon the skill of the +doctor, who, the circuit judge remarked without any regard for any one +present, although a confirmed drunkard, was an admirable physician. +Just at present, to be sure, he was in an entirely irresponsible +condition, but on the following day, when sober, he would be all they +could desire in a medical man.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor was not in the least offended by this explanation on the +part of the judge; he laughed, and declared that the judge was a little +tipsy himself or he would not accuse others of being so. To show how +thoroughly sober he was he swallowed several more glasses of wine, and +shortly became so uproarious in his merriment that the Tausens +gentlemen, mortified by such a disgraceful scene in the presence of +strangers, called the postmaster and had the drunkard led home to his +house.</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar and Herwarth spent another hour in most agreeable conversation +with the three gentlemen upon the various points of interest in the +neighbourhood, after which they bade them good-night, and Paul +conducted Kuno to his room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar passed a restless and sleepless night after a long discussion +with Kuno as to the meaning of the doctor's mysterious talk,--a +discussion in which neither of the young men arrived at any conclusion. +They could not divine what could induce the man to suppose that Delmar +intended to deprive Herr von Heydeck of his estate and to lay claim to +his name. The account of Paul's reception at the castle threw no light +upon the subject; no one but the doctor could do this, and to him Paul +determined to appeal the next day. Perhaps Leo had in the mean time +received some intelligence from his uncle which would make any such +appeal unnecessary. At all events, Delmar felt it his duty to see his +friend and talk frankly with him before taking any steps which might be +regarded with suspicion by his uncle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hitherto Paul's existence had pursued a smooth, commonplace track; he +had always seen clearly the duty that lay nearest him, and even in the +only troubled time he could remember, the years he had devoted to +business before his father's death, he had never doubted what path to +follow. The large accession of wealth that had been the consequence of +the enlargement of his business had never moved him; it was of value to +him only as a source of content to his father, and thus the success +that crowned his efforts left him cold.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nor had his father's odd will made any great impression upon him; he +regarded it as the result of the morbid desire of the sick man to +atone, by some special acknowledgment of love and esteem, for any +neglect of his son in past years. But now, as he tossed restlessly upon +his bed, this will recurred to his mind, and he racked his brain to +discover any connection that it might have with the doctor's words. In +vain; and the more he pondered the more confused became his thoughts; +his head throbbed: he could not stay in bed; he arose, dressed, and +lighting a candle took a book and began to read. It was long before he +could command his thoughts sufficiently to understand as he read; but +at last his mind became more composed, and before morning he was able +to throw himself upon his bed once more and snatch an hour's refreshing +slumber before he was roused by the early noises in the awakening +village.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herwarth did not awake until eight o'clock from his long night's rest, +which he declared had so strengthened him that he was eager after he +was dressed to repair again to the balcony. This Paul positively +forbade until his patient had received the doctor, who upon his +professional visit of the day before had promised to come early in the +morning.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kuno was too grateful a patient to rebel; but the time seemed long +until, shortly after the clock of the village church had struck ten, +the heavy tread of Dr. Putzer was heard outside the door of their +sitting-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Upon entering the doctor looked very much as if he too had passed but a +sorry night, his red, bloated face had a weary, dragged expression, his +watery, lack-lustre eyes were dimmer than ever and his step was +unsteady. Still, he was certainly no longer intoxicated, although the +flush upon his cheeks betokened that he had possibly indulged in a +morning glass.</p> + +<p class="normal">Putzer saluted the two gentlemen with the same quiet affability that +had distinguished him upon his first professional visit, asked +intelligently about the injured foot, and was in his whole bearing so +entirely the educated man of the world, the benevolent physician, that +no one could have recognized in him the brutal drunkard who had been +led from the inn by the stable-boy on the previous evening.</p> + +<p class="normal">He examined Kuno's foot, expressing great satisfaction at the +improvement produced in it by the wet applications, and he then +proceeded to bandage it more firmly than before, with such gentleness +and dexterity that Delmar was really amazed, and almost wondered +whether this could be the same man who had left them on the previous +evening.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In two weeks," said Putzer, rubbing his hands after he had finished, +"we shall remove all bandages, and I will go surety that you shall walk +as well as ever if you will remember not to use the foot in the mean +time, except to hobble out upon the balcony, where you must sit with it +up in a chair."</p> + +<p class="normal">Kuno promised obedience.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have no further need of my aid," the doctor rejoined upon this +promise, "unless you should feel any pain again, when I beg you to send +for me. Nevertheless, I hope to see you frequently on the balcony. I +come to the Post every evening and drink my glass of wine, either there +or in the inn parlour. I have the honour to bid you good-morning."</p> + +<p class="normal">With a more graceful obeisance than would have been thought possible +for his clumsy figure he took his leave, without having made the +faintest allusion to the previous evening. He had reached the door when +he turned once more. "I shall surely have the pleasure of seeing the +gentlemen on the balcony to-night?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, Herr Doctor," Delmar replied. "Why should you not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why not, indeed? Still, let me confess frankly that I rather feared I +might have offended the gentlemen yesterday evening. For several days +past I have had a tightness about my head,--a rush of blood to the +brain,--which was of course aggravated by the intense heat and the +unwonted exertion of my ascent to the castle. I may also have taken a +glass or two more of wine than usual. I was, I am ashamed to confess, +but it cannot be denied, stupidly intoxicated, not from excess, but +from feeble health. At this very moment I fear a recurrence of the same +rush of blood to the head. I must have talked all sorts of nonsense +yesterday evening, and perhaps I offended you. Whether this be so or +not I cannot say, for I have not the slightest remembrance of what +occurred. In any case I pray you to excuse me, and not to avoid the +balcony for fear of similar scenes. It shall not occur again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You did not offend us, Herr Doctor," Paul declared.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not? That reassures me, and I may then hope to see you again +this evening."</p> + +<p class="normal">He bowed once more; and as he did so his face grew purple, and when he +would have grasped the handle of the door he had to feel for it twice, +like a blind man. His step too as he went out was strangely unsteady.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can he be intoxicated again so early in the morning?" Kuno whispered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think not, he spoke so quietly and sensibly. Remember how +differently he behaved last evening. No, I think he really is ill now."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul walked to the window whence he could overlook the path the doctor +must take to the village. Several minutes passed before he came out of +the Post, but then he turned directly into the road to his house, +walking very slowly, and staggering at every step.</p> + +<p class="normal">A peasant meeting him nodded familiarly, and then looked after him with +a laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He must be drunk after all," said Paul, "or he is still feeling the +effects of yesterday's debauch. Can he really have forgotten all he +talked about last evening?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would certainly seem so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At all events, I had better see Leo as soon as possible. Therefore, +noble knight, when I have settled you comfortably on the balcony I will +leave you to your fate,--not a very hard one in this instance, since I +heard Fräulein Schommer not half an hour ago order her breakfast to be +served upon the balcony,--and I will take my way to the castle to have +a talk with Leo."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">As soon as Kuno was established upon the balcony and commended to the +kind attention of the ladies, Delmar rapidly ascended the narrow, +precipitous path by which he had reached the castle on the previous +day. He did not heed the heat which had begun to be intense; he +accorded not a look to the magnificent landscape, nor had he any care +for the dangers of the way. What he desired was to reach the castle as +quickly as possible.</p> + +<p class="normal">His brain was in a chaos of confusion; he was in a labyrinth of +puzzles, out of which he could find no clue. Nevertheless he passed on +his perilous way in perfect security, and soon reached the garden of +the castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Here he looked around him, hoping to encounter his friend, but Leo was +nowhere to be seen. In the midst of a thick growth of shrubbery, +however, he saw the flutter of a light dress, and in a moment Hilda +appeared. She must have seen him coming, for she advanced directly +towards him, holding out her hand in greeting, and speaking before he +had time to address her. "You have done wrong, Herr Delmar," she said +reproachfully. "You come from the rocks by the rock-path; I am really +angry with you for not keeping your promise."</p> + +<p class="normal">Was she really angry? Why then should she have received Paul with so +enchanting a smile? Her words betokened a care for his safety that +delighted him. He thought her far lovelier than upon the previous day, +and far more like an angel, with her wealth of hair framing in so +girlish and beautiful a face. When he had seen her before her straw hat +had concealed its masses; now her head shone in the sunshine like pure +gold.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he took her hand he felt an intense longing to press it to his +lips, but he remembered her reproof of the day previous and forbore, +contenting himself with a slight pressure, which he rejoiced to fancy +was in some measure returned. "You must not come to the castle by that +path up the rocks," Hilda continued, when Paul did not reply to her +first remonstrance. "You must give me your word not to take it again, +or I shall always be anxious if you come at all late when you have +promised a visit to Leo."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would you really be anxious on my account?" Paul asked, never thinking +how low and gentle was the voice in which he put the question, or how +Kuno would have laughed at him if he had heard it.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Hilda did not laugh; she answered gravely and frankly, "Yes, Herr +Delmar; I have deeply repented my thoughtlessness in showing you that +path, and I should never forgive myself if you were to meet with any +accident there. I have already been anxious about you this morning; you +were so long in coming, when Leo thought you would be here directly +after breakfast. Will you not make me the promise I ask?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Any promise that you ask is already made, lovely fairy. Delightful as +is that scramble up the rocks, the path will not exist for me in +future. You have forbidden me to use it, and I, as your obedient slave, +venture no opposition to your command, but obey!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then as a reward I will instantly conduct you to Leo, who is anxiously +expecting you. He would have gone to Tausens himself this morning to +see after his friend Herr von Herwarth, but he was kept here by the +intelligence that a wealthy and well-known family from K---- had +arrived at the Post."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then Leo already knows who they are?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; the maid from the Post came up to the castle last evening to beg +for some fowls. She reported that a very grand family from K---- had +arrived in two four-horse carriages and were to spend some time in +Tausens. She mentioned their names too as my housekeeper told me. The +name of Schommer was familiar to me,--I met a charming girl, a Fräulein +Schommer, in Vienna,--and so I asked Leo this morning if he knew these +people."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And he said?----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He said yes. But he seemed to me not very well pleased that they +should have come to stay at Tausens. When he told me that he should not +go to the Post this morning because he wished if possible to avoid any +personal encounter with these strangers, I said nothing further, +although I should like to know more of them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps I can gratify this desire, Fräulein von Heydeck. I have the +honour of knowing Fräulein Schommer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, how glad I am! I should so like to know whether she is the lovely +Eva Schommer whom I saw nearly two years ago in Vienna, and who so +charmed me that I never left her side for an entire evening. +Unfortunately I could not pursue the acquaintance, for she left +Vienna the next day, and we never met again. Yes, she said her home was +in K----. What a pleasure it would be to see her again here in +Tausens!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That pleasure you can easily enjoy. Fräulein Schommer spoke to me last +evening of her pleasant remembrance of you in Vienna."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, delightful!" Hilda exclaimed. "I have thought of that lovely Eva +so often! I will go this very day to Tausens to see her. We must be +together constantly!" She spoke impulsively, but suddenly she paused. +"I forgot," she said sadly, "that Leo wishes to avoid meeting these +people. Does he know this lovely girl? He cannot wish not to see her. +But no, do not answer my question, Herr Delmar. I had no right to ask +it. If Leo had wished me to know his reasons for not wishing to meet +these people he would have told me them himself. I would rather have +you say nothing to me about it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, Fräulein von Heydeck. It would have been hard to refuse +any request of yours, and yet I have no right to speak of Leo's +position with regard to Fräulein Schommer's family without his express +permission. Of one thing however I can assure you: Leo can make, and +can have, no possible objection to your renewing your acquaintance with +Fräulein Schommer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you sure of this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perfectly sure; promise me that you will pay Fräulein Schommer a visit +this afternoon, and I will answer for it that Leo shall accompany you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will greatly oblige me by doing so, for I could not of course seek +out the lady if our guest wished to avoid her."</p> + +<p class="normal">As they talked, Hilda had conducted Paul into the castle and through +the rooms to the corridor, at the end of which were Leo's apartments. +"You cannot go astray now," she said. "Leo's room lies just before you. +You will find him at his easel. He would not go out for fear of missing +you. When I called him to breakfast he had begun a sketch, and was so +absorbed in his work that he never left it. I did not see it, but I am +hoping to enjoy it when it is finished."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here Hilda left him, and Delmar went along the corridor to the last +door; he knocked twice without receiving any answer, and then opened it +and entered the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo had heard neither the knocking, the opening and shutting of the +door, nor his friend's footstep. He was standing lost in thought before +his easel, gazing at a sketch of a head, the result of his last few +hours' labour.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he had entered his sitting-room in the early morning, refreshed by +his night's rest, and had seen the easel by the window with the canvas +upon it ready stretched, he had been irresistibly tempted to take up +his crayon and enjoy the delight of which he had been deprived for a +week. Yielding to this irrepressible desire, he had made a sketch of +the fair face that filled his dreams both sleeping and waking. It was +so like that he stood now lost in contemplation of it, quite dead to +the outer world, not hearing when Paul entered the room, not noticing +the approach of his friend, who stood behind him for some minutes in +silent admiration of the sketch upon the easel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bravo, Leo! You have outdone yourself! 'Tis the most artistic sketch +you've ever made!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo started like one awakening from a dream that has held him +spell-bound. His first impulse was to snatch the picture from the +easel, and from the eyes of his friend, but Delmar stayed his hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, come, Leo! let the picture stay! No artist is justified +in hiding from sight the fruits of his genius. The picture is +wonderful,--a masterpiece. Her eyes had just that deep, dreamy look in +them yesterday when she so bitterly lamented your injustice in accusing +her of pride of purse. You must know that I have concluded a peace with +the fair Eva. I solemnly retract everything derogatory that I ever said +or thought about her; indeed, I frankly confess to you that I never in +my life fell into so pitiable an error as when I pronounced such hasty, +crude, and unjustifiable judgment upon this charming girl. If she would +but allow me, I would beg her pardon on my knees."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo regarded Paul with amazement, looking in vain for the sneer that +was wont to play about his lips when he wanted to tease his friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar had been steadily contemplating the picture as he spoke in a +tone of honest conviction. Now he turned to Leo, and remarking his +amazement, he continued, with a smile: "You look at me as if you hardly +believed me, and, remembering my folly with regard to Fräulein +Schommer, I cannot blame you. The age of miracles however is not yet +over; the most hardened of sinners may be converted by the logic of +lovely lips, and I am a convert. With a few simple, frank words she has +reversed my ridiculous judgment of her. I wish you could have heard her +yesterday when she so sadly bewailed her misfortune in being 'too +rich.' You, too, would have changed your opinion of her, and no longer +have hated her, as you apparently do at present. Only intense hatred or +intense--affection could have stamped her features so deeply upon your +memory as to enable you to reproduce them in this wondrous way. And as +you assuredly do not love Eva, you of course hate her. And yet how +admirably you have managed to show no trace of this dislike in your +drawing!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Paul, do not torture me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">This simple sentence disarmed Delmar; he grew grave instantly. "I will +not tease you," he said, "although you deserve it for never giving the +confidence you owe a friend to one so devoted to you as I am. Have I +not a right to be angry with you that accident alone--the sight of this +picture--has told me your secret? You love Fräulein Schommer, although +to me you denied that you did so. It was not true friendship, Leo."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What else could I do? I hardly knew myself at first whether I loved or +hated her; and when I did know, I was ashamed of my hopeless passion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hopeless? It is folly to use such a word. How can a man like yourself, +endowed with physical and mental superiority and distinguished both by +birth and by position, condescend to utter such a word? You never tried +to gain Fräulein Schommer's affection."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She has repulsed me with proud reserve upon the only occasions when I +have been in her society. And even if she had not done so, I should not +have paid court to her,--she is too rich!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Too rich! There it is! That is the root of the matter!" Paul exclaimed +with irritation. "Too rich! It is Fräulein Schommer's misfortune and my +own. While the wretches who envy us for our wealth crowd about us to +gather up servilely the golden crumbs we may throw them, while they +flatter and cringe and worship us as their golden calf, those whom we +esteem and love withdraw from our society. We are too rich for those +disinterested souls who would love us for our own sakes,--they will not +expose themselves to the degrading suspicion of seeking us for the sake +of our wealth! How often I have been devoured with rage when you, Leo, +my dearest friend, have refused to share with me the enjoyments that +wealth can procure! I was 'too rich' for you, and therefore you +bestowed but a few meagre hours of your society upon me when I so +coveted your companionship; therefore you withdrew from me more and +more, and would, I verily believe, have forsaken me utterly if I had +not clutched you and refused to let you go. Poor Eva Schommer! +She, too, is 'too rich,' and therefore throws herself away upon a +heartless vagabond. For the man who would love her disinterestedly +for her own sake she is 'too rich'! The devil take wealth! if it robs +us of all that is best and noblest in this world,--the love of our +friends,--giving us instead only the flattery of fools, ennui, satiety, +and disgust of life!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo had never seen his friend thus agitated. His cheeks were flushed +and his voice trembled with emotion as he spoke. To Heydeck's friendly +remonstrance be made no reply, but, walking to the window, stood gazing +for some minutes at the magnificent view. Then, having recovered his +self-possession, he turned to Leo, and with a gentleness of manner rare +in him, said, "I was cross to you, Leo; forgive me. A sense of the +misfortune that dogs my life overcame me for a moment,--it shall not be +so again. I know that you, in spite of my millions, are my true, my +only friend. Enough of this! we have other matters to discuss. First, +let me tell you that Herwarth's sprained ankle will keep him tied to +his arm-chair on the balcony at the Post for two weeks; therefore if +you wish to see him you must go to him, he cannot come to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo was annoyed by this intelligence, much as he wished to see his +friend. He would have liked to avoid the meeting with Fräulein Schommer +and Bertram, that would doubtless take place if he visited Herwarth. He +expressed this annoyance to Delmar.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Delmar would not heed it. "Bertram will hardly dare to put himself +in your way; and as for Fräulein Schommer, it is your duty as a man of +honour to ask her pardon. It is not enough to see that one has been +wrong,--the wrong should be confessed to whomsoever it has injured. But +I will not press you. I am sure that you will do what is right, and I +hope you will come to Tausens this afternoon with your cousin, who +wishes to renew an acquaintance with Fräulein Schommer. And now let us +speak of another matter, of the greatest interest and importance to me. +You must help me to solve a mystery in which I suddenly find myself +involved, and to this end I must tell you in detail all that happened +yesterday."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Paul began his story, first recalling to Leo's remembrance the +extraordinary reception accorded him by Herr von Heydeck,--dwelling +upon the fact that the old man had mentioned his Christian name, +'Paul,' without hearing it. He then told of his visit to Dr. Putzer and +of the doctor's amazement at seeing him; of his first taking him for a +Count Menotti,--a name which Paul had certainly heard somewhere lately, +he could not remember where; and last he gave an account of the +incomprehensible phrases which had escaped the tipsy doctor during his +evening visit.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo listened with eager attention. As Paul went on he thought +involuntarily of the postmaster's information with regard to his +uncle's earlier life, connecting with it the strange interest which +Herr von Heydeck took in Paul Delmar, the deserted room in the tower, +and the old cradle. All this, combined with the tipsy talk of Dr. +Putzer, suddenly aroused in Leo a suspicion, which he at first rejected +as too wild and incredible, but to which every word of Paul's, as he +continued, gave greater probability.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Delmar ended his recital with, "Now tell me, Leo, what do you +think of this strange tale?" Heydeck had no doubt that he had +discovered its meaning,--a meaning that brought disgrace to his uncle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will tell you, Paul," he said, "but first answer me one question. +Look back to the days of your boyhood, think of your relations with +your father, of his last days, and of his will. Did it never occur to +you that he must have had a particular reason for the terms in which it +was couched? You were his natural heir; why should he have made the +express statement that he left you his property, not because you were +his son, but because of your love for him, and because you were the +founder and preserver of his wealth? What reason could your father have +for such a will?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot tell. I have often wondered, but never have arrived at any +conclusion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you never think haw your father, during all your early childhood, +held himself aloof from you, only according you his parental affection +in later years; and that he may have had some reason for this conduct? +Would not all these apparent contradictions be explained if you were +not his own child, but an adopted son, whose dutiful and filial conduct +at last aroused his genuine affection?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul, who had been leaning back in an arm-chair, here started to his +feet. "What do you mean?" he exclaimed, in great agitation. "Such an +idea never entered my mind; my brain whirls at the thought. But go on; +to what does all this lead?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo obeyed, reminding Paul of the postmaster's narrative, of the +suspicion awakened years before with regard to Herr von Heydeck,--a +suspicion that he had, in connection with Dr. Putzer and his wife, +caused the death of his son, to whose estate he had thus become heir. +Formerly it had been whispered that Herr von Heydeck was not the +child's father, but that the boy was the offspring of Frau von Heydeck +and of Count Menotti.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is where I heard the name!" Paul exclaimed; "but go on, go on! I +am upon the rack of expectation!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo went on to speak of the cries which had been so often heard from +the round tower after the child's death, and that no one save Herr von +Heydeck himself and his half-idiotic servants had ventured to go near +this part of the castle. He then told of his losing his way upon the +previous afternoon, of his visit to the deserted room, of the cradle, +and of his struggle with Melcher. From all this, taken in connection +with his uncle's expressions and the doctor's talk, he drew the +conclusion that possibly many years previously his uncle and Dr. Putzer +had combined to remove from the world the unfortunate child which his +uncle was convinced was not his own, but the son of Count Menotti. This +was not effected by murder, of which vulgar gossip had accused them, +but by the removal of the child whose little corpse no one but the +doctor was allowed to see.</p> + +<p class="normal">For this purpose the haunted tower had been put to use; there they had +kept the boy whose cries, heard in the silent night, had stricken with +terror the superstitious villagers. Afterwards, for his perfect +security, Herr von Heydeck must himself have removed the child. If this +were so, and if the deceased Herr Delmar had been induced to adopt the +forsaken boy, the strange provisions of his will were clearly +explained, as were also the expressions of Herr von Heydeck and the +doctor, who had both instantly recognized the resemblance of Delmar to +Count Menotti, and were doubtless convinced that he had come to Tausens +to lay claim to his inheritance and to the name and title of a Herr von +Heydeck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If my suspicion be correct," Leo concluded, "and the more I reflect +upon the matter the more convinced I am that it is so, you are the +boy, the lawful possessor of this castle, whom my uncle has deprived +of his estate and of his name. According to law you are my uncle's +son,--Hilda's brother."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hilda's brother!" Paul almost shouted. "Would you drive me mad? Is +it not enough to take from me everything to which I have hitherto +clung,--even the father whom I loved and in whom I had full faith? I, +Hilda's brother! Never I never! I cannot believe it! And yet can I help +believing it?" he continued, after a short pause. "Have you not +succeeded in discovering an explanation for all which I thought +inexplicable? Heydeck, who stole from me my estate and thrust me forth +into the world because he knew that I was not his son, recognizes me by +my likeness to the man who dishonoured him. There is not in my veins +one drop of your worthless uncle's blood, and yet the law makes me +Hilda's brother,--and the worst of criminals, should I ever dare to +entertain for her in my heart one sentiment save that of a brother for +a sister!"</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke, Paul was pacing the room to and fro in the greatest +agitation; his olive cheek was deeply flushed; and such unmistakable +despair was painted in his face, that Leo, who had had no idea of the +depth and strength of the 'love at first sight' that had taken +possession of Paul for Hilda, could have no doubt as to the sentiments +that filled his soul. He was utterly amazed. Paul, with his critical +sneer, his ridicule of all sentimentality, his constant insistance that +the intellect should always maintain its dominion over the affections, +had suddenly lost his heart,--lost it irretrievably to a young girl +whom he had known only for a few hours, and who, in Leo's opinion, was +to be sure very charming and amiable, but not at all the one to inspire +such a man as Delmar with this sudden overmastering passion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yet although this love was a riddle to Leo, none the less did his +friend's despair excite his compassion, and he repented having so +pitilessly pronounced the sentence 'according to law you are Hilda's +brother,' without dreaming of the effect it might produce upon his +friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Calm yourself, Paul," he said gently; "do not forget that all I have +said is only hypothetical. I have no facts to substantiate my +supposition, no way of proving even the possibility of its +correctness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who want proof?" Delmar angrily exclaimed. "Did I come here to lay any +claim to the wretched inheritance which that woman, whom I will not +call mother, left her son? You know well enough that I am too rich now. +Or can you suppose that I aspire to the honour of the name of von +Heydeck? I love the name for your sake, Leo; you have ennobled it, and +it is that borne by your cousin, else I should hate it. Proofs! If I +possessed proofs clear as sunlight that this castle belonged to me, and +that I had a legal right to the name of Heydeck, I would consign them +to the flames, that no one upon earth might know that I had a right to +be considered your uncle's son."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why then, Paul, should the thought of Hilda bring you such misery? If +you never lay claim to the right which the law would perhaps accord +you, she is not your sister. As you yourself said, no drop of her +father's blood flows in your veins."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you so sure of that,--sure that I am not your uncle's son, whom a +freak of nature stamped with a resemblance to his mother's friend. +Count Menotti? In that case Hilda would really be my sister. I grow +giddy at the horrid thought, and yet I must learn to grasp it. I should +despise myself if, in view of such a possibility, I ever dared approach +Hilda with other than a brother's love. Shall I poison her young life? +If she should love me and become my wife, as I, fool that I was, +ventured to dream a few hours ago, and should then, by any chance, +learn that the law makes her father, mine, how horrible would be her +fate! No, Leo; I will never sacrifice her happiness to my insane +passion! She shall never suspect it. I will be all to her--faithful +friend, true counsellor--that a brother may; but she never shall hear +from my lips one syllable betokening a warmer feeling than the love of +a brother."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know you will remain steadfast in this resolution, Paul. I shall not +gainsay it by a single word. Only let me pray you to act calmly and +without passion. You have no right to take my conjecture for reality +without further confirmation; the facts upon which it is founded may +perhaps bear a different interpretation. You must not allow the +happiness of your life to be destroyed by an ill-founded suspicion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What would you have me do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Investigate the truth concerning your birth. First spare no pains to +discover, here in Tausens, whether my uncle's son did not really die +here years ago; your wealth will help you to do this. I will do all +that I can to assist you, not only here, but also in Germany, where you +must search out the former home of Herr Delmar, and succeed, if +possible, in establishing proof that you really are his son, and that a +chance resemblance has thus befooled us all. You must not lose courage, +Paul; you have a sacred duty to fulfil, both to yourself and to Hilda."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be it so!" Paul replied, with a firm grasp of his friend's hand. "I +will do what you ask; I will investigate this wretched mystery; I will +search for proof that I am the son of this scoundrelly Herr von +Heydeck, as if in this certainty lay my every hope of happiness instead +of my doom to misery; but I am inwardly convinced that your suspicion +is only too well grounded. The task I propose will not be a difficult +one. I know the hand wherein lies the clue to the secret. That wretch, +Dr. Putzer, is your uncle's accomplice. He will do anything for money, +as he clearly made known to me yesterday. <i>In vino veritas</i>. If I give +him what he asks, and insure him from all risk, he can easily be +brought to betray his principal and give me the proof I want. I will +not chaffer with him; he may have as much as he asks. I will tell you +more, Leo, if you will come to Tausens with your cousin this afternoon. +Now I leave you to go to Dr. Putzer. Farewell."</p> + +<p class="normal">The friends separated with a cordial grasp of hands that told better +than in words of their determination to pursue earnestly the task they +had undertaken; and then, when Leo had conducted Paul to the head of +the grand staircase, he returned sadly to his studio.</p> + +<p class="normal">As Paul passed through the portal of the castle and saw upon the right +the old round tower, a bitter sense of injury possessed him. There was +the place where he had been imprisoned as a helpless infant, while the +avaricious man who was legally his father annihilated all trace of the +existence of the child whom he dared not kill, but would not allow to +live.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If he had only killed me!" Paul sighed; and the thought suddenly +occurred to him whether it would not be best to end his misery by a +leap from the castle rock. "No! no!" he reflected; "they must not +despise me as a coward."</p> + +<p class="normal">And yet the thought had a positive fascination for him. Could he not +contrive that a misstep upon the perilous path up the rocks should +cause his death to be considered by his friends the result of chance? +They would--Leo would--mourn him truly, and the will by which he had +made his friend his heir would smooth Heydeck's future career for him. +He would not hesitate then to approach Eva as a lover. The miserable +millions would at last bring happiness to their possessor.</p> + +<p class="normal">But as he was walking through the garden towards the narrow rock-path, +oblivious of his promise to Hilda, a prey to dire temptation, a voice +was suddenly heard that caused him to pause, startled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where are you going, Herr Delmar?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked up, and Hilda stood before him, with pain and reproach in her +eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her simple question covered Paul with confusion. He now first +remembered the promise so frankly given a short time before; a promise +he was on his way to break. He might have given an evasive reply. +Indeed, Hilda helped him to do so by adding, "Perhaps you hoped to meet +me here in the garden. Did you speak with Leo about my visit to +Fräulein Schommer?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But such an evasion seemed unmanly and unworthy of him. "Forgive me, +Fräulein Hilda," was his only reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hilda understood him. "Were you really about to return to Tausens by +the rock-path in spite of your promise?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I had forgotten it. Indeed, you have a right to be angry, but if you +knew----"</p> + +<p class="normal">He hesitated; he could not make Hilda the confidante of his misery.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What has happened, Herr Delmar? Why do you pause? You are evidently +agitated. What can you have learned in the short time since I saw you? +Tell me, I pray."</p> + +<p class="normal">As she spoke she kindly offered him her hand, but he did not take it. +He shuddered as he thought of how happy he had been but a few short +moments before when he took that little hand, and of the hopes that had +then dawned in his soul, hopes that must be crushed forever. Should he +press his lips upon it in one farewell kiss? No! not even that. She +must not dream how hard it was to part from her; she must think of him +as of a stranger, and he looked away, that Hilda might suppose he did +not see the hand she held out to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Hilda was not deceived. The interest which she felt in Delmar was +too deep and vivid to allow her to remain ignorant of the change he had +suddenly undergone. She saw that he intentionally avoided taking her +hand, and she was afraid that she had in some manner offended him. Was +he vexed at her suspicion that he had meant to break his word? She had +not meant to call him to so strict an account. "Are you vexed with me, +Herr Delmar?" she said gently; "I did not mean to offend you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know that, Fräulein Hilda," Delmar replied, recovering his +composure. "How could you offend me? I confess that I am agitated by +the conversation that I have just had with Leo about family matters, of +which I am not at liberty to speak. I had forgotten my promise with +regard to the Reifenstein rocks, but be assured I will keep faith with +you now. Farewell, Fräulein Hilda!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He bowed formally and walked away through the garden towards the +court-yard. In the dim gateway leading into it he turned to look at +Hilda once more. She was standing on the spot where he had left her, +with amazement and sorrow expressed in her whole air and bearing. His +strange manner, his formal farewell, had filled her with vague +misgivings.</p> + +<p class="normal">He waved his hand in token of adieu, and hurried from the castle across +the bridge to the well-worn foot-path down the mountain. Again, as he +walked on, did that grim temptation to self-destruction assault his +soul. He turned aside among the shrubbery that bordered the pathway, +and penetrating it, reached the brink of the abyss and gazed down into +its misty depths. As he looked his foot slipped upon a loose stone; in +an instant the instinct of self-preservation was on the alert. +Involuntarily he seized the stout branch of a tree growing beside him +and swung himself up to the level ground. As he did so a scornful smile +curled his lip at the thought of the exertion he was making to save a +life now so worthless in his eyes. But dreary as the future seemed to +him, he shrank from the cowardice that would flee from trials and +agonies that might be bravely met. He remembered how often he had heard +Leo denounce the pusillanimity of those who lacked courage to meet the +inevitable shocks of life. And Hilda,--could she ever have even a +kindly thought for the memory of a suicide?</p> + +<p class="normal">One more look he gave to the abyss at his feet, and then turned back +into the secure foot-path and walked on slowly, lost in thought, to the +village. He was no longer occupied solely with self; his mind reacted +healthily and he thought of his friend. What change might not the next +few weeks bring about in the life of the man who had been to him more +than a brother? Eva and Leo must have opportunities for knowing and +understanding each other. With closer knowledge of his friend, Fräulein +Schommer could not but return his affection. To this end Paul would +exert himself: he would give his life a new purpose; and this +resolution exalted and refreshed him. He had almost forgotten the dark +shadow brooding over his own existence when he was reminded of it by a +sudden glimpse among the trees of the village in the midst of which Dr. +Putzer's house was conspicuous.</p> + +<p class="normal">He remembered that he had promised Leo to attempt to learn from Dr. +Putzer more concerning Herr von Heydeck. The result of such an attempt +had lost all interest for him, it is true, so convinced was he of the +truth of Leo's surmises, but nevertheless he would, as he had promised, +do all that he could to drag every fact connected with this mystery to +the full light of day.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">When Paul at last reached the village street, he did not turn in the +direction of the Post, but went directly towards Dr. Putzer's house. On +approaching it he noticed several peasants talking in the road in front +of the garden. Among them was the postmaster, gesticulating eagerly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul would have passed them and entered the garden, but the postmaster +detained him. "If you want to speak to the doctor," said honest Hansel, +taking off his cap, "you come upon a vain errand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is he not at home?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is at home, but you cannot speak with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hansel's answer was made in quite a solemn tone; he was evidently +burning with desire to tell Delmar what he had repeated already three +or four times to the peasants, who listened with eager attention to his +every word; but he waited to be questioned by Paul. As soon as this +occurred the floodgates of his eloquence were opened.</p> + +<p class="normal">He told minutely all that he had heard from the doctor's servant. +Yesterday evening, when the stable-boy from the Post had taken the +doctor home, he had been received very unkindly by his wife, who had +called him an irreclaimable drunkard, and more hard names besides than +the poorest peasant's wife in the village would have bestowed upon her +husband. The doctor only laughed childishly, and, although his wife +forbade his speaking before the maid, went maundering on unintelligibly +about Herr von Heydeck at the castle, and Herr Delmar, and Count +Menotti.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor's wife had grown quite furious when she could not make him +hold his tongue, and had dashed a bucketful of cold water over his head +to bring him to his senses. She had often done this before, and the +doctor also often held his head under the cold stream of water at the +brook to make himself sober; but on this evening the cold water did him +no good: he grew quite purple in the face, and it was a long time +before he came to himself and got to bed.</p> + +<p class="normal">To-day they had a great quarrel early in the morning; the maid did not +know what it was about,--they often quarrelled,--but she heard the +name of von Heydeck very often; and towards ten o'clock the doctor took +his hat and stick and went to the Post, to pay his visit to the sick +gentleman there, and as he walked through the garden the maid had +noticed that his face was much redder than usual when he had been +intoxicated the day before. He spoke very quietly and was entirely +himself; but when he came home again, walking very unsteadily and +looking very ill, the doctor's wife flew into a rage, and insisted upon +his letting the water at the brook flow over his head. He refused to do +it at first, but his wife stormed and insisted, and he yielded at last, +as he always did. Scarcely however had he held his head under the +stream for a minute when he suddenly fell on the ground and lay like +one dead.</p> + +<p class="normal">His wife's screams brought the neighbours to the spot, and they got the +sick man into the house and put him in bed, where he was now lying +perfectly unconscious. He was still living, but he could not possibly +recover. His wife was no true wife to him, but a worthless, miserable +creature. Instead of taking care of her husband, she had left him. As +soon as he was got to bed she had ordered a conveyance from the Post; +and the postmaster had provided it immediately, for he thought she +wanted to send for a doctor. But the wretched woman had never thought +of doing so; she had packed up her clothing and various other articles +in a hurry, and had driven off no one knew whither. She had told the +servant-girl to take care of the doctor and to send for another +physician, but that he would certainly not last long. And so the poor +man was lying in bed, unconscious, with no one but the servant to +attend to him. The postmaster, however, for old acquaintance' sake, had +sent another conveyance for Dr. Atzinger. Dr. Atzinger had just left +the sick man, and had said that he might get over the stroke this time, +but that he never would have the use of his limbs, and that no one must +be allowed to see him. All this the postmaster related to Delmar, who +thus found himself deprived of any hope of immediate aid from Dr. +Putzer in his investigations. This did not trouble him, however, since +he had only been interested to fulfil his promise to Leo, and he was +rather relieved to feel entirely free to devote himself to his friend's +affairs.</p> + +<p class="normal">Upon his return to the inn, Delmar found the entire Schommer family at +dinner with Herwarth upon the balcony. Bertram alone was missing; he +had not returned from an expedition to some cascades which he had +undertaken that morning; indeed, a messenger had arrived from him +saying that he had gone on to Rothwald, whence he should make a +mountain-ascent, which would probably detain him there until the +following day. Uncle Balthasar told Delmar of this, lamenting that +'dear Guido' could not join their little circle, but he was the only +one who regretted his absence; the others all felt relieved in the +consciousness that they should not see Bertram for some hours at least.</p> + +<p class="normal">Kuno had enjoyed himself greatly during Paul's absence. Eva declared +with a smile that all the ladies had bestowed upon the invalid their +tenderest solicitude, and had succeeded in compelling him to comply +with the orders of his physician, although he was at times a most +unruly patient, in his determination to prevent them from exerting +themselves in his behalf.</p> + +<p class="normal">These few hours of unconventional intercourse on the balcony had +established a degree of friendly intimacy between Kuno and the young +ladies which pleased Delmar much. Eva treated him with frank +familiarity, jesting with him as with an old acquaintance. Aline was +not quite so unconstrained; although not less kind, there was a certain +reserve in her manner towards Herwarth. Paul noticed this, and that her +eyes, which evidently rested with pleasure upon the lieutenant when he +was talking with Eva, were quickly averted if he looked towards +herself. It was not difficult for so keen an observer as Delmar to read +the secret of these two hearts. The discovery gave him a melancholy +pleasure. "Another couple who will and shall be happy!" he thought to +himself "It was best that Fräulein Hilda should keep me away from the +path down the Reifenstein rock; a ghastly accident would have scattered +these happy people, and I may be of use here yet." Filled with this +thought, Paul forgot himself and his sorrows. He sat down at the table, +and was the life of the little party. He contrived that Aline and +Herwarth should have frequent opportunity of conversation, while he +entertained Eva, Uncle Balthasar, and even silent Aunt Minni with his +gay talk, seeming to all to be even more merry than on the previous +day. Eva forgot her usual gravity, and Uncle Balthasar was enchanted; +his only sorrow was that 'dear Guido' could not be present to enjoy +'this delightful conversation.' Paul said but little of his visit to +the castle; he simply told Eva that in a short conversation with +Fräulein von Heydeck he had told her of the guests at the Post. The +young girl remembered, with great pleasure, her evening with Fräulein +Schommer in Vienna, and would certainly come to the inn with her cousin +Leo to renew her acquaintance with her. As he spoke, Delmar watched Eva +narrowly, although he was apparently toying indifferently with his +wine-glass. When he mentioned Leo's name, and his intention of coming +to the inn, he saw the girl's cheek flush; she suddenly raised her +eyes, and as quickly dropped them again upon meeting Paul's keen +glance. She turned away to hide her confusion, and addressed a few +words in an undertone to her aunt, who sat beside her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will it be disagreeable to you, Fräulein Schommer, to have Leo come +down to Tausens?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva hastily turned towards him, her cheek still flushed, but all +confusion overcome. "Did you arrange this visit of which you now tell +me, Herr Delmar?" she asked, not without asperity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I may have done so. You expressed a wish yesterday to see again +Fräulein Hilda von Heydeck. I could not suppose that you contemplated +going up to the castle, and I therefore proposed that Fräulein Hilda +should come to you. She only half promised, however, and I am not sure +she will be able to fulfil her intent."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was not speaking of Fräulein Hilda, but of Herr von Heydeck. I asked +whether you had arranged this visit, because I had hoped you would +remember what I said yesterday."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You said yesterday that you were not afraid of meeting my friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I also said that I thought it desirable that any such meeting +should be avoided. It is not fair in you, Herr Delmar, intentionally to +expose me to embarrassment of this kind."</p> + +<p class="normal">While she was speaking Paul regarded her with gentle gravity; her +reckless frankness enlisted his sympathy profoundly. As she finished he +bent his head, and in a low and gentle tone said, "Your frank, honest +reproof shall receive as frank and honest a reply. I might easily +deceive you by telling you that Leo must see his friend Herwarth, and +that therefore I had arranged this visit; but I will not deceive you. +Frankly and honestly, then, I wish Leo to see you again for his own +sake and--for yours!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Delmar, I must beg----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay, Fräulein Schommer! I know what you would say. You would accuse +me of unjustifiable interference in your affairs which are no concern +of mine; but there you are wrong. I take a deeper interest in them than +you would probably think permissible, but nothing is so near to me in +this world as Leo's happiness. You see I am honest and do not flatter +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, you have shown me that you do not, both yesterday and to-day; yet +I really cannot see what interest your affection for Herr von Heydeck +can have for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is not said with your usual ingenuousness, Fräulein Schommer," +Delmar said earnestly. "You know well that you take a degree of +interest in my friend Leo's destiny, and you ought not to deny it. Leo +bitterly regrets having been misled in an unfortunate moment to say +words which wounded you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is not so, Herr Delmar."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excuse me, it is so; and Leo is all the more sensible of his injustice +since he was not true to himself in what he said. Irritated by a +certain haughty demeanour, which Fräulein Schommer is apt to display +towards those whom she knows but slightly, Leo was induced that day, in +answer to his friend Herwarth's badinage, to say what was no sooner +uttered than it was deeply repented. He will never be satisfied until +he has had an opportunity of entreating your forgiveness,--an +opportunity which I am sure you are too magnanimous to deny him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva was much moved by Paul's words. Was he telling the truth, or was +what he said the result of the ironical mood that so often possessed +him? Had he read her heart? Did he know that she could not bear a +grudge to Leo,--that his insulting words had long since been forgiven +by her,--that she only mourned he should have been prompted to utter +them?</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not reply, Fräulein Schommer," Paul continued, so gravely that +Eva could no longer suspect him of a sneer. "You hardly seem to trust +my words, and therefore you force me to say more than I had intended. +Do you remember what you said yesterday,--your bitter lament over the +misfortune of being too rich?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; why do you ask?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You never uttered truer words than those then spoken. Yes, it is your +greatest trial, as it is my own, to be 'too rich.' Your wealth has +poisoned your soul. Conscious of these wretched riches, you receive all +who approach you with haughty disdain, believing them attracted solely +by the glitter of your gold. Such was your treatment of Leo, the +noblest and most disinterested of men, and the cold contempt of your +manner cut him to the quick. And this is not the worst,--an unkind word +can be atoned for by kindness,--Leo would not be implacable any more +than you will be so, but--you are too rich. He loves you, Fräulein +Schommer. Your image is so deeply engraven upon his soul that it stands +upon his easel at this moment wrought by his hand, so like you that it +almost seems your living, breathing self. He loves you, but you are +'too rich.' Not your cold reserve, but your miserable money, repels his +pride. That fortune, which is a bait for the avarice of a--Bertram, is +a barrier between yourself and the man in whose affection you might +find the deepest bliss attainable in this world. But enough of this. I +have presumed incredibly, I know, but I hope not past forgiveness when +you consider how profound is that regard for my friend, in which I +refuse to believe that you take no 'interest.' Fräulein Aline is +looking at us in surprise at our withdrawal from all part in the +general conversation, and we must really devote more of our attention +to these excellent trout."</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar had seized a happy opportunity, when the rest of the circle were +variously absorbed, to prepare Eva's mind thus for Leo's visit. He had +succeeded; the girl's glowing cheeks, and the dreamy expression of her +dark eyes, told him how profound was the impression he had produced. +She did not reply, her heart was too full for words.</p> + +<p class="normal">Beloved by Leo! No, this was no ironical jest of Delmar's; he had +spoken in the tone of intense conviction. She could not doubt his +words; the consciousness, vague although it was, of being loved by the +man whose image she had so cherished in secret, filled her with a sense +of blessed content which not even the knowledge that she was separated +from him forever could at first disturb.</p> + +<p class="normal">Separated forever! Yes, she was the betrothed of Bertram. When Delmar +had uttered his name she had shrunk involuntarily, as if conscious for +the first time of her detestation and contempt for him. But she was +his; she must keep the vow that bound her to him. It was a duty which +she had voluntarily imposed upon herself, as she now knew, for Leo's +sake. She had sacrificed herself that he might escape a threatened +danger; the knowledge of this gave her strength to bear the misery that +must be her future lot. Her fate was decided, but in the consciousness +that she was beloved, she no longer found it so hard to bear.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul divined what was passing in her soul; he saw that his words had +produced upon her an ineradicable impression, but she must not be left +to reflect upon them. He turned away and began a conversation with +Uncle Balthasar, in which the rest speedily joined. Never had Paul +seemed half so merry and entertaining, how could Eva refuse to bear her +part in the general cheerfulness that prevailed? Even Aunt Minni was +startled from her usual indolent serenity, and once or twice actually +laughed. As Delmar had succeeded in banishing his own brooding fancies, +he now prevented Eva from indulging in any such.</p> + +<p class="normal">Several hours passed thus gayly upon the balcony. Coffee had been +served, and still no one arose to leave it. Uncle Balthasar had +foregone his usual afternoon nap in view of the agreeable society in +which he found himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus the moments flew by, and no one noticed that Delmar grew slightly +restless, casting frequent glances towards that part of the landscape +where a small stretch of the road from the village could be seen. In +fact he began to be afraid lest his well-devised plan for a +reconciliation between Eva and Leo should fail, in view of the latter's +great unwillingness to approach one whom he felt he had so deeply +offended. He was not however doomed to such a disappointment. The visit +he had so desired was at hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the distance he first noticed the flutter of a light dress, and soon +recognized Hilda, beside whom walked Leo, engaged in earnest +conversation. Paul breathed freely now,--in a few minutes they would +reach the inn. Leo's visit could not have occurred at a happier time. +Eva had been prepared to see him again; she had forgiven him; she had +been told that he loved her, and to this declaration from Delmar's lips +she had replied by no word of reproof. Delmar was convinced that a few +friendly words from either would suffice to banish the shadow that now +lay between them, and then he could make up his mind what to do +next. They must have frequent opportunities of meeting, that was +certain,--frequent occasion for familiar intercourse. Delmar must see +that Bertram did not interfere here.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although Paul was aware of his friend's love for Fräulein Schommer, he +knew nothing of the state of the girl's heart, except for the gentle +sympathy for Leo which he had read in her eyes. Her readiness to bestow +her hand upon Bertram was inconsistent Paul thought with the existence +of an affection for any one else. And yet this uncertainty did not +deter Delmar from the pursuance of his schemes. He was convinced that +Leo could succeed in winning Eva's heart if only time and opportunity +were given him. She must admire his brilliant talents and respect his +lofty enthusiasm; love would surely follow, and then would come the +time to dissolve her engagement with Bertram, and the end for which +Delmar was now living would be attained.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There come our friends Fräulein Hilda and Leo von Heydeck!" he turned +to say to Eva, who was talking with Aline, and as he spoke he pointed +towards the road. For a moment Eva lost her self-possession: her cheek +paled and her lips trembled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Courage, Eva dear!" Aline whispered. "You must summon all your +self-control."</p> + +<p class="normal">Aline's efforts to calm her friend were seconded by the extraordinary +surprise which Uncle Balthasar displayed at Paul's information, a +surprise which greatly amused every one.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Holy Apostles! Herr von Heydeck!" the old man exclaimed in the +broadest Saxon, with such positive horror imprinted upon his broad, +good-humoured face as only some fearful intelligence should have +provoked. He had not much time to recover from his fright, for a few +moments later Hilda appeared upon the balcony followed by Leo.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herwarth's and Delmar's laughter at Uncle Balthasar's exclamation of +dismay had restored Eva's composure, and when Hilda hastened up to her, +expressing in her fresh girlish way the delight that it was to her to +meet Fräulein Schommer once more, every trace of embarrassment on Eva's +part disappeared. She returned Hilda's kiss with equal cordiality, and +then presented her to her uncle and aunt as the "charming Fräulein von +Heydeck whom she had met in Vienna, and of whom she had so often spoken +to them." She acknowledged Leo's profound bow most courteously; she +could not be perfectly easy and unconstrained while doing so; the blood +rushed to her cheek as she felt that Delmar was watching her the while.</p> + +<p class="normal">In spite however of the cordial meeting between Hilda and Eva, all the +members of the little circle, with the exception of Hilda and Paul, +suffered under a certain constraint. They could not but remember the +past, and it was not easy to enter into general conversation. Uncle +Balthasar cast timid side-glances at Leo, who, to conceal his +embarrassment, was making minute, inquiries after Herwarth's health. +Aline was anxiously watching Eva, who was exerting all her self-control +to appear at ease, and even Aunt Minni, usually so perfectly +unimpressionable, seemed aware of the general disturbance, and sat in +her arm-chair with her fat red face studiously turned away from the +terrible Herr von Heydeck.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul was quite unembarrassed and much amused by the evident efforts of +every one to appear at ease, the sarcastic smile which his friends knew +so well hovered upon his lips; he was master of the situation which he +himself had contrived, and which was to aid his schemes. He managed +with a jest directed towards Uncle Balthasar to relieve the good old +man from constraint, and then skilfully drew him into conversation with +Leo and Herwarth, so that Eva, Aline, and Hilda were left to talk +together. Aunt Minni always preferring to be left to herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was Paul's fashion in pursuit of any aim to act with great +recklessness, and now, determined to reconcile Leo with Uncle +Balthasar, instead of avoiding all allusion to the scene at Büchner's +and the affront offered to Eva by Leo, he led the conversation directly +to the subject, and thus gave his friend an opportunity to express his +regret to Uncle Balthasar for what had occurred. Leo did this in so +frank and manly a way that the placable old man was entirely satisfied, +and no longer remembered the dismay with which he had received the +announcement of Herr von Heydeck's visit.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a while Paul left the young girls to themselves; then by appealing +to Eva upon some opinion just expressed by Leo, he drew them also into +the conversation, which thus became general. To his great satisfaction +he noticed that Eva replied willingly and pleasantly to the few remarks +which Leo addressed to her.</p> + +<p class="normal">But a first visit should not be too prolonged. At the end of an hour +Hilda rose to take leave, after having arranged that Aline, Eva, and +herself should meet frequently, Hilda promising to act as their +cicerone to all the points of interest in the country round.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you will allow me, Fräulein Hilda, I will walk some distance with +you and Leo on your way back." Paul said to Hilda; and then turning to +Eva he added, "Will not you, Fräulein Schommer and Fräulein von +Schlicht, improve the occasion for a walk? you have not left the house +to-day,--and I will promise to escort you safely back to the Post."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hilda of course seconded this proposition, and Eva agreed to it, to the +surprise of Aline, who could not but consent to accompany her friend +after commending Herwarth to the kind offices of Uncle Balthasar.</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva and Aline started with Hilda, while Delmar walked by the side of +Leo; and how it happened no one except perhaps Paul could have told, +but after a little while Leo walked by Eva's side, while Paul followed +with the two other ladies. Gradually the distance between the two +parties increased, for Delmar walked very slowly, and often stopped to +ask Hilda the names of the various mountain-peaks, or to point out to +Aline some special beauty in the landscape, while he talked so fast and +so eagerly that he absorbed the entire attention of his companions. +They never noticed that Leo and Eva were now a considerable distance in +front of them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo's entertainment of his companion was by no means so glib and ready +as was Delmar's of Aline and Hilda. He was glad that Paul had so soon +procured him this opportunity of speaking to Eva alone and undisturbed; +and yet, now that it was thus his, he could hardly find courage to +improve it. He walked along by Eva's side in silence for some minutes, +and did but grow more and more confused. Never had he felt so utterly +and insanely stupid. Of course Eva could not begin a conversation, and +how she must despise his inability to find the right words in which to +address her! The right words! he thought he could not find them, and +yet they came, when, yielding to the feeling that had mastered him, he +simply asked, "Can you forgive me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">These were the right words! They came from the heart, as Eva felt, and +she looked up to Leo with a charming smile. "I have nothing to +forgive!" She said nothing more, and yet she seemed to Leo to have +spoken volumes. He could have shouted for joy, so exquisite was the +pleasure that the low whispered words gave him, dispelling the dark +shadow that had rested upon his life. Eva had forgiven him! The words +that she spoke, and still more the eyes that had gazed for a moment +into his, had assured him of this.</p> + +<p class="normal">He took her hand and pressed it to his lips; he could not help it, and +Eva did not resent his doing so, nor did she withdraw it when he placed +it within his arm. She had forgiven him, there was no cause for offence +between them. He never thought of her wealth, of her betrothal, nor of +the future. He walked silently beside her in a blissful dream of the +present, conscious only of the pressure of that little hand upon his +arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">They said nothing more; now and then their glances met, and they seemed +to have uttered all that it was in their hearts to say.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Halloo, Leo!"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was Paul's shout. Leo looked back in amazement, and noticed for the +first time that he and Eva had left the road and were walking along the +foot-path, very much in advance of the others.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It must be time for me to turn back; we have really come quite a +distance," said Eva, withdrawing her hand from Leo's arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I come to Tausens again to-morrow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again he kissed her hand rapturously, and she allowed it, although at +the sound of Delmar's voice near by she withdrew it more quickly than +before. Paul had shouted at the request of Hilda, who, now that they +were approaching the steepest part of the way, thought it too difficult +climbing for Eva, unaccustomed as she was to mountain-walks.</p> + +<p class="normal">Twilight was settling down upon the landscape as Eva, Aline, and Delmar +took their leave and returned to the Post, while Leo and Hilda pursued +their way up the mountain.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eva is a charming girl," said Hilda.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is an angel!" Leo replied. He said nothing further; Hilda glanced +up at him in surprise, but he did not notice it as he looked down, lost +in dreams. An arch smile flitted across the girl's face; she nodded +archly at her cousin, who did not see her, and said no further word to +disturb his revery,--she thought she could divine its subject.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Eva had anticipated a first meeting with Leo with absolute dread, and +yet one brief hour and two or three words had sufficed to dispel the +dark cloud between them. They were reconciled.</p> + +<p class="normal">A delicious sense of repose and peace filled Eva's soul as she silently +accompanied Aline and Delmar back to the inn. Paul guessed that she was +in no mood for conversation, and so left her free to pursue her +thoughts.</p> + +<p class="normal">And when they were again all seated upon the balcony, and the three +gentlemen from Tausens made their appearance as usual, Paul contrived +that no one should notice that Eva scarcely took any part in the +conversation. Aline alone saw how quiet the girl was, and divined the +cause of her silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Only when the two young girls had retired to their room did Aline put +her arms about her friend, and, looking into her dark eyes, ask, "Are +you reconciled?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Aline. Oh, I am so happy!" was the reply. And then Eva poured +into her friend's ready and sympathizing ear an account of all that +filled her heart, all she had heard from Delmar, telling last of the +few words she had exchanged with Leo, and of the kiss he had imprinted +upon her hand at parting.</p> + +<p class="normal">Aline listened with the deepest interest, never interrupting her, but +when she had finished she asked, in a low tone, "You love him, Eva?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, with my whole soul! Now I dare tell you. Aline, of the warm +interest I felt in him long before I ever saw him. You and Lieutenant +Herwarth had told me so much of him, of his heroism in the field, of +his humanity to the conquered; he was my ideal of a hero, and when I +first saw him I was confused and strangely moved, for all my +expectations were so much more than answered. I was so happy when Uncle +Balthasar presented him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And yet you received him so coldly that he could not but feel hurt!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was my misfortune, Aline! I have shed many a secret tear at the +thought of it. Delmar is right: wealth has poisoned my soul and filled +me with unjust suspicion. I take shame to myself for ever thinking that +my money could have any attraction for him. And so I threw away the +happiness of my life. He loves me, but he will not approach me,--we are +separated forever! I am betrothed to Bertram!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva wept bitterly, while Aline clasped her closer in her arms. "You +must not be unhappy, Eva," she said earnestly; "you must not sacrifice +your life to an illusion! This miserable engagement should never have +been entered into. There is still time to break it; you must not give +your hand to a man whom you detest and despise while your heart belongs +to another. Courage, Eva! Your fate is in your own hands. Break the +disgraceful chains that fetter you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot, Aline! Bertram has my promise; he knows that I do not love +him, but he will hold me to my promise. Would not Leo von Heydeck +despise me if he thought me capable of wantonly breaking a promise for +which Bertram has sacrificed his entire future? And if I did so, I +never could be really happy. Leo is himself betrothed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Heydeck betrothed?" Aline asked in surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; he has complied with his father's desire that he should be +betrothed to his cousin Hilda. Herr Delmar told me this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My poor Eva----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, not so, Aline! I was indeed wretched when I thought that Leo von +Heydeck hated and despised me. Now that I know that he cherishes for me +a pure, disinterested affection,--that he loves me, although he knows +that we are separated forever,--I am no longer unhappy. The thought +that I am sacrificing myself for his sake consoles me. I gave my +promise to Bertram that Leo von Heydeck might escape a great peril,--I +cannot be unhappy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You deceive yourself, Eva; you must not sacrifice yourself to a +phantom of the imagination. Bertram loves not yourself, but your money; +with money you can atone to him for his lost future."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Say no more, Aline, I cannot bear it; you must not think so meanly of +the man who, although I cannot esteem or love him, has never given me +reason to believe him so sordid a wretch as you describe. I will keep +the promise I have given. Do not try to shake my resolution, it is +firmly fixed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have no right to urge you further," Aline said sadly, "but answer me +one question, what are you going to do now? Will you return Fräulein +Hilda's visit? Will you thus provoke frequent opportunities of meeting +Herr von Heydeck? I should think such interviews would be alike painful +for yourself and for him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are wrong; we are reconciled. If our future destinies separate us +forever, we may at least avail ourselves of these few chance weeks of +friendly intercourse. I am resolved to enjoy this time, troubled by no +sad thought of the future. When I leave Tausens I will go to meet my +fate serenely, for I know that Leo von Heydeck will have none but +kindly thoughts of me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A most extraordinary purpose!" Aline rejoined, as she looked at her +friend with a dubious smile; "but so be it,--it may result in good. +Then we are to enjoy the society of our friends at Castle Reifenstein +as if there had never been any unpleasantness between Herr von Heydeck +and yourself I confess I am curious to know what Herr von Bertram will +say to this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not mention his name to me now!" Eva exclaimed impatiently, +instantly however kissing her friend, and saying, in a gentle +tone of entreaty, "My dear true Aline, do not be angry with me for my +cross words,--you know how tenderly I love you, and how I depend +upon your counsel and sympathy. Let me enjoy this short season of +happiness,--even Herr von Bertram shall not alloy it for me,--he has no +right to do so; I am still my own mistress. And now goodnight, my +dearest friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus with a tender caress they separated for the night, but it was long +before either fell asleep. Eva resigned herself to waking dreams, and +Aline's thoughts were occupied with her friend's fate. She had long +since surmised that Eva was far from indifferent to Leo von Heydeck; +her surmise had just been made a conviction, and she now knew that Leo +reciprocated her friend's sentiments. Aline had the most sincere +affection for Eva; she took the deepest interest in her future; she +knew how firm and loyal she would be to a given promise, and that no +entreaties would avail to make her false to her idea of right. She had +often declared that nothing should cause her to recall the words spoken +to Bertram, and this declaration she had just repeated, although she +now knew that Leo loved her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nevertheless she must not be allowed to carry her resolve into +execution. Bertram was utterly unworthy of such a sacrifice. Aline had +become entirely convinced during the last week of his mercenary +disposition; she saw plainly that it was Eva's wealth and not herself +that he coveted. The constant coldness and reserve that characterized +her manner towards him had created in him almost a feeling of hatred +for his betrothed, the existence of which, in spite of the servile +smoothness of his manner, could not always be concealed from Aline's +eyes, made keen as they were by affection for her friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">In Fräulein von Schlicht's opinion there was only one person who could +be of use here, and that was Paul Delmar. Aline would speak with him, +or--no, it would be far better to confide the whole matter to Herr von +Herwarth, who was intimate with both Herr von Heydeck and Herr Delmar. +He would know what to advise. This thought soothed her, and she fell +asleep with a happy smile upon her lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next morning the whole party again met upon the balcony. Bertram +alone was missing; he had not yet returned from his expedition. Delmar +was in his gayest humour,--only Fräulein von Schlicht noticed that he +was rather pale, and that his eyes lacked something of their wonted +brilliancy; the others were content to yield to his influence and laugh +at his jests.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo and Hilda came down from the castle in the early morning to arrange +a walk to some waterfalls, and all went as smoothly as possible. Eva +received Leo with a smile that transported him to the seventh heaven, +and Hilda greeted Delmar as amiably. For a moment Paul forgot his rôle; +he grew very grave as he took Fräulein von Heydeck's proffered hand, +but the next instant he was gayer than ever, rallying the cousins upon +their condescension in descending from their rocky throne to mix with +the humble inhabitants of the valley. Hilda was ready in her replies, +and merriment was the order of the day.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the party were about to start upon their expedition. Aline +declared that she was still fatigued with her walk of the previous day, +and preferred to remain quietly upon the balcony. She therefore begged +Delmar to join his friend Herr von Heydeck, and leave to her the charge +of the lieutenant. She made the request in so gentle a tone of +entreaty, and Kuno seconded her so eloquently, that Delmar could not +but comply. Thus Aline remained alone with Kuno on the balcony, for +Uncle Balthasar made one of the walking-party, and Aunt Minni, as soon +as breakfast was over, retired to her room and her beloved sofa.</p> + +<p class="normal">Aline's wish was fulfilled; she now had an opportunity of speaking to +Herwarth of Eva, and her relations with Bertram. She found it difficult +at first to allude to so delicate a topic, but Fräulein von Schlicht +was too natural and frank a person to yield for long to girlish +shamefacedness; she was convinced of Herwarth's truth and honour and of +his friendship for Leo, and so she gave him her entire confidence with +regard to Eva and Bertram. She told him that her friend was bound only +by her promise,--that she had not the smallest esteem or affection for +her betrothed,--and that if her engagement were not broken the +happiness of her future life would be entirely destroyed. Of course +Aline never alluded to Eva's sentiments for Leo von Heydeck, she had no +right to do so; it was of her relations with Bertram alone that she +spoke; and she concluded with an earnest request that Herwarth would +induce Delmar to exert the influence which Herwarth had told her he +possessed over Bertram to force the lieutenant to free Eva from her +promise.</p> + +<p class="normal">As Aline spoke, Kuno watched her with enthusiastic admiration; she had +never seemed to him so bewitchingly lovely. Her cheeks flushed, her +blue eyes sparkled in the glow of her devotion to her friend as she +eagerly explained and entreated. He was only too happy to be the +recipient of her confidence, and he promised with ardour to do +everything that she desired. It was only natural that when she offered +him her hand in token that the compact between them was sealed he +should refuse immediately to resign it, but should retain the 'white +wonder' in his clasp and imprint upon it a fervent kiss.</p> + +<p class="normal">It is not quite safe for a young girl to pour confidences into a man's +ears, especially when their subject is love, and Aline had proof of +this. Kuno's ardour embarrassed her; she tried to withdraw her hand, +but he clasped it only the more firmly, and even drew its owner nearer +to him, as he reiterated his promise to do all, everything, always that +she could desire if only she would not repulse him, but would listen +while he told her that life was worthless to him unless he might keep +as his very own the little hand he then held. How could Aline withdraw +it?</p> + +<p class="normal">When at noon the pedestrians returned from their waterfalls, they found +Aline and Kuno still together, and the lieutenant rapturously presented +to them Fräulein von Schlicht as his betrothed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Here was a delightful surprise, and yet afterwards every one, with the +exception of Uncle Balthasar who was unaffected amazement itself, +professed to have foreseen it all along.</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar regarded Kuno with eyes that sparkled strangely. "Number One!" +he said. "You're a lucky dog, my noble knight! Have you not made fools +of us after all? Confess: was that sprained ankle accident, or did you +so contrive it that pity might bring her nearest of kin to minister to +you? And if it were so, my congratulations are none the less sincere, I +swear to you, Herwarth, that for only one hour of such happiness as +yours I would give not only a miserable foot but my head into the +bargain!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Involuntarily his glance sought Hilda. Their eyes met, but were +instantaneously averted, and Delmar turned hastily away to conquer the +emotion that threatened to overcome him. In Hilda's look of tender +sympathy he read, "You too might be as happy!" Poor child! She did not +dream of the woe that awaited him, making it impossible that he should +be happy. The thought shot a pang through Paul's heart; there was no +bliss in the conviction of Hilda's tender sympathy for him, it only +made his fate harder to bear. With all his self-control, the struggle +was wellnigh too much for him. He hurried away,--anywhere to avoid +again meeting Hilda's eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva, too, was much moved as she embraced her friend, and wished for her +every blessing that life could bring. "You happy girl!" she whispered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will soon be just as happy," Aline replied, in as soft a whisper, +glancing at Leo, who was warmly congratulating the lieutenant. But Eva +brushed away a tear and made no answer.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Never had Hansel, our worthy postmaster, enjoyed such delightful days +as those which ensued upon the betrothal of Fräulein Aline with the +Herr Lieutenant von Herwarth. He went about the house with a constant +grin upon his broad face which beamed with special satisfaction +whenever he saw Herr Delmar, for Hansel was proud to acknowledge that +it was owing to Herr Delmar that his wildest dreams were now +transcended by reality.</p> + +<p class="normal">The honest fellow listened daily to exclamations of admiration from +Herr Schommer and the ladies over the wonderful degree of comfort to be +found in this excellent inn, although Tausens was so retired a spot. +Every day he listened to thanks and praise of his wonderful energy and +skill in ministering to the wishes of his guests. Sometimes when Uncle +Balthasar was exhausting himself in surprise, and the young ladies +uttered cordial thanks in addition, Hansel, to be sure, would become +confused, and quite unable to suppress a maidenly blush, but he liked, +notwithstanding, to be so lauded.</p> + +<p class="normal">Indeed, his guests had good cause to be amazed and grateful, for each +day brought some fresh surprise, prepared as Herr Delmar assured them +by the worthy Hansel, for whom Herr Delmar had a positively +enthusiastic regard.</p> + +<p class="normal">A large box full of books, the best works upon the Tyrol, and the +latest novels, arrived from Innspruck. Hansel had ordered them from a +bookseller there, sparing no expense to provide amusement for his +guests if the weather should chance to be rainy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Several furniture-wagons arrived from Bozen laden with comfortable +lounges and arm-chairs. Hansel had sent for these by express, because +he heard that Aunt Minni was fond of such luxuries. He showed a most +refined aptitude in supplying every desire of his wealthy guests. Money +was no object to him; no expense was spared in any direction.</p> + +<p class="normal">And the table,--Herr Delmar had indeed maligned Tausens when he had +declared that there was nothing to be had there but veal. Hansel sent +to Bozen, Triest, Riva, and even to Venice, to procure delicacies +wherewith to tickle the palates of his guests. He sent his own +messengers, empowering them to make the required purchases. Uncle +Balthasar declared that nowhere in the world could a better table be +found than at the Post at Tausens. He really could not understand it, +for the charges were extremely moderate, not a kreutzer higher than at +other Tyrolean inns where not a delicacy was to be had.</p> + +<p class="normal">And not only in luxurious lodgings and delicate fare did he testify his +desire to please. Every wish expressed in other respects by the +strangers, and especially by the ladies, was fulfilled almost before it +was uttered.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fräulein Eva, upon a short walk where the postmaster was guide, +expressed her special admiration for a certain point of view and a +desire to visit it frequently. The next morning a couple of convenient +wooden benches and a table were erected upon the spot, and the path +leading to it was found to have been cleared of stones during the +night. Labourers were also employed to open and clear various +mountain-paths in the neighbourhood of the inn, making many charming +places accessible for the ladies. But Hansel's tenderest care for his +guests was shown in an arrangement which excited the unbounded surprise +of the entire village. Fräulein Aline von Schlicht was not very strong, +walking fatigued her, and she therefore often remained at home with the +invalid lieutenant when some pleasant expedition on foot was to be +made. One evening Fräulein Eva expressed her regret that in consequence +of the entire want of mules and riding-horses in Tausens her friend was +obliged to lose so much of the beauty around them, and that Herr von +Herwarth also would know nothing of the finest points of view, since he +would have to spare his sprained ankle for some time to come. An hour +afterwards the village schoolmaster departed for the railway-station in +Hansel's own conveyance, the driver being ordered to drive furiously so +as not to miss the train, and two days later an Italian appeared from +Bozen bringing four strong mules, which he quartered in the stable at +the Post, and placed at the disposition of the guests there, two of the +animals being provided with side-saddles.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hansel, admirably careful host that he was, must have overheard Eva's +remark, and instantly ordered the mules and their owner from Bozen.</p> + +<p class="normal">Their host's care and attention did not alone conduce to make the stay +of the Schommer party in Tausens agreeable. After Herwarth's betrothal +to Aline there was constant and delightful intercourse between the +inhabitants of the castle and the guests at the inn.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every day Leo and Hilda came from the castle to carry off Eva and +Delmar to some point of beauty in the neighbourhood, while Aline +remained upon the balcony with her betrothed, and kindly Uncle +Balthasar felt it his duty to bestow his society upon 'our dear Guido,' +who never took part in the daily walks. Besides the mountain-paths were +too steep for the old man, and thus Hilda, Eva, Delmar, and Leo were +left to themselves to enjoy the exquisite weather and to explore, with +Hilda for a guide, all the beauty and grandeur that abound in the +neighbourhood of Tausens.</p> + +<p class="normal">The steep mountain-paths were for the most part so narrow as to allow +only two persons to walk abreast; and upon first leaving the village +Hilda and Eva usually went before, followed by the two young men; but +this arrangement did not last long,--it was but natural that in any +climbing Eva should lag behind her fleet-footed guide and that Leo +should hasten to assist her unaccustomed steps, while Delmar walked +with Hilda, who never needed assistance, and that in this order they +should continue to pursue their way even when there were no +difficulties to surmount.</p> + +<p class="normal">And when, after his two weeks of rest, Herwarth was able to mount a +mule and take part in these expeditions this arrangement was in no wise +altered, for naturally he rode beside his betrothed, who no longer +desired to be left at home upon the balcony. Another mule was sometimes +provided for Eva in very steep ascents; but Hilda, the mountain maid, +could never be induced to admit that walking upon her beloved mountains +could fatigue her, and her boldness and agility were quite equal to +those displayed by Leo and Delmar.</p> + +<p class="normal">These expeditions had a rare charm for all who took part in them. +Conventional constraint vanished in the familiar intercourse thus +induced. A greater degree of intimacy was established among the party +than would ever have been possible in the life of a city.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Leo led Eva along the narrow pathway upon the brink of some steep +abyss and she grew giddy with a glance into its misty depths, she would +cling to her guide in full confidence in his strength and sureness of +foot; he would bear her in his arms across a foaming mountain-brook, +lift her on and off of her mule, all small services which she could not +but permit him to render her, and which filled him with a sense of +ecstasy.</p> + +<p class="normal">When at some distance from the others he walked with her beneath the +fragrant firs, as she leaned upon his arm he would gaze into the large +dark eyes lifted to his own and forget past and future in a dream of +the present, a dream which Eva shared, and it banished all memory of +the hateful tie that bound her to Bertram. She would listen with a +happy smile to Leo's words, and now and then her cheek would flush, +although he never breathed a word of the love which she knew possessed +his soul. Yes, she knew;--there was no need of a confession from his +lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar did not, as did Leo and Eva, yield to the enjoyment of the +moment without resistance; but even he could not withstand the charm of +these daily walks by Hilda's side, of constant intercourse with one so +frank and fair.</p> + +<p class="normal">In her gay unconsciousness Hilda never concealed from Paul how happy +she was; she talked so merrily and freely that he could not but adopt +the same familiar tone. He tried at first to treat her with reserve; +she must not know how wildly his heart beat in her presence; he must be +to her but an every-day acquaintance, no more to her than any other +stranger.</p> + +<p class="normal">He would have avoided being alone with her, but that was impossible. If +Leo and Eva were to come together they must be left to themselves; +their love must so increase in familiar intercourse as to conquer any +prejudice that might separate them even after Eva's engagement to +Bertram should be annulled. If he would promote his friend's happiness, +Paul must be Hilda's sole companion upon these mountain-walks.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus he was forced to take with her the lead in all their expeditions, +although he offered her none of those small services which Leo rendered +to Eva with such delight. Hilda would have laughingly rejected them, +for she needed no assistance even on the steepest paths and dizziest +heights. Her head never for an instant swam even when she stood upon +the extreme brink of some frightful abyss and gazed down into its +depths; she sprang with graceful agility from stone to stone in +crossing the mountain-torrents, and was always at hand to give aid, +although she never needed it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Once only Paul was forced to proffer Hilda the aid of his strong arm; +they had reached the banks of a rushing brook, across which there had +formerly been a bridge, which a late freshet had carried away. There +were no large stones in the midst of the water by which Hilda could +cross. Had she been alone she would, it is to be feared, have dashed +across without minding a thorough drenching, but that would never do +with any one by to see her, and she looked eagerly for some way to gain +the opposite bank.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will have to let me carry you across, Fräulein von Heydeck," Paul +said, after searching in vain for a place where Hilda could cross +without his aid.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall I not be too heavy for you, Herr Delmar?" the girl asked, with +an arch smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">For answer he lifted her lightly in his arms and strode through the +foaming water. How easily he seemed to do it, and yet the light burden +was almost too much for him. His heart throbbed so that he thought she +must hear it; his cheeks flushed crimson, and he almost staggered +beneath her light weight, when Hilda shrank from the dashing water and +leaned more closely upon his shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">And yet he could have wished to bear her thus in his arms for hours. +With a sigh he released her upon the opposite bank of the stream, and +she thanked him, and laughing at his thoroughly drenched condition, +passed on through the forest, while he stilled the wild throbbing of +his heart and the rushing of the blood in his veins as best he might.</p> + +<p class="normal">How variable and whimsical he must seem to Hilda! he thought. Now he +would adopt a cold tone towards her, and now indulge in outbursts of +the wildest merriment, striving with a jest to deaden the agitation of +his soul. He saw that these jests were not pleasing to Hilda; she grew +very grave when he was recklessly gay; he would not distress her, and +so restrained himself and compelled himself to talk earnestly and +quietly. For this she rewarded him with eager interest and ready +sympathy.</p> + +<p class="normal">He would have held himself aloof from her, but that was impossible; she +regarded him not as a stranger, but as her cousin Leo's dearest friend, +of whom he had talked so much and so often that she felt thoroughly at +home and at her ease in his society, and she treated him with a frank +familiarity that was irresistibly attractive to him, and the influence +of which he could not resist.</p> + +<p class="normal">Often, as they walked fearlessly along the brink of frightful abysses, +he remembered his despairing desire to end a life that could offer him +no future save pain and anguish. As he talked gayly with Hilda such +thoughts would assail him; he would pause for an instant and gaze with +longing into the blue depths. Why should he live on? Eva and Leo were +reconciled. All that remained for him to do was to break the tie +between Eva and Bertram and his work in the world would be at an end. +But as he wandered on at Hilda's side the spell that her presence threw +around him would inevitably exert its power; gloomy thoughts would be +banished, and the love of life and all that makes life fair would stir +strongly again within him, although he deceived himself into the belief +that his only desire was to live until Leo's happiness should be +secured and Dr. Putzer be sufficiently recovered to tell him all that +he feared to learn.</p> + +<p class="normal">Convinced that after at most a few more days he should be separated +from Hilda forever, he at last resigned himself utterly to the +enchantment of her presence, unaware of how her constant society fed +and increased the love which he felt for her. Consequently he grew +calmer; the feverish excitement which drove him to indulge in +extravagant merriment subsided: he took cheerful part in the general +conversation; and when they rested after some long ascent at the +wished-for point of view, he could thoroughly enjoy both the enthusiasm +of the others and the glories of the landscape. Still, when at the end +of the day the entire party would sit discussing their expedition, upon +the balcony, Paul was apt to fall into a gloomy revery from which it +needed a word from Hilda to rouse him. Thus the days and weeks passed +at Tausens with very little change, and no one divined what was going +on in the mind of him to whom all turned for enjoyment and sympathy.</p> + +<p class="normal">One person however suspected that Delmar was by no means so careless as +he seemed. Guido von Bertram watched him keenly whenever he had an +opportunity, with many a misgiving that a storm was gathering above his +head. When it would break he could not tell, and he racked his brains +for some means whereby he might escape it.</p> + +<p class="normal">The ex-lieutenant played but a sorry part in Tausens. When he returned +from his mountain-expedition, on the day of Herwarth's betrothal, he +found the entire party assembled upon the balcony, for Leo and Hilda +had despatched a messenger to the castle to inform Herr von Heydeck +that they should not return until late in the evening.</p> + +<p class="normal">Uncle Balthasar had brewed a bowl of punch in honour of the occasion, +and the three gentlemen from Tausens had taken part in the festivity. +Uncle Balthasar was in an ecstasy; he repeatedly proposed the health of +the betrothed couple, and made them a short congratulatory speech in +his comical patois. His only disappointment was that 'dear Guido' was +not yet returned; and when 'dear Guido' did actually make his +appearance upon the balcony, the old man's happiness reached its +climax; he immediately filled him a glass of punch and required that he +should drink the health of the betrothed couple.</p> + +<p class="normal">The surprising intelligence deprived Bertram for an instant of his +self-possession, and his face showed the dismay that he felt. In fact, +there was reason for it. Herwarth, Leo's most intimate friend, +betrothed to Aline, Eva's friend and confidante! What results might not +ensue! Probably a reconciliation between Eva and Leo. True enough, +there was his dreaded enemy beside his betrothed, and the two were +conversing as easily and pleasantly as if there had never been the +slightest misunderstanding between them. At the moment Leo was standing +with his hand on the back of Eva's chair; he bent above her and said +something in a low tone of voice. And she? She looked up at him with a +gentle smile, so lost in what he was saying that she never heard Uncle +Balthasar's joyous exclamation, "Here is our dear Guido!" and did not +know that her betrothed was looking on while she conversed familiarly +with his mortal enemy.</p> + +<p class="normal">They were reconciled! The phantom which had scared Bertram since the +day of his betrothal had become a terrible reality. Eva loved Leo von +Heydeck,--her sweet smile, the tender light in her eyes as she looked +at him, revealed the fact even more plainly to Bertram's jealousy. He +grew giddy; he saw his whole future in peril, his fairest hopes +destroyed, and himself upon the brink of an abyss. But he must suppress +all manifestation of the dismay that he felt. Mechanically and with a +hand that trembled he took the glass which Uncle Balthasar offered him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fortunately, the individual members of the little party were too much +occupied with themselves to pay much attention to Bertram. Leo and Kuno +had indeed been aware of his entrance upon the balcony, but they did +not deign him a glance. Delmar however bestowed some notice upon him, +saying with the sarcastic smile which Bertram so detested, "When you +have congratulated our friends as in duty bound, Herr von Bertram, let +me pray you to bestow upon me the short time which the fatigue of your +expedition allows you to accord us this evening. Here is a place by my +side."</p> + +<p class="normal">This was a command which Bertram did not dare to transgress. With rage +in his heart he obeyed.</p> + +<p class="normal">He offered his congratulations to the betrothed couple. Aline received +them with the merest bow required by courtesy, and Kuno noticed them +not at all,--for him Herr von Bertram did not exist.</p> + +<p class="normal">Guido controlled his anger; he did not dare to resent the contempt +shown for him by Herwarth. He had to pay his respects to his betrothed +after two days of absence,--a duty he would gladly have omitted. He +offered her his hand; she placed her own within it, but withdrew it +instantly. She asked one or two cold questions as to whether he had +enjoyed his excursion, and then turned and continued her conversation +with Leo, who did not accord him even a glance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, Herr von Bertram, I am waiting for you impatiently," said Paul.</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram obeyed, and took the vacant place beside his tormentor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell me of your excursion,--you know the interest I take in all that +concerns you. Egotist as I am however, I am not so selfish as to detain +you long when you must be so very much fatigued with your walk. Give me +only five minutes, and then when you have taken a couple of glasses of +Herr Schommer's excellent punch, I will not keep you an instant +longer."</p> + +<p class="normal">This was another disguised command. This man was a tyrant, who refused +to allow his slave the slightest freedom of action, but Bertram obeyed. +With morbid loquacity he began to tell of his excursion, of the +glorious views from the Spitzhorn, and of the difficulties of the +ascent. He broke off however in the midst of his discourse, having +taken two glasses of punch, when Delmar took his watch from his pocket +with a meaning glance; he declared he was really too tired to continue +his description, and neither the request of the judge, who wanted to +hear more of the ascent of the Spitzhorn, nor Uncle Balthasar's +entreaty could detain him. He arose and took leave. Eva again gave him +her hand, scarcely interrupting as she did so her conversation with +Heydeck,--which, indeed, she had continued steadily, never paying any +attention to Bertram's loud description of his mountain-ascent or of +the natural beauty of the Rothwald valley.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus passed Bertram's first meeting with Leo since the scene beneath +Büchner's awning; he had suffered a fresh defeat and had left his enemy +at Eva's side; the worst he had to fear had nearly occurred.</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram had in fact had a most fatiguing walk; he was very weary, but +nevertheless he tossed restlessly upon his bed. There was no sleep +there for him,--he started up whenever the sound of gay laughter from +the balcony reached his ears, only to bury his head again among the +pillows to shut out if possible the hateful noise.</p> + +<p class="normal">And even late in the night when all was still, when nothing stirred in +the rooms on either side of him, and he knew that Eva, as well as Aline +and Uncle Balthasar, had retired for the night, sleep fled his eyelids.</p> + +<p class="normal">He thought with horror of his future. What would become of him if that +demon Paul Delmar should reveal to Eva her entire right to recall her +promise? He could not return to K----, where his debts were immense and +his honour and credit both gone. How should he even live from day to +day?</p> + +<p class="normal">His property, which had been considerable, he had squandered in the +wildest dissipations; his creditors had abstained from resorting to +extreme measures only in the hope which he had held out to them of his +marriage with the wealthy heiress. If his engagement with Eva were +broken, nothing could keep him from their clutches should he attempt to +return to K----. The moisture stood in cold drops upon his forehead as +a vision of his probable future rose distinctly before him. A jail and +the disgraceful habit of a convict were all he had to look for. The +check with Count Waldheim's forged signature was in Delmar's +possession, and unfortunately it was not the only witness to be brought +against him. A well-known usurer in K---- possessed similar papers, +having been easily induced over Count Waldheim's name to furnish +Bertram with a large sum of money for the liquidation of a pressing +gaming debt.</p> + +<p class="normal">With the recklessness of a thorough gamester, Bertram had lived along +from day to day in the hopes of winning Eva's hand. To escape dishonour +he had become a forger; to cover one counterfeit check he had drawn up +another for a larger sum. Delmar had helped him upon one occasion,--he +had not dared to apply to him again; and so he had gone on plunging +deeper into debt and disgrace, until he saw no means of escape save by +a marriage with Eva.</p> + +<p class="normal">A jail! Horrible thought! There was no sacrifice he would not make to +escape such a fate. Once in a feverish vision of so frightful a future +there had risen in his excited fancy the thought of a certain casket, +in which Eva kept her most valuable jewels, diamonds, and ready money; +but he had rejected this thought with horror. Now it recurred to him +again. He knew the casket well; it was of ebony, with Eva's monogram +inlaid in gilt on the lid. He had helped to pack it into the +travelling-carriage when they had left K----, for Eva took it with her +wherever she went; it was dear to her as her dead father's gift.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just before leaving her home Eva had opened it in his presence to put +in a large sum of money designed for travelling expenses, and he had +admired the brilliancy and size of the diamonds it contained. He had +asked his betrothed why she took such valuable jewels with her upon a +tour among the mountains, and had received for a reply that she never +left them behind her when she went from K----, since the casket with +the diamonds was her father's last gift to her, and she was nervous +lest it might be stolen if she did not have it with her.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he now tossed restlessly in bed, the ebony casket, with the +glittering diamonds and the large roll of notes, recurred to Bertram's +mind. What might be the possible value of the diamonds? Uncle Balthasar +had mentioned that his brother had paid more than ten thousand thalers +for them in Berlin. Besides the diamonds the casket contained other +jewels, worth at least several thousand more, and then the money. +Bertram did not know how much there was, but the bundle of large notes +was thick, and there were two or three packets of gold besides. There +must have been several thousand thalers,--a trifle for Eva, the wealthy +heiress, but a treasure for one who looked forward to a jail as his +only future.</p> + +<p class="normal">Physical exhaustion at last overcame him; his eyes closed and he sank +into an uneasy slumber, in which his dreams were still of the ebony +casket and its contents. He dreamed that Eva gave it to him. He counted +the money: it amounted to a huge sum. He took up the diamonds, and was +just feeding his gaze upon their lustre, when Leo von Heydeck snatched +them from his hand. He turned and grappled with him; but just as he +would have overthrown his foe he felt himself in Delmar's iron grasp, +and heard his sneering voice cry, "To jail with the scoundrel, he stole +both money and diamonds!" In his struggle to free himself he awoke.</p> + +<p class="normal">Trembling in every limb, he sat up in bed and looked about the room, +which was lit up by the pale moonlight. It was some minutes before he +could recover from the effects of his feverish dream, and he could not +rid himself of the thought of the ebony casket. Eva had it in her room +upon a table beside her bed; at least it had been there on the previous +morning, for he had noticed and recognized it as he passed by the open +door of her room.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was now wide awake, and his glance fell upon the door that connected +his room with Eva's. In the moonlight he saw the glitter of the key in +the lock. Were Eva and Aline sound asleep? They had taken a long walk +in the morning and had retired late. Bertram had heard the postmaster +say that the young ladies had returned quite fatigued from their +expedition. Honest Hansel had forgotten to mention that Aline had not +joined them.</p> + +<p class="normal">If he could succeed in unlocking the door and opening it without noise, +it would be easy enough to enter the room unheard by the sleeping +girls. To possess himself of the casket would be but the work of a +moment, and no one would dream that he could have taken it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram got out of bed, slipped on his dressing-gown, and noiselessly +crept to the door leading to Aline's and Eva's apartment. He listened +with his ear at the key-hole. The profound silence told of the deep +slumber of the occupants of the room. With the greatest caution he +succeeded in turning the key noiselessly in the lock; all that +was to be done was to open the door as silently. His heart throbbed and +his hand trembled as he took hold of the latch. "Courage! Boldly +ventured is half won," he said to himself, as he pressed down the latch +and pushed against the door, which however did not yield to his +efforts,--it was bolted on the inside. "Fool that I am!" he exclaimed +to himself as with a whispered curse he stole back again to his bed.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sun stood high in the heavens when Bertram next awoke. He +remembered the events of the night as those of a terrible dream, and +yet strangely enough, its fantastic images pursued him in his waking +hours. His thoughts dwelt perpetually upon the ebony casket, and upon +how he could gain possession of it without being suspected of the +theft.</p> + +<p class="normal">Theft! It was an ugly word, and had not occurred to him during the +night, but in the light of day the deed he contemplated showed for what +it was, and he acknowledged to himself, with an angry flush that proved +him not quite dead to a sense of shame, that the appropriation to +himself of the casket, even although it belonged to his betrothed, was +nothing more or less than a common theft.</p> + +<p class="normal">Such thoughts however were uppermost but for a moment. He reflected +again that a theft was no worse than a forgery, nor more severely +punished by the law. The possession of the casket would enable him to +escape punishment for forgery, by providing him the means wherewith, if +the worst came to the worst, he might seek refuge in foreign lands. It +was folly to shrink from a word, and he found some excuse for himself +in the consideration that all that was Eva's might soon be legally his. +Was she not his betrothed? If she kept her promise to him it would be +easy to contrive some way of restoring the casket to her at a future +day; and if she broke her engagement with him she deserved no mercy at +his hands, and he must look out for his own safety.</p> + +<p class="normal">While he dressed, his mind was filled with thoughts of this description +with which he silenced the last whispers of conscience. He left his +room and betook himself to the balcony. He feared that he should find +Delmar at breakfast there, but that could not be helped. As long as the +balcony served the guests of the inn for a dining-room it was +impossible to avoid seeing them there.</p> + +<p class="normal">But to Bertram's satisfaction, Delmar was not on the balcony, nor, +indeed, was Eva to be found there. Uncle Balthasar and Aunt Minni were +sitting at the breakfast-table with Fräulein von Schlicht and Herwarth, +and they had finished drinking their coffee.</p> + +<p class="normal">Uncle Balthasar received him with some good-natured badinage about his +late rising, telling him that Leo von Heydeck and Fräulein Hilda had +carried off Eva and Herr Delmar upon a mountain-excursion early in the +morning. They had started at six o'clock, and would not return until +evening, for Eva had ordered her servant Wilhelm and a boy from the inn +to follow them with lunch packed in baskets.</p> + +<p class="normal">Guido was relieved, it is true, to know that there was no chance of his +meeting his enemies for some hours to come, but vexation at Eva's +treatment of him far overbalanced this relief. Had she forgotten that +she was betrothed to him? Did she not outrage decency by thus wandering +about the country with Delmar without even giving her future bridegroom +a choice whether or not to join them? This conduct on her part gave him +a right to treat her with the same want of consideration, and again he +thought of the ebony casket.</p> + +<p class="normal">Uncle Balthasar also probably felt uncomfortable at the slight put upon +his 'dear Guido' by his niece, and tried to excuse it by remarking that +Eva would not have him disturbed after his fatigue of the previous day, +and that he, Uncle Balthasar, was quite ready to accompany him if he +felt like a morning walk, an offer which Bertram declined almost +roughly, explaining that he was far too tired to take another walk, and +that he would go to his room and write letters. He finished his +breakfast in silence, replying in monosyllables to Uncle Balthasar's +good-humoured inquiries with regard to his expedition of the previous +day, and immediately rose and left the balcony. With Aline and Aunt +Minni he had not exchanged a word, and his morning salutation to +Herwarth had been barely acknowledged.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he passed along the passage to his room he noticed that the door of +Eva's apartment was open. The thought suddenly occurred to him, "What +if this were the right moment?" He looked cautiously about him,--no one +was to be seen. He hastily entered the half-open door, and found +himself face to face with Nanette, who was putting the room in order.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nanette!"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was so distinct an expression of surprise unmixed with pleasure +on Bertram's face as he uttered her name, that Nanette could not but +perceive it, and her temper was not at all improved by doing so. She +gave the intruder an angry glance, and said in a sharp tone, with an +emphasis upon every word, "Much obliged, I'm sure. Herr von Bertram +does really remember my name. I shall certainly find some way to show +my gratitude for such condescension. No need to shout until one is out +of the woods. If you want to catch gold-fish, see that no one throws +stones in the water."</p> + +<p class="normal">The girl was really angry; her eyes fairly flashed with malice. Bertram +saw that she was offended by his neglect of her, and just now she might +prove a most valuable ally; she must be appeased. He looked round once +more to see that there was no one near, and then entering the room, +closed the door carefully behind him. Yes, there beside the bed stood +the table upon which was placed the ebony casket,--the goal of his +desires. He needed but to stretch out his hand and it was his. But +Nanette must be won over to his schemes.</p> + +<p class="normal">With the sweetest smile at his command he regarded her. "What's the +matter, my little darling?" he asked, in the tenderest of tones. "Are +you angry with me? What have I done? Here am I so happy to have a +chance of seeing you alone at last, hoping you would run into my arms, +and you receive me with hard words. How can you do so, you naughty +little thing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He approached her and would have put his arm around her waist, but she +pushed him away. "Don't touch me!" she said crossly. "You think it +needs only a couple of smooth words to wind a silly girl around your +finger; but you shall find to your cost that you are wrong! I'll show +you what it is to turn a poor girl's head and then break her heart for +the sake of a purse-proud Zantuppy. You shall learn who I am, my fine +Herr Lieutenant!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, my darling----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hands off, or I'll scream!" the girl exclaimed, when Guido made +another attempt to put his arm around her; and she struck at him with +the coarse dust-cloth she had in her hand. "I'll not be fooled again +with your flattering, deceitful speeches. It's all very well to call me +'darling' now, and make eyes at me, but for a whole week you've never +even looked at me. I hate Fräulein Eva's stupid black eyes, but the +haughty thing shall know who used to steal to my chamber at night when +I lived with the Privy Councillor's lady. She'll be furious enough, and +the Herr Lieutenant will see what will become of his gold-fish. Ugh! I +can't stand these vulgar commoners! While she drives her four horses, a +girl worth ten of her must perch like a scarecrow on the box; and while +she's off in the woods with Herr Delmar and Herr von Heydeck, Nanette +has to stick at home in a wretched inn and sleep in the garret with a +stupid maid! I've lived with the best, and I'll not stand it. I'll give +them all something to think of, and the Herr Lieutenant into the +bargain. I'll have my revenge, and I hope you'll enjoy it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nanette paused for breath, and would then have continued with her angry +outburst, but Bertram interrupted her: "Has jealousy made you mad, +girl? Do you not know that I hate your mistress as much as you do? +Can't your bright eyes see that? You are the only one whom I love, you +foolish little darling----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have not seen much of it this last week."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How can my foolish little pet be so blinded by jealousy? Can we live +on air, my dear? We have nothing,--for your sake I must be the victim."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A pretty victim!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And hard enough it is; I am sometimes almost wild with fury when I see +how the odious creature treats you; but let her once be my wife, and I +will repay with usury every hard word she ever gave to my sweet angel; +she shall suffer for her arrogance, and you shall have everything +that heart can desire,--a charming villa, a superb carriage, silk +dresses, and as many jewels as you want. We will live together in +Paradise,--that shall be your revenge!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Nanette's eyes sparkled: the malicious look passed from her face. She +smiled, and did not shrink from the lieutenant's encircling arm; but +she shook her head nevertheless, and said, "Those are only castles in +the air. You don't know the Zantuppy,--she guards her money like a +dragon, or like the foul fiend himself!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not see that----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I do! There in that black box she has more money than she can ever +use; but she keeps it locked up, like a perfect miser. Only a little +while ago, in Munich, when I asked her for a paltry advance of fifty +thalers of my wages to buy a new bonnet and a silk mantilla for the +journey, what did she do? Glared at me out of her stupid black eyes, +and said, 'I do not desire to see my maid tricked out in finery; you +shall have your wages as you earn them, but not a penny in advance to +gratify your vanity.' Those were her very words. I should have liked to +box her ears!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Odious creature!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; and is it not hard to see you making eyes at her and never even +looking at me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can I help it, you foolish child? If she guessed how dear you are to +me she would dismiss you instantly, and I should never have a chance of +seeing you. I have suffered enough this last week, but I hope we can +arrange matters better in future. I have a plan by which we can often +be together undisturbed. With your help it can easily be carried out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is simple enough. You are often busy here while Eva and the rest +are on the balcony. I might come to you here, but that would be too +dangerous; we might be surprised here at any moment, and all would be +lost. And you cannot come to my room either, for fear of being seen; +but if you will always take care that the bolt on this side of the door +between the rooms is slipped back, we can be together as often as we +choose and not a human being suspect it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nanette gave an ugly laugh as Bertram made this proposal. "Not so +stupid as you think," she said. "Thank heaven I can see through a +millstone, and have long known your silly admiration for Fräulein +Aline's doll-face. You would like to pay her a quiet visit now and +then. No, I thank you, Herr Lieutenant!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are perfectly insane with jealousy!" Bertram exclaimed, forgetting +his wonted caution in his surprise at an accusation so unfounded. +Warned however by the angry flush on Nanette's cheek, he restrained his +vexation, and continued in a tone of mild reproach: "How can you +entertain so odious a suspicion, my pet? I detest that waxen-faced +Aline almost as much as her friend. I cannot understand how you can +speak so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you to be trusted, I wonder?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will really provoke me, Nanette. This is all I have in return for +my affection. At great risk I come to look for you, to speak with you +for a moment, and you receive me thus unkindly. Come, lock the door +into the passage and unbolt the one leading to my room, where we can +then talk further without any danger. We can hear the moment Frau +Schommer leaves the balcony, and you can slip back here again without +the slightest fear of detection."</p> + +<p class="normal">The invitation was too tempting to be refused. Nanette locked the door +into the passage, and unbolted the one between Fräulein Schommer's and +Bertram's rooms.</p> + +<p class="normal">Guido's end was attained to his great satisfaction, and he now had so +much to say to Nanette, of the future that awaited her when he should +have married the heiress and her wealth should be his, that the girl +quite forgot her former jealous ill humour, and imparted to him the +import of the various conversations she had lately contrived to +overhear between her mistress and Fräulein Aline. Fräulein von Schlicht +had done all that she could, Nanette said, to induce Eva to break her +engagement, but Eva had declared firmly that she would keep her +promise.</p> + +<p class="normal">This intelligence was very soothing to Bertram, and he began to think +that it would perhaps be better to resign his designs upon the casket; +but he reflected that Eva's purpose would never be maintained should +she ever learn from Delmar that her promise was the result of falsehood +upon the part of her betrothed. Half an hour passed thus in +confidential discourse, when the door leading from the passage to Aunt +Minni's room was heard to open. Nanette, at this note of warning, +slipped back into Eva's apartment, and the next instant Bertram heard +her push the bolt home. He uttered a low curse. "D--n her stupid +jealousy!" was the flattering phrase bestowed upon Nanette, as he +walked to the window and sat down to ponder upon some other means of +obtaining the casket. He could devise none, save by taking it at night. +Although Eva's room was often open in the daytime, there would be no +possibility of concealing it elsewhere in the house, where it would be +immediately missed; and to carry it off to the forest by daylight, when +the inn was full of people, would be equally impossible.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nevertheless he did not resign his project, and he determined to +accustom Nanette to a frequent unbolting of the door, in hopes that, +grown careless, she might some time forget to bolt it again.</p> + +<p class="normal">This determination he carried out during the ensuing weeks. He could do +so all the more easily by reason of the part which he was compelled to +play with regard to the rest of the party. Herwarth, and Leo who came +daily with Hilda from the castle to join in excursions among the +mountains, took no notice whatever of Eva's betrothed. They never even +looked at him, and Aline only spoke to him when common courtesy +required that she should do so.</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva did not hold herself so entirely aloof; she preserved towards +Bertram the same cold politeness that she had always shown him, +allowing him to call her by her first name, although she never +addressed him otherwise than as Herr von Bertram. All familiar approach +on his part she repelled by a frigid reserve. Bertram was made to feel +that the slightest attempt to assert his rights as her betrothed would +be fruitless, and he could not but see how much more familiar was her +manner towards Delmar, Herwarth, and even Leo than towards himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">Warned by his enemy, Guido never ventured to take part in the daily +excursions. He made one of the party only at breakfast, dinner, and +supper, and here Delmar endured his society no longer than he thought +absolutely necessary.</p> + +<p class="normal">If, at the end of an hour at most, Bertram made any attempt to join in +the general conversation, Delmar was sure to make some remark which +contained a command to leave in disguise,--a command which the former +dragoon hastened to obey. His observation, quickened by terror, told +him that at the first sign of rebellion against his enemy's authority +the storm which he so dreaded would burst above his devoted head.</p> + +<p class="normal">In these last few weeks Paul had greatly changed. Often when the others +were conversing eagerly he would sit gazing dreamily out upon the +distant mountains, in a way very unlike himself. When he roused himself +from such brooding reveries, Bertram almost always caught an angry +glance from his dark eyes, which convinced him more and more that he +meditated striking a blow at his prospects, and that, for some hidden +reason, his hand was stayed for the moment. He guessed that this blow +was the breaking of his engagement with Eva, for any one could see the +pleasure Delmar took in the growing intimacy between Leo and Fräulein +Schommer, and that he would gladly remove any obstacle to their +happiness.</p> + +<p class="normal">The firmer this conviction became in Guido's mind the more was he +strengthened in his resolve to insure his own future by the possession +of the ebony casket, and he availed himself of every opportunity for +the private interviews he had contrived with Nanette. Almost every +evening they met in his room, and to his great satisfaction he saw that +he was gradually destroying in her frivolous mind all mistrust of him, +although every evening when she left him he still heard the low +creaking of the bolt as it was pushed into its staples, and Eva's door +remained not only closed to him but fast bolted.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Four weeks had passed since the arrival of the strangers at the inn at +Tausens; every day, favoured by the clear summer skies, they had made +delightful excursions among the mountains, and still no one talked of +leaving; Uncle Balthasar indeed, instigated thereto by Aunt Minni, who, +in spite of her comfortable quarters, missed the luxuries of the villa +in K----, had once or twice asked his niece how long she intended to +stay at Tausens, but he had received no decided answer. The kindly old +man, seeing how his pet was enjoying herself, would have been the last +to wish to cut short her enjoyment, even had he not been so thoroughly +at his ease as he was. For his own part he declared he never had been +so much entertained as in the agreeable society in which he now found +himself. Every evening the party at the inn was joined by the cousins +from the castle, and by the judge, the forester, and the collector from +the village, and Uncle Balthasar was in his glory. Also he spent as +much time as he could with 'dear Guido,' only regretting that his +favourite was not duly appreciated by the rest of the party. He gladly +accompanied him upon his walks from time to time, never dreaming that +the former dragoon's only reason for desiring his society was the hope +that he entertained of gaining some certainty as to his future +prospects from the old man's artless talk of Eva and her relations with +Delmar and Leo.</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact, poor Uncle Balthasar was deeply grieved that Delmar, Herwarth, +and Leo should treat Bertram with such haughty reserve, and that Eva +did not comport herself towards her lover as a girl should, but showed +a decided preference for the strangers. The kindly soul therefore took +care that Bertram should always have a place at the breakfast-table +which made it possible for him to avoid all necessity of speaking with +Delmar or Herwarth.</p> + +<p class="normal">Such a seat Uncle Balthasar had provided, between himself and Aunt +Minni, for his 'dear Guido' on a certain clear, rather cool morning in +August, when the party had assembled upon the balcony at the Post. It +was rather late, nearly nine o'clock; there was to be no long walk +to-day, because the young people had made so distant an excursion the +day before. Leo and Hilda had not come down from the castle, but had +invited Eva and Delmar, with Herwarth and his betrothed, to spend the +day with them in the castle garden and in seeing all that there was of +interest within the old walls.</p> + +<p class="normal">Conversation did not flow as easily as usual this morning. Herwarth and +Aline talked, it is true, but Delmar sat gazing dreamily abroad over +the valley, and Eva rarely spoke.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul had lately lost much of his former vivacity; he sometimes had no +power to rouse himself and conquer his depression, and would sink into +a revery, from which he awakened only when he observed Hilda regarding +him with a look of trouble on her lovely face. Then perhaps for a while +he would be as merry as ever, although this would not last long. He +would leave the rest, lagging behind upon some side-path if they were +walking, or absenting himself upon some slight pretext from the party +on the balcony.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a month of hard struggle Paul at last confronted a crisis in his +fate. The goal which he lived to attain was reached. Between Leo and +Eva there was now only the promise given by the latter to Bertram. The +heart of each was laid bare to the other. It was in Paul's power to +remove the obstacle that separated the lovers. Why did he hesitate to +pronounce the word that would avail to do so? He excused this to +himself by urging that he must first keep the promise given to Leo, +whereby he was pledged to learn all that could be known of his past +from Dr. Putzer. He did not confess even to himself that he dreaded +keeping this promise; that he shuddered when he received from Dr. +Atzinger, who was in constant attendance upon the sick man, daily +intelligence of the slow improvement in his patient's condition; that +his heart had throbbed fast when he heard that Putzer would soon be in +complete possession of his faculties and able to receive Delmar's +visit; and that on this very morning, as he sat silent at the +breakfast-table, he was lost in gloomy reflection because Dr. Atzinger +had reported on the previous day that he hoped on the ensuing morning +to allow Delmar the long-talked-of interview with the sick man.</p> + +<p class="normal">This visit Delmar was now anticipating with harrowing anxiety. In the +sleepless night he had passed he had reviewed in detail every +circumstance of the last few weeks. Four weeks since death would have +been welcome to him, in view of the horrible certainty that Hilda was +legally his sister, although bound to him by no natural tie; all that +had given life an interest to him then had been the hope of insuring +his friend's happiness; he thought this hope now upon the point of +fulfilment, and yet a possible death seemed to him far from welcome +now.</p> + +<p class="normal">What had produced this change in the last month? Was his conviction +that Hilda was legally his half-sister shaken? No, on the contrary it +had been confirmed; after his conversation with Leo he had written to a +prominent lawyer in K----, instructing him to make every possible +inquiry as to Herr Delmar's place of abode and family circumstances +before he had come to reside in K----; placing at his disposal the +means for making these investigations thorough at any cost. The result +had been such as to remove all doubt in Paul's mind, had any such +existed, as to his relationship with Hilda.</p> + +<p class="normal">The lawyer had established the fact that Paul Delmar, the son of Herr +Delmar, had died a few days after his mother,--there were official +records of this,--and also that Herr Delmar had established himself +in K---- shortly after leaving his native place. He had brought to +K---- with him a child, whose certificate of birth and baptism as his +son Paul had been shown to the proper authorities. Of course, as the +lawyer wrote, the fact that Herr Delmar had produced an adopted son as +his own could be proved beyond a doubt; but this would never be done +unless by Herr Paul Delmar's desire.</p> + +<p class="normal">After this intelligence from his lawyer, Paul needed no confirmation +from Dr. Putzer of his relation to Herr von Heydeck, but nevertheless +he was determined to obtain it. Towards ten o'clock Dr. Atzinger made +his appearance, and announced that his patient had exceeded his +expectations by himself earnestly entreating that Herr Delmar would +visit him.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Paul heard this he sprang up from the breakfast-table and would +have hurried away, when suddenly his glance fell upon Bertram, who was +observing him narrowly. The thought instantly occurred to him that +after this interview with Dr. Putzer he might not be able to endure +another twenty-four hours in the society of his friends. Therefore +before seeing the sick man Eva must be released from her bondage.</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood reflecting for a moment, and then turning to Herwarth, Aline, +and Eva, he begged them not to delay their visit to the castle upon his +account; he should in all probability shortly follow them, although he +might be detained longer than he anticipated by Dr. Putzer. Eva's offer +to wait for him he decidedly refused to accept; and only when they had +all promised to set off without him did he turn to Bertram, saying, +"Before I see Dr. Putzer, Herr von Bertram, you will perhaps grant me +the pleasure of fifteen minutes' conversation with you. Shall we walk?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Certainly no invitation could have been more suavely and courteously +expressed, and yet Bertram's face grew ashy pale, and his heart sank +within him as he bowed and stammered a few words of assent to Delmar's +proposal.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as Paul had requested Dr. Atzinger to await him at Dr. +Putzer's, he left the balcony and led the way, Bertram following, +to the village street, where first he moderated his pace, that the +ex-lieutenant might walk beside him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know, Herr von Bertram, why I have thus requested your +company?" he began.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed--Herr Delmar--I cannot conceive----"</p> + +<p class="normal">A look of contempt from Delmar greeted these stammered words of denial. +"Your embarrassment assures me that you are perfectly aware of what I +wish to discuss," Paul continued. "I will therefore come to the point +at once. Your unnatural relations with Fräulein Eva Schommer must cease +this very day,--this very hour!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Delmar----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not interrupt me. Experience must have taught you that when I speak +I mean what I say. For the last four weeks I have watched Fräulein +Schommer narrowly; there is no need to tell you that your betrothed +abhors you, that she loves my friend, Leo von Heydeck, with all her +soul, and that nothing but her inexorable sense of right withholds her +from retracting the promise by which she bound herself to you. You know +all this as well as I do. If you were a man of honour, such knowledge +would suffice to induce you voluntarily to renounce----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Delmar, you insult me! Remember your promise!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I promised you nothing, and I cannot conceive how the mention of a +fact of which you are perfectly cognizant can insult you; but we will +not quarrel about words. The fact is that you do not voluntarily +dissolve an engagement which you never should have contracted, and that +you thus force me to make use of the power over you which I possess. +Listen then to a brief declaration of my intentions. Either you will, +in order to preserve at least the semblance of honour, make known to +Fräulein Schommer in a letter that you release her from her promise, +that you voluntarily dissolve the engagement between you, after which +you will instantly leave Tausens, so that all further explanation may +be impossible, or Fräulein Schommer shall learn from me what reasons +moved you to make your public apology to Leo von Heydeck, and I will +present in K----, to be cashed, a certain forged check.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you do as I require I am ready to hand over to you a sum of five +thousand thalers as soon as your letter is sent to Fräulein Schommer. +If you refuse, you will be expelled this very day from our circle, +where there is really no room for a detected forger. Make your choice!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Guido trembled with futile rage while Delmar went on speaking with calm +decision. Had he only been alone with his foe, he would have throttled +him. But they were walking along the village street, the observed of +many eyes. Bertram knew that he was in his enemy's power, and he knew +Delmar, and that his was no vain threat. He dared not make any +resistance; he only hoped to gain time. He thought of the ebony casket, +and of Nanette. If Delmar would only grant him a little time, a few +days, he might bring the maid over to assist in his plans, now that she +was daily yielding more and more to his influence. Therefore he +suppressed all expression of anger; nothing could be wrung from this +man by opposition; submission and entreaty must be tried.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are fearfully hard upon me, Herr Delmar," he said, with feigned +humility. "Was it magnanimous to leave me so long in torment between +fear and hope? I implore you to give me a few days in which to prepare +myself for the step you demand of me. I will speak with my betrothed, +and will entreat her to tell me frankly whether indeed she cannot look +for happiness in a life spent by my side. And if, as I fear she will, +she tells me that she cannot, that she can only give me her hand +without her heart, and that her promise alone binds her to me, then I +can fulfil your desire honourably, Herr Delmar. Why, after keeping me +waiting for weeks without pronouncing judgment against me, do you +suddenly insist upon handing me over to disgrace? Only give me a few +days' respite, and I promise to do your bidding."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul's eyes gloomily sought the ground. A word of entreaty always had +great weight with him; it was only where he met with resistance that he +was hard. True humility and docility were sure to disarm him. Earnestly +as he wished that Leo's fate should be decided, much as he desired to +be at liberty to do as he pleased, it is more than probable that he +would have yielded to Bertram's entreaty if a suspicion had not +suddenly dawned upon him that the man meant to play him false. Why +should he desire an interview with Eva? Did he hope to induce the +wealthy heiress to buy her freedom from him? Such a scheme might well +be attributed to the scoundrel, and Paul was convinced that Eva would +be ready to sacrifice her entire fortune if by so doing the detested +tie might be severed. The sudden suspicion steeled him against +Bertram's entreaty, and he replied, "Not a day, not an hour, will I +give you; you must decide upon the spot!"</p> + +<p class="normal">One look into Delmar's calm, resolute face convinced Bertram that he +had no respite, however short, to expect; he still might perhaps +succeed in moving him in another respect, and with a profound sigh he +continued: "You are terribly severe and cruel with me, Herr Delmar. How +have I deserved such scant mercy at your hands? In a miserable moment +of my life, a prey to despair, I was led to invoke destruction upon my +head by that stroke of the pen. I was half frantic. I had to choose +between disgrace and death by my own hand. Love of life conquered, and +I forged that signature, an act which I have repented bitterly ever +since. You then saved me from merited disgrace, for which I was +inexpressibly grateful to you. I felt the wrong I had done you in +handing you the forged check, and I was never without a sense of +devotion to you as my saviour from dishonour. And yet you are now the +one to invoke disgrace upon my head. Remember how you have punished me +already. You forced me to public dishonour among my comrades, to resign +from the army, to destroy all my hopes in life, and now you thrust me +into the abyss from which a marriage with Eva would save me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are enormously wealthy, and you know nothing of the misery of +poverty; therefore you thrust me forth into the world with a paltry +pittance of five thousand thalers. You offer me five thousand thalers +as indemnification for what you take from me! Can five thousand thalers +begin life afresh for me and worthily support the name I bear? Can I +even live for a few short years upon such a sum? Be magnanimous, Herr +Delmar, and let me have, not as a gift but as a loan, a sum sufficient +to buy an estate upon the income of which I can live as a landed +proprietor, and in time repay you. You will not miss it, and I shall be +forever grateful to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">With inexpressible contempt Paul regarded the speaker who thus in his +servile entreaty for money laid bare all the meanness of his sordid +soul. He would gladly have paid any sum to secure Leo's happiness, but +to supply this aristocratic beggar with the means for a life of +dissipation would in his estimation be a sin against humanity. Utterly +disgusted, he turned away; he would have nothing more to do with the +fellow. "Not a word more, Herr von Bertram!" he exclaimed, harshly; +"you have heard my offer, which I now almost regret having made; you +must now decide whether to accept or to reject it. You would squander +fifty thousand thalers as quickly as five thousand at the gaming-table. +I know that I was wrong in offering you money. But I did so, and will +stand by my word, if you declare yourself ready this minute to do as I +command you. The time which I was free to devote to you is past. I must +have a simple 'yes' or 'no'! Answer me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I implore you, Herr Delmar----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Yes' or 'no'! Not another word! If you do not reply, I shall +understand it as 'no,' and you must abide by the consequences."</p> + +<p class="normal">Not yet could Bertram bring himself to utter the decisive 'yes.' He +still hesitated, but Paul left him no time for further reflection. When +Bertram paused he turned from him with contempt, and would have +returned to the inn. His firmness conquered.</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram saw that all would be lost, and the promised five thousand +thalers besides, if he did not instantly submit. He hastened after +Delmar. "Yes, Herr Delmar!" he exclaimed, "I submit to your wishes; I +confide in your magnanimity!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have made prudent use of the last moment," Paul rejoined coldly; +"follow me to my room."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again he led the way, Bertram following him. At the door of the inn +they met Aline, Eva, and Herwarth about to start for the castle. "I +will soon join you," Paul said, as he passed them. Bertram never lifted +his eyes from the ground, and they did not appear to notice him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Arrived in his room, Delmar directed Bertram to his writing-table. "Sit +there," he said; "take a sheet of paper, and write. I will dictate to +you a letter that shall serve as the last chapter of the miserable +romance of your betrothal. You shall extricate yourself from this +wretched business as a man of honour; at least you shall appear such in +Fräulein Schommer's eyes. It is of course more than you deserve, and is +probably great folly on my part; it is not done for your sake, but +because I owe some reparation to Fräulein Schommer for a former unjust +estimate of her, and I should like to save her from the humiliating +conviction that she has been betrothed to so utter a scoundrel as +yourself. Therefore I will surround your brow with the halo of +high-souled renunciation. Write!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram bit his lips, not daring to vent the rage that was consuming +him. Without a word of reply he took up a pen, and wrote down the words +which Delmar, standing behind him, dictated over his shoulder.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"Four terrible, agonizing weeks have I passed, weeks in which each day +was torture to me. With every miserable hour I have become more and +more clearly convinced that you, dearest Eva, have accorded me a right +to remain near you as your betrothed only in consequence of a promise +too hastily given. I have seen that your heart belongs to another, and +that it never can be mine.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not blame you; I only bewail the ill fortune that shatters all my +life's fairest hopes. I should be indeed lost to all sense of honour if +I attempted to hold you, my beloved Eva, to a promise given me when you +were ignorant of your own heart. You, at least, shall not be unhappy. I +give back to you the faith which your inexorable sense of rectitude +forbids you to recall. I voluntarily release you from your engagement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall not, I cannot, see you again. It is with the deepest pain that +I leave you, but there is some consolation for me in the thought that +you will not think of me with hatred, but will accord me some measure +of friendly remembrance in the knowledge that I have sacrificed my +happiness to yours.</p> + +<p class="right">"<span class="sc">Guido von Bertram</span>."</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The letter was written. Paul took it, and read it aloud, laughing +bitterly as he finished it. "Excellent!" he said; "an epistle which +might worthily find a place in any romance, and which is certainly not +dear at five thousand thalers. Uncle Balthasar may still speak with +genuine emotion of his 'dear Guido;' the fair Eva may think kindly of +the noble self-renunciation that inspired the letter, and perhaps +privately repent that she did the writer such injustice. Even Leo will +shake his head, unable to conceive how such words could have been +written by him who penned them. Seal it with your signet-ring, and I +myself will deliver it to Fräulein Schommer."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bertram obeyed in silence. He sealed the letter and gave it to Delmar, +who in return took from his pocket-book five thousand thalers in large +notes, which he handed to the ex-lieutenant, saying, "Our business is +now concluded, Herr von Bertram. I leave you, never to see you again. I +myself will order a carriage for you from the postmaster. It will be at +the door in five minutes; just in time for you to catch the midday +train from the railway-station. In a quarter of an hour you will have +left Tausens. Only upon this understanding; do I give you this money. I +shall reclaim it if I find you still here when I return from a visit I +am about to make in the village. And if you should dare to attempt to +obtain an interview with Fräulein Schommer, I shall ruthlessly use +against you the forged check in my possession. Make haste with the +packing of your portmanteau; you have but a quarter of an hour's time +at the most."</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar expected no answer, and received none. Bertram swept up the pile +of notes, and with a last look of hatred as his only farewell to Paul, +hurried away to his room, where he locked himself in, while Delmar +quietly went down-stairs and ordered Hansel to have a conveyance +brought to the door for Herr von Bertram, who wished to catch the +midday train. After which he proceeded to pay his visit to Dr. Putzer.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Bertram found himself alone in his room, he no longer restrained +the expression of the rage that possessed him. Muttering curses upon +the failure of his schemes, he paced the floor like some caged wild +beast. All was over! He was powerless in the grasp of his deadly foe; +thrust forth thus into the world with a paltry pittance of five +thousand thalers to atone for the millions he had lost.</p> + +<p class="normal">How gladly he would have murdered his pitiless, inexorable enemy! But +even in the midst of his paroxysm of anger he shuddered at the thought +of Delmar's cold, quiet manner, which always had power to overawe his +coward will.</p> + +<p class="normal">His fate was decided; he must submit. The ebony casket again recurred +to him. Just then there was a rustle in the next room. Eva and Aline +had gone to the castle. Nanette must be there alone. Hitherto he had +not thought of making her his accomplice in the theft; this now +occurred to him. Only with her aid could he hope to make the coveted +prize his own.</p> + +<p class="normal">But if he did thus gain possession of it, would not suspicion instantly +fall upon him? Eva would miss her treasure as soon as she returned from +the castle, and Delmar would not leave her long in doubt as to who had +stolen it. He pondered the matter. Eva could not possibly return from +the castle before two a clock; she was to dine at three at the inn. But +by two he might be far away. If he took the train to Toblach, and then +drove to Schleuderbach, he could reach the Italian frontier before even +a telegraphic message could be despatched in search of him, although +Delmar should immediately institute a pursuit of the fugitive. Once +across the frontier he would surely be able to elude all discovery.</p> + +<p class="normal">What would Eva say when she found her precious casket missing and +divined who had taken it? As he thought of the letter he had just +written, and the contrast it formed to the act he contemplated, he +laughed bitterly. But his time was short, every minute was precious, he +dared delay no longer. He knocked cautiously at the door leading to the +next room. The bolt was withdrawn, and Nanette opened it. She was +received by him with a tender embrace. "My little darling," he said, +"how fortunate I am in seeing you once more before I leave!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The girl looked at him with terrified surprise. "What do you mean, Herr +von Bertram? You are going away? How? Where?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will tell you, my pet, and you only. I have just received +intelligence that a suit has been instituted against me in K---- for +leaving there without leave of absence from my superior officer. I am +to be arrested here to-day and taken back a prisoner to K----. I must +fly or I am lost; in a quarter of an hour I must leave Tausens."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What will become of Fräulein Schommer?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not mention her. I am glad to be rid of her even in this way. I +hate her, but it breaks my heart to leave you. Oh, Nanette, if you +really cared for me you would leave all and come with me! You should be +my darling little wife, with nothing to do but enjoy yourself all day +long!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Nanette listened, speechless with rapture. Here was a proposal she had +never ventured to hope for! A great gentleman, and the betrothed +besides of her hated mistress, asked her to fly with him and be his +wife,--his real wife,--a lady of rank! Her head grew giddy at the +thought. She could hardly believe her ears.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Bertram went on pouring forth his insidious protestations and +entreaties until she could doubt no longer. And when he pointed to the +ebony casket and said that it contained what would give them a +careless, happy life in Italy, she made no resistance to his taking it +from the table where it stood, and bewildered and submissive only asked +whether they should not be found out. He soothed her with the assurance +that they should both be far beyond the Italian frontier before the +absence of the casket was detected or any pursuit thought of.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before many minutes were past Bertram had won the girl over to his +purpose; she consented to accompany him in his flight, she became his +accomplice. By his directions she locked on the inside the door leading +from Eva's room to the passage, and then followed her grand gentleman, +who carried the casket, into his room where he locked the door of +communication and put the key in his pocket.</p> + +<p class="normal">Time was precious, and Bertram made haste to thrust the casket, which +must be hidden from sight while he was leaving the inn, into his +portmanteau. Here however he encountered an unexpected difficulty. On +each side of the box was a large ornamented gilt handle, by which it +had usually been lifted. These handles made the box too large for the +interior of his portmanteau. As Bertram tried in vain to pack away the +casket so that the small trunk would close, he muttered an oath. He +could not possibly allow the box, which the postmaster and the inn +servants knew to be Eva's property, to be seen in his possession, and +there was no way of concealing it except by packing it into the +portmanteau, which was too small for it. He tried to bend one of the +metal handles, and as he did so it broke off in his hand. "So best!" he +said, throwing it aside, and then wrenching off the other, which he +also threw on the floor. The casket now fitted perfectly inside the +portmanteau, filling it however so completely that Bertram was forced +to leave most of his clothes behind him.</p> + +<p class="normal">In a few minutes the portmanteau was locked, and Bertram himself +carried it down to the conveyance which was awaiting him at the +inn-door. The postmaster stood by it, cap in hand, expressing sorrow +that the gentleman was about to leave him. His surprise was great when +Nanette suddenly made her appearance in her bonnet and shawl and took +her seat beside Herr von Bertram in the carriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will take this opportunity of driving to town," she said, observing +honest Hansel's amazement. "I have several commissions to execute for +my mistress, and I will come back towards evening in the carriage. +Adieu, Herr Postmaster!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Drive on!" cried Bertram. "I must catch the midday train!" The driver +cracked his whip, and the horses started at a rapid pace.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hansel looked after the carriage as long as it was in sight, and then +turned into the inn with a wise shake of his head. This sudden +departure of the young nobleman, and so strangely accompanied too, did +not seem to him just what it should be. But these great people from the +city certainly did have many queer ways, and as long as Herr Delmar had +ordered the carriage everything must be right, and thus Hansel forced +himself to think.</p> + +<p class="normal">He went up-stairs to see that Herr von Bertram had forgotten nothing in +his room, and to his surprise found the door locked. This was +vexatious. The Herr must have locked it absently and put the key into +his pocket. Ten to one he would forget to give it to the driver when +they reached the railway-station.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hansel went grumbling and fetched his master-key, which opened all the +bedrooms in the house; but when he entered Bertram's apartment he found +it in a condition which greatly increased his misgivings with regard to +the sudden departure. One or two suits of clothes and a quantity of +linen lay about the floor in disorder. They could not have been +forgotten; they must have been left behind intentionally. All these +clothes had been brought to the inn in Herr von Bertram's portmanteau, +and yet Hansel had noticed that it had looked much fuller without all +these articles in it when the gentleman had put it into the carriage +just now. Again Hansel shook his head; he did not know what to make of +all this, and he resolved to ask Herr Delmar about it as soon as he +returned to the inn.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">After Delmar had ordered the carriage for Bertram, he walked slowly +along the village street towards Dr. Putzer's. The nearer he came to +the house the more he lingered; never had he experienced such a dread +as possessed him at thought of the coming interview which would decide +his fate.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he was ashamed of what seemed to him cowardice, and as he paused +for an instant at the small grated gate opening into the doctor's +garden he braced himself to meet his fate, reflecting that no delay +would postpone the inevitable, and then walked quickly through the +garden to the house-door.</p> + +<p class="normal">Dr. Atzinger received him. "You have been long in coming, Herr Delmar," +he said. "Our patient has been impatiently awaiting you. If I had +yielded to his wishes you would have seen him some days ago; but even +now, I confess frankly, I should have liked to postpone this interview. +I think him far too weak for any agitation of mind, and I have yielded +to him in this instance only because I feared more from the effect of +his restless impatience than from the conversation with you, which he +evidently considers as of the first importance. Unfortunately I cannot +be present at this interview. He has asked to see you alone, and I must +therefore entreat you to use extreme caution, remembering that any +over-excitement on his part is certain death. Pray do all you can to +soothe him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul willingly promised all that was asked of him. He felt no +irritation towards Putzer, who had been but the tool of Herr von +Heydeck.</p> + +<p class="normal">Atzinger conducted him to the door of the doctor's bedroom, saying as +he opened it, "Here is the man you so wish to see; now remember, my +dear friend, to send him away as you promised, as soon as you feel +exhausted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes; tell him to come in," was the reply, in feeble tones.</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar entered, and Dr. Atzinger left him alone with the patient.</p> + +<p class="normal">The room was large and sunny, and supplied with every comfort that +could be procured in a retired Tyrolean village. The sick man's bed was +so placed that as he lay with his face turned to the window he had a +full view of the steep rock crowned by Castle Reifenstein.</p> + +<p class="normal">Upon Paul's entrance the invalid raised himself into a half-sitting +posture and turned his face full towards his visitor. "I have been +longing for you for many days, Herr Delmar," he said, in a faint, +scarce audible voice. "You are come at last, and I thank you. I was +afraid I should never see you again."</p> + +<p class="normal">Was this Dr. Putzer? Delmar never could have believed it from the +evidence of his senses. There was absolutely no resemblance between +the wine-flushed bloated countenance which Paul remembered and this +ashy-pale flabby face, save for the light disordered hair that fell +on either side of it. And just as little did the invalid's weak gentle +voice resemble Dr. Putzer's hoarse brutal tones.</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar was so shocked and startled by the alteration he observed in the +man that he could at first find no words in which to reply to his +salutation.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor continued: "Sit here, Herr Delmar, close by my bed; I have +much to say, and not much strength wherewith to say it. I must pray you +to lend me your patient attention."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul obeyed; he drew a chair to the bedside and sat down, filled with +pity for the sick man, whose every word evidently cost him a painful +effort. His compassion got the better of his desire to hear what the +man had to say. "Talking is too much for you, Herr Doctor," he said +kindly. "You must not exert yourself I beg you reserve what you have to +tell me for another day, when you are stronger and better, and let us +discuss only commonplace topics at present. I will pay you a daily +visit, and your friend Dr. Atzinger tells me that you will be much +stronger and more equal to the task you have imposed upon yourself in a +few days."</p> + +<p class="normal">A grim smile, which reminded Paul of the Dr. Putzer of his remembrance, +flitted across the pale face. "My dear friend Dr. Atzinger is an +ignoramus!" the sick man replied. "I shall never be stronger; I +shall shortly be found dead in my bed,--perhaps to-day, perhaps +to-morrow,--any time within the next fortnight. I know this with +absolute certainty, and therefore I was so impatient to see you, for I +must and will speak with you. I will not die without being revenged +upon the worthless woman whose fault it is that I lie here a dying man, +and who has had no thought except for her own safety. She expected me +to die without ever being able to utter another word, and she robbed me +of every cent I possess that she might escape danger; but she was +mistaken,--I still live, and will use my last breath in revenging +myself upon her."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor's voice grew stronger and his eyes flashed as he said these +words. But the momentary excitement over, he sank back exhausted among +his pillows. Paul feared he was dying, and rose hastily to call Dr. +Atzinger, but Putzer divined his intention. "Stay," he gasped; "it will +pass off,--in a moment I shall be strong enough."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again Paul obeyed, and after resting for a few minutes, the doctor +continued: "Indignation at that wretched woman exhausted me; it shall +not occur again. I will husband my strength for what I have to do. +There may be no to-morrow for me, and you shall not leave me until I +have armed you for my revenge upon that fiend. I might tell you much, +but I think you already know most of what I have to say. You would not +have come to Tausens if you had not known that Herr von Heydeck has +defrauded you of your inheritance, and if you did not wish to recover +it from him. You know this, but you do not know what it is most +important that you should, and you perhaps imagine that with the help +of certain proof of which I am ignorant you can force Herr von Heydeck +to acknowledge you as his son and to leave you his property and his +name. Is not this so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul made no reply except by a faint motion of the head, which the +doctor took for assent, and continued: "I thought so. You will scarcely +undertake a wearisome lawsuit for the sake of the property. I have +heard that you are very rich, that you are the possessor of millions. +Is this true?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, it is true!" Paul replied, firmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">His answer satisfied the doctor. "Then I am right. Herr von Heydeck's +wealth does not allure you; you did not come to Tausens to demand your +rightful inheritance? Answer me, am I right?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes!" Paul said, distinctly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then it is the name and title of von Heydeck that you covet. I thought +so. Well, Herr Delmar. I shall have to depress your hopes slightly. I +think I remember, before my illness, when I was not exactly myself, +having told you that you could lay no claim to the name of Heydeck. +What I then said is true; you are the son of Count Menotti, not of Herr +von Heydeck!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But Herr von Heydeck acknowledged me as his son, and such I therefore +am in the eye of the law," Paul rejoined, hoping to incite the doctor +to further revelations by this insistance. His hope was fulfilled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You think so, but you are mistaken," the doctor continued. "You think +you know all about it because you probably possess proof that Herr von +Heydeck delivered you over to Herr Delmar as a child, and that you are +the boy whom Herr von Heydeck gave out for dead in order that he might +appropriate to himself the child's maternal inheritance. All this you +know, but you do not know that there was no child by Herr von Heydeck's +marriage with his first wife; that you were the illegitimate child of +your mother and Count Menotti; that you were born before Herr von +Heydeck was married to your mother, and that therefore you can lay no +claim whatever to the name of Heydeck."</p> + +<p class="normal">The words were spoken. Paul saw the yawning abyss which was to have +swallowed up his hopes suddenly disappear, and a sunny future expand +before him. The burden which had wellnigh crushed him for weeks beneath +its weight fell from him. Hilda was not even legally his sister, nor +was Heydeck his father, but a stranger, to whom he was bound neither by +the law of the land nor by that of nature. His brain reeled at the +thought that if the sick man's words were true there was no longer any +obstacle to separate him from his love.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor perceived how deep was the impression produced upon Delmar +by his words, but he ascribed his agitation to a false cause. "I see," +he said more kindly than was his wont, "that my information pains you +because it annihilates your hopes, but I could not spare you. You must +know the entire truth that you may not proceed to false measures in +dealing with Herr von Heydeck,--measures which might defeat your +object. This object there is a chance of your attaining if you will +follow my advice. I will put into your hands proof that you are not the +son of Herr von Heydeck, and it may be the very means of enabling you +to induce the cowardly old miser to leave you his name and title."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give me this proof, Herr Doctor," Delmar cried, in the greatest +agitation, "and I assure you that at no price will I consider it dearly +bought! Ask what you will for this proof, and I will give it you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul's eager words called forth a melancholy smile upon the doctor's +shrunken features. "That is a fine promise, but valueless to me," he +rejoined. "Four weeks ago I would have thanked you for it; to-day it +moves me not at all. In a few days this miserable body of mine will be +six feet deep in the ground. I have all I want till then, and all that +you have could not induce me to do your bidding against my will. But I +will be revenged upon my wicked wife, who made my home a hell, who +poisoned my life! I will atone for the wrong I did you. You have been +my benefactor in this illness, my friend Atzinger tells me that you +have sent a carriage for him daily, and given him a generous fee for +attending me. I will show my gratitude to you. Listen to me, and I will +tell you what you ought to know, and give you the proof which you +need." The doctor then told his tale; he spoke in low, measured words, +husbanding his forces, for he felt that he needed all the strength that +he could muster. The import of his communication was as follows:</p> + +<p class="normal">When Herr von Heydeck bought Reifenstein and passed some weeks there +with his handsome wife, Dr. Putzer was a gay young fellow; he had +studied well, understood his profession, and hoped to lead a pleasant +life in Tausens. He soon found however that the position of a village +doctor was by no means so pleasant or so lucrative as he had supposed, +and that its income would never afford him the social enjoyments which +he desired. He was fond of a glass of good wine, and he needed +periodicals and scientific books to aid him in his studies. He had no +mind for a hermit's life. The paltry fees which he received from his +peasant patients but poorly sufficed for half his needs; he became +deeply involved in debt, out of which he racked his brains in vain to +find any means of extricating himself. Under these circumstances he +thought it most fortunate that the wealthy Herr von Heydeck should buy +Reifenstein, and that he should be sent for to visit the castle in his +medical capacity. He took pains to recommend himself to the lord of the +castle, whose love of scientific pursuits he humoured; and he +succeeded. He became the confidant of Herr von Heydeck, who often +bewailed to him the sorrow caused him by his unworthy wife, but never +alluded to the past. It struck Putzer as very strange, this mystery +enshrouding the past of Herr von Heydeck and his handsome wife. The +husband lived in disgraceful dependence upon Madame von Heydeck's +whims, never even venturing to remonstrate when Count Menotti publicly +conducted himself as her declared lover.</p> + +<p class="normal">The mystery was explained for the doctor when Herr von Heydeck, after +his wife's death, came to Castle Reifenstein with his child. When +Putzer was sent for to see the boy, a single glance at the child told +the physician of the criminal deception that had here been practised +upon the world. The newspapers three months before had announced the +birth of a boy; but the child who had inherited his mother's property +was at least a year and a half old, and must have been born before Herr +von Heydeck's marriage, which had taken place not quite a year +previously.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Heydeck, reading the doctor's thoughts in his face, could not +refrain from giving him his entire confidence, especially since he +needed his aid. He confessed to him that the infant was the child of +the Count Menotti, and had been born some months before his own +marriage. It was solely for the sake of bestowing an aristocratic name +upon the child that its mother had consented to marry Heydeck, after he +had promised in writing to acknowledge the child as his own within a +year after their marriage. Within that time the intelligence of Frau +von Heydeck's confinement was spread abroad in society, but the fruit +of it, a boy, was pronounced so sickly and weak that no one except the +nurse was allowed to see it.</p> + +<p class="normal">This nurse, Rosy, was the foster-sister and confidante of Frau von +Heydeck, and had contrived the entire scheme. It was by her advice that +the marriage with Herr von Heydeck had been contracted, and to her +keeping was entrusted the document whereby Heydeck bound himself to +acknowledge the child as his own. With this in her possession she ruled +her master with a rod of iron after his wife's death.</p> + +<p class="normal">Dr. Putzer, on his first visit at the castle, easily comprehended the +relations between the castle's lord and the pretty waiting-maid. The +young physician was taken with her handsome face and pert coquettish +ways, while her by no means spotless past was of no consequence in his +eyes. Loaded down with debts he had but one wish, and that was to +secure for himself a comfortable and assured existence; the safest way +to attain this end was by a marriage with Rosy; together they could +gain such an ascendency over Herr von Heydeck as to induce him to share +his wealth with them.</p> + +<p class="normal">They were soon agreed, and Heydeck weakly yielded to their mischievous +influence. Rosy suggested to him that the boy's death would be the best +luck that could befall him; but Heydeck, although scarcely too +conscientious, was too cowardly to commit so grave a crime as murder. +He consented to rid himself of the boy, but not by death; he would +cause the intelligence of his death to be spread abroad, and he would +bring him up in secret, until death did actually come, as he hoped it +soon would, to the weakly, sickly child.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor and his betrothed lent Heydeck their ready aid; the doctor +wrote the official certificate of the child's death,--he had spread the +report of its fatal contagious disease that no one might desire to see +the corpse,--and he fitted up the basement of the tower, whither the +unfortunate child was taken and committed to the care of the two +half-idiotic Melchers.</p> + +<p class="normal">The scheme which had been hatched in Rosy's brain was successful: the +mock funeral took place, the boy vanished, and Herr von Heydeck was his +heir. He paid the doctor and Rosy well for their services, and upon +their immediate marriage hoped he was rid of them. Here however he was +mistaken; his crime did not go unpunished, for he never was able to +shake off the mastery maintained over him by the intriguing Rosy, not +even when he secretly conveyed the boy away from the castle and falsely +told the doctor that the child had died in Switzerland. Whenever Rosy +wanted to extort money from Heydeck she threatened him with betrayal, +not of the mock death of the child, in which crime she herself was an +accomplice, but of that first deception of Heydeck's, whereby he had +made official announcement of the birth of a child, who was in reality +already more than a year old.</p> + +<p class="normal">Rosy could produce the proof of this deception; she had carefully +preserved the document entrusted to her by Frau von Heydeck, with a +series of letters which made the fact of the deception incontestable. +She could prove that the boy was Frau von Heydeck's illegitimate child, +and if she did so to the relatives of her deceased mistress they would +certainly come forward to assert their claims to an inheritance of +which Heydeck had illegally possessed himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">Rosy thus held the lord of the castle in perpetual thraldom, reducing +him almost to despair in forcing him to satisfy her avaricious greed. +She was the wretched man's evil genius.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor's life too was scarcely less wretched than Heydeck's; his +wife made, as he had said, his house a hell. She never ceased +tormenting and aggravating him, and he had recourse to drinking to +drown his misery. Only in forgetfulness could he find relief. The +wicked woman made a perfect slave of him; he hated her, but rarely +ventured to disobey her.</p> + +<p class="normal">The worm will turn however, and sometimes when his courage was screwed +up with wine the doctor rebelled against the tyranny that oppressed +him. At some such moment he formed the plan of appropriating to himself +the power which his wife possessed over Herr von Heydeck, thinking +thus to make the evil woman subject to his will. He stole from her +the papers by which she ruled Herr von Heydeck, and in spite of her +rage when she missed them, bade her defiance, and never revealed the +hiding-place where the important documents were concealed.</p> + +<p class="normal">By this bold stroke he was at least enabled now and then to intimidate +his wife by threats that he would deliver over the papers to Herr von +Heydeck; but he was never able to shake off the yoke of her stronger +nature, and his life was almost as miserable as before.</p> + +<p class="normal">The absolute hatred with which he regarded her was fiercer than ever as +he lay ill and helpless in bed; he could not forgive her for causing +his attack by insisting upon his plunging his head beneath the cold +water, and for then leaving him neglected and alone, that she might +escape the punishment of the crime which Delmar had probably come to +Tausens to investigate.</p> + +<p class="normal">To revenge himself upon her the doctor now handed Paul the papers, +which he had instructed Dr. Atzinger a few days previously to fetch +from their hiding-place, and which he had since kept beneath his +pillow. The worthless woman, the doctor declared, should perish in want +and misery,--she had spent everything that she had extorted from Herr +von Heydeck in dress and finery, and had only taken a small sum with +her upon her flight. With these papers her power over Herr von Heydeck +was gone,--he would certainly do nothing more for her when he knew that +she could do him no further harm.</p> + +<p class="normal">In possession of these documents Delmar could, the doctor explained, +force Herr von Heydeck to bequeath to him his name. Through fear lest +he should lose his money and be dragged through a disgraceful lawsuit +the old coward, so said the doctor, could be made to do just as Delmar +pleased.</p> + +<p class="normal">With a sensation of absolute rapture Delmar received the precious +papers which secured to him a happy future, from the hands of the sick +man, who never dreamed how worthless in Paul's estimation was a +high-sounding, aristocratic name.</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar thanked the doctor warmly, but the sick man shook his head. "I +have done this not for your sake, but my own," he said. "I know that my +detestable wife will perish in want; I am content. I pray you leave me +now, Herr Delmar, my strength is exhausted. We shall never meet again. +Farewell!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Never had the heavens been so blue or the sunshine so bright,--never +had the hemlocks filled the air with such exquisite fragrance as upon +this blissful day, when Paul lightly trod the forest-path towards +Castle Reifenstein. A shepherd-boy upon a distant mountain jodelled +down to him, and Paul could not refrain from jodelling back a full +clear note, that echoed far over the sunny valleys.</p> + +<p class="normal">He could have embraced the world. He had suddenly been transported from +the black depths of despair to the heights of hope. A future, with +Hilda by his side, beckoned him. Where were all the gloomy reveries of +the last few weeks? As he walked briskly up the steep ascent, he +thought with horror of the dark temptation to self-destruction that had +once assailed him. Yes, Leo was right when he declared that only a +coward would ever seek such a solution of the problem of life,--that a +true man should possess a 'heart for any fate.' When he had nearly +reached the castle he heard well-known voices near him, and could not +forbear giving another genuine Tyrolean jodel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is Delmar's voice!" Leo exclaimed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no; it is long since Herr Delmar has shouted so gayly," Hilda +replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">A second louder and gayer jodel was Paul's reply, as he turned in the +direction whence the voices came, and passing through a short stretch +of woodland, reached a small rocky plateau, whither Hilda had brought +her guests because it afforded them the best view down into the fearful +chasm in the rocks.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You were wrong, lovely fairy," said Paul, as he joined the small +party, taking Hilda's offered hand as he spoke; "no man upon earth can +shout as gayly as I can when inspired by the hope of seeing you."</p> + +<p class="normal">'Lovely fairy!' Paul had never bestowed this title upon Hilda since the +first day of their meeting; since then he had always addressed her +ceremoniously as 'Fräulein von Heydeck,' and only rarely, in eager +conversation, as 'Fräulein Hilda.' Hilda heard therefore in surprise, +and, blushing at the remembrance of that first day, looked up at him. +How changed he seemed since yesterday! His dark eyes sparkled with +gayety, a happy smile played about his lips,--he was the same frank, +light-hearted man whom she had so liked at their first interview, and +yet--no, not the same; he had become far handsomer and more attractive; +she had never liked him half so well as now.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo also noticed the change which the few hours since he had last seen +his friend had effected in him. "What good news do you bring us?" he +asked. "I have hardly ever seen you look so gay."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you found that out already?" Paul asked in his turn, with a +laugh. "I revere your powers of observation, and will reward them with +a share of the treasures to be found in my pockets. But good children +should restrain their curiosity and wait patiently until it is +satisfied. If you love me, do me the kindness to act as guide to +Fräulein Eva and our betrothed couple on their way to the castle +garden, and resign your former guide, the lovely fairy of the castle, +to me for a few minutes. I trust she will grant me a hearing for that +short space of time."</p> + +<p class="normal">This request had so strange a sound that Hilda grew confused, and +looked uncertain whether to grant it, but when Delmar added, in a low, +eager tone, "It is my first request; can you refuse me?" she shyly +placed her hand within his offered arm and lingered with him behind the +others, whom Leo, as Delmar had asked him to do, conducted to the +castle garden.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul walked along slowly at Hilda's side, preserving an entire silence +until their friends were out of hearing. Then he turned to his +companion and said, "I owe you an explanation of much that must have +struck you strangely in my manner and behaviour during these last few +weeks. Will you hear me, Hilda? Will you let me be frank with you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was the first time that Delmar had called the girl by her first +name,--that he had spoken to her in so earnest and yet so confidential +a tone. She divined what he wished to say, but she did not refuse to +listen. Her low-whispered 'yes' enchanted him; it told him that he did +not hope in vain.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul continued: "That little 'yes,' dearest Hilda, makes me +inexpressibly happy; it tells me that you trust me, and I would have +you trust me, now and forever, freely and unconditionally. You must +have seen that from the first moment when I met you, my lovely fairy, +in the labyrinth of rocks, my heart has been yours. I revelled in the +hope of one day winning your heart and your hand also. I was happy, +exquisitely happy! But my dream of bliss lasted but two short days. I +was suddenly and rudely awakened from it by the startling and as I +thought absolute certainty that your father never would bestow upon me +your hand, and that therefore I must not even try to win your heart. I +can never, my dear Hilda, tell you what created in me this belief. Here +you must trust me implicitly. You must never know the dark mystery that +interposed between us, nor the cause I thought there was for the utter +despair to which I was a prey. Life lost all value in my eyes; the +reckless gayety which sometimes distressed you, as well as the morbid +melancholy that assailed me when I was alone, was the result of the +terrible conviction that possessed me that you never could be my +own,--that I could never be more to you than a faithful friend and +brother.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But to-day I have learned, to my unspeakable joy, that all my fears +were but idle baseless visions,--that I was deceived, and that I +deceived myself,--that I may in all honour tell you how passionately I +love you, and may hope, if you will but let me try to win your love in +return, that your father will consent to give you to me. Will you, can +you love me, Hilda? Will you come with me to your father and hear me +pray him to give me this dear hand for my very own?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Hilda looked up into his face with a happy smile, and he needed no +reply in words; indeed she could have given him none, for in an instant +his arms were about her, and his kisses sealed her lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">She extricated herself from his embrace, and her pleading eyes +restrained his passionate outburst. He still however clasped in his the +little hand, which he kissed repeatedly, saying, "Come, come to your +father, lovely fairy! This moment must confirm the happiness of my +future life."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hilda conducted him across the castle court-yard to her father's study, +whither Herr von Heydeck had withdrawn from the presence of his +daughter's guests.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was so absorbed in his work that he did not hear the door open; only +when Paul and Hilda stood close beside him did he look up from his +books, and as his gaze rested upon Delmar the same look of horror with +which he had greeted his first appearance passed into his face. Again +he put up his hand, as if to ward off some attack, while he seemed +incapable of speech.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul was no whit daunted however. "Do not repulse me, Herr von +Heydeck," he said, in a gentle voice. "I come not as your enemy, not to +demand, but to entreat. I pray you to receive me as your son in +granting me your daughter's hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">The simple words fairly overwhelmed the old man. He had started forward +in his arm-chair; he now sank back into it helplessly. "You--you ask to +be my son? You sue for Hilda's hand,--and you know?----"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was only with great difficulty that he gasped forth these broken +sentences.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know everything," Paul replied calmly. "I come from Dr. Putzer's +death-bed; he gave me these papers, which I now hand over to you. I +pray you to destroy them; forget the past as I have forgotten it. +Receive me as a son, who never will forget the respect he owes to the +father of his dearest Hilda."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Heydeck clutched with a trembling hand the papers which Paul +held out to him. He glanced at their contents, and his face was +illumined by an expression of intense joy. The next instant he had torn +the dreaded documents into countless shreds, after which he buried his +head in his hands and burst into a convulsive fit of sobbing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul did not disturb him, but whispering low reassuring words of +tenderness to the astonished and frightened Hilda, he waited calmly +until Herr von Heydeck had regained his composure. Only when the old +man lifted his head and looked from his daughter to her lover with +tear-dimmed eyes did Paul repeat his entreaty, adding, "Hilda has given +me her heart,--you will not refuse my suit, Herr von Heydeck?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no; you shall be my son!" Herr von Heydeck exclaimed. "God grants +me thus an opportunity of repairing the grievous wrong I did you. My +Hilda will atone for my sin. She will be to you the angel of light +which her sainted mother was to me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Again he was overcome by mingled emotions of joy and sorrow. His +conscience had been burdened with the consciousness of his guilt; he +had trembled at the thoughts of discovery for years, and he could not +bear the sudden joy of this moment. Again he sobbed convulsively, only +stammering, in broken accents, "Leave me now, my children. I must be +alone. God bless you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul drew Hilda away from the room, knowing how greatly the old man +must stand in need of repose, and the girl, not venturing to oppose her +father's request, went with him willingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">When however the study-door was closed behind them she paused. "What is +the matter with my father? What wrong can he have done? Why should he +be so overcome?" she asked, with an appealing look into her lover's +eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul clasped her tenderly in his arms. "Do you not believe, dearest, +that I love you infinitely more than life?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; I trust you implicitly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then promise me, in this supreme moment, that you will never again ask +me what your father's words meant. It is not my secret but his, and I +could not in honour betray it even to you. But I swear solemnly that it +is the only secret that shall ever be between us,--no thought of my +heart shall be concealed from you. Will you not trust me? Believe me, I +but obey the dictates of honour when I beg you to forget what you have +heard. Will you promise me never to question either myself or your +father upon the subject?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"This kiss shall seal the promise that you ask!"</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Leo had conducted the guests to the garden, there to await Paul and +Hilda; he tried to engage them in pleasant talk, but he could not +fairly succeed, for his thoughts would wander. They were with his +friend, the change in whom he could easily interpret, for he knew that +Paul had just had an interview with Dr. Putzer; and that the result had +been a happy one for Hilda's lover, was plainly to be seen in his +sparkling eyes and gay mood. And Paul had also had an interview with +Bertram, which must have been satisfactory, or he would hardly have +uttered the laughing remark about the treasures in his pockets. What +did he mean? He had glanced so meaningly as he spoke, first at Eva and +then at Leo. Heydeck was restless and impatient,--he guessed that one +short hour might decide his fate, and yet he could not understand how +the decision could be fortunate for him. He could conceive but of one +happy future, and that seemed unattainable. He loved Eva with a +passionate devotion which the familiar intercourse of the past few +weeks had deepened tenfold. He knew that his love was returned, +although no word that could betray his devotion to her had ever passed +his lips. He had never transgressed the bounds of friendship, nor had +she ever given him the slightest right to do so.</p> + +<p class="normal">The consciousness that she was not indifferent towards him enchanted +him, but at the same time it filled him with a despair that would often +wellnigh overcome him when he was alone in his room standing in rapt +contemplation of the picture,--the work not of his hand but of his +heart. Eva's dark eyes gazed at him from the canvas with a look that +seemed to promise the fulfilment of his boldest hopes, and in gazing he +was sometimes beguiled into delicious dreams, from which he was +startled by the consciousness of reality, and a stern voice within him +crying, "Lost, lost forever!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He knew that Paul could force Bertram to resign all pretensions to +Eva's hand, but even if Eva should be free she was still lost to him. +Could he, a poor artist, whose future life must be one of hard labour, +aspire to the hand of the millionaire heiress? He had sacrificed to his +principles a brilliant military career, his entire future, and even his +father's affections. Could he be untrue to himself now? Honour forbade +his ever addressing a word of love to Eva Schommer,--she was too rich!</p> + +<p class="normal">When he wandered beside her through the lovely scenes among which their +daily excursions were made, and she talked frankly and unrestrainedly +with him, he could not but resign himself to the spell of her presence, +but when he was once more alone those two words, 'too rich,' +annihilated every hope within him. And now, while he awaited Paul's +return, they destroyed all his anticipations of pleasure,--there could +be no happiness for him whatever might be the result of Delmar's +interview with Bertram; this was the verdict of his reason, but +nevertheless his heart rebelled against so cold a sentence, and +throbbed impatiently at the thought of his friend's return.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was not long before Paul and Hilda made their appearance beneath the +archway of the garden gate, arm in arm, their happiness so plainly to +be seen in the countenance of each, that Leo knew, and Eva, Herwarth, +and Aline suspected, what had happened, and hastened to meet them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul received them with a laugh. "I see," he said, giving his hand to +Leo, "you guess what I have to tell you, but nevertheless I am not +going to be defrauded of the pleasure of presenting to you my lovely +betrothed, Hilda von Heydeck. The betrothal has duly taken place, and I +beseech your congratulations."</p> + +<p class="normal">They were given in fullest measure. As Leo grasped his hand, Kuno +reminded him of how, four weeks before, he had exclaimed, "Number One!" +and had declared that he would purchase such bliss, not only with a +miserable foot, but with his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Exactly, I said so, and I repeat it," Paul replied, with a gayety +which had its root however in deep earnestness. "Only fortunately, +noble knight, the sacrifice of my head, which was nearer to being +consummated than you dream of, was not required. I said 'Number One' +then, never thinking that this lovely fairy would make me the happy +'Number Two.' Now we must find a 'Number Three,' that the trefoil may +be perfect."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then turning to Eva, he whispered, so as to be heard by her alone, "Is +there do hope, Fräulein Schommer, of your aid in making a happy 'Number +Three'?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva did not reply, save by a blush and a reproving glance, which +assured Delmar he was understood, as she turned to Hilda and warmly +wished her every happiness. Her reproving look, however, glanced +harmlessly aside from Paul's armour of gayety, he only nodded and +laughed, as he continued aloud, "Number Two is proud and happy to +return thanks to his friends for their kind congratulations, which he +receives as the result of his share of the treasures which he brought +with him to Castle Reifenstein. It was due to my position as confirmed +egotist to provide for my own welfare first; now I am at liberty to +fulfil other duties which I have undertaken. I have certain interesting +communications to make to Fräulein Schommer. Will she kindly grant me +an audience of a few minutes?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva looked up at him, confused and in doubt, but he suddenly dropped +his jesting tone and continued very gravely, "You owe the interview I +request both to me and to yourself. Pray add your entreaty, Hilda, to +mine."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hilda smiled; she knew what Paul wished to say to Eva; he had briefly +informed her on their way to the garden, and she eagerly seconded his +request, and proposed that she herself should conduct Leo, Aline, and +Herwarth through one wing of the castle, while Delmar showed Eva +through the other, and that they should then all meet in the large +hall. As she made this proposal she exchanged a glance of secret +understanding with Paul.</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva still hesitated, but Paul would take no refusal. He offered her his +arm and led her through the garden across the courtyard and up the +grand staircase to the wing in which were Leo's apartments. On the way +he pointed out to her everything of interest in the interior decoration +and architecture of the ancient pile, calling especial attention to the +massive antique furniture of some of the rooms. At any other time all +this would have been especially interesting to Eva, but to-day she +scarcely looked at all the rare antiquities, and even at last ventured +to interrupt the flow of Delmar's antiquarian enthusiasm, saying, "You +certainly had something else to say to me, Herr Delmar, when you asked +me for this <i>tête-à-tête</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right, Fräulein Eva," Paul replied, hastening along the dim +corridor, at the end of which was Leo's studio. "I will no longer +excite your curiosity, since we have reached the room which I think the +most appropriate place in which to tell you what I have to say."</p> + +<p class="normal">He opened the door of a room which Eva entered. "Have you any idea of +where we are?" Paul asked. The girl looked about her at the comfortable +arrangements of the room, and her glance suddenly fell upon the easel, +from which a face which she could not but recognize, regarded her with +a gentle smile. The tears rushed to her eyes,--she knew well where she +was, and with a burning blush she turned instantly to leave the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are unkind. I have not deserved this," she said, in a tone of soft +reproach, as she laid her hand upon the door-latch.</p> + +<p class="normal">Delmar, however, prevented her from opening the door; he took her hand +and gently led her to the easel. "You must not, Fräulein Eva," he said +earnestly, "at such a moment as this give any consideration to mere +conventionalities. This is a turning-point in your existence. Look at +this picture. You know who has painted it, and you know that Leo's hand +never could have executed so true a presentment of yourself if your +image did not fill his heart and soul,--if you were not present at all +moments to his mental vision. Far more convincingly than in words must +this picture tell you of his entire devotion to you, and it is for this +that I have brought you here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are cruel!" was Eva's only reply. She had withdrawn her hand from +Paul's, but she no longer thought of fleeing from the room. With +sensations both of rapture and of pain she contemplated the picture. +Yes, Delmar was right. The hand that had executed so true, so lifelike +a resemblance must have been guided by the heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not deserve your reproach," Delmar continued. "My only desire in +bringing you here is to make you happy; you must see for yourself the +truth of what I once told you of Leo. And now since there can be no +doubt in your mind of the intensity of his affection for you, I may +give you the letter which Herr von Bertram sends you through me."</p> + +<p class="normal">He handed Eva Bertram's letter and watched her narrowly as she took it, +half in surprise and half in terror, and read its contents.</p> + +<p class="normal">He hoped to see her lovely features illumined by joy at her release, +and gratitude to the messenger of freedom, but he was bitterly +disappointed. Eva's face, so far from beaming with joy, expressed only +profound sorrow, and a tear fell upon the paper as she read. When she +had finished, her hands dropped at her sides and she gazed at Delmar +with eyes filled with grief and regret.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, Herr Delmar," she said gently. "I will preserve this +letter as my most precious treasure. Although every line is a reproach +to me for the weakness which at present prevents me from appreciating +the happiness it should bring me, in time I shall conquer this +weakness. I will read the noble words again and again, and they shall +strengthen me if I should ever falter in the path which duty clearly +points out for me to pursue. I will leave Tausens this evening. I dare +not see Herr von Heydeck again. I pray you conduct me immediately to +the inn; tell your friends how it grieves me to part from them, but +that I now know my duty and cannot act differently."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul's astonishment and dismay at Eva's words are hard to describe; he +had imagined all this so differently; he had anticipated with such +certainty her thanks to him for her release, and now---- "I cannot +understand you," he cried, in great agitation. "You wish to go to +Tausens,--to leave without seeing Leo again? What reasons under the sun +can you have for such a course? That letter releases you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are mistaken, Herr Delmar," Eva replied with dignity. "I am less +free now than ever before. I have to atone for grievous wrong done to +my betrothed." It was the first time that she had ever thus designated +Bertram. "He was a victim of the wretched mistrust of every one from +which my soul has so long suffered as from some disease. I believed +that he loved, not myself, but my wealth, and therefore I treated him +with cold severity,--yes, even with insulting harshness. I did not know +the nobility of his character. I have learned it from the lofty +self-renunciation of this letter. My eyes are at last opened. He has +already sacrificed his future to me, and now for my sake renounces his +last hope. To make me happy he gives me back my promise; but I will not +accept this sacrifice at his hands. I know my duty and will fulfil it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good God, what nonsense! This is sheer madness!" Delmar cried, almost +beside himself. "Is not that letter my----" He stopped short. He could +not possibly tell Eva how he had occupied himself with her affairs of +late, and that he had dictated Bertram's epistle in the hope of sparing +her feelings. What was to be done in view of Eva's inconceivable +resolve he could not see; he paced the room to and fro, racking his +brains for some way out of the dilemma which was of his own +fabrication.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Delmar, let me pray you to conduct me back to Tausens," Eva said, +at last.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Fräulein Eva; you must not leave the castle without seeing Leo. +You are mistaken about Bertram; you do not know your own heart. I will +not let you act so hastily."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know my duty, and nothing that you can say will hinder me from its +performance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madness, sheer madness! my brain fairly reels at such insanity! What +is to be done with these conscientious people who, from a pure sense of +duty, sacrifice themselves and their dearest friends to confer +happiness upon blockheads and scoundrels? You know your duty! Do you +owe no duty then to yourself and to Leo, who loves you passionately and +will be unutterably wretched if you run after that scoundrel?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Delmar! I will permit no such expressions with regard to my +betrothed, whose noble heart I have learned to know, alas, too late. If +you will not conduct me to Tausens I must find the way thither myself, +for I must not and will not see Herr von Heydeck again!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva could not however fulfil this intention in spite of her firm +resolve to do so, for scarcely had she spoken when hasty steps were +heard in the corridor, the door opened, and Hilda entered with Leo, +Aline, and Herwarth, and followed also by Eva's servant, honest +Wilhelm, his sheepish face quite crimson with hurry and agitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive us, Eva dear, for coming for you so soon," said Hilda, "we +could not help it, for your servant was anxious to see you instantly; +he brings very extraordinary tidings from Tausens."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not be frightened, my darling," Aline whispered, putting her arm +around her friend. "Be sure that whatever has happened, although it may +cause you momentary pain, will conduce to your happiness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what has happened? Do not keep me in suspense, Aline!" Eva +exclaimed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Aline beckoned to Wilhelm, who came forward and told, as well as he +could, all that Uncle Balthasar had commissioned him to say. The story +was confused enough; the fellow was so agitated and embarrassed that he +hardly knew what he was saying, but from his rambling tale his hearers +gathered that Herr von Bertram had run off with pretty Nanette, who had +stolen Aunt Minni's purse full of money out of her bureau, and that +Uncle Balthasar was afraid they had taken the ebony casket besides.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Impossible!" Eva exclaimed indignantly; "the man who could write this +letter is incapable of such baseness. I appeal to you, Herr Delmar, to +vindicate Herr von Bertram."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could not if I would," said Delmar, whose good humour had been +entirely restored by Wilhelm's tale, and who had even laughed when +Wilhelm mentioned Uncle Balthasar's fears lest Bertram and Nanette +together had stolen the ebony casket.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must, Herr Delmar! You yourself brought me Bertram's letter, and +you know its contents."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only too well, and that is just why I cannot undertake the writer's +defence. But even I agree that we should not condemn the fugitives +without proof positive of their guilt. We must instantly return to the +village and learn the truth. You, Leo, will of course accompany us. My +darling," he whispered to Hilda, "you must come too,--we must all be +together to celebrate Number Three's betrothal."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you succeed?" Hilda whispered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not yet," Delmar replied, in as low a tone. "I have been a terrible +blockhead, but, fortunately, this Bertram is a worse rogue, and his +roguery will stand us in as good stead as my wisdom could have done."</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul's proposal to go instantly to Tausens was of course put into +immediate execution. Naturally, on the way thither the lovers walked +together, and there was nothing for Eva to do but to accept Leo's +escort. She walked at his side in extreme confusion, not daring to lift +her eyes to his.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you offended, Fräulein Schommer?" Leo asked, after they had gone +on for some time in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What right have I to be offended?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You certainly have a right if you think that I permitted Paul to take +you to my room to show you the picture which you never should have +seen. I swear to you that I had not the faintest idea of my friend's +intention, or I should not have allowed him to fulfil it. He has +offended you, and me through you, in permitting you to see what was +utterly unworthy to be shown to any one, and I shall certainly take him +to task for so doing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not offended," Eva replied in a faltering voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must be, Fräulein Eva! It must vex you that I should have dared, +without your permission, to paint your picture from memory, but I give +you my honour that Delmar saw it only by accident, that I never would +voluntarily have shown it to him, and that you never ought to have +known of its existence."</p> + +<p class="normal">Eva did not reply, and the rest of the way to Tausens was passed in +perfect silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the party arrived at the inn, they found the wildest confusion and +excitement prevailing there. The postmistress and Dr. Atzinger, with +the men and maids of the house and several peasants, were standing in a +group before the door talking eagerly. They parted and made way for the +newcomers to enter the inn.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is a most unfortunate day!" Dr. Atzinger whispered to Delmar, +detaining him as he would have passed him. "Dr. Putzer, who seemed so +wonderfully well this morning, is dead. He wished to rest after his +conversation with you, and when I went to his room half an hour +afterwards, I found him dead in his bed. I hastened hither to let you +know of it, and have just heard what has happened here. These are +strange occurrences!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The intelligence of the doctor's death did not surprise Delmar,--he +could not pause now to reflect upon its suddenness. As briefly as +possible he instructed Dr. Atzinger to make arrangements for a suitable +funeral, and then hurried after his friends up the stairs to the hall +into which the various apartments for the guests opened.</p> + +<p class="normal">Here they found Uncle Balthasar and Hansel pacing to and fro in eager +conversation, discussing the various discoveries that had been made in +Bertram's and Aunt Minni's apartments. From time to time Uncle +Balthasar stepped into his room, the door of which stood open, that he +might administer a few words of consolation to his wife, who lay +moaning on her sofa, returning shortly to continue his consultation +with the postmaster as to what had best be done,--a consultation in +which neither had arrived at any conclusion.</p> + +<p class="normal">The good old man was awaiting his niece's arrival with the greatest +impatience, and from Herr Delmar, in whom he had implicit confidence, +he looked for instant advice. He had constantly assured his Minni that +Delmar would know exactly how to compel the waiting-maid to relinquish +her booty. His heart was lightened of its load when the party from the +castle made their appearance. "Thank God, my dear, that you are come!" +he exclaimed, cordially embracing his niece. "What to think of this +confounded affair I'm sure I can't tell!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And Uncle Balthasar went on to tell as well as he could what there was +to be told; his good heart rebelled at the thought of the possibility +that his dear Guido had run off with a thief, but proof seemed too +strong for him; he had with difficulty prevented the postmaster from +sending a couple of men on horseback in pursuit of the fugitives; he +would not resort to so extreme a measure without consulting his niece +and Herr Delmar.</p> + +<p class="normal">Neither, until this moment, had Eva believed in Bertram's guilt, but +now, when the postmaster showed her into Bertram's room where the floor +was strewed with linen and articles of clothing, and held up to her the +two gilt handles which she recognized as those belonging to her casket; +when he related to her and to all that he had found Bertram's door +locked, and had opened it with a master-key; that Nanette had driven +off in the carriage with Bertram; that he had helped him lift his +portmanteau into the vehicle, and had wondered at its weight; that the +box, if it were stolen, must have been packed into the portmanteau, or +it would have been seen,--all these revelations wellnigh destroyed +Eva's confidence.</p> + +<p class="normal">And there was other ground for suspicion of the fugitives. Nanette had +been in Aunt Minni's room just before her departure, and Aunt Minni had +left the key in the drawer where she kept her purse. The purse was now +gone.</p> + +<p class="normal">Uncle Balthasar had first suspected from the finding of the metal +handles in Bertram's room that the waiting-maid had stolen Eva's +casket; he could not believe in Bertram's guilt. What lover would steal +his betrothed's money and jewels! Still it was strange that the handles +should be found in Bertram's room where his clothes were scattered +about. Hansel besides maintained that the box could have left the inn +only in Bertram's portmanteau.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was still however a doubt as to whether the ebony casket were +really gone. The door leading from the hall into Eva's room was locked, +and Hansel had found, upon trying to open it with his master-key, that +it was also bolted inside. He had tried to enter the room from +Bertram's apartment, but his key was constructed only for the doors +opening upon the hall, and they had not yet been able to inspect the +interior of Eva's room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Neither Hansel nor Uncle Balthasar had thought of sending for the +locksmith to force the lock; this simple expedient was now suggested by +Delmar, and the village locksmith opened the door without difficulty. +The casket was missing, and there was no longer any room for doubt as +to who had stolen it; even Uncle Balthasar declared indignantly that +his dear Guido was neither more nor less than a common thief.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did the casket contain articles of value?" Delmar asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All my jewels and my dear father's last gift to me, with a sum of +money, the amount of which I do not precisely know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I can tell you, my pet, that it must have been four thousand +thalers, at least," said Uncle Balthasar.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The scoundrel shall not escape with his booty!" Paul exclaimed. "Herr +Postmaster, have your two fleetest horses saddled. Leo, you and I will +pursue the rascal, and if we cannot catch him we'll send a telegram +after him."</p> + +<p class="normal">The postmaster would have obeyed, but Eva prevented him. "You must not +think of any pursuit, Herr Delmar," she said pleadingly. "Even although +Herr von Bertram should be guilty, I would not for the world have him +apprehended as a thief. And I cannot believe in his guilt; his +letter----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Paul laughed. "That magnificent letter again! There is nothing left for +me but to make a clean breast of my sins; only to you however, and to +my dear Hilda, from whom I have promised never to have a secret. Will +you come out on the balcony with Hilda and me and listen to me for a +few moments?"</p> + +<p class="normal">With a blush Eva acquiesced. She put her hand within Hilda's arm and +went out upon the balcony. Delmar followed them, whispering to Kuno as +he passed him, "Pray be ready, my noble knight. As soon as I call bring +every one out upon the balcony. I make you responsible for Leo; bring +him, by fair means or foul, living or dead; only bring him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are you about now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Number Three! Some people must have happiness thrust upon them. Bring +me Leo!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall have him," Kuno smilingly assured him, in a low tone; and to +make sure, after a few whispered words to Aline, he took Leo's arm and +walked to and fro in the hall with him, consulting as to the best means +for the recovery of Fräulein Eva's casket.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile, Paul had joined Eva and Hilda upon the balcony. He had +promised to make a full confession of his sins, and he did so, telling +Eva with entire frankness how he had known for a long time of Bertram's +utter worthlessness. He did not conceal the fact that he had not +intended at first to open her eyes to the true character of her +betrothed, and that his determination to do so had been the result of +the more intimate acquaintance with her which had reversed his former +harsh judgment of her, and of the knowledge that Leo loved her and was +perhaps loved in return.</p> + +<p class="normal">As frankly he explained to her that he had delayed unmasking Bertram +until Leo and herself should have had time to learn to know each other, +and until Leo's affection should have grown so intense as to break down +the stubborn pride that forbade his passion for the heiress. Paul +concluded by confessing that he had that very morning forced Bertram to +write the 'lofty-minded' letter, every word of which he had dictated +himself, and that he had thus driven the desperate man to shameless +robbery.</p> + +<p class="normal">One fact however Delmar suppressed: he said no word of the sum he had +paid Bertram as the price of the letter. "My tale is ended," Paul +concluded, "and is, after all, only a continuation of our conversation +in Leo's room at the castle. You then said, in conclusion, 'I must not +and will not see Herr von Heydeck again.' Tell me frankly, Fräulein +Eva, will you not reverse that decree?"</p> + +<p class="normal">While Delmar spoke, Eva had listened with her mind and heart in an +uproar of conflicting emotions. She felt indignation and disgust at +Bertram's baseness, and she was covered with shame that she should ever +have had the slightest confidence in him or given him a right to claim +her hand. At the same time she was conscious of an ecstatic sense that +she was saved from infinite peril; that she was free from the +disgraceful fetters that had bound her, and that she might aspire to +the fulfilment of her wildest dreams of happiness. She looked +gratefully into Paul's eyes as he put this last question to her, and +said frankly and honestly, "Yes!"</p> + +<p class="normal">For which Hilda threw her arms around her and embraced her tenderly, +while Paul called out, "All's well that ends well! Come all of +you,--Kuno, Leo, Uncle Balthasar!"----</p> + +<p class="normal">And they came: Herwarth laughing as he conducted Leo, Uncle Balthasar +wondering where there was any cause for merriment, and Aline hastening +to embrace her friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come here, Fortune's favourite that you are!" Paul called out to the +astonished Leo. "By the right which I possess, as your elder and wiser +friend, and which I have won over the lovely Eva by former service, I +herewith place her dear hand in yours, and proclaim you the happy +Number Three!" Then turning to the rest he said, "Dear friends, I ask +your congratulations for the newly-betrothed pair, Eva Schommer and Leo +von Heydeck. May all the good the gods provide for happy lovers be +theirs!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Amen!" said Kuno; and Uncle Balthasar added his voice, although he did +not yet understand what it was all about.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leo heard the words spoken, uncertain whether he were awake or +dreaming; he held Eva's hand in his,--she did not withdraw it, and when +he looked into her blushing face her eyes met his own. A happy smile +was upon her lips. She certainly did not resent Delmar's words, however +surprised she might be. He pressed her hand, and felt a gentle pressure +in return.</p> + +<p class="normal">Was Paul jesting? Leo asked himself. In Eva's beaming eyes he read what +destroyed in an instant the foolish prejudice that had separated him +from his love. He forgot the pride that would have held him aloof from +her; he forgot the miserable words 'too rich!' Love conquered; he bent +above Eva, and said in low intense tones, "You do not repulse me? You +are then my own forever?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And as he heard her whispered 'yes' he forgot everything but his great +happiness, and imprinted his first kiss upon her lips.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">There was a larger assemblage of officers than usual beneath Büchner's +awning,--almost every seat was occupied. After early parade the young +men had resorted thither to discuss the entertainments to which the +evening was to be devoted, and various civilians also belonging to the +aristocracy had lounged into Büchner's to enjoy the ices for which the +restaurant was famous, and which were particularly tempting on so warm +a July day as the present.</p> + +<p class="normal">One of these latter, a young man of distinguished appearance, had taken +a foremost seat near the iron railing, against which he had negligently +propped his feet in the same attitude as that assumed by his neighbour, +a cavalry officer, while both rocked gently to and fro in their tilted +chairs. The young civilian held in his hand a newspaper, which however +he did not read, his attention being entirely devoted to the promenade +and the many handsome equipages with their fair occupants that were +perpetually rolling past.</p> + +<p class="normal">In one of these the brilliant beauty of a young lady especially excited +his admiration. She was sitting beside an aged officer with whom she +was conversing gayly as she gracefully acknowledged the respectful +salutations of many of the officers, and greeted with a special smile +the young dragoon before mentioned, who relinquished his negligent +attitude while her carriage was passing, and stood up to salute her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"An exquisitely lovely girl!" the civilian said to his neighbour. "I +envy you the smile she gave you, Count Waldheim. One might almost +barter his soul for such a glance and smile. Tell me who she is, and +why I have never been presented to her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can further your wishes in the matter of an introduction, Count," +Waldheim replied. "I am quite intimate at Frau von Heydeck's, and, +although they are rather exclusive, I think I can obtain permission to +introduce a friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frau von Heydeck? Married? I am bitterly disappointed," said Count +Tiefstetten.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will have to relinquish all thoughts of conquest there," said +Waldheim, laughing, "for Frau von Heydeck is not only a wife, but the +happiest woman in the world, still desperately in love with her +husband, who deserves it. He is a charming fellow, a nobleman in the +truest sense of the word, and with a brilliant reputation as an artist +besides."</p> + +<p class="normal">"An artist?" Count Tiefstetten asked, in amazement. "And his wife +drives in a splendid equipage with those magnificent horses?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is easy to see that you have been abroad for some years and are +just returned among us, or you would hardly ask such a question. Leo +von Heydeck's picture, at our art exhibition last spring, a full-length +of his wife, established his reputation as an artist, and he is besides +one of the wealthiest men in our city. His wife, who was a Fräulein +Schommer, was a great heiress. But he is an eccentric fellow in spite +of his wealth. His habits are as simple as if he were obliged to work +with his brush for his living, and he persists in his eccentricities, +although his father the old colonel, whom you saw just now seated +beside Frau von Heydeck, is highly indignant with him for doing so. Leo +von Heydeck is not an amateur artist; art is his profession. He sells +his pictures, which command very high prices, and supports himself +entirely upon the proceeds of his profession, never making any use of +his wife's income. You never even see him in her brilliant equipage. If +you like, and do not mind paying a high price, you can order your +portrait of him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very odd! And what does his wife say to these whims?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, she adores him! I verily believe she would like to throw her +wealth to the winds and struggle along with him as the wife of a poor +artist. It is owing entirely to her that old Colonel von Heydeck, Leo's +father, who has always held in sovereign contempt all daubers who +support themselves by the work of their hands, and who was furious at +his son's ways, is nevertheless reconciled to him. The old fellow could +not withstand the charms of his lovely daughter-in-law, who is ready to +gratify his every whim. He is fairly in love with her himself, and has +given up his love of retirement, taking up his abode in her charming +villa, and living in perfect concord with her and her old uncle, +Balthasar Schommer. He drives with her daily, and she has so thoroughly +tamed the old bear that he consents to visit his son's studio +frequently, and even begins to be proud of his work."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They must be very remarkable people. I am more curious than ever to +know them, and I rely upon your promise to present me to Frau von +Heydeck."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will do what I can, but as I told you, the Heydecks are very +exclusive."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They do not entertain, then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A small circle, frequently. There is no house in the city where I have +had pleasanter evenings than at theirs, although they never give large +parties. Leo is a queer fellow; he hates grand entertainments, and is +happy only in the society of his intimates, artists, and men of +science. In these tastes he is upheld by his friend and cousin, the +wealthy Herr Delmar, and by another friend and former comrade, a Herr +von Herwarth, with all of whom he and his wife are upon terms of the +greatest intimacy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is this Delmar? Bourgeois, I suppose; some relative of the lovely +Frau von Heydeck?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; he is married to a cousin of his friend Leo, a daughter of an +uncle who died about six months since. He was an early friend of Leo's, +and by his marriage is still more closely united with him. He is also +excessively intimate with the third in the small circle, Herr von +Herwarth, who married Frau von Heydeck's dearest friend. All three were +married on the same day, and have since lived on terms of the closest +intimacy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Leo, as I said, is upheld in his eccentric ways by Delmar, who is +enormously wealthy and a very queer fellow too. He will give immensely +to any artistic or scientific enterprise, in support of which Heydeck +too will draw upon his wife's means, but neither of them has the least +idea of the enjoyment their money might bring them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Delmar, to be sure, is something of a gourmand, but he is far from +knowing how to spend his millions. He might easily purchase a title and +orders, he might easily enter the court-circles, but he cares nothing +for such things. Nevertheless he is an excessively interesting man, +whom every one is happy to meet, and he is much respected for his +benevolence and generosity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I in especial have cause to hold him in high esteem, for about a year +ago he did me a great service in unmasking a certain scoundrel whom I +had until then considered to be a man of honour, and my friend Delmar +deserves the gratitude of the entire corps of officers for effecting +the resignation in disgrace of the rogue, a Herr von Bertram."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bertram? Guido von Bertram?" asked Count Tiefstetten.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Exactly; that was the fellow's name. Do you know him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think I do. I knew a certain Herr Guido von Bertram slightly about +half a year ago in Saxony. He frequented the gaming-tables there. He +was frequently seen with a very pretty woman, who called herself Frau +von Bertram; but who, I was told, was not really his wife. He was said +to be a professional gamester, and I rather avoided him during my stay +in Saxony. I should hardly have remembered the name when you mentioned +it had I not seen it half an hour ago in the newspaper. There is the +paragraph, read it yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Waldheim took the paper offered him by Count Tiefstetten, and +read, "We have news from Florence which cannot fail to make a stir in +our aristocratic circles. It concerns the scion of one of our most +distinguished families, a Herr Guido von Bertram, who was a year ago +the hero of a scandalous scene at Büchner's restaurant. On that +occasion, in our account of the affair, we suppressed the names. Herr +von Bertram was obliged to resign from the army in disgrace, and to-day +there is no reason why we should spare him, since he will shortly +receive his punishment as a common swindler and thief. We therefore +give to our readers the letter which we have received from our special +correspondent in Florence:</p> + +<p class="normal">"'The arrest of a German nobleman, a Herr Guido von B----, is the talk +of the day here. You hear him discussed everywhere, and the most +contradictory reports are abroad with regard to his antecedents and the +reason for his arrest. We have the following intelligence from a +trustworthy source:</p> + +<p class="normal">"'About six months ago Herr von B---- appeared here in Florence, +renting superb apartments, where he lived in splendid style. He +appeared at the theatre with his wife, who was not exactly handsome but +very attractive in appearance, and who excited considerable attention +by her brilliant toilettes, and especially by a magnificent parure of +diamonds which she wore.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Herr von B---- easily effected an entrance into our fashionable +circles where he played his part as a wealthy man of the world, +although it was noticed that the manners and culture of Madame von +B---- by no means corresponded with her elegant appearance. Very +unfavourable reports concerning the lady and the freedom of her +behaviour, and even with regard to her relations with her husband, were +shortly in circulation. It was said that the aristocratic couple +quarrelled after a most plebeian fashion, and that Herr von B---- even +maltreated his wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'In consequence of these reports certain houses closed their doors +against the pair; others however were less particular, and the wealthy +German nobleman was still received, especially at entertainments where +there was sure to be high play.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Herr von B---- understood so well how to maintain an appearance of +wealth that he easily found credit whenever he wanted money. (One of +our principal bankers has discounted his note to a large amount.) And +he would perhaps have continued to play his part among us had not an +accident induced our police to put him under surveillance. In fact, +they received very strange information from a young German, Wilhelm +Schultz by name, the servant of a nobleman but lately arrived in +Florence from M----. Schultz saw Herr von B---- and his wife adorned +with her diamonds in the theatre, and instantly recognized the latter +as a former waiting-maid in a wealthy family where he had been footman. +He informed the police that Herr von B---- had been betrothed to an +heiress, but had eloped with her waiting-maid, stealing and carrying +off at the same time a casket containing a large sum of money and a +rich parure of diamonds.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'The information appeared incredible; but the story was maintained +with such persistence that the police authorities felt themselves +compelled to investigate the matter, and the result is that Herr von +B---- proves to be a thorough-paced gamester and an arch swindler, who +has procured large sums of money upon forged notes of hand. His arrest +took place at the railroad depot, just as he was about to leave +Florence forever. Upon his person was found the diamond parure worn by +his wife, whom he had left without letting her know whither he was +going.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'The noble pair are now quite harmless. The former waiting-maid has +made a full confession, confirming all that was stated by Wilhelm +Schultz. After the theft of the diamonds, which was effected in the +Tyrol, she came with her betrayer--who promised to marry her, but never +kept his promise--to Italy, where he led her from place to place, so +maltreating her that she declares that she would have left him but for +fear of starvation in a strange country. The diamonds in which she made +such a show are the property of her former mistress.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Herr von B---- boldly denies the truth of her tale, but as there is +abundant proof against him in the forged notes of hand, he will not +escape due punishment.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">The correspondent's words were verified. A month later 'dear Guido' was +condemned to several years' imprisonment with hard labour. Nanette was +left at large. She could only have been prosecuted for theft, and as +neither Frau Schommer nor Frau von Heydeck proceeded to such a measure, +she went unpunished, although the diamonds were taken from her and +returned to their rightful owner, Frau von Heydeck. Wilhelm Schultz, +doubtless, having suffered from her wiles, would have gladly seen the +waiting-maid sent to jail, but he was forced to be satisfied with the +probability that her future fate would be far from prosperous.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_01" href="#div2Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: Meadows high up on the mountains, where the wealthy +peasants pasture their cattle in summer.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>THE END.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3><i>PUBLICATIONS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.</i></h3> +<hr class="W90"> + +<h2>THE WORKS OF E. MARLITT.<br> +<span class="sc"><b>TRANSLATED BY MRS. A. L. WISTER</b></span>.</h2> +<br> + +<h2><i>AT THE COUNCILLOR'S</i>;<br> +<span class="sc">OR, A NAMELESS HISTORY</span>.</h2> + +<h4>Sixth Edition, 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.75.</h4> + +<p class="normal">"Pure in tone, elegant in style, and overflowing with the tender and +openly-expressed sentiment which characterizes human romance in +Germany."--<i>Worcester Spy</i>.</p> +<br> + +<h2><i>THE SECOND WIFE</i>.</h2> + +<h4>Twelfth Edition, 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.75.</h4> + +<p class="normal">"A German story of intense interest by one of the best-known writers of +romance of that country."--<i>Washington Chronicle</i>.</p> +<br> + +<h2><i>THE OLD MAM'SELLE'S SECRET</i>.</h2> + +<h4>Eleventh Edition, 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50.</h4> + +<p class="normal">"It is one of the most intense, concentrated, compact novels of the +day.... And the work has the minute fidelity of the author of the +'Initials,' the dramatic unity of Reade, and the graphic power of +George Eliot."--<i>Columbus, Ohio, Journal</i>.</p> +<br> + +<h2><i>GOLD ELSIE</i>.</h2> + +<h4>Ninth Edition, 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50.</h4> + +<p class="normal">"'Gold Elsie' is one of the loveliest heroines ever introduced to the +public."--<i>Boston Advertiser</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A charming book. It absorbs your attention from the title-page to the +end."--<i>The Chicago Home Circle</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A charming story charmingly told."--<i>Baltimore Gazette</i>.</p> +<br> + +<h2><i>THE LITTLE MOORLAND PRINCESS</i>.</h2> + +<h4>Sixth Edition. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50.</h4> + +<p class="normal">"A charming story."--<i>New York Observer</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The plot is admirably contrived."--<i>Philadelphia Evening Bulletin</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Delightful for the exquisite manner in which its characters are +drawn."--<i>Boston Evening Traveller</i>.</p> +<br> + +<h2><i>COUNTESS GISELA</i>.</h2> + +<h4>Sixth Edition. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50.</h4> + +<p class="normal">"One of the very best of its class, and is a genuine representation of +court, burgher, and rural life in Germany. The translation is spirited +and faithful."--<i>Philadelphia Press</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is more dramatic power in this than in any of the stories by the +same author that we have read."--<i>N. O. Times</i>.</p> +<br> +<br> + +<h3>TRANSLATED BY MRS. ELGARD.</h3> +<br> + +<h2><i>OVER YONDER</i>.</h2> + +<h4>Fifth Edition. 8vo. With full-page Illustration. Paper, 30 Cts.</h4> + +<p class="normal">"'Over Yonder' is a charming novelette. The admirers of 'Old +Mam'selle's Secret' will give it a glad reception, while those who are +ignorant of the merits of this author will find in it a pleasant +introduction to the works of a gifted writer."--<i>Daily Sentinel</i>.</p> +<br> + +<h2><i>MAGDALENA</i>.</h2> + +<h3>Together with "THE LONELY ONES," by Paul Heyse.</h3> + +<h4>Fourth Edition. 8vo. With two full-page Illustrations. Paper. 35 Cts.</h4> + +<p class="normal">"Paul Heyse's 'Lonely Ones' is an idyl--a perfect little picture in its +way."--<i>Baltimore Statesman</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Both of these stories are exceedingly clever and +entertaining."--<i>Richmond Enquirer</i>.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>GET THE STANDARD!</h3> + +<p class="normal">"It ought to be in every Library, also in every Academy and every +School."--<span class="sc">Hon. Chas. 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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: Too Rich + A Romance + +Author: Adolph Streckfuss + +Translator: A. L. Wister + +Release Date: January 17, 2011 [EBook #34995] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOO RICH *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + 1. Page scan source: + http://www.archive.org/details/tooricharomance00stregoog + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + POPULAR WORKS AFTER THE GERMAN, + + AFTER THE GERMAN, + + BY MRS. A. L. WISTER. + + + +A FAMILY FEUD. After the German of Ludwig Harder. 12mo. Fine cloth. +$1.25. + +AT THE COUNCILLOR'S; or, A Nameless History. After the German of E. +Marlitt. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.75. + +THE SECOND WIFE. After the German of E. Marlitt. 12mo. Fine cloth. +$1.75. + +THE OLD MAM'SELLE'S SECRET. After the German of E. Marlitt. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.50. + +GOLD ELSIE. After the German of E. Marlitt. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +COUNTESS GISELA. After the German of E. Marlitt. 12mo. Fine cloth. +$1.50. + +THE LITTLE MOORLAND PRINCESS. After the German of E. Marlitt. 12mo. +Fine cloth. $1.50. + +THE GREEN GATE. After the German of Ernst Wichert. 12mo. Fine cloth. +$1.75. + +ONLY A GIRL. After the German of Wilhelmine von Hillern. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.75. + +ENCHANTING AND ENCHANTED; or, Fairy Spells. From the German of +Hacklaender. Illustrated. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +WHY DID HE NOT DIE? After the German of Ad. von Volckhausen. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.75. + +HULDA; or, The Deliverer. After the German of F. Lewald. 12mo. Fine +cloth. $1.75. + + + * * * * * + +*** For sale by all Booksellers, or will be sent by mail, postage paid, +upon receipt of price by _J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., Publishers, +Philadelphia_. + + + + + + + TOO RICH + + + A ROMANCE + + + + + AFTER THE GERMAN + OF + ADOLPH STRECKFUSS + + + + + BY MRS. A. L WISTER + TRANSLATOR OF "THE SECOND WIFE," "ONLY A GIRL," "THE OLD + MAM'SELLE'S SECRET," "HULDA," "A FAMILY FEUD," ETC. + + + + + PHILADELPHIA + J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. + 1878 + + + + + + + * * * * * + Copyright, 1878, by J. B. Lippincott & Co. + * * * * * + + + + + + + TOO RICH. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +It was a very warm day in summer. The lindens on either side the broad +promenade drooped their thirsty dusty leaves above the pedestrians +sauntering beneath their shade. These loitered along as slowly as +possible, but the heat was really too oppressive, and many of them soon +turned into narrower and cooler side streets, resigning all attempts to +meet the various acquaintances who usually at noon thronged the gay +promenade of K----. Others indeed took refuge beneath the tempting +awning of some one of the various fashionable restaurants on the +promenade, where, secluded from the burning rays of the midday sun, +they refreshed themselves with ices, and were at leisure to recognize +and criticise all who drove, rode, or walked past. + +On a day like the present "Buechner's restaurant," famous for its +sherbet, and a favourite lounging-place with young sprigs of fashion, +was sure to be thronged. Here might be seen the officers of the various +regiments in garrison at K---- and numerous civilians whose rank +entitled them to such distinguished companionship, and here the choice +of amusements for the evening was discussed,--whether, in spite of the +intense heat, the charms of the lovely S---- were sufficiently great to +make the theatre endurable, or whether preference should be given to an +open-air entertainment at some favourite concert-garden. + +In the world of fashion it was eminently 'the thing' to pass half an +hour every afternoon on the veranda beneath the awning at "Buechner's," +and consequently in the afternoon the place was so thronged that +scarcely a seat was to be had at any of the numerous tables there, +while on warm days it was quite full at noon, for there could hardly be +a more commodious and pleasant point of observation on the entire +promenade. + +The guests at Buechner's were of the most select,--to see that they were +so was a chief care with the attentive head of the establishment, who +thought no pains lost which secured to him the custom of the officers. +He still recalled with vivid melancholy the war-time, and the deserted +aspect of his veranda while it lasted; he knew that he owed his +brilliant success in business to the officers and to please them he +displayed the greatest zeal. Was he not always on the watch to keep +away from the veranda any persons supposed to be obnoxious to these +distinguished guests? All such, even although there was still room +beneath the awning, were shown to seats far back in the inmost recesses +of the place. Only to the young officers and their intimates of the +first rank in society was it permitted to lounge indolently upon the +veranda, their cigars in their mouths, their chairs tipped back, and +their legs resting either upon other chairs or upon the wrought-iron +balustrade, in which graceful and easy attitude they could observe the +passers-by at their leisure. + +Thus elegantly posed on this same sunny noon, two young cavalry +officers were scanning, eye-glass in eye, the passers-by, negligently +returning the greetings of acquaintances, and, careless as to whether +their remarks were overheard or not, ruthlessly criticising in a loud +voice the occupants of the various equipages rolling by. + +In their immediate neighbourhood two infantry officers were seated near +the balustrade, scorning however the negligent attitude of the two +dragoons; one of them was reading a newspaper, while the other was +gazing out at the passers-by. + +"I believe you mean to learn that paper by heart, Leo," one of them, a +young fellow of about three-and-twenty, remarked to his comrade, his +senior by two or three years, and also in rank as the star upon his +shoulder indicated. + +The man thus addressed looked up with a smile, disclosing a handsome, +expressive countenance of a forcible manly type. His thick, fair +moustache became him well, concealing somewhat as it did the rather +hard outline of the mouth and thus softening a certain sternness of +expression which had characterized his face while absorbed in his +newspaper, but which vanished entirely as he smiled. The mild lustre of +large dark eyes made the handsome face still more attractive. + +"You're an awful bore to-day, Leo," the younger man continued; "we've +been sitting here full half an hour, and you have hardly opened your +lips. I cannot imagine what you find to read in that wretched 'Daily +Post;' it makes me yawn only to look at it; nothing would induce me to +read a line of it; 'tis full of such stupid stuff in these tiresome +times of peace." + +"You're mistaken; the proceedings in Chambers are extremely interesting +to-day." + +"The proceedings in Chambers!" the other cried, with comical dismay. +"Good heavens, the fellow is reading politics! Leo, Leo, as your true +friend, I must warn you: you are in perilous paths; read everything +else that you choose,--the trashiest novels, and even poems if you +insist upon it, but no politics; you will lose caste. Already you are +looked upon askance as a genius, more than half an artist; if it should +be whispered about that you are a politician you are ruined, Leo. An +officer with an interest in politics is a lost man; if my warning voice +has any influence Leo von Heydeck shall never fall so low. Throw the +paper away, my dear fellow, and be a man; let us follow the example of +our comrades the dragoons, Herr von Bertram and Count Waldheim, and +criticise the lovely ladies driving past; this is just the time for it. +Look! there comes the fairest of the fair, the richest of the rich, the +loveliest of the lovely, divine Eva Schommer!" + +Leo von Heydeck suddenly dropped his newspaper and glanced in the +direction indicated by his friend, but on the instant his face +darkened; he hastily looked around him to observe the effect produced +upon the group of officers beneath the awning by the approach of the +celebrated beauty, and then quietly took up his paper again and seemed +to become more than ever absorbed in it. He did not even look up as the +barouche in which the object of so much admiration sat rolled past. + +He was, however, the only one upon the veranda who accorded no notice +to the fair occupant of the barouche; every officer present gazed after +her with the greatest interest, and some few, who had enjoyed the happy +privilege of an introduction, saluted her with distinguished courtesy. +Among these fortunate individuals were the two dragoons, Herr von +Bertram and Count Waldheim; as soon as they were aware of the approach +of the equipage each started up from his negligent attitude and +standing close behind the balustrade bowed low as if to some princess. +Certainly no princess could have acknowledged their salute with a +slighter or haughtier inclination of the head than that with which it +was received in this instance. + +Carelessly leaning back among the satin cushions of the elegant +barouche of which she was the sole occupant, Fraeulein Eva Schommer +seemed to receive the homage offered her but as a fitting tribute to +her beauty; no smile played about her pensive mouth as she thus +slightly bowed, and her large dark eyes scarcely deigned to rest for an +instant upon the two dragoons. Suddenly her cheek flushed a little, and +a degree of animation lit up her face for an instant as she shot one +fleeting glance at the figure sitting absorbed in the newspaper and not +even looking up as her barouche drove past. The next minute she turned +away her head and replied most courteously to the passing salutation of +a rider, who cantered on a blood horse past her equipage. + +Like an apparition the barouche drawn by its pair of thoroughbreds +flashed past Buechner's awning and was soon lost to sight as it turned +almost immediately into a cross street. With it the degree of +excitement which its approach had produced also vanished; the two +dragoons took their seats again, put their feet up upon the rail of the +balustrade, and balanced themselves after their old elegant fashion. + +The younger infantry officer, who had also sprung from his seat and +bowed to the lady most courteously without however receiving any +acknowledgment in return, now resumed his seat, and regarded his friend +still zealously perusing the newspaper with immense astonishment. "This +is too much, Leo!" he exclaimed. "There you sit and never even look up +as she drives past; have you a heart of stone? You were the only one +whom she looked at; the only one of us to whom she deigned a glance, +and you pore over your politics all the while as if you meditated +mounting the rostrum yourself. 'Pon honour, Leo, she did bestow a look +upon you which would have driven many a fellow who had chanced to get +it wild." + +"You must have been mistaken, Kuno," Leo replied, indifferently, +although his friend's words did not seem quite devoid of interest for +him, for he folded his paper and laid it aside; perhaps he had entirely +finished his perusal of the most interesting proceedings in Chambers. + +"Kuno von Herwarth is never mistaken," the young officer said, with +mock heroism. "I beg you to remember that I said, 'Upon my honour she +bestowed a look upon you,' which entirely forbids all possibility of a +mistake on my part." + +"Of course," Leo replied, good-humouredly. "I do not doubt you for an +instant. Why should the young lady not have accorded us a fleeting +glance? I only cannot believe that it rested especially upon me." + +"And why not? Were you not presented to Fraeulein Schommer by her uncle +at the _fete-champetre_ at Schoensee?" + +"True: the young lady was so gracious as to accede to her uncle's +request on the occasion, and I could not without discourtesy refuse to +be presented." + +"Refuse to be presented? Really, Leo, I cannot understand you. There is +not one of our comrades who would not think himself lucky if he could +contrive an introduction to Fraeulein Schommer, and you----" + +"I do not join in the universal adulation, the nonsensical idolatry, +offered to the lady," Leo interrupted his friend. "I very unwillingly +consented to be presented to her, and was justly punished for my +consent by the negligent hauteur with which I was received. She +scarcely deigned me a glance, and received the few polite remarks which +I made to her after my presentation in so indifferent a silence that I +had no inducement to pursue a conversation evidently distasteful to +her. Afterwards, when by chance my seat was next hers in the boat upon +the lake, I again, as courtesy I thought required, said a few words to +her, to which however she returned such icy monosyllabic replies that I +gladly left her to her conversation with her neighbour on the other +side, the old Privy Councillor's wife, Madame von Sturmhaupt, with whom +she could talk fast enough." + +"Take care of yourself, Leo!" Kuno replied, with a laugh. "This +indifference of yours towards Fraeulein Schommer does not seem quite +genuine. Else why should you be so offended by her cold reception of +you when you were presented to her?" + +"You are wrong; I am not in the least offended, for I do but share the +fate of all those who do not possess at least a million. Otherwise you +are perfectly correct in saying that I am not indifferent to Fraeulein +Eva Schommer,--I do not like her! I will not deny that she is +handsome,--extremely handsome,--but her whole bearing is distasteful +to me. Pride or, to speak more correctly, self-conceit I always +dislike,--purse-pride is inexpressibly odious to me. But enough of +this, Kuno; do not let us talk of it: this at all events is not a fit +place for such discussion." + +"You should have thought of that before, Herr von Heydeck," Lieutenant +von Bertram interposed at this point. He had been an attentive listener +to the foregoing conversation, and now rose and approached Leo with +much arrogance of manner. + +Guido von Bertram was about as old as Leo von Heydeck; if mere +regularity of features constitute beauty he was the handsomer man, but +in his face there was none of the frank manliness which lent such a +charm to Von Heydeck. He evidently affected the man of extreme fashion: +the eye-glass stuck in his right eye, and the drawling tone of his +voice, were in harmony with his entire bearing. + +As he stood before Leo von Heydeck he adjusted the said eye-glass more +firmly in position, and scanned his opponent most offensively. Leo +looked up in surprise; he had been on terms of intimacy with the +dragoon in former years, but this intimacy had long since ceased. +Bertram's sudden interruption therefore took him quite by surprise; +before he could reply Bertram continued, emphasizing each word +as he drawled it out, "You have allowed yourself to speak in a +highly-offensive manner of a young lady with whom I have the honour to +claim acquaintance; I must beg you to retract all that you have said." + +The words were too distinct to be misunderstood. Leo perceived that +Bertram was endeavouring to step forward as Fraeulein Schommer's +champion; the tone of the dragoon's voice and his words were so +insulting that Leo's eyes flashed angrily; but the next instant he +mastered his first impulse of indignation at the sudden attack and +admitted to himself that he had been indiscreet. He should never have +allowed himself to indulge in any criticism of a lady in so public a +place; he was ready to atone as far as was possible for such an +indiscretion. + +"I regret, Herr von Bertram," he said, quietly, "that words spoken in a +strictly private conversation with my friend Herr von Herwarth, and +intended solely for his ear, should have reached yours. I can assure +you that nothing was further from my thoughts than any insult to +Fraeulein Schommer." + +"This excuse does not satisfy me, Herr von Heydeck. As you spoke +sufficiently loud for me involuntarily to overhear every word, your +conversation with Herr von Herwarth cannot be considered 'strictly +private.' You spoke of annoyance, of conceit, of purse-pride. Although +Fraeulein Schommer is above all possibility of insult from you, I will +not suffer a young lady whose acquaintance I have the honour to claim +to be thus spoken of in a public place. I therefore require you +instantly to declare your expressions a calumny and to retract them +upon the spot." + +"Herr von Bertram, let me entreat----" Kuno von Herwarth exclaimed, in +dismay; but before he could proceed the dragoon interposed. + +"Lieutenant von Herwarth, I must protest against any interference upon +your part in this matter between Herr von Heydeck and myself. Since you +are a witness to this conversation, you may shortly perchance act the +same part in another affair, where you may congratulate yourself upon +occupying a neutral position. Therefore I must beg you not to interrupt +this conversation." Then, turning to Leo and raising his voice, he +continued: "You have heard my demand, Herr von Heydeck; I require +immediate compliance with it." + +Leo von Heydeck started from his seat at these insolent words; his +cheek glowed with indignation, his hand involuntarily sought his +sword-hilt, but he quickly recovered himself. He folded his arms, +looked down thoughtfully, and then, after a pause that lasted but for +an instant, he replied to his insolent opponent with perfect repose of +manner, looking him full and calmly in the face the while,-- + +"You have no right to make any such demand, Herr von Bertram. If you +are not bent upon a quarrel you will be satisfied by my reiterated +assurance that I had no intention of insulting Fraeulein Schommer, and +that I regret that words which I had best not have uttered should have +been regarded as intentionally insulting. I hope this declaration will +satisfy you." + +"No, it does not satisfy me. As you do not retract your assertions, you +of course maintain them, and force me to assert myself! It is +dishonourable,--understand me, Herr von Heydeck,--I repeat, grossly +dishonourable to calumniate thus publicly a young lady who cannot +defend herself! It is a grossly dishonourable act, which I shall +chastise as it deserves!" + +Again Leo's eyes flashed, again his cheek flushed scarlet, but he gave +no words to his anger. One glance of intense scorn he cast at Bertram, +who stood insolently awaiting his reply, and then without a word he +turned and left the veranda. + +This extraordinary scene had arrested the attention of the other +officers present. Bertram's last words had been intentionally spoken so +loudly and with such emphasis as to be heard by all, and most of his +auditors were justly indignant. + +When the dragoon after Leo's departure went with a triumphant smile to +take his seat again beside his friend Count Waldheim, he was regarded +by his comrades with much disfavour, and expressions of their +displeasure reached his ears such as, "An insolent attack!" "An +entirely unjustifiable insult!" but he apparently cared little about +these utterances of opinion. Perfectly satisfied with his conduct, he +began to balance himself again comfortably on the hind legs of his +chair, and preserved his self-conceited smile even when Kuno von +Herwarth, without a word and with a glance of evident contempt, passed +by him to follow his friend. + +Count Waldheim however was far from sharing in his content; moving his +chair more closely to Bertram's side, he whispered, "What do you mean, +Bertram? You have got yourself into trouble, I am afraid, and, if you +will pardon the expression, you've committed a great folly." + +"Do you think so?" Bertram rejoined in as low a tone, twirling the ends +of his moustache. "I assure you I never committed an act of less folly +in my life, or one more entirely successful." + +"What! you were not carried away then by the impulse of the +moment?--you intentionally and designedly offered so deadly an insult +to Herr von Heydeck?" + +"Intentionally and designedly. I was not in the least irritated, but as +calm as ever I was in my life." + +"I understand you less than ever then. I am certainly not ignorant in +such matters, but I cannot conceive of provoking a mortal quarrel +without the slightest provocation. You know Heydeck's reputation as a +pistol-shot; he is famous for absolute certainty of aim and steadiness +of hand. Are you tired of life, Bertram?" + +"Not at all; it is in no danger from Herr von Heydeck," Bertram +replied, with the same serenity of manner. "Will you bet with me, +Count? I wager ten Friedrichs-d'or that Heydeck pockets my affront,--he +will not call me out. Eh?" + +"Impossible! You accused him of dishonourable conduct; he must resent +such an insult, and----" + +"Will you wager?" + +"If you choose; but you have lost already. In return I will act as your +second." + +"No need; Heydeck is too much of a coward to send me a challenge." + +"Heydeck a coward? You're dreaming, Bertram. Why, his thorough scorn of +danger got him the iron cross at Gravelotte. He is known throughout the +entire regiment for his cool courage in facing deadly peril. I know +what I am saying; one of my cousins serves in his battalion and is very +intimate with him." + +Bertram shook his head with a contemptuous smile. "I know him better: +we were at school together; I tell you he is a coward who will never +dare to call me out. You say he showed courage in the field? Bah! what +is courage in the field? Every plough-boy displays it. The coward +pushes on there because he is sure of a bullet through his brains if he +runs away. You will soon learn to your cost, as far as your purse is +concerned, that I am right, but even were I wrong, and he were really +to send me a challenge, I should perhaps be better pleased. Let me +explain, for I see you shake your head incredulously. I should be only +too glad to fight him if thereby I might succeed in gaining one word of +gratitude from the lovely Eva, and here I depend upon your friendly +services, Count." + +"Now I begin to comprehend," Waldheim said, in a tone of surprise; "but +the game you are playing, Bertram, is a dangerous one. Are you sure the +stakes are worth the winning thus? Fraeulein Schommer to be sure is +handsome----" + +"Wonderfully handsome!" + +"And rich too, they say." + +"Two millions at least!" + +"Very fair; but remember, Bertram, Fraeulein Schommer comes from a very +low grade of society. Her uncle, Balthasar Schommer, is a common fellow +who submits to his niece's petting and scolding like some favourite +puppy. I believe her father was a miner, and it is extremely doubtful +whether he could read or write his own name although he died the +possessor of rich mines and a millionaire. You ought to think twice, +Bertram, before you make up your mind to marry into such a connection." + +"But you visit at the Schommers', Count?" + +"Why not? The old fellow is common enough, but his wine, or rather the +fair Eva's, is capital; although really that makes very little +difference to me. All the world goes to the Schommers', and why should +not I follow its example? If I ever am tired of going there, I have but +to cease my visits and cut old Schommer when I meet him. Meanwhile I +like very well to talk and dance with the girl who is certainly very +lovely; but I never should dream of making her Countess Waldheim." + +"Nor should I perhaps, were I the wealthy Count Waldheim, but such +scruples are not for a poor Herr von Bertram whose debts are +considerably larger than his estate. That which you disdain I covet, +and I ask you for your assistance in obtaining it." + +"I really cannot see how I can be of assistance to you in so delicate +an affair." + +"Nevertheless you can. Let me be frank with you; I know you will not +abuse my confidence. You know Fraeulein Eva,--you know how proud and +reserved she is. Between ourselves what Heydeck said of her was true +enough. I myself have often suffered from her pride. All my exertions, +the most delicate attentions to her that I could devise, have never +advanced me one step in her favour. I should long ago have relinquished +all pretension to it if she had not treated every one else--yourself, +Count, perhaps excepted--with the same coldness and hauteur which I +have experienced from her. She cannot be approached after any ordinary +fashion, but I hope that to-day I have found out a means of awakening +her interest. When she learns how slightingly Heydeck spoke of her, +that he was instantly called to account for his expression, and that I +was the champion who undertook to vindicate her honour, and defended +her at the peril of his life----" + +"You have just wagered that Heydeck would not challenge you; the peril +then is not so very great." + +"True, but she need not know that. The friend who tells her of the zeal +with which I undertook her defence might add for my sake that Heydeck +is famous as a perfect marksman, and that in case of a duel my life is +in the greatest danger." + +"And you ask me to be this friend?" + +"If you would so far oblige me, my dear Count, I should be forever +grateful to you. The charming Eva must take a deep interest in so +fearless a defender of her honour. She cannot treat him with the +cold formality which she accords to her other adorers. If once the ice +is broken, and the smallest opening made in her armour of cold +reserve,--if she admits me to the slightest degree of confidence, I +will take care of the rest. She is no woman if gratitude to her +champion is not at last metamorphosed into love. Will you help me, +Count?" + +"Hm,--the affair is not greatly to my taste," Count Waldheim slowly +answered; "but we have always been good comrades and I will not desert +you now; especially since I believe that you really stand in peril of +your life,--a peril foolishly incurred by yourself. I will call at the +Schommers' and see what I can do for you. She has just driven home, I +shall be admitted. Besides, I must leave you at all events. I confess I +am not comfortable here where every one is looking at us, and your name +is whispered at all the tables." + +"Very natural after what has passed." + +"But these whispers are by no means complimental to you, my dear +fellow; and in fact these comrades of ours are not far wrong in my +opinion. In your zeal to make yourself interesting to Fraeulein Eva you +treated Heydeck badly." + +"Bah! he deserved nothing better." + +"I will not play your Mentor, but, I do not care to stay here and be +stared at any longer,--I am going. We shall meet at dinner at +the Casino, and I will report as to my visit at the Schommers'. +Good-morning." + +"I shall stay here for a while. _Au revoir_." + +And Herr von Bertram stayed, balancing himself as airily as before, and +gazing out upon the promenade, but nevertheless he was not quite +comfortable. He felt himself the object of universal observation; he +noticed that every fresh-comer--each officer who strolled into +Buechner's--was informed immediately in a low tone by some one of his +comrades of what had occurred. Among these new-comers were several of +his own intimates, but none of them, after hearing what there was to +tell, came near him or accorded his presence any acknowledgment save by +the most commonplace salutation. + +At last he rose, and walked through the rows of tables, bowing here and +there. He soon perceived how unanimous was the disapproval of his +comrades. His more intimate associates who had reason to expect that he +would address them evidently avoided him, and the other officers +returned his salutation in the coldest manner; some indeed turned away +and made as if they were so absorbed in conversation as not to notice +him. + +He bit his lip angrily and asked himself whether he had not a right to +demand an explanation of such conduct. Once when Baron Feldkirch of his +own regiment and his intimate acquaintance turned away with only the +salutation required in the service, he paused, half resolved to call +him to account, but he instantly reflected that it would only make +matters worse, and refrained. + +He hastily passed on, and felt wonderfully relieved when he reached the +open street; really he seemed to have been morally running the gauntlet +during the last few moments. + +Leo von Heydeck had only gone a few steps after leaving Buechner's when +he was joined by Lieutenant von Herwarth. The two young men walked on +together for a while in silence, each too busy in reflecting upon the +previous scene to care to continue their former conversation. + +Kuno von Herwarth was very angry; the unprovoked insult just offered to +his friend filled him with indignation against its author. He +remembered with much satisfaction the comments upon Bertram's conduct +which he had heard expressed upon all sides as he left the veranda, and +which were all indignantly condemnatory. Such a unanimous opinion on +the part of the corps of officers was very important. It made the +necessary consequences of the insult far less damaging to Leo than they +usually are in such cases to the insulted man. + +"Don't look so grave, Leo," Herwarth said at last "The affair is not so +black as you think; fortunately you are sure of your man. Give him a +distinct memento--a ball in the upper arm will do--and we shall +probably be able to hush up all talk of the duel, which would really be +best since the authorities are rather hard upon duelling just now. Of +course you will choose pistols? Wing the insolent fellow and have done +with him." + +Leo looked up at his friend as if awaking from a dream. "I cannot +answer you now," he replied. "I am not yet clear in my own mind. You +forget how often we have discussed this question. Must I bow now to a +prejudice against which I have hitherto contended with all my might? +Must I transgress the dictates of morality and my own profound +conviction and have recourse to arms to avenge words which, from the +lips of a scoundrel like Bertram, have really no power whatever to +injure me? You know my views with regard to duelling." + +"But you cannot rest calmly beneath such an insult," his friend +replied. "Remember, he accused you of dishonourable conduct, and he +would add, of cowardice, if you failed to demand satisfaction for the +insult! And what would your brother officers think of you?" + +"I know all you would say, Kuno," Leo replied, sadly. "I knew you would +reason thus, and that almost every one of my brother officers for whom +I have any real regard will agree with you. And this is just why it is +so difficult for me to come to a determination. I have a hard struggle +with myself to pass through,--give me time. Do not ask of me a decided +reply at once. This evening after I have taken counsel with myself you +shall have it, and I promise you that if I decide to bow to the +prejudice in favor of duelling you shall be my second." + +"If?" Herwarth cried, indignantly. "How can there be any 'if' in the +matter? Have you no blood in your veins? Mine boiled at that +'dishonourable,'--I could hardly keep myself from inflicting summary +chastisement upon the insolent fellow. And you to whom it was applied +can talk about an 'if' when the question is of the vindication of your +honour. Really, Leo, if I had not seen you in the field I might +misconceive you! And what will others, who do not know you as I do, +think of you? The mere thought of their calling you 'coward' makes me +furious! Make up your mind instantly, Leo! Do it for my sake! Upon my +life you owe it to me, for rely upon it I never will suffer mortal man +to call you coward, and in refusing to fight one duel yourself you'll +cause me to fight a dozen." + +"Coward!" How could the word fail of its effect upon Leo? His eyes +flashed, his cheek burned red to become pale the next instant, and for +a while he walked on beside his friend without a word. Then, when he +could command himself sufficiently to speak calmly, he said, "Your +words are harsh, Kuno, but I can forgive them for I know that you can +never think me a coward. Trust me, there is more courage required to +brave the condemnation of all who are dear to us than to use sword or +pistol. I do not yet know whether my courage now will stand me in +stead. I cannot yet decide what to do. Do not make the conflict with +myself in this matter harder for me than it is of necessity. If you +love me, Kuno, leave me for a while. Be sure I need all the powers of +my mind, all the strength that I possess, to come to a determination. +This evening you shall learn what that determination is." + +Leo paused, shook hands with his friend, and hastily turned and left +him. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +"Home!" + +This order came quite unexpectedly to the coachman. Fraeulein Schommer +had already enumerated to him the various shops at which he was to +stop, and suddenly her plans were changed. Scarcely had the carriage +turned off the promenade into "Great Wilhelmstrasse" when she gave this +order, although she had not as yet purchased anything. + +The young lady held her parasol so closely before her face that it not +only shaded it but entirely concealed it; of course she did not +perceive the numerous bows and smiles of the acquaintances whom she +passed in her short drive home, but could resign herself undisturbed to +dreamy reflection. It was of no very pleasant description, as was plain +from the grave expression of her face, the defiant curl of her +beautiful lip, and the dark almost gloomy look of her black eyes. + +The carriage stopped before an elegant villa; the footman opened the +door of the barouche, but Eva stepped hastily from the vehicle, +scorning his proffered help, and hurried into the house, acknowledging +only by a haughty nod the respectful greeting of the porter who stood +in the hall. Neither did she deign to notice the footman, who followed +her awaiting orders up the broad carpeted marble staircase, until she +reached the landing, when she forbade him by an imperious wave of her +hand to follow her further, and opened a door leading into the interior +apartments of the villa. One of these she entered; it was a small room +elegantly and comfortably but by no means splendidly furnished, with +windows leading out into the garden. + +A young girl coquettishly dressed who was seated at her sewing, sprang +up as the young lady entered and hastened towards her. "You are +returned very soon, my lady!" she said, as she assisted her to lay +aside her hat and light summer wrap. + +"How often must I tell you, Nanette, that I detest that silly 'my +lady'?" + +The reproof was administered with tolerable severity, and was by no +means grateful to Nanette, as was shown by her look as she received it. +She had learned, however, to control herself. "I beg pardon, Fraeulein," +she said, with a low courtesy; "I will try to remember, but 'my lady' +comes so naturally; and who has a better right to the title than such a +beautiful, rich lady as Fraeulein Schommer?" + +"Hush!" Fraeulein Schommer exclaimed, in an imperious tone. "I hate all +such speeches! If you really desire to remain in my service you must +remember once for all that I forbid all flattery as well as the title +'my lady.'" + +Nanette cast one more venomous glance at her mistress, and made a +deeper courtesy than before. The young lady, however, noticed neither +the one nor the other; she walked up to the mirror and repaired some +slight disorder in the arrangement of her magnificent black hair, +impatiently disdaining Nanette's proffered help as she asked, "Where is +Fraeulein von Schlicht? In my room or in the garden?" + +"The Fraeulein is on the veranda with her embroidery." + +At this reply Eva turned to her maid impatiently and asked sternly, +"Are you transgressing my orders intentionally, or do you not know that +I have especially requested that all the servants of my household shall +speak of Fraeulein Aline von Schlicht as the 'Lady Aline'?" + +"I cannot possibly give a hired companion a higher title than my +mistress! I thought because----" + +"When I command you are not to think, but to obey," Eva interrupted the +girl; "and I require you to give Fraeulein von Schlicht the title of +'Lady,' which belongs to her. Nor is Fraeulein von Schlicht in my +service, as you appear to think; she is not my hired companion, but my +friend who does me the honour to reside with me, and as such you are to +respect her, and to obey her commands even more strictly than my own. +Any forgetfulness in this respect will be punished by immediate +dismissal from my service." + +Of course there was no answer to be made to all this: Eva would +have suffered none; she never noticed that Nanette's face grew +scarlet,--that an ugly expression of hatred disfigured the otherwise +pretty mouth,--nor that the maid's hand trembled as she opened the door +leading into the next room for her mistress to pass. Eva left the +apartment without even glancing at the girl. + +Nanette, as the door closed behind her mistress, clenched her little +fist and shook it menacingly, while her whole face showed the malice +that she felt. Suddenly her gaze fell upon the mirror, and she started +at the countenance reflected there. She stood before it and tried to +smile; at first in vain,--those hateful lines were too firmly fixed +about the mouth, but they must be banished. Nanette saw herself how +ugly they were, and what must be done she could do,--she was not +wanting in strength of will. + +After spending some time before the mirror, every trace of the +disfigurement which anger at the imperiously-administered reproof had +produced, vanished. She contemplated the reflection of her pretty face +and figure with immense self-satisfaction; she nodded pleasantly to +herself, and then stepping on tiptoe to the door leading to the next +room, opened it noiselessly a very little way so that through the chink +she could command a view of the apartment and of the veranda adjoining. + +She bestowed no attention whatever on the luxuriously furnished +drawing-room. It had interested her somewhat a few days before when she +had first entered Fraeulein Schommer's service; she had then examined +admiringly the costly furniture and the splendid pictures upon the +walls, while a bitter feeling of envy of the possessor of all these +treasures had filled her soul. Since then she had dusted and arranged +them frequently and she no longer admired. Admiration had vanished, +envy still existed in full force. + +Nanette's attention was concentrated upon the veranda, upon which the +drawing-room opened by two tall glass folding-doors. Sitting there in +the thick shade of a leafy climbing vine was a young lady, her hands +for the moment resting idly upon some embroidery in her lap. Her back +was towards Nanette so the girl could not see her face, and the +distance was too great to allow of her understanding what she +said,--the low voice reached the listener's ears only as a gentle +murmur. + +Beside this young lady Eva was sitting on a garden-chair. She too was +gazing abroad into the garden with her back towards the maid. She spoke +also in her turn but in so low a tone that not one syllable could be +distinguished by the listener. In vain did she strain her ears: she so +longed to overhear what the ladies were talking about, but she soon +found that this would be impossible unless she could contrive to slip +into the drawing-room and conceal herself in the embrasure of one of +the windows. + +She could not lose so delightful an opportunity of learning from the +intimate conversation of the two friends what could have put Fraeulein +Schommer into such an ill humour to-day, and her resolution was soon +taken. Cautiously opening the door a little wider she entered the +drawing-room and had just noiselessly advanced to the centre of the +apartment when Fraeulein Eva suddenly turned round and flashed a look of +indignant surprise upon the detected eavesdropper, who stopped short +reddening with mortification, and uncertain whether to advance or +withdraw. + +"What do you want there?" + +This question, conveying reproof not in words but in manner, restored +to Nanette all her wonted self-sufficiency. She quietly stepped out on +the veranda before replying, and then said, "I heard you call, Fraeulein +Schommer. What are your orders?" + +Eva was not misled by this reply. The maid's sudden confusion had +betrayed her, and she easily guessed for what she had been slipping so +noiselessly into the drawing-room. With undisguised contempt in her +look she said sternly, "That is a falsehood! You know that I never +call,--that I always ring for you when I have any orders to give. You +were listening!" + +"Oh Fraeulein Schommer what an accusation to make! I assure you----" + +"Hush! Not a word! I will not be contradicted! Your colour your +confusion betrayed you. I will let it pass this time, but if ever again +I find you listening I shall dismiss you instantly!" + +"But, Eva dear, do not be so hard," her companion interposed. "What +possible temptation could Nanette have to listen to our conversation? +You are wronging her!" + +"Heaven knows I never wanted to listen!" Nanette cried, in an injured +tone. "I thought Fraeulein Schommer called,--indeed, indeed, that was +why I came! I never listened in my life, and I would rather cut my +tongue out than tell a falsehood. I do not deserve to be accused of +such things! I am perfectly innocent, and it hurts my feelings very +much to have Fraeulein Schommer suspect me so." + +Nanette put her handkerchief to her eyes, and from behind it came +inarticulate sounds that were really a creditable imitation of +suppressed sobbing, but her clever acting failed to impose upon her +mistress. Eva was not easily shaken in her convictions, and least of +all could Nanette's theatrical asseverations move her. + +"I will not hear another word!" she said as sternly as before. "You +know now what you have to expect if you are ever found listening again. +Go to your sewing, and if I want you I will ring for you!" + +This command was so imperative that Nanette did not venture another +word in self-defence,--a very successful sob was her only reply. While +she was passing through the drawing-room she kept her handkerchief up +to her eyes, but once more alone, with the door closed behind her, she +tossed it aside and for a few minutes gave herself up to the envious +rage that possessed her. When she had grown quite calm once more, and +had, by a glance into the mirror, assured herself that her pretty face +retained no trace of her agitation, she left the little room, leaving +the door open that she might hear any summons from the veranda, and +went into the hall. + +Here she found the footman who had attended his mistress during her +drive pacing slowly to and fro; he was a fine-looking young fellow, +with a fresh good-humoured face; his handsome livery became him +excellently well. + +Nanette gave him her friendliest smile. "Good-morning, Wilhelm," she +whispered, evidently pleased. He returned her greeting with undisguised +admiration in look and tone. + +"Don't speak so loud, Wilhelm. Fraeulein Schommer need not overhear us +if I like to talk a little with you." + +"Would you like to talk a little with me, Nanette? That's kindly of you +now. I thought you never meant to take notice of me; you've hardly said +one word to me in the three days since you came, and when I was so glad +that we were going to have the same mistress." + +"What else could I do? Haven't I to sit in that little den all day long +just listening for Fraeulein Schommer's bell? A pretty fuss she would +make if I chanced not to hear it!" + +"Come now Nanette, she is not so bad as you think,--a little strict +perhaps,--but mind your orders and you never hear a hard word from +her." + +"She's a fiend! a Zantuppy!" Nanette rejoined, pettishly. + +"A Zantuppy?" Wilhelm asked, astonished. "What is a Zantuppy?" + +Nanette regarded the ignorant fellow with condescending compassion. +"You have had no education, Wilhelm!" she said. "Every one who knows +anything calls every scolding woman a Zantuppy. I'd Zantuppy her if I +could with her proud and haughty airs treating us as if we were the +dirt under her feet!" + +Here she suddenly recollected how her anger disfigured her, and +compelling her features to a smile that contrasted strangely with her +words, she went on: "And to-day she's bristling like a porkypine; first +she scolded me for saying 'my lady' to her, and then for not saying it +to the stupid companion." + +"But that's nothing, Nanette; she doesn't like to be called my lady; +and if she wants us to bow and scrape to the lady Aline von Schlicht, +'tis easy done,--and the place is a good one. I've lived in the first +families; but such meals, and such perquisites! Rely upon it, Nanette, +you'll like it and thank me yet for helping to get you here. If +Fraeulein Schommer gets out of bed the wrong side now and then never +mind it,--she's the right stuff at heart. She is a little out of sorts +to-day. I saw that when she so suddenly gave orders to drive home, +although she had not been to a single shop." + +"She is in a bad humour then? I knew it; she flew at me as if she would +eat me. What went amiss? Did anything vex her on the drive?" + +"Not that I know of. We had scarcely driven through the promenade when +she suddenly called out, 'Home!'" + +"Something's wrong. Perhaps she's in love. Did you meet any one who did +not seem pleased enough to see her?" + +"What queer ideas you have, Nanette! She never thinks of such +things,--never looks at a man. With all her millions she's twenty-two +and unmarried. She might furnish a worsted-shop with all the mittens +she's given the men, if she could collect them." + +"Of course any one as rich as she can give as many mittens as she +chooses; there are always men enough to hanker after money, but there +are some who don't care for it." + +"And that's true enough, Nanette," Wilhelm replied, with a grin. "Now +here am I, who never think of money when I see such a pretty face as +yours." + +Nanette rewarded the compliment with her best smile. "But then you're +different from most of these grand gentlemen. Still, some have ideas of +their own. Now there's Count Waldheim, whom I used to see every day +when I lived with the Privy Councillor's lady, Frau von Sturmhaupt. +This princess of ours might throw her millions at his feet and he +wouldn't stoop to pick them up. All the money in the world wouldn't +persuade him to look at any one who had not a 'von' to her name." + +"You're out there, Nanette. Count Waldheim comes here often, and likes +our Fraeulein extremely well. It is 'charming Fraeulein Schommer,' and +'lovely Fraeulein Schommer,' and she treats him better than any of the +young men who come here." + +"Count Waldheim visits here?" Nanette asked, in surprise. "Well, I +wouldn't have thought it;--and our princess likes him? I'll lay my head +she's in love with him, and he wouldn't have her if she had shovelfuls +of money. I bet you she met him to-day when she was out driving, and he +never bowed to her." + +"Out again, Nanette! We didn't meet him, but we saw him; he was sitting +at Buechner's under the awning with Herr von Bertram, the nephew of your +old mistress, Frau von Sturmhaupt, and he bowed so low that he almost +bumped his nose against the bar of the balustrade. Fraeulein Eva has no +heart-ache for him, nor for any of the rest of them; they all bow when +she drives past, as if she were a princess. Only one man sat still and +read the newspaper without looking at us; but he does not visit here, +and I don't think our Fraeulein knows him." + +"Indeed! Who was he?" + +"Lieutenant von Heydeck of the infantry. Why should our Fraeulein look +at the infantry when she can have cavalrymen by the dozens?" + +"That's just why she doesn't care for them. 'Tis sure to be Herr von +Heydeck whom she's vexed about. I don't know him. Is he handsome?" + +"I don't know; he looks like all the other infantry fellows. I never +trouble my head about him. What does it all concern us?" + +"It is just what does concern us!" Nanette replied, peevishly. "I'll +find out all my fine lady's tricks and teach her who I am! I tell you, +Wilhelm, we can do what we please with our masters and mistresses if we +only can find out their secrets; and to do that we must keep our eyes +and ears open and help each other, for what one doesn't see the other +may. So you must tell me everything that you learn, in or out of the +house, Wilhelm, and I'll put this and that together." + +Nanette's proposition did not appear to find much favour with Wilhelm. + +"I'll tell you what, Nanette," he said. "I'd like nothing better than +to please you, but you'd better leave me out of this. I've no fancy for +spying on my mistress. I do my work and no more bother." + +"But if I were to beg you, dear Wilhelm?" Nanette asked, tenderly +laying her hand upon his shoulder and looking sweetly into his +face,--indeed, she was extremely pretty. "If I were to promise you a +kiss," she continued, "would you refuse to do what I ask?" + +The bribe was so seductive that honest Wilhelm's principles were hardly +strong enough to withstand the maid's request, coming as it did from +lips so rosy and inviting. Her cause was half won when he asked, with +some hesitation, "But what do you want me to do?" + +"Nothing wrong, Wilhelm dear," the girl hastily answered; "nothing +wrong. I wouldn't ask it of you, but really we poor servants must stand +by each other if we wouldn't be trodden down into the very dirt. Is it +wrong in us to use the eyes and ears that God gave us? We are human +beings, and ought to know all that is going on around us. Keep your +eyes open when you drive out with our Fraeulein, and never forget who +meets or speaks to her. And when you are waiting at table you can pick +up many a bit of information,--you must tell me what they talk about. +That's no wrong: you tell no one's secrets. If you'll only do this, +Wilhelm dear, I'll like you so much, and give you a kiss, or perhaps +two, for every piece of news you bring me. You shall have one now if +you'll promise to do as I say." + +The temptation was too great. Wilhelm could not resist. He gave a +prompt "yes," and for his reward took not one but a dozen kisses. +Nanette seeming nothing loth, he might have gone on receiving +prepayment for his services had he not been startled by a loud +exclamation behind him, followed by the words, in most distinct Saxon +German,-- + +"By Jove! Deuce take the fellow! A pretty household this! and in broad +daylight, too!" + +The speaker was an elderly gentleman, dressed with extreme elegance, +who had been contemplating the embrace from the staircase-landing, his +fine Panama hat on his head, and his hands resting upon his gold-headed +cane. He continued to observe the couple with a good-humoured smile, as +they stood as if spell-bound in dismay. + +When, however, Wilhelm had sufficiently recovered himself to recognize +the elderly spectator, he looked much relieved. "Don't be frightened, +Nanette," he whispered; "'tis only our Fraeulein's Uncle Balthasar. You +won't tell of us, Herr Schommer? 'An honest kiss ne'er comes amiss.'" + +Herr Balthasar took the request in very good part, made though it was +rather familiarly than respectfully. He nodded good-humouredly to +Wilhelm, pinched Nanette's blooming cheek, and smiled broadly. "_A_ +kiss," he said,--"a kiss, to be sure, is all very well, but you took a +dozen, you deuce of a fellow. If I should tell my wife or my niece +you're both done for." + +Wilhelm seemed little disturbed by the threat. "You wouldn't be so hard +on us, Herr Schommer," he said; and his security was fully justified by +the good nature that characterized this uncle of his mistress. + +Herr Balthasar Schommer was a personification of good humour. It beamed +pure and unadulterated from his small gray eyes, it was distinctly +stamped on the broad smile of his large mouth. Whoever had once seen +Herr Balthasar knew that he could rely with certainty upon his thorough +goodness of heart. There was no guile in the man; his round face was +the mirror of his character. Try as the old gentleman would by twirling +the ends of his gray moustache straight into the air to give himself a +stern, martial air, no one was ever deceived by it. + +"I'll let you off this once, deuce take you!" he said, vainly +endeavouring to make his words sound stern and dignified; "but another +time take care. And you too, you little minx," he went on, turning to +Nanette; "for I can tell you that if my niece had seen you--ah, by +Jove!" + +Again he pinched the girl's cheek, then laughed heartily, and tapped +Wilhelm on the shoulder with his cane. Then with a farewell nod he went +into the drawing-room to find his niece. + +"Won't he tell?" Nanette whispered anxiously as the door closed behind +him. + +"Never!" Wilhelm replied in a tone of firm conviction. "Herr Balthasar +wouldn't for the world do an unkind thing by any one. Oh, he's a +splendid old gentleman!" + +"He's a foolish old fop!" Nanette rejoined, saucily; "looking at me so +and pinching my cheek. It's my belief he'd have liked a kiss himself." + +"Well, you might have given him one, Nanette; I wouldn't have been +jealous." + +Nanette's face grew dark, and she would have made some cutting +rejoinder, but she bethought herself in time that it behooved her to +keep Wilhelm in good humour, so she contented herself with saying, +"Thank you kindly for your permission, which I shall not need, however. +The vain old fool! He looks like a bedizened monkey in his light summer +costume. You can see with half an eye that he once weighed out sugar +and sold molasses. He can't hide that for all the big diamond in his +shirt-front. And then such language! 'Bai Chove!' and 'teuce of a +vellow!' at every third word. It is scandalous that a girl who has +always lived in the best families should have taken service with such +riff-raff!" + +In her zeal and irritation she had quite forgotten her resolution +always to be amiable when Wilhelm was by; one glance into his honest +face reminded her of this, and she forthwith controlled herself. None +too soon, however; for Wilhelm had just made the discovery that pretty +Nanette could be very cross and look almost ugly. + +"I don't know what you mean, Nanette," he said, with much less warmth. +"What has the good old man done to you? He is so good-hearted that I +should think no one could be angry with him." + +"I am not angry with him," Nanette answered, aware that she had made a +blunder, and anxious to repair it if possible. "I see he is a very +good-humoured old man; but when a girl has lived in the first families, +it is very difficult for her to become accustomed to low-bred manners. +If you were not here, Wilhelm, I could not stand it three days longer; +but for your sake I will stay, if you will keep your promise to me. We +have talked enough now, and I must go to my sewing, or Fraeulein Eva +will know where I have been." + +She kissed the tips of her fingers to Wilhelm, whose irritation she had +thus quickly appeased, and returning to the small room adjoining the +drawing-room seated herself by the window and took up the sewing which +she had put down upon Fraeulein Schommer's return from driving. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +"You really are too severe with poor Nanette," Fraeulein Aline von +Schlicht said to the young heiress. + +Eva Schommer was conscious that there was justice in her friend's +reproof. Her impulsive temperament often led her to make use of hasty +expressions which she regretted afterwards, especially if she had been +actuated by anger, and she frequently seemed to show an insensibility +to the feelings of others which was by no means part of her character. +When she was irritated she would rebuke any omission of duty upon the +part of her servants with an undeserved severity, and she admitted to +herself that this had just been the case with Nanette. She had reproved +the girl upon mere suspicion as sharply as if the fault had been +proven. She was vexed with herself for her hastiness, but the dislike +with which Nanette's whole conduct had inspired her, and her conviction +that the girl had actually tried to play the part of eavesdropper, were +by no means weakened. + +"You are right, Aline," she said, sadly; "I am ashamed of myself, but I +could not help it. The girl is so odious to me that I cannot conceive +how I came to take her into my service. I really think it would be best +to give her a quarter's or even a half-year's wages, and dismiss her." + +"Do not be unjust, Eva. Has she given you any good reason to send her +away? Have you any right to break the contract which you tacitly +concluded with her when you engaged her as your maid?" + +"But I will not break it. I will indemnify her duly." + +"With money? Can it be done? If you send her away after three days in +your service, will it not be thought that she has been guilty of great +misconduct, perhaps even of dishonesty? Can money repair the harm done +to the girls reputation? How often you have told me how you despise the +wretched dross, and yet you propose to atone with money for the wrong +you will do poor Nanette by suddenly dismissing her from your service +without reason!" + +"I will not do it, my dear, good Aline!" Eva cried, kissing her friend +tenderly. "You are my good angel," she continued; "you are always +right; I see how unjust I should be. I was wrong to take the girl into +my service simply upon Frau von Sturmhaupt's recommendation and +Wilhelm's request, when, in spite of her pretty face and figure, I was +not at all prepossessed by her, but now that I have made the mistake I +must bide by the consequences. I should have trusted my first +impressions and not taken her into the house. My dislike to her, which +increases daily, may easily make me unjust to her. Her affected smile, +her hypocritical humility, and her whole manner, indeed, confirm my +want of confidence in her. I do not believe her even when she is +telling the truth. I suspect her always of some sly ulterior motive in +all she says." + +"Are you not unjust again, Eva dear? You are prejudiced against the +girl, and see faults in her which I fail to discover. To me she seems +amiable and willing. I have not known her to tell a falsehood. She is +neat, capable, and industrious, pleasant in her manner, and in short, +so far as I can judge from the few days she has been in your service, +she possesses all the qualities of an excellent lady's-maid. That she +is honest and trustworthy is proved by the excellent character she +brought you from Frau von Sturmhaupt, with whom she lived several +years." + +"Why did she leave if Frau von Sturmhaupt was satisfied with her?" + +"Nanette told you herself that as she has an old mother dependent upon +her, she was obliged to ask higher wages than Frau von Sturmhaupt--who +is by no means wealthy--felt herself justified in giving. I cannot see +that we have any reason to doubt the truth of this explanation. Is it +not natural that a poor girl should try to improve her condition?" + +"I cannot argue the matter, Aline. All that you say is perfectly +correct, and nevertheless something that I can neither explain nor +contend with convinces me that Nanette is false, that her amiability is +hypocrisy, and that she returns with interest my dislike. I know she +hates me, and that she will show me that she does so as soon as she has +the opportunity." + +"You will not allow such a vague 'something' to influence you?" + +"No, Aline; I will follow your advice. I will try to conquer my +prejudice--for I confess that my dislike of Nanette is prejudice--but I +cannot promise more. I will not testify towards her the dislike with +which she inspires me, but I cannot command my confidence, and I cannot +pretend to show her any." + +"She has no right at present to ask that you should. Your confidence in +her must be the result of faithful performance of her duties; and I +hope she will succeed in winning it, for you are too dear and good not +to resign a prejudice as soon as you know that it is unjust." + +"I will try, my darling Aline," said Eva, taking her friend's hand and +tenderly kissing it, "I will try, and perhaps I shall succeed since you +are with me, for you are, as I said, my good angel. When I look into +your kind, loving eyes, and hear your gentle words, I think I can be +better; my wild, impulsive nature grows calm. I am not dear and good, +as you call me, Aline. I know I am not, but I want to be so. When I see +your heavenly gentleness and repose, I feel how hateful are my hasty +judgments, my sharp hard words, my unfeminine obstinacy. I long to be +like you, but I cannot; I forget all my good resolutions as soon as I +am provoked. I know how odious this is, and, when I think of it, I +cannot conceive how you, who are so infinitely better and gentler than +I, can love me. Oh, if I could only be like you!" + +Aline returned her friend's kiss, and said, with a smile, "Who would +believe that the charming Eva could be guilty of such folly, that the +proud beauty whom all adore could wish to resemble poor insignificant +me, whom no one cares for except the friend whose affection blinds her? +No, stay as you are, dear, for as you are you conquer every heart." + +The lovely, gentle smile that had transfigured Eva's face as she had +caressed her friend vanished at Aline's last words, her dark eyes +flashed, and the lines about her mouth grew hard. "Yes," she said, +bitterly, "as I am I conquer the hearts of all the men who have set +their hearts on my wretched millions, the most unfortunate inheritance +which my good father could have bequeathed to me. He never dreamed, +while he laboured night and day to give wealth to his darling child, +that this miserable money would be the curse of her existence, +poisoning her very soul!" + +Aline looked at her, with a smile. "If your wealth is your greatest +misfortune," she said, gayly, "I am afraid you will find but little +sympathy for it among your heartless fellow-mortals, and that you will +be obliged to learn to endure with stoicism the burden of your +millions." + +"You too, Aline!" Eva cried, reproachfully. "Can you consider wealth a +blessing? I know perfectly well that others envy me, but if they +dreamed what misery this wretched money has brought me, how it daily +embitters every enjoyment of life, filling my mind with distrust and +suspicion, making me despise those about me, they would give me pity +instead of envy. Wherever I go I am received with delight and loaded +with courtesies. I? No, my millions! I represent to these sordid souls +their idol,--wealth. I am nothing to them but the heiress, and as such +beautiful, lovely, talented, feted and caressed wherever I go. Have I +not known this from my earliest childhood? Gray-headed servants cringed +and yielded to every wish of the spoiled wayward child, finding all +that she did charming and attractive because she was an heiress. Can I +be happy in kindness shown not to me but to my money? As soon as I +appear in society all the men vie with each other in doing me homage. +One flatters me, another exerts all his wit to entertain me, a third +sighs and languishes at my feet,--and it is all a lie, all wretched +hypocrisy! These very men who flatter and woo me would never accord me +a moment's notice if I were poor. Oh it is hard to be obliged to repeat +over and over to one's self, 'You yourself are nothing; these wretches +adore your millions, not you!' What do they care although I treat them +with the greatest arrogance and contempt? I am rich, and all I say and +do is charming, and would be although I united in my one character +every possible vice. I despise them and show them that I do so, and +they adore me! They sue for my hand and not one thinks whether I can be +a faithful, loving wife. I bring the man whom I marry millions, and who +cares whether a heart accompanies them? The more persistently they pay +court to me the more I am humiliated in my own eyes, the more +thoroughly I hate these miserable, sordid men! Yes, I hate them so +thoroughly that even that vain aristocrat, Count Waldheim, and that +_blase_ fop, Paul Delmar, seem delightful to me, only because I know +that they never think of marrying me; they at least are not to be +bought with my money. Waldheim's pride of birth protects him from such +degradation, and Delmar is richer than I; he wants none of my fortune." + +"Poor child!" Aline said, sadly. + +"Yes, you are right now!" Eva continued, with emotion. "I am poor, +terribly poor; in the midst of my wealth I am destitute of everything +that constitutes happiness. It is a sad fate, indeed, never to be loved +for one's self alone!" + +"Never, Eva?" Aline asked, reproachfully. "Do you mistrust me?" + +"No, never!" the girl cried. "You and dear old Uncle Balthasar are the +only people in the whole world whom I really love and trust with my +whole heart,--you two, and perhaps Aunt Minni, who, I think, gives me +as much affection as she can spare from her lap-dog Azor. If it were +not for you I should be desperate indeed in this cold heartless sordid +world!" + +"Because you see the world much more cold heartless and sordid than it +really is,--because you regard men with a suspicion that they do not +deserve. I cannot comprehend how you can be so mistaken as to believe +that every one who comes near you to show you kindness or preference +thinks only of your fortune,--that every man who wooes you desires your +money only. Look in your mirror, and if you are not blind it must tell +you that your beauty----" + +"Not another word, Aline! You argue against yourself. Is all their +homage paid to my beauty? Why, this is almost worse than if it were +paid to my wealth. How can beauty without mind and heart attract any +man of genuine worth? Because they all praise my beauty I despise them +the more. Has one of the crowd about me ever had an opportunity of +discovering whether I possess either heart or intellect? I scarcely +reply to their flatteries; I treat them with the cold contempt that +they merit, but they cringe all the more. Remember that fete at +Schoensee. I was in the worst of humours, and intentionally as +disagreeable as possible; you, on the contrary, were as charming, as +lovely, as--well, as you always are. You are much handsomer than I." + +"But, Eva----!" + +"Let me finish. You have brought this on yourself. I know that I am not +ill-looking, but I am not so conceited as to compare myself with you. +And that day you looked so lovely that I was positively enchanted with +you. The air had deepened the colour on your cheeks, your glorious blue +eyes were sparkling with pleasure, and as the wind played among the +golden curls on your forehead you looked like some angel just flown +down from heaven." + +"Oh, Eva, Eva!" + +"I will not be silenced; you shall hear me out. You were so lovely and +so gay, you talked so charmingly that all the women envied me for +having such a friend. And the men? they crowded about me, unamiable, +silent, repellant as I was, and neglected you who were all loveliness. +But no; now I recollect. Lieutenant von Herwarth did not neglect you; +but he was the only one who bestowed upon me no more than a due share +of attention, and therefore I liked him better than all the others." + +Aline's cheeks flushed crimson at this mention of Lieutenant von +Herwarth, and Eva laughed merrily. But it was her turn to blush when +Aline, recovering from her embarrassment, said, "Herr von Heydeck +certainly paid you no especial attention,--he and Herwarth make two; so +you see all the men do not deserve your censure." + +"I will except Herwarth for your sake!" Eva replied, gayly. + +"And Herr von Heydeck?" + +"I know him too slightly. I suppose he would have been like all the +rest, but I scarcely spoke to him when Uncle Balthasar presented him." + +"And he took it very ill of you, my dear," said a deep voice behind the +two girls. + +It was Uncle Balthasar who thus interrupted them; he had come through +the drawing-room without being perceived by the two friends, whose +faces were turned towards the garden, and he now stepped out upon the +veranda. Nodding pleasantly to his niece and raising his straw hat to +her friend, he drew a chair up to the table at which they were sitting +and took his place beside them. + +Uncle Balthasar was conscious of the possession of an important and +interesting piece of news, and he comported himself accordingly. He did +all that he could to assume a grave and dignified expression, +succeeding but ill however, for the good-humoured smile would not +resign its wonted place upon his face and shone through his affected +gravity. He twirled his moustache until the two ends pointed directly +upwards, then folded his arms and cast down his eyes reflectively, +never stooping to pick up his gold-headed cane, usually his favourite +toy, when it fell on the floor at his feet. + +The two girls exchanged a smiling glance of mutual understanding; they +knew Uncle Balthasar, and that he was longing to impart to them some +fresh piece of gossip. + +Eva, always ready to please him, opened the way for him by a question: +"You come from the city, uncle? Is there any news? You look so solemnly +important that we are dying of curiosity." + +Uncle Balthasar gave his moustache a fresh twirl and nodded with +exceeding gravity. "There is bad news," he said, slowly and seriously; +"yes, yes, my dear, very bad news, I can assure you. The thing occurred +as I tell you. I had just drunk my usual can, and was sauntering home, +when I met Count Waldheim, or rather he overtook me and tapped me on +the shoulder. 'Good-morning, Herr Balthasar,' said he. 'Count, your +most obedient servant,' said I. 'How is your niece to-day?' said he. +'Thanks for your kind inquiry; she is very well,' said I. And we went +on talking most sociably." + +Here he paused and looked thoughtfully at the mosaic top of the table +before him, pondering how to convey his news to his listeners in the +most impressive manner. + +But Eva misunderstood him; she thought he had finished, and she said, +laughing, "And is this your bad news, uncle?" + +Uncle Balthasar was quite offended by his niece's tone and words, and +gave vent to this feeling with all the sharpness in voice and manner of +which he was capable,--"I take your sneer extremely ill, my dear. I +take the greatest pains to consider how best to spare your feelings in +telling you what Count Waldheim has just told me of Herr von Heydeck, +and you sneer at me. My dear, you are wrong, very wrong." + +The merry smile vanished from Eva's face at her uncle's mention of the +name of Heydeck; she blushed and looked up at him eagerly. "Don't be +angry with me, uncle dear," she begged, "I did not mean to offend you. +Pray go on." + +"I am not angry," the kindly old man declared, "but you have quite put +me out. I wanted to spare your feelings, and now I really do not know +how to begin." + +"Spare my feelings? Has any misfortune occurred?" Eva asked, anxiously. +"But no, that is impossible! I saw Herr von Heydeck hardly half an hour +ago, under Buechner's awning." + +"Just so; it was at Buechner's that the affair took place. One of them +will of course be killed; probably Herr von Bertram, for Herr von +Heydeck is sure of his man at a hundred paces." + +"For God's sake what has happened? I pray you do not keep me in +suspense!" + +"Why you see, Eva my dear, I don't know very well myself. I only know +what Count Waldheim told me. He was there when Herr von Heydeck, under +Buechner's awning, abused you, and Herr von Bertram would not permit it; +and so they both went at it. The Count says there must be a duel, for +Herr von Bertram flew into such a rage that Herr von Heydeck must +challenge him and shoot him of course. But Herr von Bertram won't mind +giving his life for you in the least. That's what the Count said; and +he was coming to tell you all about it, but meeting me, he said I would +do just as well. He would send Herr von Bertram himself, who could tell +you everything. And that's all I know about it." + +And Uncle Balthasar, leaning back in his chair with an air of immense +satisfaction, picked up his cane, and lightly tapped with it his patent +leather boot-tips. + +Eva had listened eagerly to all he had to say, growing alternately red +and pale the while. When she heard that Herr von Heydeck had spoken ill +of her, her black eyes flashed and her cheeks burned with +mortification; when she heard that Bertram had been her champion, she +grew pale. That he--he whom of all her numerous admirers she most +hated--should have undertaken her defence, and against Heydeck! Her +heart beat violently: a mist came before her eyes; she sank back half +fainting into the arms of Aline, who kissed her brow tenderly and +compassionately. + +Uncle Balthasar, seeing the effect his narrative had produced upon his +niece, started to his feet. "Eva my dear girl, what is the matter?" he +cried, frightened out of his wits. "The doctor! where is the doctor? +Where is the bell? Send Wilhelm for the doctor!" + +In the wildest distress he ran hither and thither, perfectly uncertain +what to do; but his anxiety soon ceased, for Eva quickly recovered +herself and arose. "Compose yourself, uncle," she said, gently, "I am +not ill; the fright overcame me for a moment, but I need no physician. +I am quite strong again and ready for what must be done! This duel must +not take place!" She took from the table before her a little silver +bell and rang it violently. + +"What are you going to do?" Aline asked, with anxiety. + +"I do not know just yet; I only know that a duel must be +prevented,--prevented at all hazards." + +Nanette instantly obeyed her mistresses summons, and was devoured with +curiosity at sight of Eva's pale face and flashing eyes, although she +received her orders without any sign of interest. "Send Wilhelm," Eva +said, "to Lieutenant von Bertram. If he does not find him at home, let +him go after him, wherever he is, and beg him to come to me as quickly +as possible. I will await him here on the veranda." + +"But, Eva, you must not do this," Aline interposed. "What will Herr von +Bertram think of such an invitation?" + +"What are conventional forms to me when two human lives are at stake? +No, Aline, I shall follow the dictates of duty; nothing that you can +say will shake my resolution. Dearly as I love to follow your advice, I +cannot do so now. What are you waiting for, Nanette? Do you not +understand my orders?" + +"I thought perhaps the Lady Aline----" + +Eva was about to give vent to the irritation caused her by these words, +but she remembered in time her late conversation with Aline, and she +merely said, in a gentler tone than she was used to employ towards +Nanette, "I wish Wilhelm to request Herr von Bertram to come to me as +soon as possible. Make haste and carry him my orders. Go!" + +Then, when Nanette had left the veranda, she turned to Uncle Balthasar: +"Will you do me a favour, uncle dear?" + +"A thousand if you will, my darling. You know I do everything that you +wish," Uncle Balthasar hastened to assure her. + +"Then pray go to Count Waldheim. I am afraid Wilhelm will not find Herr +von Bertram, but Count Waldheim will surely know where he is. I must +see Herr von Bertram. Bring him to me, there's a dear good uncle!" + +"You shall have him, my pet, you shall have him! I'll bring him to you, +be sure, my poor little darling! I know where to find him. Count +Waldheim told me he was to dine with him at the Casino. You shall have +him; I'll bring him." + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +With feverish impatience Eva awaited the arrival of Lieutenant von +Bertram, an impatience all the more intense from her inability to +hasten his visit, accustomed though she were to an instant fulfilment +of her every wish. + +Eva was one of fortune's spoiled darlings; her father, who from being a +common day-labourer had become the possessor of mines and millions, +cherished an idolatrous affection for his daughter. Was she not an only +child, the very image of the wife whom he had wooed for very many years +only to have her snatched from him by death after one short year of +marriage? + +Karl Schommer was universally held to be a hard, cold, stern man, +capable of only one passion--avarice. One woman, she to whom he had +given his whole heart, knew what he really was. For her sake, to win +for his wife the daughter of his wealthy, purse-proud employer, +Schommer had laboured with superhuman energy, and embarked his first +accumulated earnings in speculation. Everything that he attempted +succeeded. He won wealth, and with wealth the woman whom he loved. Her +death was a terrible blow; it would have crushed him had he not been +sustained by a sense of duty. He had a sacred charge to fulfil in care +for the little motherless daughter whom his dying wife had put into his +arms with her last loving smile. + +To little Eva he henceforth devoted himself with all the unselfish +tenderness which he had shown to his early-lost wife. For her he +continued to labour with the same restless energy and with the same +success as heretofore. The child needed a woman's care; the anxious +father would not entrust it to a hired nurse, but he bethought himself +of his sister-in-law, the wife of his brother Balthasar, and he begged +her to take charge of his motherless little one. + +It was no easy matter for Aunt Minni to make up her mind to leave +beautiful Dresden, where she kept a thriving haberdasher's shop; but +persuaded thereto by her kindly husband, who loved his brother dearly, +she did leave it and undertake to preside over her brother-in-law's +household and to take charge of little Eva. + +Karl Schommer could not have provided better for his child's physical +welfare than by summoning his sister-in-law to his aid. Never was there +a more devoted aunt and nurse, and she was rewarded by seeing her +charge develop into a strong, healthy child. + +It was decidedly questionable however whether Aunt Minni's capacity for +undertaking Eva's mental culture were equally good; but of this Karl +Schommer thought not at all. His own education was very defective; it +never troubled him that his brother and his brother's wife were alike +uncultivated; it was enough for him that they loved his child almost as +tenderly as he did himself. + +There could hardly have been worse training for a child than that under +which the little Eva grew up, and but for her admirable natural +endowments of disposition and intellect, she must have been entirely +ruined by the constant and injudicious indulgence with which she was +treated. + +She was still very young when her father died; her home-education was +after this neither better nor worse than it had been before. She +tyrannized over the entire household, over her teachers and +schoolmates. Only one of these last would not bend before her: this was +Aline, her present companion. + +Aline was quite as clever as Eva; they were rivals for first honours in +school and out. Out of this rivalry there grew a friendship between +them that ended only with their lives. Aline was the daughter of a man +of rank, who occupied a high position under government, but who was +dependent upon his official salary for the means to support an +extremely expensive family. He died suddenly, and there was no course +open for his daughter but to turn her talents to account in earning her +own living. + +No sooner did Eva hear of her friend's misfortune than she sought her +out, and did not relax her entreaties and persuasions until the poor +orphan had agreed to live with her, occupying the position of a dear +sister. + +Since the day when Aline had obeyed the call of the young heiress and +dwelt beneath her roof a new existence had begun for Eva. She gladly +resigned herself to the guidance of her wiser and better-disciplined +friend, whom she often called her good angel, and to whom she clung +with intense affection. + +To-day for the first time she had refused to listen to her friend; but +for the first time also her heart had made itself heard. Were not two +human lives at stake? While she waited she passed in review in her +memory all her past intercourse with Bertram and Heydeck, she recalled +every word spoken to her by either. + +She had frequently met Bertram in society; his aunt, Madame von +Sturmhaupt, never omitted to invite Eva to every entertainment, large +or small, which she gave. The old lady appeared exceedingly fond of the +young heiress, whom she heaped with attentions; for Eva's sake she +often endured hours of ennui with Aunt Minni, upon whom she called at +least once a week. But for the most part she arranged these visits so +as to find Eva at home, and then Aunt Minni's taciturnity served her +turn well, for she could dwell without interruption upon the fine +qualities of both mind and person of her nephew, Guido von Bertram, +whom she described with enthusiasm as the cleverest, noblest, best, +bravest, gentlest, and handsomest officer in the entire German army. + +Only one thing was to be regretted, and that was his insensibility to +female charms; he might have made the most advantageous alliances, so +many charming girls had been absolutely thrown in his way by their +parents, but really her dear Guido, who was possessed of every +requisite to make a wife perfectly happy, must have a heart of stone in +his breast, if indeed--and here Madame von Sturmhaupt would heave a +melancholy sigh--an unfortunate passion had not steeled that heart +against all the rest of the fair sex. + +When the good lady reached this climax, which was sure to crown all her +descriptions of Guido, she would cast a meaning look at Eva. An +unfortunate passion! Poor Guido, he was so sensitive, so unselfish! The +mere thought that perhaps a wealthy girl might suspect him of being +mercenary would drive him wild; his aunt was sure that the fear of +laying himself open to such a suspicion would deter him from ever +confessing his love to a girl who had money. + +That was why he was so often sad and pensive. Yes, there was no doubt +of it, he was sick at heart with an unhappy love. + +Such talk was infinitely annoying to Eva, but do what she would she +could not avoid it, for with incomparable dexterity Madame von +Sturmhaupt would lead the conversation back into her favourite channel +whenever Eva contrived to divert it thence for a while, and at all the +dinners which she gave the doting aunt arranged that her Guido should +sit beside the heiress. + +On such occasions Herr von Bertram played to perfection the part which +his aunt had assigned him. Sometimes he conversed fluently with Eva, +endeavouring to let his light shine and to be witty and amusing, and +then again he would sit silent, gazing moodily on the ground or casting +long melancholy looks at the heiress. + +Guido was an excellent actor, and his aunt seconded him ably, but Eva's +keen insight, sharpened as it was by the distrust of others, which was +becoming her second nature, enabled her to see through their schemes. +She was not deceived either by the enthusiastic praises lavished by the +aunt or by the assumed melancholy of the nephew. All this love and +devotion were for her millions, not for herself; of this she was well +assured, and the better Bertram played his part the more odious he was +to her. She despised him as a hypocrite, and she detested him because +she could not avoid his attentions, since there was a reason, which she +thought an important one, why she did not like to refuse any of his +aunt's invitations. + +At every entertainment given by Madame von Sturmhaupt Lieutenant von +Herwarth was sure to be present, and the young officer was devoted to +Aline. Eva knew that her friend did not regard him with indifference, +although she had never questioned her about him, and for Aline's sake +she endured Bertram's odious attentions, for Aline's sake she accepted +all his aunt's invitations, while all the more did she detest Bertram +himself. And he--he of all others--had stepped forward to defend her +against Leo von Heydeck! + +There was a pang at her heart as she thought that Heydeck, as Uncle +Balthasar had said, had allowed himself to make offensive remarks with +regard to her. Was this conceivable? Yes, it was possible; his +arrogance was great; had he not conducted himself at the fete at +Schoensee with such hauteur and reserve as to provoke Eva to treat him +with even more than her usual coldness of manner? + +She had been really glad when her uncle Balthasar presented to her the +young officer of whom she had heard so much that interested her. Aline, +who learned it all from Lieutenant von Herwarth, had told her that he +had distinguished himself as much for bravery and scorn of death in the +field as for humanity and kindness shown to the French peasantry. To +Herwarth, as he told Aline with enthusiasm, Leo von Heydeck was the +very ideal of a nobleman and officer. Herwarth could not say enough of +him, and Aline repeated faithfully to Eva all that he told her. + +Thus an interest in Leo was awakened in Eva's mind before she saw him, +and when they did meet, his manly bearing, his noble, expressive face, +answered to the impression of him already existing in her imagination. + +But Eva was a spoiled child of fortune. Accustomed to servile homage +from her numerous adorers, Leo's dignified quiet demeanour when they +first met, had seemed to her offensive, and she had resented it by an +increase of cold reserve on her part. And Leo hated her for it! Eva +knew it. She had watched him that day, and had detected him regarding +her with mistrust and dislike. And to-day!--he had recognized her; +their glances had met for one instant as he looked up from his +newspaper, but he had immediately and intentionally averted his eyes; +he was the only one there who had not accorded her even the simplest +salutation. + +Yes, Leo von Heydeck hated her, Eva knew it, and meant to give hatred +for hatred; she could have no effect upon him to prevent the duel, for +she never could so humble her pride as to address even the merest word +of friendly appeal to him. But she could prevail with Herr von Bertram. +True, it was very irksome to her to ask a favour of him for which she +should owe him gratitude, but a higher sense of duty forbade her to +yield any weight to this thought. This duel must not take place! + +Eva remembered her uncle's words, that Heydeck was an unerring +pistol-shot; she had formerly heard the same thing from Aline. +Heydeck's brilliant skill with this weapon had contributed to win him +Herwarth's enthusiastic admiration. + +A duel with deadly consequences! The idea was so horrible that it +banished every other consideration. A nameless, feverish horror +possessed the young girl; in imagination she saw the fatal combat: she +saw the foes stand opposite each other; the signal was given, the shots +were fired, and one sank on the ground with a bullet through his heart, +but this one was not Bertram, but Leo von Heydeck, whose pale face, +convulsed with the death-agony, seemed to hover before Eva's eyes. + +The horrible waking dream was so vivid that Eva screamed aloud, and +only recovered herself when she felt Aline's gentle arm around her and +heard the kind voice in her ear begging her to be calm and composed +once more. + +"You must control yourself, Eva," Aline said, gravely; "you cannot +receive Herr von Bertram while you are in this agitated state. It was +wrong to interfere as you have done, without due reflection, in an +affair between these two men. But now that you have gone so far you +must show no weakness when the lieutenant comes. You must not receive +him until you are entirely mistress of yourself. It would be better to +let me speak with him; tell me what you desire he should do; you really +are not in a condition to see him." + +"No, Aline, I must see him; he will not refuse my request; I will +implore him to give up this wretched duel; I will not rest until he has +given me his promise, even although I should beg for it on my knees." + +"He cannot grant it; his honour as an officer is at stake. Take my +advice, Eva, let me speak with Herr von Bertram; if it is possible to +prevent this duel I promise you it shall be done, but pray do not you +appear in the matter. It is bad enough to have your name mixed up with +a scandal, which is town-talk by this time. Do not furnish any further +food for gossip." + +"What is town-talk to me? Let gossip say what it will of me, I do not +care. Do not try to shake my resolution: it is perfectly firm; I shall +see Guido von Bertram, and force him to put a stop to this unhappy +duel, but I promise you to be calm, and to control myself. You shall be +present at the interview; I will look at you if my anger threatens to +master me; but, dearest Aline, do not talk to me, leave me to myself; +do not confuse me with entreaties now, when I must be calm and clear in +my own mind if I would obtain what I desire." + +"As you please," Aline replied, disappointed; "I will not thrust my +counsel upon you." She took up the embroidery which she had laid aside, +and worked away industriously, but from time to time her eyes anxiously +followed Eva, who was restlessly pacing the veranda to and fro. + +An hour elapsed. Eva's state of expectancy had become almost +unendurable, when at last Uncle Balthasar's loud voice was heard at the +other end of the drawing-room. + +"Come in, come in, Herr von Bertram, Eva is awaiting you on the +veranda." + +Eva pressed her hand to her throbbing heart. + +"Be composed, Eva," Aline whispered. + +"This way, pray, Herr von Bertram," Uncle Balthasar was heard saying, +and the time consumed in traversing the drawing-room was sufficient to +restore Eva's self-possession. She was only very pale when the +lieutenant presented himself upon the veranda, followed by Uncle +Balthasar. The hand which she rested lightly upon the back of her chair +as she arose to receive her guest trembled a little, but Aline alone +perceived this; even to Uncle Balthasar his niece appeared perfectly +calm and self-possessed. + +So thoroughly had she regained her self control that she greeted +Bertram with a slight smile, offering him her hand, which he kissed +with perhaps more warmth than custom warranted. This, however, Eva did +not seem to notice; she did not withdraw her hand until he relinquished +it, and then motioned him courteously to a seat. + +Guido obeyed her invitation silently; even he, whose heart was not wont +to be easily thrilled, perhaps because, as both his friends and foes +averred, he really did not own the article, could with difficulty +suppress his agitation; he knew that a decisive moment was at hand. + +On the way to the villa, Uncle Balthasar had told him, after his easy, +good-humoured fashion, how Eva had been quite beside herself with +terror when she heard of the impending duel. She had been half dead +with fear lest Herr von Heydeck should kill the man who had defended +her so stoutly. She had declared that she would prevent the duel at all +hazards. + +Guido could not but suppose, from Uncle Balthasar's words, that Eva's +terror and her intense desire to prevent the duel arose from fear lest +his life should be in danger, and in fact this was the old man's +belief. He himself had a certain regard for the handsome young officer. + +For months Guido had eagerly pursued his scheme of winning the hand of +the wealthy heiress. Hitherto he had been hopeless of success. Eva had +treated him with such cold reserve that he had frequently declared to +his aunt that he would relinquish his pursuit of her, he was but +wasting time, and his persistence had been owing to Madame von +Sturmhaupt's earnest entreaties. + +The old lady frequently told him that Eva's repellent manner and her +coldness were only feigned. She wad too proud to be easily won; in the +end, she would surely grant his suit. If Eva really disliked him, she +never would accept, as she did, every invitation to her, Madame von +Sturmhaupt's, house, since she knew she should meet him there. Her +readiness to accept these invitations was the surest possible proof +that she liked to meet him, and that her coldness was only a cloak for +the preference she secretly entertained for the handsome lieutenant. + +Such views harmonized so entirely with Guido's wishes that he could not +but lend them a ready ear. Still, he was not convinced, and every fresh +repulse of his attentions on Eva's part awakened fresh doubts in his +mind. + +He had resolved more than once to put his fate 'to the touch' and 'win +or lose,' so unendurable did these doubts seem to him, but his prudent +aunt besought him to have patience. Undue haste in declaring himself +would, she said, lose Eva to him forever. The heiress was proud, +wayward, and self-willed, full of whims and contradictions, and these +might easily influence her to say 'No' when she really meant 'Yes.' He +must wait for the right moment, and in the mean time his aunt promised +to advise him of everything that occurred at the Schommers', so that he +should on no account lose this right moment. + +It had come in a manner which the aunt had never dreamed of. After +Uncle Balthasar's communications, Bertram could not doubt that Eva was +impressed with profound gratitude for his defence of her against +Heydeck's insults, and filled with tender solicitude upon his behalf. +The smile with which she received him, in contrast to her former cold +greetings, confirmed Uncle Balthasar's words. She had not even shown +the slightest displeasure when he had bestowed so warm a kiss upon her +hand. Certainly there could be no more favourable moment than the +present for a formal declaration of his sentiments. He must use to his +advantage her solicitude for his safety, her gratitude, her emotion; +the next minute should be decisive! + +"You have kindly acceded instantly to my desire to see you, Herr von +Bertram," Eva began the conversation, after Uncle Balthasar had +withdrawn. "I thank you for so doing, and I hope you will as kindly +grant the great favour which I am about to ask of you." + +"Be assured of it, Fraeulein Schommer. Do you not know that I desire +nothing more earnestly than to fulfil your behests?" + +"You promise fairly, Herr von Bertram; I hope not too fairly." + +"Put me to the proof. You can ask nothing, dear lady, that I can deny +you." + +It was the first time that the lieutenant had ventured to make use of +such warmth of expression. Eva's pale cheeks flushed crimson, her eyes +flashed angrily; but bethinking herself how unadvisable it was to +provoke the man, she overlooked the familiarity of his address which +she would else have resented instantly. + +"I am going to put you to the proof, Herr von Bertram," she replied, +gravely. "My uncle learned to-day from Count Waldheim that there has +arisen between Herr von Heydeck and yourself a quarrel of which I am +the unhappy cause. More my uncle did not learn; wherefore I beg you to +tell me all about it." + +Guido found it difficult to suppress a satisfied smile and in its stead +to express upon his features painful regret, but he managed it very +successfully. With a sigh, he said, "After what Herr Schommer said to +me, I almost expected this demand from you; but it is, I confess, +extremely difficult for me to comply with it. My friend Count Waldheim, +with the best intentions of course, was excessively indiscreet in +mentioning to Herr Schommer what had just occurred beneath Buechner's +awning. I am greatly pained that you, my dear Fraeulein Schommer, should +thus have learned what never should have reached your ears." + +"Since it has reached my ears, and, but for Count Waldheim's +communication, might have reached them too late, I refuse to be +satisfied by vague declarations. I wish to know just what happened, and +therefore entreat you to tell me the truth,--and the whole truth." + +"I promised to fulfil your desire, and, hard as it is for me, I must +keep my promise. As Count Waldheim told your uncle, there is a quarrel +between Lieutenant von Heydeck and myself,--a quarrel which Heydeck +provoked by the insolence with which he dared to speak of you, my dear +Fraeulein Schommer." + +"This explanation does not suffice me. I must know--I have a right to +know--exactly what took place. You took upon yourself the office of my +champion. Herr von Bertram, I must know what acts or expressions of +Herr von Heydeck's gave you a right to do so. I desire you to repeat to +me word for word, if possible, what was said." + +There was no encouragement in the tone in which Eva uttered these +words, especially when she spoke of Guido's right to champion her. The +lieutenant's lofty hopes were suddenly dashed to the ground, for there +was certainly no gratitude, no tender solicitude as to the issue of the +strife in Eva's manner; no, the air with which she regarded him as she +made her demand seemed almost hostile. + +"You ask much of me," Bertram said. "My tongue rebels against repeating +the miserable words that scoundrel used." + +"But I require it. Remember your promise!" + +"I obey, though with a heavy heart. You remember, dear Fraeulein +Schommer, that you drove past Buechner's to-day. You probably did not +notice that Herr von Heydeck was ill-bred enough not to salute you. +That irritated me, but my indignation was aroused when the man +discussed you aloud with his friend, Herr von Herwarth, in the most +offensive manner." + +Aline von Schlicht had hitherto been an attentive although silent +auditor of what passed. Now she suddenly turned to Bertram, and with a +sharpness and decision hardly to have been expected from so gentle and +retiring a young lady, said, "That cannot be true! Herr von Herwarth +never would have taken part in any 'offensive' discussion of Fraeulein +Schommer. I know from himself how greatly he respects her----" + +"I envy Herr von Herwarth so fair a defender," Bertram replied, +smiling, "and I willingly affirm that not the slightest reproach can +attach to him,--his expressions were perfectly respectful. I spoke only +of Heydeck----" + +"Proceed! proceed!" Eva impatiently interrupted him. "What were the +offensive words used by Herr von Heydeck?" + +"I obey your behest, and will repeat his words as exactly as I can +remember them, although I cannot possibly reproduce the arrogant tone, +which was more insulting than the words themselves. He first told Herr +von Herwarth that it was much against his inclination that he had been +presented to the 'fair princess,' as he expressed it, in silly +adoration of whom he never could join----" + +"Why was he presented, then?" Eva angrily interposed. + +Guido shrugged his shoulders, and continued: "He then proceeded in the +most reckless fashion to tell of how Fraeulein Schommer had treated him +with contemptuous discourtesy, and at last dared to declare that +Fraeulein Schommer was odious to him,--he hated her arrogance! her low +purse-pride! These are his very expressions!" + +Eva grew deadly pale; the little hand still leaning on the back of the +chair trembled convulsively. It was not anger that thus moved her, but +pain, real pain, as she exclaimed, "Purse-pride! low purse-pride! I, +purse-proud! Oh, if he knew how I loathe and despise the wretched +money! But I will not complain; it is my destiny to be made miserable +by this unhappy wealth. Go on, Herr von Bertram. What happened next? I +must know all." + +Bertram continued, thinking this the best possible opportunity to +present himself to the young girl in a favourable light: "I was +profoundly indignant at so contemptible an insult publicly offered to a +lady whom I esteem highly. I instantly required Herr von Heydeck to +retract his expressions. He refused to do so, and of course forced me +to brand him as guilty of dishonourable conduct." + +"And he? How did Herr von Heydeck resent your insult?" + +"How could he resent it? Conscious of his guilt, he received my words +in silence; he left Buechner's, followed by his friend, Herr von +Herwarth." + +"And who authorized you to stand forth as my champion?" Eva asked, when +she could collect herself. + +This question was so sudden, and as she put it Eva's eyes flashed such +angry menace at the lieutenant, that for an instant he knew not what to +reply, and could only stammer out, "But--dearest Fraeulein Schommer, +what could I do? Had I not a right, was it not my duty, to resent an +insult offered you so disgracefully--in public?" + +"No! You had as little right to do so as you have to annoy me by +repeatedly addressing me as 'dearest' Fraeulein Schommer. You can hardly +expect me to be grateful to you for thus, by your officious +interference, making my name the theme of common gossip throughout the +city!" + +"But that fellow's insult?" + +"Would have been forgotten as soon as it was uttered. Who cares, since +I do not, whether or not Herr von Heydeck hates me and thinks me +haughty and purse-proud? You had no right to accuse Herr von Heydeck of +dishonourable conduct because you overheard him make use of certain +expressions in conversation with an intimate friend. If my reputation +should suffer in this matter it is your fault, not his. He has done me +no injury; you have grossly insulted me!" + +Bertram angrily bit his lip; he saw his fairest hopes shattered, and by +his own fault; unconquerable dislike of him flashed in Eva's black +eyes; he felt that she never would forgive him. This was the end of all +his schemes for winning the hand of this beautiful heiress. + +With rage in his heart he turned to go, and would have left her +presence without another word, but a delicate hand laid on his arm +detained him. "You must not leave me yet, Herr von Bertram," said Eva. +"I have much to say to you; you have not even heard the favour I am +about to ask of you. Forgive my irritation; I did not mean to offend +you, and if I have done so unintentionally, you must ascribe it to the +natural agitation produced by this unfortunate occurrence. Do not go. +Must I remind you of your promise?" + +What transformation was this? The angry sparkle no longer shone in the +beautiful eyes; a smile played about the lovely mouth; the young girl's +words contained no menace, but a gentle entreaty. Bertram looked at her +in amazement; he could not understand the change, nor did he dream of +the mental struggle through which Eva had just passed. + +Her hasty temperament had led her against her will into a frank avowal +of her sentiments, but scarcely had the words left her lips than she +saw the mistake she had made. She wished to prevent the impending duel; +this could only be done by an appeal to Bertram, and she had so +offended him that he had turned to leave her. He must be appeased if +she hoped to attain her end, and therefore she smothered the dislike +she felt for him, therefore she smiled and spoke gently. + +It had the desired effect. Bertram's anger passed away; he was induced +to take a seat and to listen to her request. + +"I must recur once more to this unfortunate quarrel," Eva continued. +"You tell me that Herr von Heydeck received your insult in silence, and +immediately afterwards left the veranda. Tell me frankly, do you +believe that the quarrel will have no further consequences?" + +"No; I do not." + +"And what will happen now?" + +"What Herr von Heydeck will do of course I cannot foresee. I only know +what a man of honour would do in his place." + +Again Eva's cheeks flushed: "Herr von Heydeck is a man of honour! No +one dares to doubt it!" + +"I dare to doubt it, Fraeulein Schommer," Bertram rejoined, with a +scornful laugh. "I knew what I was saying when I spoke to him as I did, +for a man who does not hesitate to calumniate an unprotected woman has +no sense of honour!" + +Eva, mindful of how necessary it was for her to keep her temper, made +no reply to this remark, but asked, in as quiet a voice as she could +command, "Do you think that Herr von Heydeck will accept your insult +without resenting it?" + +"I do not know; but in any case he cannot escape punishment for his +unworthy conduct. If an officer should pocket calmly an accusation of +dishonourable behaviour and not challenge his accuser, he would be +outlawed from the corps of officers as a coward. Perhaps this will be +Heydeck's fate. But if he is really brave enough to challenge me, I +shall chastise him as he deserves for unworthy words with regard to a +lady for whom I have the highest esteem, although I am so unfortunate +as not to find favour in her eyes." + +"A duel," Eva said, sadly, not noticing his last words, "a mortal +combat, on account of a few thoughtless words." + +"A duel will ensue if Heydeck has the courage to challenge me, which I +very much doubt." + +"You need not doubt it, Herr von Bertram. Herr von Heydeck has proved +upon the field that fear is unknown to him; he will call you to +account. Do you know that his skill with the pistol is unerring; that +he never misses his aim; that your life will be at his mercy?" + +"I also know no fear, Fraeulein Schommer. If it should be my fate to +fall in this duel, I shall die content, for my life will be a sacrifice +to my duty as a man of honour. Were the consciousness mine that you +would give a kindly thought to my memory, I should meet death +joyfully." + +Bertram spoke these words with immense pathos, looking earnestly at Eva +the while. To his chagrin, however, he could not but see that his +display of feeling produced no effect whatever upon the obdurate +beauty; indeed she scarcely seemed to hear what he had said. She gazed +thoughtfully before her for a few minutes that seemed like hours to +Bertram, and then, looking up at him, said hastily and with some +agitation, "This duel must not be, Herr von Bertram. You can prevent +it, and I now remind you of the promise you made me at the beginning of +our conversation." + +"I do not understand you, Fraeulein Schommer. It does not depend upon +me, but upon Herr von Heydeck, to accept my reproof calmly without +sending me a challenge." + +"But you can so arrange matters that it need not be incumbent upon him +to challenge you. I have read that if, in such cases, the offending man +retracts what he has said and begs pardon of him whom he has offended, +the quarrel is made up and never proceeds to a bloody issue. It is in +your power thus to prevent any combat with Herr von Heydeck. Tell him +that you recall your offensive remarks, and ask his pardon; there will +be then no reason for his calling you out. Remember your promise, Herr +von Bertram; I implore you, speak a conciliating word. You can do it, +for Herr von Heydeck did not insult you, but me, and I forgive him. +Remember that I never could have another happy moment if I thought that +I had been the cause of mortal strife between two human beings. The +blood spilled for me would cleave to me like the curse of Cain. Be +magnanimous, Herr von Bertram, not towards your enemy, but towards me, +I pray you, I conjure you. Make me the sacrifice of the pride which +prevents you from speaking the conciliating word." + +The first impression produced upon Bertram by Eva's words was that of +immense surprise, her request astounded him; was it prompted by fear +for his life? No, assuredly not, he had not forgotten the look of +hatred which he had seen in her eyes a few moments before. + +Suddenly another idea flashed upon him. Eva had defended Heydeck with a +warmth she had never as yet shown to any one besides. Was it his life +and his future for which she trembled if he should make up his mind to +fight? Her tender consideration was, then, all for Heydeck; for him her +intense desire that the quarrel should have a peaceful conclusion. She +loved Bertram's enemy, hence her sad surprise entirely devoid of anger, +when she heard that he had called her purse-proud. She loved Heydeck, +who despised her! For an instant, but only for an instant, this thought +filled Bertram with savage indignation; the next moment he smiled, for +there occurred to him with the swiftness of thought a scheme whereby he +might turn this love to his own account. New hopes immediately sprang +to being within him; he would not try to win Eva's heart. What did he +care for the girl's heart? She might give her hopeless, unrequited +affection to whomsoever she chose if she would give her millions to the +husband whom she hated. + +Bertram needed but a few moments to decide how to act. Fortunately Eva +gave him these few moments to ponder upon her request, and when he +replied his mind was entirely made up. "You do not dream what you +require of me, Fraeulein Schommer," he said with great gravity. "You ask +nothing more or less than the entire annihilation of my future. I spoke +the words in question to Heydeck in a public place before numerous +witnesses; they must be retracted in the same manner before Heydeck can +be justified in not fighting me." + +"Do so, Herr von Bertram,--I implore you, do so!" Eva begged afresh. + +"And if I do so, what have I to expect? I will tell you, Fraeulein +Schommer; it is right that you should know the full extent of the +request you have made of me. After I have made a public retractation +all my comrades who have hitherto been my friends will fall away from +me and despise me. 'He is a coward,' they will say; 'afraid evidently +of Heydeck's well-known unerring aim.' My honour is lost, and with it +my future career. I must leave the army, my comrades disdaining to +serve with me! I am poor, Fraeulein Schommer. You, rolling in luxury, +have no conception of what it means to be poor. Having left the +service, I must accept any, even the meanest, position that can insure +me sufficient income to maintain a wretched existence, if indeed I do +not have recourse to a bullet through my brains to end a life that has +been such a wretched failure. This is my future if I fulfil your +request. To-day the world stands open to me. The highest honours that +crown a military career may be mine. In a few years I shall be captain +and in a condition to offer my hand, without exposing myself to the +charge of mercenary motives, to the lovely girl to whom I long since +gave my whole heart. These hopes you ask me to destroy with my own +hand; for how could I, a beggar, degraded in my own eyes and those of +the world, ever venture to aspire to one heaped with all that can make +life desirable? I should, and justly, be repulsed with scorn. Have you +a right to require this sacrifice of me? I have given you my promise, +and if you require it I will keep it, for there is nothing that you can +ask which I will not perform, but before I do so, before you ask the +sacrifice of my entire future, you must know what are the delicious +hopes which you thus annihilate. It is you, Eva Schommer, whom I have +loved passionately from the first moment when my eyes were gladdened by +the sight of you. I have religiously concealed this love, for what +right had a poor dragoon to reveal it? The thought that you might +suppose I wooed you for your wealth, and not for your sweet self alone, +would have driven me frantic. Therefore I was silent; therefore I +curbed the wild desires of my heart. I resolved to wait until with, +increase of rank I could offer you a position not unworthy of you. Yes, +Eva, I love you with an intensity of which you cannot dream, and hence +my right to step forth as the champion of your honour; hence the wound +I felt when you so harshly rebuked my presumption. It is but just that +I should tell you all this. Now decide my fate; it is in your hands. +Ask of me my life, or, what is infinitely more dear to me, my honour, I +will sacrifice everything to you." + +He ceased, and awaited Eva's reply. Possessed of histrionic talent by +no means contemptible, conscious that this was a decisive moment in his +life, he was really agitated; and this agitation lent to his words and +manner an appearance of reality that could not but impress Eva with a +belief in their sincerity. As he spoke, she grew very pale; she was not +surprised,--she had long foreseen with annoyance that she should some +day be obliged distinctly to reject his proffered affection; and yet +she had not looked for a declaration of it just at this time. + +What should she say to him? Had she a right to require of him the +sacrifice of his entire future? And yet, if she did not do it, this +terrible duel, sure to end in the death of one of the combatants, would +inevitably take place. It was her sacred duty to prevent this. Bertram +had given her a glimpse of a way in which the right to ask him to +relinquish his entire future would be hers. + +Sacrifice for sacrifice! Her heart seemed to cease beating at the +thought. Never had the handsome dragoon been so utterly detestable to +her as when he was pouring forth his glowing assurances of affection. +But could she hesitate to sacrifice herself? Two human lives depended +upon her decision. And what did she resign? A happy future? No! None +such could be hers with this curse of wealth cleaving to her. What did +it matter in the end whether she gave the hand so coveted to Bertram or +to another? were not all her wooers alike indifferent to her? They all +coveted her millions, and set no store by the poor girlish heart +hungering and thirsting for true affection. Bertram was no worse than +the rest; perhaps somewhat better,--at least he was willing to make a +sacrifice for her. Certainly his protestations of love had seemed +genuine. + +And yet, another image would rise before her mental vision,--was there +then one to whom she was not so entirely indifferent,--one lost to her +forever? Fie! she would not think of him: he was her enemy; he hated +and despised her, although he hardly knew her. + +"Is there no other way, no honourable way, in which this duel can be +avoided without imperilling your future?" Eva asked; her mind was +already half made up to sacrifice herself, but she hesitated to say the +fatal word. + +"None." + +"And you will keep your promise, Herr von Bertram? You will sacrifice +your future to me if I desire it? You will make the public retractation +which will prevent the duel?" + +Bertram hesitated for one instant. He had read Eva's countenance; he +hoped that his scheme had been successful, but he was not quite sure. +It was possible that she might require of him the fulfilment of his +promise and yet refuse him her hand! And, if she did, was not a hasty +promise better broken than kept? Is it not the brave whom fortune +favours? "I will! I swear it by my honour! In your hands lies my fate!" +he cried, with well-feigned enthusiasm. + +"I accept your promise, Herr von Bertram, and requite it by my own, +that, as far as in me lies, I will try to repay the sacrifice you make +to me. If you succeed in avoiding this duel, then, Herr von Bertram, I +promise to deny you no request you may make of me." + +"Eva, what are you doing?" Aline here interposed. "I adjure you to +consider what you are saying, and the possible consequences of such a +promise!" + +Aline knew that her interference was hardly consistent with delicacy, +but her friend's happiness was at stake, and speak out she must at all +hazards. + +"I have considered, and I know what I promise," Eva replied, calmly, in +a clear, firm voice. Having once forced herself to embrace a +resolution, she would not shrink from putting it into action. + +Bertram could have shouted for joy, but he perfectly understood how to +retrain any excessive exhibition of delight. "Have I heard aright? Can +I trust my powers of comprehension, dearest Eva?" he said, with the due +amount of rapture beaming in his eyes, as he took her hand and kissed +it eagerly. "I hardly dare to believe it. Will you make me the happiest +of men? Will you grant any request of mine, even one for this lovely +hand?" + +"Any one!" + +Aline lost her self-possession entirely. She seemed to see the friend +whom she loved about to plunge into an abyss from which she must rescue +her. Greatly agitated, she arose, and interposed. "You are going too +far, Eva!" she said, indignantly; "you must not purchase the prevention +of this duel at such a price; and you, Herr von Bertram, if you are a +man of honour, will not accept such a sacrifice,--you cannot thus take +advantage of the misery of a weak girl. I know that Eva does not love +you----" + +Eva interrupted her friend. "Stay, Aline!" she said, in a tone so stern +and decided that it forbade all further contradiction. "Even from you I +cannot suffer any interference with my freedom of action. I will +deceive no one,--certainly not Herr von Bertram," and she turned to the +dragoon: "Aline has told you that I do not love you; she has told you +the truth! I can give you my hand, if you demand it. I cannot give you +my heart, but," she added, with a sad and bitter smile, "that will be a +matter of perfect indifference to you." + +"Can you for an instant doubt what to reply, Herr von Bertram?" Aline +again interposed. Eva's harsh words had daunted her for a moment, but +anxiety for her friend gave her courage to make one more attempt to +save her. "Can you, if you are a man of honour, still ask Eva's hand of +her?" + +"Aline, I forbid you----!" + +"You are certainly the mistress and I the servant, I know that, Eva. +You often forget this; I never do! But now, the duty I owe to my +mistress is lost in that which I owe to my friend. You must not +obstinately persevere in making your whole future life unhappy, and if +I cannot prevail with you to refrain from making such a sacrifice, I +must appeal to Herr von Bertram, to his honour, which forbids his thus +bartering for your hand. What hard-driven bargain for money could be +half so disgraceful? You cannot accept this sacrifice, Herr von +Bertram, for you can never succeed in winning Eva's heart!" + +A mocking smile hovered upon the dragoon's lips, but he suppressed it, +and said, in the quiet tone of perfect conviction, "You are wrong, +Fraeulein von Schlicht! I shall win this noble heart; it will be +conquered by my devoted affection. I am conscious of sufficient force +and courage to enable me to win it, and therefore, knowing that I shall +succeed in making her whom I love a happy wife, I claim the dear hand, +although she gives it to me without her heart. Yes, dearest Eva, I hold +you to your promise. I claim your 'yes'----" + +"You are not yet justified in doing so. My promise was coupled with a +condition," Eva said. She had listened with cold indifference to +Bertram's words. She had no faith in this triumphant love; his mocking +smile, fleeting although it were, had not escaped her, and had +confirmed her in the conviction that he coveted only her hand and her +fortune, and not her heart. + +The dragoon was nothing daunted by her coldness; he was determined not +to let the fortunate moment slip from his grasp. + +"Your condition is fulfilled," he replied; "I give you my word of +honour that the duel you so dread shall not take place. As soon as I +leave you I will go to my friend Count Waldheim, and beg him to summon +Herr von Heydeck to meet me at Buechner's there to receive my apology +for whatever offensive words I may have used towards him." + +"What if, nevertheless, Herr von Heydeck persists in his challenge, +since spoken words cannot be made unspoken?" + +"That is not conceivable, but should it be so, I still promise you that +there shall be no duel. I will repeat my apology, and, moreover, +declare that I will accept no challenge. You have promised, dearest +Eva, to atone to me, as far as you can, for the sacrifice of my honour +which I make to you. You can thus atone if I may carry from your +presence the 'yes' I long for. If I leave this house your future +husband, I can say to my comrades that I am bound by a promise to my +betrothed to avoid a duel with Herr von Heydeck. This statement, which +will then be strictly true, will greatly modify public opinion with +regard to my behaviour towards Herr von Heydeck. Be magnanimous, +dearest Eva; give me this precious 'yes' now, that I may leave this +house to fulfil your wishes, your promised bridegroom." + +"Do not do this, Eva!" Aline entreated. + +"And why not? What difference can it make whether what must be happens +now or this evening?" Eva said, in a hopeless tone. "I am ready, Herr +von Bertram, to accede to your wishes, but upon certain conditions----" + +"I will fulfil any conditions that you can impose upon me----" + +"By their non-fulfilment, Herr von Bertram, I now declare here, in the +presence of my friend, you will forfeit the right to claim my promise. +I allow you to make known our betrothal, I will present you as my +betrothed to my uncle and aunt, but I require on the other hand that +you should never lay claim to any of a lover's privileges, never +venture to annoy me with professions of affection, or to look for any +such from me; also, the time of our marriage must be appointed by +myself alone, and you are upon no account to venture to influence me to +shorten the period of our engagement----" + +"You are cruel, Eva." + +"I cannot be otherwise; let there be truth between us. I have told you +that I do not love you, and that only a sense of the duty I owe you in +atoning for the sacrifice you make me induces me to give you my hand. +But my indifference would become hatred should you force me to endure +caresses which I abhor,--the first attempt to do so dissolves our +engagement and sets me free! Do you accept my conditions, Herr von +Bertram?" + +"You are very, very cruel; but I cannot say no." + +"You agree, then, to my conditions?" + +"Yes." + +"So be it! Aline, let me present to you my betrothed. Follow me, Herr +von Bertram; I will conduct you to my uncle and aunt." + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +Before Leo von Heydeck returned to his apartments he took a long walk +in the park. He wished to be alone to hold communion quietly with +himself, that he might come to a decision with regard to his future +conduct. He knew that he had arrived at a crisis in his career. + +Forced, against his inclination, by a stern father, Colonel von +Heydeck, to embrace the military profession, he had, notwithstanding, +become reconciled to it during the war with France, which he had +entered into with patriotic enthusiasm, and in which he had greatly +distinguished himself. + +Esteemed and beloved by his comrades, he had never before now found +himself in a position either to send or to receive a challenge. He had +always considered duelling as a savage relic of mediaeval barbarism; but +the insult offered him intentionally in the presence of numerous +witnesses, by Herr von Bertram, was certainly cause sufficient, if any +such could exist, to justify the savage practice. + +As he slowly sauntered along the secluded alleys of the park he weighed +and pondered every argument for and against his yielding in this case +to military prejudice. He had a hard struggle with himself to undergo, +but by the time he reached his home he had made up his mind,--he would +be true to his convictions and yield no jot to public opinion. + +On the stairs he met his servant who surprised him with the +intelligence that Colonel von Herwarth was in his apartment, where he +had awaited him for a quarter of an hour. + +Colonel von Herwarth, the commander of his regiment? What did this +visit portend? Had he heard already of the scene at Buechner's? + +Leo paused for an instant, and his heart beat undeniably faster. He +foresaw that the ensuing conversation with the man who was alike his +superior officer and his paternal friend would be of great importance +to him; he must be perfectly prepared before it began. Once more he +passed in mental review the reasons for the resolution he had taken. He +never wavered; for the first time in his life an opportunity was +offered him to step forward boldly and frankly in vindication of a +principle. Firm in his purpose to do so he entered the room. + +The colonel had not found the time spent in his young officer's room +long. He had been much interested in what he found there, where there +was nothing except the weapons, arranged upon a wall with an eye for +artistic effect, to remind one that this was the abode of a soldier. +The apartment might rather have been taken for a scholar's study or an +artist's studio. + +One side of the room was entirely covered with book-shelves, the +contents of which would hardly have tempted the lovers of light +reading, and the writing-table was loaded with books and papers in true +scholarly disorder; while quantities of sketches in oil, framed and +unframed, occupying every available spot upon the walls, and a large +easel in the centre of the room, upon which was an unfinished picture, +betrayed the artist. + +Before this picture, a portrait of a beautiful girl, the colonel was +standing, attentively surveying it, when Leo entered. The dress was +only sketched in, but the face was nearly finished; at least so the +colonel thought, as he admired the delicate features and the glorious +black eyes that seemed to gaze into his own. + +Leo's entrance aroused him from its contemplation; he turned and held +out his hand. "I have been awaiting you for some time, Herr von +Heydeck," he said; "but I do not regret the quarter of an hour spent +here, since it has given me an opportunity of admiring your artistic +skill. I knew you were fond of the brush, but I had no idea that you +had reached such a pitch of perfection in the art. What a brilliant +sketch this is! I am sure I have seen that face somewhere. Who is she? +I surely know that girl." + +"Scarcely, I think, colonel," Leo replied, unable to conceal a certain +embarrassment. "It is but a daub,--just begun, and not at all like. You +never would recognize the original from seeing this thing." + +"And yet--and yet--I surely remember having seen that, young girl +somewhere." + +"Probably some chance resemblance, colonel. There is no trace of +likeness in this portrait; it is only a slight sketch from memory. If I +had known that I was to have the honour of a visit from you, I should +not have left it upon the easel. Permit me to remove it." + +He took the picture from the easel and leaned it with the face against +the wall,--the colonel shook his finger at him, with a smile: "You are +in a great hurry to hide it away. Have I, perchance, been indiscreet?" + +"Not at all, colonel," said Leo, trying unsuccessfully to appear easy +and unembarrassed. "I do not know the lady at all. I met her once in +society, and hardly exchanged a couple of words with her." + +"In spite of which she has made so profound an impression upon the +artist that he has painted a charming portrait from memory. But I will +not meddle with your secrets, my dear Heydeck, I have come upon other +and serious business. You will guess what it is when I tell you that my +nephew, Kuno, has been with me. He came to confide, not in Colonel von +Herwarth, but in his uncle; and so I come to you, my dear Heydeck, not +as your colonel and superior officer, but as your true friend, to +discuss this miserable matter in which Herr von Bertram's brutal +insults have entangled you. Give me your hand, Heydeck; I trust you are +convinced that I have your welfare at heart!" + +"I certainly am, colonel." + +"And there is good reason why it should be so; not because you saved my +life at Gravelotte at terrible risk of your own,--that was your duty, +and I would have done the same in your place,--but because you are the +best officer in my regiment, and a fast friend to that feather-headed +nephew of mine, Kuno, whose admiration and affection for you prevent +his getting into many a scrape. You see my friendship for you is rather +selfish, but none the less genuine. + +"To business, then! Kuno tells me that you have got into your head some +romantic and entirely incomprehensible ideas about the immorality of +duelling, and that in consequence you are in doubt as to calling out +Herr von Bertram. Is this true, my dear Heydeck?" + +"Not quite, colonel. I am no longer in doubt; I have decided: I shall +not challenge Herr von Bertram." + +The colonel, who had been pacing the room to and fro at Leo's side, +suddenly stood still. "The devil you won't!" he exclaimed. "Why, it's +worse than I thought! Kuno was right, then! Do you know the fate of an +officer who allows himself to be accused of dishonourable conduct?" + +"I do, colonel, and therefore I am resolved to send in my resignation +immediately." + +"Why, forty thousand dev---- No, no, I will not swear; I will +be calm. Only tell me, are you stark, staring mad? Send in your +resignation!--you, before whom there is the most brilliant career? You +must not! 'Tis impossible!" + +"I must, colonel, and I rely upon your help in the matter, for this is +the only way in which mischief among my comrades can be prevented." + +"But, deuce take it! why don't you send a bullet through that scoundrel +Bertram, as any other brave officer would do, and settle the matter +reasonably?" + +"Because my principles forbid duelling. My mind is made up, colonel. +Pray do not attempt to shake my resolution, for I give you my word of +honour that I will not fight a duel." + +"There it is!" cried the colonel, in despair. "All's over now! Unhappy, +misguided young man, what have you done?" + +"My duty, colonel; I but fulfil a sacred obligation. You, at least, +will not believe that I am actuated by cowardice." + +"Cowardice! You? I'll fight the man myself who accuses you of cowardice +in my presence. Your courage has been proved a hundred times in France, +as I can testify. No one can accuse you of cowardice,--that's not what +vexes me; but you can't stay in the service for all that! What would +become of the corps of officers if these cursed democratic ideas of +yours were to find acceptance among us? But you have declared upon your +honour that you'll not fight, and there's no use talking any more about +it. You must send in your resignation, and I'll see that it's accepted. +That's all I can do for you now. Sit down this moment and write it, +and I'll take it with me and attend to it." + +Leo did so. While the colonel walked up and down the room, muttering +curses, not loud, but deep, upon the 'd----d democratic nonsense,' Leo +wrote his resignation, and handed it to his superior officer. + +The colonel read the paper through. "It is all in order," he said, "and +shall be attended to. There is nothing else to be done now; but +confound that scoundrel Bertram! and deuce take me if I don't find some +way to reward him for his share in this business! I believe the dog +knew your craze about duelling. Did you ever mention your cursed +democratic ideas in his presence?" + +"Of course he knows what my opinions are: we used to be friends." + +"I thought so. The confounded coward could play the hero cheaply; but +I've not done with him yet. He shall find it no joke to have driven my +best officer from the service. But that will not bring you back again. +I see well enough that with your principles you had better resign. And +you had best leave K---- as soon as possible. Take a journey to get out +of the way of all the gossip and fuss there will be. I'll give you a +leave upon my own responsibility,--and goodbye. I can't help loving +you, my dear fellow, though you are such a d----d democrat; and if ever +you need a true friend, remember Oswald von Herwarth, who never will +forget you at Gravelotte." + +The old officer cleared his throat violently, and indignantly winked +away a suspicious moisture from his eyes; then, pulling his cap low +over his forehead, he stamped down-stairs without one more word of +farewell. + +Scarcely was Leo alone than he took up the picture which he had leaned +against the wall, replaced it upon the easel, stepped backwards from +it, and regarded it sadly. "So you send me out into the world!" he +murmured. "It is your revenge upon me for my cowardly words of you in +your absence; for it was cowardly so to do violence to myself. Your +punishment is hard, but just. Now that I dare once more to gaze into +the depths of those dark, girlish eyes, why are they not scornful and +angry, but sad and dreamy?" + +He stood for a while so lost in thoughts of the few moments he had +spent in Eva's presence, and in contemplation of the picture, that he +did not hear the door behind him open. + +An aged officer, leaning heavily upon a stout bamboo cane, entered the +room, and, standing still, gloomily surveyed the young man lost in +revery before the picture; then as he glanced at a mirror hanging on +the wall opposite the door, he saw reflected in its depths his own +image and his son's. He was startled; the astonishing likeness between +them, which he had never before admitted, struck him forcibly and +painfully at the moment. + +"So like, and yet so different!" the old man thought, "Yes, he is my +son. I could not disown him if I would. My only son,--so like me,--and +that he should disgrace our name,--'tis maddening!" + +He stood for a moment silently watching his son, and then struck the +floor violently with his bamboo cane. "Halloo, Herr Leo von Heydeck!" +he cried. "Colonel von Heydeck requests the honour of a few words with +you!" + +Leo turned in surprise. "What, father, you here?" he asked. One glance +at his father's gloomy face told him plainly enough that the old man +was perfectly aware of the events of the last few hours, and had come +to call his son to account. Confused and annoyed, Leo bent his looks +upon the ground. + +"You did not expect a visit from me?" the colonel asked, +contemptuously. "You had indeed no right to do so, for old Colonel von +Heydeck has never had anything to do with scoundrels!" + +"Father!" + +"Why, don't you like the word? I should not have thought you would +notice it! I have just seen the Herwarths, uncle and nephew, and I know +everything. 'Tis the second time a Heydeck has tamely borne such an +insult,--first my vagabond of a brother, and now you, my only son!" + +The old man sat down, and continued: "I was on my way here to +remonstrate with you when I met your colonel; he told me you had +declared upon your honour that you would fight no duel, and that there +would be no use in anything I could say; that he had your resignation +in his pocket, and was going to attend to it. He spoke warmly in your +behalf,--my heart was touched by it; you have him to thank that I do +not bestow my curse upon you, as once I did upon my coward of a +brother, but that I am come to you to ask, 'What are you going to do +now?'" The old man looked about him in his son's room, to which this +was his first visit, and frowned, as he went on: "If you have one +single spark of affection for your old father do not disgrace our name +by a Heydeck's painting pictures for money. I know you will answer me +that you cannot live on air, or beg, or steal, and that I cannot +support you, since my pension barely suffices for my own wants. I know +this is what you will say, but I have a proposition to make. Leo, you +must marry!" + +Certainly this proposition was the last that Leo expected from his +father. "I marry?" he exclaimed, with a side-glance at the easel. +"Never! How could I dream of it now when I am about to enter upon a new +life, in which the struggle for existence will be hard enough with only +one to provide for." + +"All the more reason why this new life should never be sullied by any +occupation unworthy a nobleman," the colonel replied, quite unmoved by +his son's words, "Hear me quietly; we must understand each other, and I +have much to do to-day besides. Your colonel has promised that your +resignation shall find honourable acceptance. I myself will see to it +that Herr von Bertram does not go unpunished for an insult offered to a +Heydeck!" + +"What do you mean, sir?" + +"That's no affair of yours; you are not my guardian. If you claim a +right to publish your convictions in direct opposition to universal +opinion, I, old man as I am, surely have a right to do as honour bids +me. I shall do so, and shall see that the name of Heydeck is not +sullied; it is your part, as far as in you lies, to keep it clear from +stain." + +"What do you require of me?" + +"Before I tell you I must, that you may understand me, give you some +information concerning the past of a certain member of our family. You +know that I have a brother of whom I have never spoken to you; I am +going to do so now. We were two merry boys together,--Ferdinand two +years younger than I,--and we were very fond of each other, although we +were utterly dissimilar physically and mentally; he was a bookworm, +excellent at learning, while I was a wild, wayward fellow, fonder of my +rifle than of any book. When we left school he wanted to pursue his +studies, while I was bent on entering the army. Our father was a stern, +harsh man, and would not suffer any son of his to be a quill-driver. +All Ferdinand's entreaties, and even the tears of our mother, whose +favourite he was, were of no avail; he had to don the uniform. To the +last moment he implored my father not to force him to embrace a +profession which he hated, but my father contemptuously turned a deaf +ear, and did not even bid him good-bye when he left us, nor indeed did +I, for I was vexed with him for his womanish conduct. + +"And so Ferdinand became a soldier, and the reports received of him +from his colonel, an old friend of my father's, were extremely fair. He +was no favourite in the corps of officers: he was too staid and grave, +he was even accused of miserliness, but he did his duty, soon became +ensign, passed a brilliant examination, and scarcely a year after +entering the service gained his epaulettes, while I was two full years +gaining mine. + +"Several years went by; then we met on some great occasion. I had been +delighted with the prospect of seeing him, but I soon found that we +did not suit each other. He had grown more staid, I was wilder than +ever,--no two brothers could be more different. All our comrades said +so. I heard remarks of theirs about Ferdinand that made me furious, and +yet I could do nothing to contradict them, for there was no positive +expression of opinion in what was reported to me,--it mostly consisted +of vague sneers from which I drew the worst conclusions. + +"Ferdinand was as unpopular as possible; the officers of his regiment +accused him of unsociability, and declared that instead of living with +them he was always shut up in his room, poring over his books, and that +he hoarded every penny of his pay. But they found fault with him +chiefly because he never took part in any social entertainment unless +he knew that gaming would form part of it. Play was his only passion; +his stakes were never large, although when he had a decided run of luck +he would play a little higher than usual, but then only with extreme +caution. It was owing to this caution that he won with great +regularity. + +"My head used to spin when I heard my comrades talk of Ferdinand and +his never-failing luck at play, using expressions too vague to admit of +a reply, but easy enough to understand. I made up my mind to speak +frankly with him upon the subject, but before I could do so the +catastrophe occurred which separated us forever. One evening we were +both present at a gay gathering; Ferdinand knew that the thing would +close with play. A young officer of hussars, a Herr von Kleinschmidt, +kept the bank, and was unfortunate. He lost considerable sums and it +vexed him, but it irritated him still more that Ferdinand, whom he +could not bear, played with his usual caution and met with his usual +success. Every time Ferdinand won Herr von Kleinschmidt made some +cutting remark, and his observations were all the more bitter as +Ferdinand scarcely seemed to hear them. Others won far larger sums than +he, but he alone seemed to excite the venom of the angry bank-keeper; +he followed Ferdinand's play with suspicious eyes, and suddenly, when +Ferdinand had won several times upon the same card, the irritated +officer threw his cards upon the table. + +"'So long as Herr von Heydeck plays I will not draw another card,' he +said, angrily; and then, with a contemptuous glance at Ferdinand, he +continued: 'I am not a gamester by profession, and am not sufficiently +skilful to enter the lists against a man who makes gaming his study and +knows well how to assist his luck. I hold such play dishonourable, and +the man who practises it guilty of dishonourable conduct.' + +"This was followed by dead silence throughout the room. All eyes were +riveted upon Ferdinand, who stood by the card-table ghastly pale, +biting his lips. He replied not a word, but gathered in the money he +had won with a trembling hand and left the room. His comrades gave way +before him, seeming to avoid him as he passed out from among them. + +"When I heard such disgraceful words applied to my brother I grew +almost wild with rage. I was on the point of rushing upon his insulter, +but a friend restrained me. 'You can do nothing, Heydeck,' he whispered +in my ear. 'Your brother's honour is lost if he leaves you to defend +it.' + +"I saw that he was right. It was hard to bridle my fury, but I did it. +I followed Ferdinand, and overtook him near his lodgings. 'I am your +second,' I said to him. + +"He made no reply, and, as I looked at him as we passed beneath a +street-lamp, I saw his lips quiver spasmodically; his cheeks were +ashen, his eyes without lustre; he looked fearfully. + +"I went on talking to him, and asked him how I should word his +challenge, but still he did not answer me; and when we reached his +apartments he threw himself upon a lounge and sobbed like a child. My +brain reeled; I did not know what to think of his condition, for it +never occurred to me that fear, pitiable disgraceful cowardice, could +turn a Heydeck into a whining baby. I would not believe him when at +last he composed himself sufficiently to tell me, his teeth chattering +the while, that he could not fight,--could never summon sufficient +courage to stand in front of a loaded pistol. He was beside himself, +not with the thought of the insult that had been offered him, but with +fear! + +"He was a coward, an infamous coward; he confessed it to me, and cried +like a child, cursing his father's harshness that had forced him to +enter the army against his will, and that now condemned him to +dishonour, for he could not fight. + +"I stood as if turned to stone. I had never dreamed of the possibility +of such cowardice. I left him with contempt, and I have never seen him +since. The next morning I heard that he had sent in his resignation and +was gone; whither I did not learn until long afterwards." + +The colonel paused in his story and bent his gaze gloomily upon the +ground. Memory was a greater pain to him than he cared to show. + +For Leo his father's narrative possessed an absorbing interest. He had +frequently heard allusions made to the irreconcilable quarrel that had +existed for many years between his father and his uncle, but this was +all he had ever known concerning it. Now the veil was lifted from the +mystery; this explained the scorn and hatred with which the colonel +mentioned the name of his brother, who was now a wealthy man, living +somewhere in the Tyrol. But the story had produced upon Leo an effect +which the narrator never intended. The young lieutenant was firmly +convinced that his father had been mistaken. His uncle Ferdinand had +never refused to fight a duel from cowardice; it was impossible! Had he +not passed through the same struggle with himself which his uncle had +formerly undergone? Small as was the old colonel's comprehension of his +son's motives to-day, it must have been infinitely less with regard to +his brother's motives in his hot-headed youth. Would he not have +suspected Leo of cowardice if his colonel had not borne such +enthusiastic testimony to the young officer's bravery? + +Leo was most desirous to hear the rest of the story, but he did not +venture to interrupt the old man's gloomy reverie. He sat silent until, +after a long pause, the colonel at last struck the floor violently with +his cane, and, lifting his head, said, in a loud, harsh voice, "What +good will thinking of it or regretting it do now? What is done is done, +and there's no help for it. The grave will not give up its dead. My +cowardly vagabond of a brother has burdened my soul with another's +blood! I can see him now, the handsome young fellow, curveting over +the field at a review, with his dolman fluttering gayly over his +shoulder,--and then it's all changed: I see only his pale face as he +lies dying with my bullet through his lungs. He forgave me; he knew I +could not help it. I could not endure that a Heydeck should tamely +suffer disgrace. With his dying breath he declared me a man of honour +whom he greatly esteemed, and he died in my arms. + +"I can forgive Ferdinand everything but this, that he should have +forced me to shoot down that fine young fellow and rob a poor mother of +her only child! No, I can never, never forgive him! But enough of this; +I did my duty then, and I will do it again, only I hope the bullet this +time will not enter the youthful breast heaving with gay love of life, +but bring rest to the weary old cripple." + +Leo would have interposed here, but his father gave him no opportunity, +and continued,-- + +"Let us finish this once for all. Do not interrupt me. I was sentenced +to one year's imprisonment. As soon as I was free again I hastened to +my father's death-bed. He gave me his blessing, and left his curse for +his unworthy son, whom he would have disinherited had he possessed +anything in the world save his honourable name. For a long time I heard +nothing of Ferdinand. After my father's death a letter arrived from +him; I never broke the seal, but returned it to him with, 'Unopened. +Hans von Heydeck,' written on the envelope. The letter bore the +official stamp of a Hungarian town. Some years afterwards a friend who +had been travelling in Hungary told me that he had met Ferdinand in +Pesth; that he was living there as tutor with a wealthy Hungarian +noble; and after several more years I learned that he had purchased +large estates in the Tyrol,--having become a very wealthy man by his +marriage with a rich tradesman's heiress; that his wife had died about +a year after her marriage in giving birth to a son, who had not long +survived his mother. Ferdinand, therefore, was the sole possessor of +great wealth, which, however, he did not seem to enjoy, as he lived the +life of a hermit in his lonely castle, which he left only for a few +weeks in the year, when his shattered health made a sojourn at one of +the baths desirable. + +"My last indirect news of Ferdinand I had about ten years ago. He had +married some time before a very beautiful girl of an ancient and noble +family. This second wife, however, whom he was said to have loved most +devotedly, also died after a short time, leaving him an only child,--a +daughter. He had been inconsolable for her loss, and was leading a more +retired life even than before, scarcely ever leaving his castle, +Reifenstein. Buried in his books, he repelled all advances from his +neighbours, and was regarded in all the country round as a proud, +inaccessible aristocrat. He had become a Catholic, and observed with +great rigour all the duties and fasts of his church, although, in +accordance with a promise made to her Protestant mother, he brought up +his daughter in the Protestant faith. + +"After this indirect intelligence, which I had some time since from a +friend visiting in the Tyrol, I heard nothing farther of my brother +until I received a letter from himself, about a week ago. At first I +was undecided whether to break the seal or to return it to him +unopened, as I had done by the first I had from him. At last I opened +it, and yet, after I had read it, I was more undecided than before. The +memory of the disgraceful past prompted me to burn it, while reason +bade me give it to you. Since I received it I have always carried it +about with me. Now I am glad that I did not burn it, since that has +happened which I never could have anticipated. + +"I was convinced that an honourable career was assured to you; that, +without any outside aid, you would have attained the highest military +honours. All that is past. Here is your uncle's letter; read it +yourself." + +Leo took the letter which his father handed him, and eagerly ran +through it. It was as follows: + + +"More than thirty years have passed since that miserable evening which +exiled me forever from my native country. Are you still implacable, +Hans? My first letter to you, begging your forgiveness, was returned to +me unopened. Will this one share the same fate? If it should, we are +parted forever. For humbled as is my pride I cannot, for the third +time, offer in reconciliation a hand that has been twice rejected. But +no; I know you will read these lines. These long years must surely have +softened your hard judgment. You will remember sadly, as I do, the +happy days of childhood, and no longer think with hatred and aversion +of the brother whom you once loved so tenderly. + +"Let us now, as old men, Hans, forget what occurred in that wretched +night. Let us reflect that we, brothers, are the last of the noble race +of the von Heydecks, and resolve together to do what we can to revive +the half-extinguished lustre of our ancient name. + +"Daring the thirty melancholy years which I have passed in exile,--by +my father's curse an outcast from my family,--the consciousness of +being a Heydeck has upheld me and saved me from much degradation to +which want might have compelled me. + +"You can never dream of the suffering I brought upon myself by +refusing, as I did, to comply with a custom so long upheld by +aristocratic authority. All the wretchedness of my life has been the +consequence of the events of that night which drove me forth from my +parents,--from you and from my country. My punishment has been bitter! + +"At first I became tutor in the family of a Hungarian magnate; then I +entered that of a wealthy banker. In this dependent position I was +subjected to humiliations of every kind. My blood boils now at the +remembrance of how I was forced to yield to the whims of others: to +humour dulness on the one side and intellectual superficiality on the +other. It was a terrible ordeal! After some years, I became acquainted +with a young and beautiful woman, the wealthy widow of a manufacturer, +who had left her all his property. Her beauty attracted me, her wealth +allured me! I was fearfully punished. She made my life a hell on earth. + +"I Was foolish enough at the time of our marriage to allow myself to be +persuaded to sign a paper giving to her the entire right of disposal of +her property, and of bequeathing it as she chose in case of her death. +I had sold myself, and did not even receive the proceeds of the sale! I +actually believed that love would bend my wife's wishes to my will, and +went so far, in my devotion to my bride, as to change my faith for her +sake,--I became a Catholic! + +"My punishment was sure and speedy. My wife reduced me almost to +despair. While she scarcely allowed me sufficient means for the bare +necessities of existence, she indulged in the wildest extravagance. I +had to resign my beloved studies to accompany her to balls and +masquerades, to concerts and the theatre. If I did not go with her she +found some other escort. It was a horrible time! I was pursued by +continual dread lest my wife might dishonour me. And I had to endure it +all, for if I had attempted a separation I should have been a beggar. +Death came at last to relieve me from my wretched thraldom. She died a +few months after giving birth to a son, and on her death-bed she +testified her hatred of me. She made a will which gave every penny +which she possessed to her son; to me she left nothing. As during her +life I lived but by her bounty, I was, after her death, to be dependent +upon that of her son. I say hers, for I never believed him to be mine! +She died with a smile of satisfied hatred upon her lips. She thought me +crushed forever; but she had forgotten to appoint a guardian for her +child, and this was my salvation. In the eye of the law I was his +father, and as such his natural guardian. Moreover, when after a short +time he died, I was his heir. + +"I will say no more, dear Hans, of that horrible time. I was a prey to +the stings of conscience. The thought that I had sold myself for gold +never left me. I was doubly dishonoured! + +"Henceforth I lived solitary and alone, given over to my historical and +scientific studies in my old castle in the Tyrol, until my health +obliged me to try the waters at Carlsbad. There I became acquainted +with a charming girl, Countess Hilda von Sarnstein. I won her hand, and +she came with me to the Tyrol. She was an angel. If the memory of my +miserable past had not still poisoned my existence I should have been +the happiest man in the world while by her side. She left me all too +soon; but in my Hilda I have her living image. My daughter is my sole +joy and pride; her gay, happy temperament enlivens as far as is +possible my melancholy retired existence. When I hear her joyous +laughter, I forget for a moment the wretched past. My dearest wish is +to make her happy; and it is in the hope of doing so that I have for +years nourished the scheme which I now tell you. I am rich; after my +death all my property will devolve upon my child, who will bring it to +her future husband. Shall it go to a stranger? Affection for my kindred +has always filled my heart. In the saddest times of my life I +remembered with loving fidelity my home and my parents, of whom I +always contrived to procure tidings until their death; since when I +have followed your career, Hans, with the deepest interest. I have +never lost sight of you or yours. + +"When a son was born to you, I rejoiced with you that our noble name +would once more have a worthy representative. I could have wished that +he had been a scholar instead of a soldier, but I am nevertheless proud +of my nephew, the last genuine Heydeck. I have taken pains to learn all +that I could of him, and I know how brilliantly he distinguished +himself in the French war. + +"I have often told my Hilda of you and of Leo; her blue eyes sparkle +when she hears his name; she is proud of her cousin, and loves him +without ever having seen him. Could I but see Leo and Hilda man and +wife! I conjure you, Hans, forget what parted us; help me to provide a +happy future for our children. We old people could depart in peace if +we knew our name thus destined to flourish worthily. + +"Answer me, Hans, as soon as you can, or better still send your Leo to +me at Castle Reifenstein; he will be received with open arms by your +brother, + + "Ferdinand." + + +Leo dropped the letter, which he had read with the greatest attention. +"Now I understand you, father," he said, sadly. "You desire me to +accede to my uncle's proposition that I should go to the Tyrol and sell +my freedom." + +"Yes, that is what I desire," the colonel burst out; "but I see that +you are minded to reject also this last means of securing to our family +a dignified independence in the world!" + +"Is it honourable to accept the gift of wealth at the hands of a man +whom you have always heaped with opprobrium?" + +"You have no right to condemn him as I do, since you have followed his +example. I have had hard work to make up my mind; but now that it is +made up, I will not yield one jot! Yesterday, I thought my son's +marriage with the daughter of my wretched brother a disgrace; to-day, I +see in it the only possible means of avoiding the shame of having the +last Heydeck depend for existence upon quill-driving or daubing. I give +you my honour that we are separated forever, you and I, if you do not +set off for the Tyrol and your uncle to-morrow! Now you know that there +is no use in one word more. Make your decision, and let me have it in +writing. I will not see you again before your departure!" + +The old man arose to leave the room, and Leo did not attempt to detain +him. He knew perfectly well that after the colonel had given 'his +honour' no power on earth could induce him to alter his determination. + +Leaning heavily on his bamboo cane, the colonel hobbled to the door, +opened it, and stood pondering for one moment upon the threshold. Then +he turned once more to his son, and, in a much gentler tone than he had +hitherto used, said, "We part, Leo, certainly for a long time, perhaps +forever. If you hear that sudden death has overtaken me, do not think +hardly of your old father; but if you have a spark of love for me obey +me and go to the Tyrol!" + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +The door closed behind the colonel, and Leo was once more alone, free +to indulge in his own reflections. What troubled him most was his +father's resolve to fight Bertram. It was but too certain that the +obstinate old soldier would act upon his determination as soon as +possible. In imagination he saw his father fall in a conflict with the +man who had so insulted himself, and forgetting his own future, he +thought only of how this duel might be prevented. + +A sudden idea flashed upon him, showing him he hoped a means of +attaining this end. In the greatest haste he changed his dress, laying +aside his uniform forever,--since he had already handed in his +resignation and received leave of absence, he no longer considered +himself as belonging to the service, and he hoped, moreover, in the +dress of a civilian to escape immediate recognition on the part of his +former comrades. + +Once more he paused before the picture on the easel, and murmured as he +gazed at it, "All this is your work. You drive me forth into the world; +you have destroyed all my hopes; and yet I cannot chide you,--not even +although you turn from me those dark, enchanting eyes! Farewell! I dare +not gaze longer into their depths: they bewilder my heart and soul, and +now I need every faculty I possess to help me to carve out my future. +Farewell, forever! I must see you never again!" + +After one long, last look, he took the portrait from the easel and +leaned it with its face against the wall. Then he hurriedly left the +room and the house. + +In the street, seeing Count Waldheim in the distance, and wishing to +avoid all discussion of his affairs with any one for the present, he +turned in an opposite direction, called a fiacre, and was driven +rapidly to a retired and extremely handsome villa in the suburbs. Here +a footman in rich livery instantly appeared, opened the carriage-door, +and evidently had been taught to regard Leo as an honoured guest. + +"Is Herr Delmar at home?" + +"To you, Herr Lieutenant, but to no one else. My master is at dinner, +but he has given orders that you are to be admitted at all hours. I +will announce you immediately." + +"No need, I will announce myself." + +"As you please, Herr Lieutenant; my master dines in the garden-room." + +Leo nodded in answer to the man's low bow, and then hurriedly passed +through the hall and several antechambers on his way to the familiar +garden-room. He paid no heed to the more than princely luxury of the +surroundings, scarcely even glancing at the splendid pictures with +which the walls were hung, but hurried on. + +Surrounded by rare tropical plants, in a room the walls of which were +almost entirely of glass, but kept perfectly cool by the constant play +of a fountain, a table was spread, at which sat Herr Paul Delmar, with +a liveried servant behind his chair. + +The lord of this magnificent villa, of several other princely estates, +and of a capital of several millions, was a young man thirty years old +at most,--not strictly handsome, but of an interesting, cheerful +countenance, in which sparkled a pair of brilliant black eyes. The nose +was too large and the skin too sallow for beauty, otherwise the +features were admirable, and the whole bearing and air of the man +extremely attractive, especially when the face was lit up by the +frequent half-kindly, half-ironical smile. + +"Is that you, Leo?" he cried to the new-comer. "A rare guest, indeed; +sit down. A place for Herr von Heydeck," he gave orders to the servant. + +"No, no, Paul, I cannot; thanks," Leo replied. + +"Have you dined?" + +"No, but----" + +"Then I'll take no excuse. Not on your account, Leo; you know how +selfish I am,--my own comfort is my chief care. Nothing would taste as +it should with you sitting there fasting and hungry." + +"But I'm not hungry; I assure you I have not the least appetite." + +"But I have, and you shall not spoil it by sitting there eating nothing +and watching me. There is nothing in this world of more importance than +a good dinner; I pity any man who does not know how to appreciate so +refined an enjoyment. A bad dinner is the greatest of losses: it can +never be repaired,--it has gone forever! He only who knows how to eat +appreciates the full value of life. Here is your plate, Leo,--my Jean +is an active fellow,--and now take your soup; season it as you like it, +and, for heaven's sake, look like a reasonable being. Such a long face +as yours is as bad for the soup as if the cook had over-salted it." + +Delmar set his friend an excellent example, which Leo gradually +followed. The events of the day had made him forget his dinner and turn +from the idea of food, but youth and health soon asserted themselves, +and to his host's satisfaction he did ample justice to the admirable +repast before him. + +During dinner he did not touch upon what he had come to say,--he knew +that his friend disliked all disturbing emotions during his meal-times, +and as he wished to secure his entire and undivided attention he waited +until the servant had brought coffee and retired before he began. "I +have come to you to-day, Paul, to ask you to help me." + +"Indeed! I shall be only too delighted; but I mistrust you,--you know +it is an old quarrel between us that you always give and never accept." + +"To-day I will accept, and a great service from you too,--if you will +do it for me." + +"Anything in my power, Leo, is done for you before you ask it. You +could hardly ask too much, as you know." + +"I knew what you would say, Paul," the other cried, grasping his +friend's hand cordially. + +But Paul withdrew it with a smile. "For heaven's sake don't be +sentimental," he said; "and pray don't imagine that I stir a finger for +you out of consideration for you. Everything that I do, I do solely for +my own sake. It gives me pleasure to do something for you,--it disturbs +the tedious monotony of existence. I may perhaps hit upon something +entertaining; that is why, and only why, you could hardly ask too much +of me! You know very well that I am an incorrigible egotist, and +therefore, and because I am devoured by curiosity, tell me what you +want." + +"You shall learn, you miserable egotist, whom gross selfishness drives +to any amount of self-sacrifice for a friend; but before I tell you you +must know what has happened to-day." And Leo described calmly and +frankly the events of the day. + +When he repeated his expressions with regard to Eva Schommer Delmar +gave a nod of assent, and said, "A severe but perfectly correct summary +of the heiress's character. I met her to-day just as you were +discoursing so amiably about her. I rode past her carriage and had a +most gracious bow. The fair Eva knows that my millions outnumber her +own, and esteems me accordingly. You are right, Leo; pride of purse is +more disgusting than pride of birth. Fraeulein Schommer is an odious +creature." + +Paul gave one keen glance at Leo as he spoke, and noticed that the +latter suddenly flushed as he replied, "Certainly _you_ have no right, +Paul, to speak thus of Fraeulein Schommer. I did not know that she had +injured you." + +"I am not speaking of myself. I was only confirming your judgment, your +own words." + +"Which I acknowledge to have been hasty and unjust. You do not dream, +Paul, what disastrous results they had for me. Listen!" + +Paul smiled and nodded, promising not to interrupt again; but he did +not keep his word, for when his friend described Bertram's +interference, and repeated word for word what he had said, he started +up in violent agitation, threw away the cigar which he had just +lighted, and exclaimed, "What! the scoundrel dared to accuse you of +dishonourable conduct? Is the fellow mad? And what did you do, Leo? +Struck him across the face with the flat of your sword I trust as he +deserves. At all events, I hope you were not insane enough to challenge +a rogue who could not insult you?" + +"You know my principles with regard to duelling." + +"Of courage; but who thinks of principles in such a case? I envy you +the capacity to do so. Fortunately then you did not challenge him. Of +course you gave him a suitable memento of the occasion? Go on, Leo; I +will control my cursed temper if I can and not interrupt again." + +He lighted another cigar and leaning back in his chair kept his word +this time. With exemplary patience he listened while Leo +circumstantially related all that had occurred: his conversation with +Colonel von Herwarth, his resignation from the service, and then his +interview with his father, finally giving Delmar his uncle Ferdinand's +letter to read. + +As the story went on Paul was strongly tempted to break his promise. He +moved uneasily in his chair when Leo told of his resignation, and when +he heard that the old colonel proposed calling out Bertram he was on +the point of bursting into a rage, but he controlled himself, and +suppressed all comment. On the other hand, he quite chuckled over the +old colonel's command that his son should forbear to earn his living by +honest labour, and instead rescue the family honour by a wealthy +marriage. And he read through Ferdinand's letter without a word. + +"Now, Paul, you know everything," Leo said in conclusion, "and you must +have some suspicion of what I want of you. It lies in your power to +prevent any duel between my father and Bertram. You once hinted to me +in confidence that you were privy to some disgraceful conduct of +Bertram's. You have but to tell my father of this, and his principles +will forbid his calling out a scoundrel. This is why I am come to you. +I am sure you will relieve me of this anxiety, which is the worst that +I have to endure at present." + +Paul leaned back comfortably in his arm-chair and blew forth several +artistically-formed rings of smoke, then sipped his coffee and +proceeded to blow forth more rings, as was his custom when buried in +reflection. + +His silence troubled Leo. "You do not answer me, Paul. Can you not or +will you not help me? I remember you were with Bertram a great deal +last winter, but I never really regarded you as his friend." + +"Friend of that scoundrel? I wouldn't give that for his friendship!" +And he snapped his fingers. "He was my slave," he continued. "I paid +him well, that I might get rid of him when I did not want to use him +any longer, and I will do it now! Cast the shadow from your brow, you +anxious, heavily-principled son of a hot-headed father. This +nonsensical duel is out of the question. I promise you that I will +prevent it. I settled that in my mind instantly, and it seemed such +child's play to me that I had ceased to think of it. I was thinking of +you, Leo; the fact is that I am more and more convinced that you are +the strangest, most enigmatical human being on God's earth. I regard +you as I should some fabled monster of prehistoric times. We have grown +up together, I thought I knew you, and yet you are continually taking +me by surprise." + +"I really cannot see what eccentricity of mine has just at present +provoked this rather unflattering outburst," Leo remarked, not very +well pleased. + +"I suppose not; the fact is it is useless to be surprised at you, for +you are made up of eccentricities and never do anything like other +people. You are an artist and a scholar, opposed on principle to war, +nevertheless you became an officer in the army, and behaved like a hero +in the field. You have a friend--a millionaire--who desires nothing +more ardently than to serve you, and you live with the greatest economy +upon your meagre pay, denying yourself every enjoyment, although I +confess you never look like a poor man. You are a democrat of the +purest type, and yet get along delightfully with your aristocratic +comrades without ever being false to your principles." + +"I should have thought all this was nothing new to you." + +"True; but to-day you have capped the climax of your inconsistencies. +You say yourself that it pains you to send in your resignation, and yet +you do it, although you could by a single word have crushed to the +earth the infamous coward who insulted you, and who of course knew that +you would not call him out. You cannot fight a scoundrel any more than +can your father. You might have done for yourself what you have done +for him." + +"That would have been cowardice, and a falsehood besides; for I refrain +from calling Bertram out not because the fellow is a scoundrel, but +because I consider duelling criminal. I will never disgrace myself by +hypocrisy and a denial of my principles." + +"Heroism! extraordinary, antediluvian heroism! I repeat, I regard you +with admiring awe, Leo; although I, poor grovelling earth-worm that I +am, cannot climb to your sublime heights. And this is just why I am so +infatuated about you,--for if you were like me! should find you as +desperately tiresome as all the rest of the world,--and why I am +anxious about you, for with your prehistoric truth and honour you'll +hardly have much luck in this present world. Just now for example, you +are in a charming little scrape, and I am really anxious to know how +you will pull through it. You have sent in your resignation and have to +begin life with nothing, or next to nothing. Tell me frankly how much +money you have laid by, for I am convinced that you are an admirable +economist and have contrived to lay by something." + +"No, I have laid by nothing, but I inherited from my mother about two +thousand thalers which I have never touched, and which will be amply +sufficient to support me until I have arranged my future existence." + +"And you are going to diminish that pittance? Will you not at last be +reasonable, Leo, and see that you can give me no greater pleasure----" + +"Not a word more, Paul! You know that you can never offend me except by +offering me money." + +"I am dumb, but I cannot suppress the remark that you are a greater +egotist than I. What the deuce is the good of my money if the man whom +I love best in the world will never take a penny of it, and looks as if +he would bite me if I so mach as mention his doing so? But there, I am +dumb. I must take you as you are. You will live on your two thousand +thalers then until you have arranged your future existence,--what sort +of an existence? I am greatly mistaken if you contemplate acceding to +your amiable uncle's proposal." + +"Never! the mere idea of marrying for money disgusts me!" + +"I thought so. For my part, my sentiments are expressed in the saying, +'Wealth is no disgrace, and poverty no virtue;' but you would of course +refuse your cousin Hilda's hand, just because she happened to be +wealthy." + +"No; if I loved her and was loved by her, I should, although I admit it +would be difficult and against the grain, try to forget that she was +rich; but I do not love her, and I never can love her!" + +"You don't know her yet. To be sure, judging from her father, whose +letter is not exactly instinct in every line with delicacy of +sentiment, there is not very much to be expected of her; but she may, +nevertheless, be an extremely charming girl." + +"And if she were,--if she were possessed of the beauty and amiability +of an angel,--still I could never love her!" + +"In--deed, in--deed? You seem surprisingly secure in your knowledge of +yourself. Hm! I suspected as much. I remarked, you may remember, that +you were in a deuce of a scrape. You'll have, at all events, to +sacrifice some one of your principles, for I suppose you number filial +duty among them. Do you forget that your father threatens to disown you +if you sully his name by quill-driving or daubing canvas for a living, +and if you do not start to-morrow for the Tyrol to see your uncle? Take +one piece of advice from me, Leo: obey this last demand of your +father's. Go to the Tyrol and make your uncle a visit,--you bind +yourself to nothing by doing so. It cannot hurt you just to look at +your cousin Hilda--the name sounds really very pretty--besides, it is +best for you to be out of the way for the present of all the gossip +that there will be here. Nothing surely can be more beneficial to your +art than a sojourn among the glorious Alps. Be reasonable for once, +Leo. Time is everything to you now. In time your father, even though he +be as thick-skulled as yourself, must listen to reason, and see that a +Heydeck can work without disgrace if he has not money enough to live +upon." + +Paul's advice was so reasonable that Leo could not but accept it. +Undesirable as nearer intercourse with his uncle and cousin must be, +judging from the letter which had produced a very unfavourable +impression, he could not but feel it his duty to conquer his aversion +to the journey which his father had enjoined upon him. Paul was right; +it was very desirable to gain time, for only with time was there any +chance of combating successfully the old soldier's prejudices. And so, +after a short pause of reflection, Leo declared that he would follow +his friend's advice and set out for the Tyrol the next morning, if +Delmar would first assure him that the duel between the old colonel and +Bertram should not take place. + +"You may be certain of it this very evening," Delmar said, highly +delighted. "My slave is bound to me by such fetters that if I choose he +will ask your pardon on his knees!" + +"That I do not desire." + +"What you desire does not concern me at present, but that I fulfil my +promise and make this crazy duel impossible for your father, and that +shall be done immediately. Do me a favour in return, I pray. Take me +with you to the Tyrol to-morrow." + +"You want to go to the Tyrol with me?" + +"Yes, I do; it is horribly tiresome and stupid here in K----. I cannot +stand it any longer. I want to breathe Alpine air." + +"But, Paul, we cannot possibly travel together. Remember I must husband +my means and travel third-class, and stop at second-rate inns." + +"I will travel third-class with you; it will be a change, and much +cooler and pleasanter in summer." + +"But the second-class hotels? Do you forget what you said only a little +while ago about a bad dinner?" + +"For heaven's sake don't call me to account for all the nonsense I +talk! In short, I want to go with you. We will travel afoot, student +fashion, and sketch and amuse ourselves as we can. Of course you will +have to stay with your uncle at Castle Reifenstein, but there will +surely be a tolerable inn somewhere near, where I can take up my +quarters. I want to be at hand to see what becomes of you." + +"Do you insist then upon making this sacrifice for me, Paul?" + +"For the love of heaven don't grow sentimental again! I have no idea of +making any sacrifice for you. I am not thinking of you, but of myself. +I shall like the joke of it, of travelling afoot instead of _en +millionnaire_, I wish to study life in its various phases, with you for +my companion. On the whole, you see, you are a very entertaining +fellow, that is all. Pure selfishness,--nothing else, I assure you. So +now go home and pack your portmanteau, that we may start early +to-morrow, while I look for our mutual friend at Buechner's, where he is +sure to be at this time, and where I propose to rattle his chains in +his ears." + + +Bertram had at last attained the summit of his hopes. The lovely +heiress, Eva Schommer, was his betrothed; his dearest wish was +fulfilled, and yet he could not thoroughly enjoy his good fortune. He +listened most amiably to the congratulations of the astonished and +delighted Uncle Balthasar, and to those also of Aunt Minni, who was +less astonished and less delighted, or at all events refrained from any +distinct expression of astonishment and delight. He reciprocated +good-humoured old Balthasar's expressions of esteem and good will, but +yet he could not help feeling as if the betrothal in some way were not +genuine. + +And yet Eva, her resolution once taken, accommodated herself to her +position with much more readiness than Bertram would, from what she had +said to him, have supposed possible. She received her uncle's and +aunt's congratulations pleasantly, and when Uncle Balthasar suggested +that she should address her lover familiarly by his Christian name, and +seal their betrothal with a kiss, she refused it is true, but not +unkindly and with a smile. She gave Bertram permission to make the +betrothal public after the usual fashion, by sending cards to all their +acquaintances, but insisted that all congratulations should be +addressed solely to him, positively refusing to receive the usual +congratulatory visits. The next day, if her kind uncle Balthasar was +agreed, she meant to leave K---- for several weeks or even months. + +At this unexpected intelligence Uncle Balthasar opened his eyes in +astonishment. "Good gracious, Eva my dear," he said, "the thing is +impossible! You can't think of going alone, and how are we all to be +ready by to-morrow?" + +But Eva declared that it would be very easy. She had long desired to +see Switzerland or the Tyrol, and very little luggage was necessary for +a journey to the mountains. Nanette and Wilhelm could easily get +everything ready in the course of the evening: she herself and Aline +might assist; and, if her kind uncle and aunt would only not say no, +nothing should hinder their departure by noon the next day in the +express train. + +When did Uncle Balthasar ever say no to any request of his niece's? He +could no more do so than could Aunt Minni, who with a gentle sigh +resigned herself to her fate, and only asked meekly whither they were +going; a question which Eva could not answer. She begged her uncle to +decide where to go,--it would perhaps be best that he should consult +with Aline,--there was the whole evening in which to make their choice. + +Eva never asked Bertram's advice as to their destination, and when, +with some hesitation, he asked whether it would not be possible to +postpone for one day their departure, in order that his aunt, Madame +von Sturmhaupt, might express to Eva the pleasure she would so surely +feel in her nephew's betrothal, he received from Eva so quiet and firm +a refusal by way of reply, that it was plain to see that he was not to +found upon the fact of his betrothal any right to make requests. +She declared positively that she would receive no congratulatory +visits,--not one. Her intention to leave K---- on the morrow was, since +Uncle Balthasar had given his consent to the plan, unalterable, and +would assuredly be put into execution. + +This was very sharp and decided, but the effect of it was a little +softened when Eva kindly added that she hoped Herr von Bertram would +spend this last evening before her departure in her home-circle, and +that when he returned with the intelligence that his quarrel with Herr +von Heydeck was satisfactorily adjusted, he should learn whither they +intended to go. + +This was a distinct dismissal and reminder that his promise was yet to +be fulfilled, and Bertram thus understood it. + +He kissed the hand which Eva extended to him, did the same by Aunt +Minni, and took his departure, refusing Uncle Balthasar's offer to +accompany him, on the ground that only the absence of all formal +ceremony on the old man's part could make him really feel like a member +of the family. + +But this was not his reason for desiring to leave the room alone; he +had a presentiment that he should find Nanette in the antechamber, +and he had good grounds for wishing to see her alone. He was not +deceived,--the first thing that met his eyes as the door of the +drawing-room closed behind him was the waiting-maid, who was busy very +near the door. She greeted him with a low courtesy; her face was +crimson, and she regarded him with a malicious smile as she whispered, +"I give you joy, Herr Lieutenant----" + +"You have been listening!" + +"Of course; what was I here for?" she replied, pertly. + +"I am not blaming you, my dear; quite the contrary." + +"Oh, indeed, I'm not going to listen for you. It is bad enough without +that to have brought me here to this proud Zantuppy. I hate her, I do! +And I'll not stand it long in this low place, let me tell you! 'Tis a +sin and a shame that I must look on while you betroth yourself to the +creature, and you asking me to help you, too!" + +In her agitation Nanette forgot to whisper, as she had done when she +first addressed Bertram. She did not speak loudly, although +sufficiently so to cause Bertram fear lest she should be heard in the +drawing-room. + +"Do be quiet; speak softly, my dear girl," he begged, seizing her hand. +"You know it is only out of love for you, and that I may be able to +provide more handsomely for you, that I am forced to make a wealthy +marriage. But we cannot talk here,--we may be discovered at any moment. +Come early to-morrow to my aunt's; I will be there. Keep your eyes +open, my dear child, for both our sakes. Farewell, my little darling, +till we meet." + +He looked cautiously towards the door: it was tightly closed; he then +snatched one kiss from the extremely placable Nanette and was gone. + +This meeting with Nanette did but increase his anxiety of mind. The tie +that bound him to Eva was as yet but weak and frail; until the +betrothal was publicly known it might easily be dissolved, which it +certainly would be if Eva's desire with regard to the quarrel with +Heydeck were not fulfilled. It was of the first importance that this +tie should be made firm and indissoluble, and to this end he must act +with energy and promptitude. + +He decided upon a plan of action as soon as he left the villa, but he +did not proceed to its execution with any very great satisfaction, for +he was staking his whole future upon a single card. He had made an +appointment with Count Waldheim to meet him at the Casino, and thither +he betook himself. This interview with Waldheim was the first step in +the carrying out of his scheme; the first, and by no means the +easiest,--he dreaded it. + +Waldheim was a gay young officer, but a man of stainless honour, +wherefore Bertram considered him a most important ally. He dreaded +greatly lest he should refuse him his support. + +When he reached the Casino he found to his satisfaction that it was +nearly deserted. Count Waldheim sat solitary at a table in the large +dining-hall, a cup of coffee before him, reading a newspaper. He had +remained there solely to redeem his promise to Bertram. "You have +sorely tried my patience," he grumbled, when the man he had been +waiting for at last appeared. "I have been bored here for more than an +hour." + +"You will forgive me I know, my dear Count, when you learn that the +hour has brought me the fulfilment of my dearest hopes. You are the +first to learn from me the intelligence of my betrothal to Fraeulein Eva +Schommer!" + +"Ah--I give you joy!" + +The wish did not sound quite cordial, preceded as it was by a +long-drawn-out 'ah,' not at all flattering in emphasis; but Bertram +took no notice of this. He knew Waldheim's opinion of the connection, +and he refrained from saying anything to induce a further expression of +it. + +"I am a fortunate man," he continued; "and to you, to your friendship, +I owe my good fortune. Everything has happened as I had anticipated it +would. After your speaking, according to your promise, to Balthasar, +Eva sent for me. I should never have dared to declare myself to her if +she had maintained her former cold reserve, but in this interview her +pride gave way,--her heart betrayed itself. Her agitation, her maidenly +terror, lent me courage. I confessed my love for her; she did not +reject it, and thus I may thank you for my present happiness." + +"You do not owe it to me, but to your own skilful play," the Count +replied. "I only hope you will be as content in the end as you are at +present; that you will not find Herr von Heydeck's friend waiting for +you at your rooms." + +"No fear of that; but indeed, to speak frankly, I am now extremely +sorry for my attack upon Heydeck. I wish I could recall it." + +"What! when it has been the means of your betrothal?" + +"Yes, in spite of that, for I cannot but feel that I have done very +wrong. I have attacked a man who possesses no means of defence. I +thought Heydeck a coward, and was content to insult him, but I have +learned better. He will not challenge me; he will bear my insult +unavenged; not from cowardice, but because his principles forbid his +fighting a duel, and he will sooner endure any disgrace than be false +to them." + +"Impossible! you are dreaming!" + +"No, I am sure of what I say,--sure. If you doubt it ask Heydeck's best +friend, Herr von Herwarth, who will confirm my words." + +"Did Herr von Herwarth give you this extraordinary piece of +intelligence?" + +"No; I learned it from another source quite as trustworthy. I am not at +liberty to say more with regard to it, but I am in a most embarrassing +position. I have mortally insulted a man whose principles forbid his +avenging the insult, which will consequently ruin his future career. He +will be forced to leave the service in disgrace, and he has no fortune. +In spite of his strange ideas Heydeck is an excellent officer. I cannot +reconcile it to my conscience that I have been the means of driving so +good an officer from the army. Advise me, my dear Count, what to do in +this case." + +Count Waldheim listened with increasing surprise to Bertram's words. "I +advise you?" he replied. "I am utterly confused by the contradictory +statements you make. Heydeck is an excellent officer and no coward, and +yet his principles require him to prefer disgrace to duelling. This is +incredible--a contradiction in terms. And then your sudden regret, this +tender consideration for the man whom, saving your presence, you +wilfully and grossly insulted to serve your own purpose. I cannot +understand you nor advise you." + +"I feared so, for unfortunately the whole matter is so strange that my +regret must seem incomprehensible. Who can advise me if you, who saw +the whole affair, cannot? I cannot be the ruin of this unfortunate man. +He is capable of putting a bullet through his brains in his despair, +and if by my fault he should do so I never should forgive myself. If +you will not and cannot advise me, I must follow the dictates of my +conscience. I must retract my offensive expressions to Heydeck in the +presence of witnesses and ask his pardon." + +"This then is what you wished to lead up to by the extraordinary story +you have been telling me, Herr von Bertram," the Count said, with +undisguised contempt in voice and look. He arose and buckled the belt +of his sabre. "Do what you think best, or, as you are pleased to +express it, 'follow the dictates of your conscience,' but pray do not +require me or your other comrades to believe that Herr von Heydeck's +unerring aim with a pistol has no share in your magnanimous resolve!" + +Casting a last contemptuous glance at Bertram, the Count was about to +leave him, but the dragoon detained him. "You must not leave me thus, +Count Waldheim," he said, "with a suspicion in your mind of my courage +and integrity. The disgraceful doubt which you have expressed gives me +a claim upon your honour to see that justice is done me. I now request +you to see Herr von Heydeck and learn from his own lips the +confirmation of what I told you. If he announces his intention of +calling me out for insulting him, I entirely resign all thought of +begging his pardon. I shall gladly accept his challenge, and rely upon +the fulfilment of your promise to act as my second. If, on the other +hand, he confirms what I told you, and will not send me a challenge +because his principles will not allow of his doing so, you will tell +him from me that I shall await him at Buechner's to retract my words in +the presence of witnesses. Only by fulfilling this my request, Count +Waldheim, can you atone for the shameful suspicion which you have +expressed of an old friend and comrade." + +Bertram had his voice and countenance under perfect control, and was +moreover, as we have said, an excellent actor. His simulated +indignation would have deceived a much keener observer than honest +Count Waldheim, and it produced the effect he had intended. Waldheim +felt ashamed of his hasty judgment; he acknowledged that he had sinned +against friendship for a comrade, and, in his regret for having done +so, he consented to do as Bertram requested, which in any other case he +would hardly have done. He promised to find Heydeck, and either to +bring him to Buechner's or to return to Bertram with the intelligence +that he might expect a challenge. + +With a pressure of the hand, which the Count returned but half +cordially, Bertram bade him farewell, and took a long and roundabout +way to Buechner's, where the momentous interview was to take place. + +When he reached the restaurant most of the tables beneath the awning +were already occupied by the officers of the various regiments in +garrison at K----. Many of those present had been witnesses of the +morning's occurrence, and all were perfectly informed of what had taken +place. The affair had made a great stir among the corps of officers, as +Bertram could plainly see by the gloomy looks with which he was +regarded by his comrades, some of whom took evident pains to avoid +seeing him, that they might not be forced to return his salute. + +His self-satisfied mood was somewhat impaired by the annoyance that the +evident avoidance of his comrades caused him. He would have liked to +turn away and leave the restaurant, but he had promised to wait for +Count Waldheim and Heydeck. He looked round to find a seat. If any +table had been quite unoccupied he would have seated himself at it; but +there was not one such to be found,--a few single seats were empty, and +towards one of these he made his way. It was at a corner table, and two +of the officers of his own regiment, and his personal acquaintances, +were already seated at it. + +He approached, and, nodding with his usual easy familiarity, he asked, +without noticing the icy acknowledgment of his greeting,-- + +"Is this chair taken?" + +"No," was the reply, "nor the table either; we are just going." And the +two men arose and with a brief salutation left the table, although +their coffee-cups were scarcely half emptied. That they left simply to +avoid Bertram's society was evident, since they stopped near another +table, and, entering into conversation with some acquaintances, ordered +a waiter to bring chairs. Thus they did not leave the place, but took +their seats at another table. + +Bertram bit his lips in a rage, but he was powerless to resent the +silent contempt of his comrades. He could not demand satisfaction for +cold glances and slighting acknowledgments of his salute. He was +excessively uncomfortable among these men whom he had been wont to call +his friends, but who avoided him as they would not have done had they +been strangers. The minutes passed on leaden wings; he cast many an +expectant glance towards the promenade outside, but full half an hour +elapsed before Count Waldheim appeared--alone. The Count's humour was +apparently none of the best: his brow was dark. He came up to the table +at which Bertram was sitting, but did not take the chair which the +dragoon pushed forward for him. As he stood beside it he said,-- + +"I did not find Herr von Heydeck at home; his servant told me that he +had gone out just before, in plain clothes; whither he could not say, +nor did he know when his master would return. From there I went to Herr +von Herwarth, whom I found at home, and I asked him frankly if he knew +anything of Heydeck's intentions with regard to your affair." + +"Well? He must have confirmed what I told you." + +"He did and he did not. At first he seemed unwilling to speak out. He +believed Herr von Heydeck had not as yet made up his mind. He displayed +a certain hesitation, a reserve, which I only overcame by extreme +frankness. I asked him directly whether it were true that Herr von +Heydeck was opposed to duelling from principle, and he admitted that it +was so, but expressed the hope that in this case his friend would prove +false to his principles and comply with the law of honour. I thought +myself justified after this in telling him exactly what had passed +between us, and it was well that I did so, for Herr von Herwarth is a +man of honour, and quite agrees with me that this matter can be +honourably adjusted only by a duel. He promised to find Herr von +Heydeck, and to use all his influence with him to induce him to +repudiate his extraordinary principles, and only in case he should +prove unsuccessful is he to tell him that he will find you here, +prepared to make him full reparation. I hope I have acted according to +your wishes, Herr von Bertram." + +This was not precisely the case, but Bertram dared not confess that the +insistance upon the duel was not at all according to his wishes, and he +thanked Waldheim warmly for his services. + +While engaged in conversation with the Count, he had not noticed that +there had suddenly arisen an unwonted stir among the military men +assembled at Buechner's. All eyes were turned towards an aged officer, +who had just appeared beneath the awning. He was standing at the +entrance, leaning on a stout bamboo cane, scanning the assemblage; his +grave stern glance passed from table to table, apparently seeking some +one whom he could not readily distinguish among the numbers of officers +present. + +"Gentlemen, does either of you know First Lieutenant von Bertram?" the +old man asked of two young infantry officers, who were seated at a +table playing dominoes. + +Before either could reply, Paul Delmar, who had appeared beneath the +awning simultaneously with the old man, answered, "Do you wish to speak +to Herr von Bertram, colonel? Yonder he sits beneath the awning, but in +the farthest comer. Count Waldheim is standing beside him." + +"My old eyes are not worth much," growled the colonel. "Sir, I thank +you. Your face is familiar to me, but just at present I cannot recall +your name; my memory leaves me in the lurch. 'Tis the curse of old age; +my senses fail me, and even my memory forsakes me." + +"It is many years, colonel, since I had the honour of seeing you, and I +may well be changed since then. I went to school with your son, and as +his friend used to be continually at your house. My name is Paul +Delmar." + +"Ah, little Paul, son of the wealthy banker. It is indeed long since I +saw you last. And you know Herr von Bertram?" + +"I do, colonel." + +"Then do me the favour to conduct me to him and introduce me. I have +something to say to the gentleman, and I know him but slightly, or +rather not at all. Will you oblige me?" + +"Certainly, colonel; this way, if you please." + +Delmar led the way, the colonel following slowly. Every step evidently +caused the old man pain, but he mastered it and walked on, leaning +heavily on his cane, and saluted respectfully on all sides by the +younger officers, who looked after him with unfeigned sympathy. + +When he reached the table at which Bertram was sitting, Delmar said, by +way of introduction, "Herr Premier Lieutenant von Bertram, Colonel von +Heydeck." + +Bertram sprang up and suddenly became very pale at sight of the old +officer, whose approach he had not noticed. A grim smile hovered upon +the old man's lips as he remarked the impression he produced; his tall, +slightly bent figure straightened itself proudly as he gazed scornfully +at the dragoon, whose glance could not meet the eyes so bent upon him. + +"I have asked for an introduction, Herr von Bertram," said the colonel, +in a loud voice that was distinctly heard everywhere beneath the +awning, "that I might call you to account for a scoundrelly----" + +"Stay, colonel! You must not go on!" Paul Delmar interrupted the old +man at this point. + +"Sir, by what earthly right?" the colonel burst out, angrily. + +"I appeal to your honour, colonel. I am firmly convinced that it is an +unalterable axiom of yours that no man of honour can fight with a +scoundrel whose word is worthless, and it is one of my axioms that no +man of honour has the right to quarrel with a scoundrel with whom he +cannot fight. Herr von Bertram is no opponent for you. You can no more +fight with Herr von Bertram than can any words spoken by him insult +your son; and, besides, there shall be not the smallest provocation for +your challenge, inasmuch as the gentleman will instantly declare before +all present that he recalls every offensive word addressed to your son +this morning, and that he humbly begs pardon for having uttered them." + +Paul's words produced a truly magical effect. Bertram upon whom all +eyes were fixed, stood, with downcast looks, like a condemned criminal +incapable of any reply, the consciousness of guilt so manifest in his +countenance that even the unsuspicious Count Waldheim was disgusted +with his friend's cowardice, and stepped back leaving him standing +alone. + +The colonel was thunderstruck. That a civilian should dare to treat an +officer thus in a public place transcended his power of belief; his +amazement deprived him of utterance. He looked from Bertram to Delmar. +What to think of it all he did not know. But one thing was perfectly +clear,--that Herr von Bertram must be a scoundrel, with whom no man of +honour could condescend to fight. + +Delmar allowed several seconds to pass to give the old officer time to +collect himself, and then continued: "Let me beg, colonel, that you +will allow me to say several words to Herr von Bertram in private, +after which you shall receive from him any satisfaction you may desire. +Herr von Bertram, have the kindness to step into this empty room with +me. You cannot but desire that what I have to say should be said in +private. Go first, if you please." + +Paul motioned towards the glass door of a room frequented by Buechner's +guests in winter or in rainy weather. Bertram entered it, and Delmar +followed him. They were quite alone in the large, empty room, and could +speak in low tones without being overheard, although a hundred eyes +were watching them through the wide folding-doors and open windows. + +"You have heard what I require of you, Herr von Bertram," Delmar began +the short interview. "I advise you to comply immediately, or you will +force me to produce a certain worthless note, in which you promise to +pay upon your word of honour, and to prove that you have broken that +word by showing a certain check, bearing the signature of Count +Waldheim, which I should like to have him verify." + +"What have I done, Delmar, to provoke you to treat a friend with such +cruelty?" Bertram asked, in despair. + +"Do not profane the word _friend_," Delmar replied, sternly. "I never +honoured you with my friendship, as you well know. I never concealed my +contempt for you. I bought you with my money. It amused me for a while +to be introduced to certain exclusive aristocratic circles which were +closed to me in spite of my wealth. I made use of you for this purpose. +When you presented me everywhere as your dearest friend, you knew +perfectly well why you did so. I never said one word to you that could +justify you in calling me your friend. But of what use are these +explanations? They are entirely unnecessary between us. I ask now, are +you willing to make the humble--I repeat the word--humble apology which +I require, outside, beneath the awning? Decide quickly. I can give you +no more time." + +"If I do so, will you promise me to show no one my note and the check?" + +"I will promise you nothing, except that in the case of your refusing +to comply with my demand I will show both publicly." + +"But by so doing you will destroy all chance of my ever paying you. You +will lose ten thousand thalers." + +"Which you never will pay in any case while you live!" Delmar replied, +with a smile of contempt. + +"Which I certainly will pay, and that shortly. I have been betrothed +to-day to Eva Schommer." + +"Indeed? I congratulate you. I never had an exalted opinion of the +lady, but I should not have thought she would have chosen exactly such +a husband." + +"You see now that I can pay my debt as soon as I am married to the +heiress, but if you ruin me----" + +"You will be sent to jail as a forger, and will never refund the money +which I once foolishly lent you and which I considered lost long ago. +True, but that is a matter of entire indifference to me. I require you +to obey me! Make up your mind! Do you hesitate? Well then your fate is +decided!" + +Delmar turned towards the door, but Bertram seized his hand, and cried +in a tone of entreaty, "Have pity upon me! Do not ruin me! I will do +what you ask,--only let me make the apology in a less humiliating +form!" + +"Not a word shall be changed. I insist upon a humble apology!" + +"I will make it, but let me add that my betrothed has requested me to +do so publicly." + +Delmar laughed aloud. "A request as modest as it is extraordinary. For +the sake of its oddity I will grant it." + +Bertram's face, as he returned beneath the awning, followed by Delmar, +was ashy pale, and there was a strange flitter in his eyes, but his +demeanour was calm and composed. He stepped up to Colonel von Heydeck, +who was awaiting his return with the utmost impatience. + +"Colonel von Heydeck," he began in a low voice. + +"Louder," said Delmar. + +Bertram obeyed; he raised his voice so that it could be heard by most +of those present. "It is my duty as a man of honour, Colonel von +Heydeck, to atone for a wrong committed in my haste this morning, and +this is the more incumbent upon me, as I have been earnestly entreated +by my betrothed, Fraeulein Eva Schommer, to do so." + +A murmur was heard among the officers present. "Betrothed to the lovely +Eva Schommer! Impossible! Scandalous! Poor girl!" These and similar +expressions were uttered so loudly that for a moment they interrupted +what Bertram had to say, but when curiosity had got the better of +surprise, he continued: "This morning I grossly insulted your son in +this place; I herewith retract the offensive expressions I then made +use of, and publicly beg his forgiveness." + +"Humbly!" Delmar interrupted him. + +"And humbly beg your son's pardon," Bertram obediently repeated. + +"Disgraceful! Infamous! Shameless! The fellow must leave the service!" +Such exclamations were heard on all sides, no longer muttered in low +tones but spoken aloud in disregard as to whether or not they were +overheard by Bertram. The officers retreated from about their late +comrade as from some plague-stricken wretch whose vicinity was +contagion, and Bertram, with Paul Delmar and the old colonel, was left +standing in the centre of a wide circle. + +"Are you entirely satisfied, colonel?" Paul whispered to the old man. + +"You were right, the fellow could insult neither my son nor myself," +the colonel replied, not deigning another glance at the lieutenant. +"Come, my young friend, give me your arm, I need some support, and I +may well look to you for it, for you have just done me a most important +service. I should like to thank you, but not here with these hundred +eyes upon us. Let us go outside and walk a while beneath the lindens." + +And leaning on Delmar's arm, the colonel hobbled towards the entrance, +the young officers saluting him respectfully as they made way for him +to pass. + +Thus Bertram was left alone, shunned by every officer and stared at by +every civilian present. He felt that his fate was sealed, but he would +nevertheless make one more struggle against it. His last hope was in +Count Waldheim, who was standing at a little distance in conversation +with two other dragoons. Bertram approached him, and the Count did not +retreat, but with a haughty air awaited the address of his former +friend. + +This was a good sign. He was not too angry then to be appeased. Bertram +relied upon his smooth words, which had so often imposed upon the +Count's guileless good nature,--he summoned all his impudence to his +aid, and succeeded in assuming an air of entire nonchalance as he said, +turning to Waldheim, "That was a hard duty to fulfil. Come, my dear +Count, let us go to Herr von Herwarth that he may confirm what I know +to be true. The fulfilment of my intention of which you were informed +and of which you approved, has been hastened by the appearance of the +old colonel, for my conscience would never have allowed me to quarrel +with one so aged and so honourable. I should----" + +"I beg you, sir, to spare me any further remarks," Waldheim said, +interrupting the flow of Bertram's speech; "I forbid you ever to +address me again. I awaited your approach solely for the purpose of +saying this to you. I should else have followed the example of my +comrades and turned my back upon you with contempt." + +"Count Waldheim, you shall answer to me for this. I demand +satisfaction----" + +"You have lost all right this day to demand satisfaction of any +gentleman; the only weapon I should use upon you is a horse-whip." + +The Count spoke so loud that his words were heard by all the +by-standers. "Bravo!" they exclaimed, while Bertram, trembling with +rage, half drew, his sabre from its sheath. His brother officers, +however, closed in a group around Count Waldheim, as if to shield him +from attack. + +Bertram stood alone. He might have had the courage to reply to +Waldheim's mortal insult by a cut with his sabre; but he could not +brave such numbers of antagonists. With an oath, he dashed the sabre +back into its scabbard, cast a glance of deadly hatred about him, and +strode away. Behind him he heard scornful laughter and loud expressions +of contempt, but he did not venture to heed them or to look back. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +In the heart of the Tyrol, where the Rothwalderbach and Schwarzenbach +unite to form the waters of the Tausenser Aar, lies the village of +Tausens; it is the centre of the most retired portion of the Tyrolean +highlands. + +In former years, before there was any railway near, scarcely a single +stranger ever visited Tausens, although the village is only about four +leagues distant from the nearest town, which is reached by a very good +high-road. Since this town, however, has been provided with a railway +station the village is somewhat more frequented, although even now its +visitors are still confined to a few stout Alpine explorers, who pass +through Tausens to wander up the Schwarzenbach valley and find a path +over the lofty Schiechjoch to the Zillerthal, or who seek the Tauern +mountain group by the way of the Rothwald valley. + +The inhabitants of the valleys look after such pedestrians with +a smile,--they cannot imagine what these fellows, with their long +mountain-staffs and ice-picks, their knapsacks on their backs, and +their hob-nailed shoes, according so ill with their city costume, can +want among the mountains. That these people from the city should +undertake such difficult and wearisome expeditions for pleasure, that +they should at peril of their lives ascend the most inaccessible +mountain-peaks to find a passage to a place which they could otherwise +reach much more quickly and easily, seems to these honest countryfolk +so silly that they have but one explanation for it, doubtless a +harmless insanity; and they call these restless, indefatigable climbers +of glaciers and snow-peaks, Bergfaxes (mountain fools). They are very +fond of the Bergfaxes nevertheless, for they always need guides and +carriers for their mountain expeditions, and are willing enough to pay +their guilders for service rendered, thus bringing some cash at least +into the retired valleys. + +With the exception of the Bergfaxes, who sometimes take up their abode +in Tausens for a few days to make the ascent of the Drei Maidelspitz or +the Weisshorn from the Schwarzbachthal, or of the Spitzhorn from the +Rothwalden, and who finally depart for the Zillerthal over the +Schiechjoch, scarcely a traveller ever visits Tausens, although its +magnificent situation makes it well worthy of a sojourn. + +The view from the platform in front of the inn, which is also the +post-office, is magnificent, and enchantingly lovely. Towards the south +the eye revels for leagues in the broad green fertile valley of the +Tausenser Aar, lying between two fir-clad mountain-ranges, and closed +in in the far distance by the jagged and rocky peaks of the Dolomites. +To the northeast lie the beautiful forests of the Rothwald, with the +snowy pile of the Spitzhorn for a background, and to the northwest the +two glorious glaciers of the Maidelspitz and the Weisshorn. + +In this wondrously lovely country the ancient castle of Reifenstein is +a most striking object, commanding as it does the entire panorama of +mountain, river, and valley. The glorious old pile is still in +tolerable repair,--a careful hand has stayed the ravages of time, which +have buried in ruins so many of its contemporaries. Some of the old +walls are crumbling, it is true, but the main structure is in thorough +repair, and two huge round towers are propped from decay by a modern +substructure. Although in the interior these towers are so ruinous that +their summits are inaccessible, their massive masonry defies the +tempests that rage against them from the south and northeast, and will +still for coming centuries bear witness to the despotic sway once +exercised over the three valleys by the lords of Reifenstein. + +The reason why, in spite of the great beauty of the view from Tausens, +to which Castle Reifenstein adds its charm, so few travellers in +comparison visit the village, is partly that such comfort can hardly be +expected here as is to be found in the more frequented parts of the +Tyrol, and partly that the passage of the Tausenser Aar valley is +rather tedious, and tourists prefer to reach the chief points of +interest among the mountains by railway. All the more welcome are the +few who visit Tausens, all the more cordially are they received by mine +host the postmaster. + +It was always a holiday for Hansel, as he was called by his friends in +spite or his dignified position as postmaster, when a traveller came to +Tausens; not because he reckoned upon the gain it would bring him,--he +cared little for that, for the couple or so of guilders were of but +small account to him. His inn was frequented sufficiently without the +tourists; its comfortable room was never empty of guests, for the +peasants from all the three valleys came by choice to the Post at +Tausens, where the best wine was to be had for miles around. Their +marriages and their burials were celebrated at the Post. To the Post +came every evening, in winter as in summer, the gentlemen of the +place,--the district judge, his associate, the collector, and the +forester. These constant guests were far more profitable to the +postmaster than any traveller could be, and besides he possessed many +an acre of meadow and pasture-land, a good strip of forest, and some +beautiful alms.[1] He was accounted a wealthy man in all the country +round, but his pride was hurt that so few strangers came to Tausens, +while in the Zillerthal and in the Pusterthal the inns were filled to +overflowing with tourists during the months of July and August. This +vexed the worthy Hansel; he had so often heard the judge and the other +gentlemen in his best parlour say that the natural beauty of Tausens +made it well worthy to attract strangers, and hence the small number of +tourists that came his way seemed to him like an unmerited neglect of +his native place. The idea that he could conduce to render the village +more attractive never occurred to him. He would have indignantly +rejected any suggestion that he should modify or change the ancient +customs of his inn for any stranger in the world. + +He was standing at his inn-door on a certain beautiful day in July very +much out of sorts. The day before he had been in Niederdorf, where he +had found the inns so crowded that not another traveller could be +received there, and a very grand gentleman had been forced to sleep in +a hayloft, because there was no bed to be had. And he had heard that +the inns at Sandro, Schleuderbach, and Cortina were just as full, not +to mention Brunneck, where for a week every little farm-house had been +filled with tourists. + +The whole valley of the Puster was filled with visitors, and not a +single one, not even a Bergfax, had come to Tausens! Thoroughly vexed. +Hansel blew the smoke from his pipe in short angry puffs; he swept the +landscape far and wide with his glance, but it was deserted everywhere, +not a traveller was to be seen. + +He turned away in disgust, and was about to enter the house, when +suddenly the frown cleared away from his brow. He had accidentally +overlooked the Schwarzenbach valley, thence, where he had least +expected them, were coming the desired guests; his sharp eye recognized +them in the distance. From his point of view he could see but a short +stretch of the valley-road which followed the many windings of the +rushing, gurgling Schwarzenbach, but walking along this very stretch he +discovered three city-clad gentlemen, followed by two peasants. The +gentlemen carried long alpenstocks, and were walking briskly down the +valley towards the village,--the peasants were loaded with portmanteaus +and plaids. + +From the point which the travellers had reached they had a glorious +view of the valley of the Tausenser Aar and of the village. They +paused, and one produced a glass and looked through it. For a while +they stood drinking in the beauty around them, and then they strode +onwards, vanishing in the Lerchenwald, through which the road ran. + +But Hansel had seen enough; he rubbed his hands gleefully, and called +loudly into the house, "Nannerl! Nannerl!" + +The inn-maid, a fresh, buxom lass, came running at his call. From the +tone of his voice she judged that strangers were to be received, and +she gave her smooth hair a stroke and twitched down her blue apron as +she ran. When however she found no one but Hansel himself, she said, +peevishly, "Here I am. What are you shouting for? There's no one here!" + +"But they're coming,--three Bergfaxes on the way from +Schwarzenbach,--they'll be here in a quarter of an hour!" + +And true enough, they did come in a quarter of an hour, the three +Bergfaxes,--three broad-shouldered young men, whose city clothes, +terribly dusty although it was, showed that they were gentlemen of good +position. + +Hansel called out a lusty "God greet ye!" as they appeared, and offered +his hand heartily to each in turn in sign of welcome. The one with a +black beard shook it with great cordiality, and regarded the postmaster +with a friendly smile. "Hail, beloved son of the Alps!" he said, with +mock pathos. "Receive us weary wanderers beneath your hospitable roof; +strengthen our famished and thirsty frames with food and drink. By Jove +the eternal, I am so rejoiced to get out of that dark wood and to see +your good, stupid face, that I could kiss it but for the stifling +tobacco-smoke." + +"Do hush your nonsense, Paul!" one of his companions entreated him. + +But the one addressed as Paul exclaimed, "Who dares talk of nonsense +when I give vent to my pent-up emotion in a poetic greeting? Be not +annoyed, oh worthy son of the Alps, by the words of this prosaic +person,--he cannot help it,--there is no poetry in his soul. And would +you earn from me a gratitude that shall endure till time is no more, +bring us wine,--a great deal of wine,--good wine,--the best in your +cellar!" + +Hansel understood very little of this address, the northern German +dialect was unfamiliar to his ears; but he comprehended distinctly that +the black-bearded stranger was a little crazy, and very thirsty, as was +to be expected of Bergfaxes. + +"A bottle of the best red," he called out to Nannerl, while he relieved +the three strangers of their alpenstocks and conducted them into the +spacious best room. + +Here the black-bearded stranger looked about him with a sharp +scrutinizing glance. "Bravo!" he cried. "I like this. Here let us pitch +our tents! Everything clean and shining! Not a speck of dust on the +window-panes, nor a spot upon the table. If the meat and drink are good +one might stay here for a while very contentedly. What think you, +Herwarth?" + +"I think," replied the man addressed, "that I shall surely stay some +time here, even although the meat and drink are not all that could be +desired." + +"You see, Leo, of what sacrifices a true friend to whom egotism is +unknown is capable. Noble Knight von Herwarth, I bow myself in the dust +before you; it is truly great thus to remain at hand at the service of +your friend, resigning yourself to devour daily the toughest beef that +the Tyrolean cow can afford. You are sublime in your self-renunciation. +You have plunged with genuine heroism into all the perils that await +the respectable northern German from Tyrolean cooking, and you even eat +Leo's portion in addition to your own, lest the poor fellow should +overload his stomach, which, sunk in melancholy as he is at present, +might be injurious for him. Your efforts are Titanic. I daily bless the +lucky star (I mean the golden one at Innspruck) which brought us +together. I bless it in spite of the gnats there which kept me awake +all night." + +"Considering that he did not sleep, poor Delmar snored very loudly. +What do you think, Leo?" + +"I thought he did very well----" + +"Very well; that is not the right word," Herwarth cried. "Delmar snored +wonderfully. There is no discord, from the thunderous groan of a heavy +wagon to the shrill creaking of a rusty lock, that he did not produce. +He is a master of the art. I snore pretty well after a commonplace +fashion, but I bow before you, Delmar." + +"'Tis a base calumny. I never snore; you heard yourself in your dreams. +I could not sleep for the gnats, and for admiration of the heroism with +which you have followed your friend into exile. I admire you, and I +long to resemble you, but unfortunately I am made of too coarse a +material. I cannot waft myself aloft to the empyreal heights of your +magnanimity. Now you are determined to remain in this inn even if the +cooking is bad!" + +"Are you not going to stay here too?" + +"I shall probably stay, not for Leo's sake, but because I like it. I am +determined, in the lack of all other suitable occupation, to devote +myself in future to novel-writing. I can certainly emulate in that line +the many crazy women and hungry literati who fill our magazines with +their intellectual abortions. Leo is to be the hero of my first +romance." + +"How flattering! Much obliged, I am sure." + +"Not at all, not at all! A hero of romance must always be very +high-toned, very exaggerated, and a little unsound in mind. You see how +well it all fits. An unhappy love is desirable, but not indispensable. +Also we must have a faithful friend. Here are two. Also a romantic +situation. We have it. Leo ought to marry the daughter of a wealthy old +uncle, but he hates the lovely Hilda, and is consumed by a secret +passion for a little milliner's apprentice. Here we have the unhappy +love. He is in deep despair, when his redeeming angel appears in the +person of his faithful friend Kuno von Herwarth. Whilst Leo is +suffering all the pangs of his unhappy love, and working away in the +castle upon the mountains, Kuno, in a noble spirit of self-sacrifice, +has been eating veal three times a day at the 'Post' in Tausens and +drinking sour Tyrolean wine. He rushes to the castle to rescue his +friend. He sees Hilda. He loves her; she loves him. He threatens to +murder the wealthy old uncle if he does not release his friend. A +terrible scene ensues. But he does not murder him: he overcomes him by +his amiable conduct. Final tableau: the old uncle blessing Hilda and +Kuno, while friend No. 2 joins the hands of Leo and his little +milliner. Universal emotion and general content. End. + +"There you have a romance as poetic as it is thrilling, especially if a +few episodes are sprinkled about here and there, such as, for example, +a small murder in the torture-chamber of Castle Reifenstein, and a +combat with foils between Hilda and the little milliner, who has +secretly followed her Leo and has gone mad with jealousy. Of course +Kuno separates the combatants. What a scene that will make! I tell you +the romance will produce a sensation. Now I am going to stay here to +study up for this novel; not upon Leo's account. I yield the privilege +of self-sacrifice to you, oh noble Knight von Herwarth, and cleave to +my long-tried selfishness." + +Leo and Kuno laughed, but were spared the necessity of a reply to +Paul's long exordium by the entrance of the pretty maid-servant with +the wine. "Will the gentlemen have anything to eat?" she asked. + +"Indeed they will, Maidele" (Tyrolean for Marie); "they are as hungry +as wolves," Delmar replied. + +"Maidele?" the girl asked, in surprise. "And suppose I am not Maidele?" + +"Why, then, you must be Nannerl?" + +"Yes, I am Nannerl; but how could the gentleman know my name?" + +"A little bird whispered it to me on the Schiechpass, of course; how +else should I have known it? But never trouble your head about that, my +pretty Nannerl, but tell us what you can give us to eat." + +"Veal steaks, veal cutlets, veal chops, roast veal, and stewed veal." + +"For heaven's sake stop! For one whole week I have heard, morning, +noon, and night, nothing but that fearful word _veal_, nothing but +veal. I cannot understand how there can be an ox or a cow in the Tyrol. +Ah, my poor Herwarth, my prophecy is about to be fulfilled: 'veal three +times a day.' If there is a feeling heart in your bosom, pretty +Nannerl, try to save me from veal for to-day at least." + +Nannerl would have been very glad to do so, for she was much pleased +with the stranger gentleman, but she could not, for, as she now +explained, there was no beef to-day, and the chickens were all too +young to kill. By night she could get a pair of larger ones from the +castle, and the next day they could have plenty of beef; but for dinner +to-day they must have veal, since the fisherman had happened to bring +no trout; but Nannerl promised to give the gentlemen an excellent soup +and capital fritters, and thus Paul's comical despair was allayed, the +very good wine having already produced a soothing effect. + +"You confuse these people with your nonsense, Paul," Leo said, when +Nannerl had left the room. + +"Not a bit of it; I shall get on with these worthy souls excellently +well; they think me harmlessly insane, and they like it. Our noble +Knight von Herwarth thinks the same of me, but I shall convince him +that I can be very serious, and that immediately. We must now plan our +campaign, for after the soup is on the table I refuse to open my mouth +except to eat." + +"What have you in your head now?" + +"I am composing the introduction to my romance. After a week of +wandering, after climbing the terrible Schiechpass, over rocks and +glaciers, we are at last arrived in Tausens. We find ourselves at the +foot of the rock that bears upon its summit the enchanted castle +Reifenstein. High above us sits enthroned the old monster Uncle Heydeck +and the wicked fairy Hilda, who intends to ensnare our Leo in her +golden enchanted net; but we two, the Knight von Herwarth and the +simple squire Delmar, must rescue our friend, our first duty being to +learn how the land lies, so to speak. At present we know nothing of the +old monster and the wicked fairy Hilda, for the little told us in the +famous letter from Uncle Heydeck has, since it comes from himself, no +claim to be believed. Before we can do anything we must know more of +Uncle Heydeck: what he is thought of here, how he lives, what he does. +We must know further what kind of a person is the blue-eyed Hilda who +is to ensnare our Leo. A blue-eyed Hilda may be either pretty or +confoundedly ugly, a good-natured fool or a dragon. The honest +postmaster, mine host of this hospitable house, will doubtless tell us +all we wish to know upon these points. And here I am ready to sacrifice +myself to friendship. I will inhale the highly unfragrant smoke of the +postmaster's pipe, I will treat the worthy man with the loftiest +courtesy, and in spite of his shooting-jacket, short stockings, and +bare knees, always entitle him Herr Postmaster, that I may learn what +he has to tell. I will drink with him, lead him on to be confidential, +and he shall reveal all that he knows of Uncle Heydeck and the +blue-eyed Hilda. Thus we shall become familiar with the people. We will +investigate the country when, being strengthened by our dinner, we +conduct our friend Leo to the gate of the enchanted castle, where of +course we must separate. He will take up his abode within its walls, +while we, the Knight Kuno and myself, will remain here in Tausens ready +to hasten to his aid so soon as he needs us. He will daily visit us +here, and if possible present us to the old monster and the blue-eyed +Hilda, that we may in turn visit him at the castle. This is a brief +sketch of my plan of our campaign, the details must be left to the +future. If any one has anything to say in objection let him speak now, +or for ever after hold his peace. You first, Kuno, my noble knight; +what do you think of my plan?" + +"I do not see what else we can do." + +"And you, Leo?" + +"I agree in everything but the last part. I hope my uncle will not +suffer my friends to remain down here in the inn. He will certainly +invite you to stay at the castle." + +"Don't reckon upon that too surely; I doubt very much whether he +possesses the virtue of hospitality or indeed any virtue at all. Even +should he do so, I shall not accept his invitation. I wish to be +entirely free and unfettered, and am determined to live on veal sooner +than stay at the castle. What do you think about it, Herwarth?" + +"I agree with you. We will stay here at the Post and engage rooms, that +Leo may be free to stay with us when we make excursions together among +the mountains." + +"Agreed; the rooms are a decided improvement upon my plan. Then it is +all settled, and 'tis fortunate, for here comes the soup." + +While the three strangers had been talking together in the inn parlour +the postmaster had been having a gossip with the two peasants from the +Zillerthal who had been their guides across the Schiechjoch. It was +just such a gossip as he enjoyed. + +The men, who were in the habit of seeing many strangers and of +continually acting as guides across the glaciers and in difficult +ascents, maintained that of all the Bergfaxes they had ever seen the +gentleman with the black beard and the sallow face was the biggest +fool. They had been with him and his companions four days, and he had +some fresh nonsense for every hour in the day. But he had _nous_ enough +for all that, and he was always first in all the steepest paths. He +didn't care where they walked: ice or rocks were all the same to him; +he was never dizzy, and never tired either. Day before yesterday, when +they went up the Drei Maidelspitz, they had had such a snow-storm that +the guides themselves had been almost frozen, but neither of the three +gentlemen had uttered a word of complaint, and the black-bearded one +had laughed and sung and thought it all right, and the whole expedition +a capital joke. + +He was teasing the others all the time, especially the youngest, whom +he called 'Knight;' but he didn't mind it, he only laughed, and all +three were the best possible friends. The youngest was a merry +gentleman and joked a good deal, but he was not such a fool as the +black-beard. The third gentleman, whom they called Leo, was the most +sensible. When he was walking alone he often looked very grave, and +even sad, but then Delmar would join him and talk such crazy nonsense +that he had to laugh. + +All three were first-rate people, but they liked Delmar best; he saw to +all the money matters, and was generous as a prince. He was always +deceiving the others, and in a very odd way, very different from the +usual one; when for example he paid three guilders he would pretend +that he had only paid one, and would go on declaring that never in his +life had he known travelling so cheap as it was in the Tyrol. + +Jackel, the eldest of the guides, had settled with Delmar what he +should pay them. He told how he had asked for himself and for Seppel +four guilders a day; how Herr Delmar had fallen into a rage and +declared that two guilders a day was extortion. The two other gentlemen +had reasoned with him, but he had insisted that he was a poor +millionaire who could not afford to throw his money away, and that +nothing should induce him to pay more than two guilders a day. Jackel +had then consulted with Seppel to see whether they should go for two +guilders a day, and Herr Delmar had interfered and shouted and stormed +and insisted that they should go for two guilders a day whether they +wanted to or no, and then he thrust a twenty-guilder note into Jackel's +hand and whispered to him to divide it with Seppel, but to say nothing +about it to the two other gentlemen but consent to go for two guilders +a day, and he would give them something besides. And then he went on +screaming and raging as if he were crazy. And when Jackel said he would +go for the two guilders, then Herr Delmar boasted to the others that he +knew how to manage people so as to travel cheaply, and how would the +others get along without him? + +And so he had gone on all the four days. He must have as mach money as +the king. He was a great fool; but he had _nous_ enough, and was so +kind no one could help liking him. + +The postmaster listened to all this with the greatest interest. +Especially delighted was he when he heard that the three gentlemen had +talked together of staying a long time in Tausens. He instantly called +to Nannerl, and told her to prepare the best room in the house,--the +large corner room, with the view of the castle and the Weisshorn,--and +to make up three beds in it. Such guests were rare in Tausens, and +Hansel determined that they should be made as comfortable as possible. + +The Zillerthalers' account had made him very curious to see more of his +odd guests, and especially of Herr Delmar. He was a little afraid of +him, but he determined nevertheless to go to the inn parlour and have a +gossip with the strangers. + +He went at the right time. Delmar had just eaten his last mouthful and +was about to light a cigar. The others had also finished their dinner, +and that they had enjoyed it the empty dishes bore witness. The wine +too, as Hansel saw with satisfaction, had been duly appreciated: the +bottle was empty. + +Herr Delmar--Hansel knew him at once by his black beard and sallow +face--nodded kindly, and pushing another chair up to the table, said, +"Sit down, Herr Postmaster. We want to spend some time with you here in +Tausens, and would like to hear something about the place. But it's ill +talking with dry lips. Let us have another bottle of wine; and I hope +you will take a glass with us." + +Hansel opened his eyes. Here was Herr Delmar talking very sensibly, and +indeed courteously. "Herr Postmaster!" The title was all the dearer to +the worthy man since he heard it so seldom. Friends and acquaintances +always called him Hansel; the men and maids, as well as the peasants, +called him 'Landlord;' but he never, or almost never, was addressed as +'Postmaster,' although he had as good a right to the title as the +postmaster at Bozen. Whoever called him thus won his heart immediately, +and Herr Delmar had taken it by storm. + +It was not often that Hansel served the guests himself. He left that to +Nannerl: it was her duty. But to-day he made an exception. He took the +bottle from the table, and himself descended to the cellar, where he +filled it with his very best. His round face beamed as he brought it to +his guests; and when Paul again invited him to sit down and take a +glass, he took his place at the table very proud of the honour. + +Hansel was in the best of humours; he was ready to do anything in the +world for these guests,--a mood of which Delmar was not slow to take +advantage. He understood how, by skilful questioning and a remark +thrown out now and then, to draw out the postmaster who was fond of +talking, in the most thorough manner. + +He began by asking about the various points of interest in the +surrounding country; about the way to the famous Tausenser waterfalls; +about the names and the height of the mountain-peaks that could be seen +from the windows; thence he led the conversation to Castle Reifenstein, +and of course to its possessor, Herr von Heydeck, and his daughter +Hilda; and when it had arrived at this point all went swimmingly, for +this was a theme upon which the worthy Hansel, who had no idea that he +was being systematically pumped, could talk by the hour together. + +With ready garrulity and in the broadest Tyrolean patois, which had +frequently to be explained by him to his North-German questioner, he +answered all questions put to him. The Herr who lived in the castle had +been for many years an object of curiosity, of admiration, and of +superstitious fear to all the country-people about, and to Hansel +himself no less than to the rest. They whispered many a queer thing +about him and his castle among the peasants in the common room of the +inn; and there were terrible ghost-stories told of the old castle. +Everything--the whispers and the stories--was faithfully detailed by +Hansel. He was in his element, and Delmar's skilful questions and +repeated glasses of wine combined to keep him there. + +The worthy postmaster's story was no connected narrative, and he often +diverged to expatiate upon other themes; but Delmar always managed to +bring him back to Castle Reifenstein and Herr von Heydeck, so that the +breaks in his account were gradually filled up and the strangers had at +last a distinct picture of the life and character of Herr von Heydeck. +Only the picture, it is true, which existed in the fantastic brains of +Hansel and the Tausens peasantry, and which perhaps resembled but +little the original. Truth and fiction, fact, and fable begotten of +superstition, were mingled in the postmaster's account in a wonderful +mosaic, as was plain to be seen; but nevertheless it possessed the +greatest interest for Leo and his friends. + +Many many years before, as Hansel related, the old castle had belonged +to a Count Menotti, who had leased it to a peasant, for the Count never +came to Tausens himself. He lived at Riva on the Lake of Garda, and +cared nothing for his Tyrolean estate except to see that the rent was +paid punctually; of course his tenant had no interest in preserving the +huge pile in good order. Large portions of the gigantic walls fell down +from the rocks into the valley below, and one of the three towers which +Hansel could remember, as a boy, still standing, crumbled to ruins; but +the main building where the tenant lived, and in which he had his barns +granaries and cattle-stalls, was still standing. Its massive masonry +had defied decay. + +Although there were valuable forests meadows and pasturelands belonging +to the castle, besides some fertile cultivated fields, the tenant paid +only a small rent; and very naturally, for the Count could hardly have +found another tenant. + +In fine all was not right at the castle; strange things happened there +and stranger sights were seen. It was haunted! There were very few old +peasants in Tausens who had not, at some time, had a scare 'up there.' +From the ruined part could often be heard, far down in the valley, +shrieks and groans and wild laughter. + +Even by day few of those who lived in the valley willingly went near +the dreadful old pile, and by night no one could be induced to go +there. Old Stoffel, the tenant, could not persuade either man or maid +to sleep there, although he offered them the highest wages and assured +them that the ghost would do no good Christian any harm. No one would +believe him; and so he and his three sons and his two daughters had +to live by themselves in the haunted castle. He had to pay high for +day-labourers. In the brightest sunshine no one liked to enter the +castle, and the bravest fellow would not have taken any money to go +inside either of the great round towers. + +Old Stoffel was afraid of these towers himself. Not of the ghosts, he +said with a laugh, but of the stones that might fall from their +crumbling walls. Still the people in Tausens knew better; they did not +believe him; they were sure he had been frightened by the ghost there, +and would not confess it for fear of getting no men to work for him. + +Old Stoffel was a wild daring fellow who feared neither God nor the +devil. Indeed, many people thought he had made a bargain with the Evil +One. He never went to church, but frequented the tavern, where he drank +up all his gains. He made his children work for him: he never did +anything himself, and although he was a very old man, he spent his time +in going from tavern to tavern until he died. One morning he was found +dead on the road from Tausens to the castle,--his corpse was perfectly +blue. + +The postmaster remembered well that Dr. Putzer said that the old man +had had a stroke, but no one in Tausens believed it, for the doctor was +as great a blasphemer and tippler and as bad a Christian then as he is +at present. Stoffel's time was up, and the devil had wrung his neck, +which was why his corpse was blue,--every Christian knew that. + +After the old man's death the Count could find no tenant for the +castle, for no one could be found to pay rent for it. Stoffel's sons, +although they could work, had not sense enough to know how to manage, +and the daughters were not much better. They stayed all together at the +castle, however, although Count Menotti never got much rent out of +them. He tried to sell the estate, and offered it for almost a nominal +price, but who wanted to buy a haunted old nest on a misty mountain in +the Tyrol? + +A couple of years had passed, when one day, how long since the +postmaster could not exactly say, but nearly thirty years he should +think, a grand gentleman with his beautiful wife had driven to Tausens. +They stopped at the old Oberwieser's, the postmaster's father's,--the +inn had not then been named the Post. The stranger was Herr von +Heydeck, who had bought the castle of Count Menotti and had come to +inspect it. + +Hansel was then a young fellow about eighteen years old, and he had +been bidden by his father to show the strangers up to the castle. He +did not like to do it, but there was no joking with the old Oberwieser, +and so he obeyed. + +On the way he told Herr von Heydeck and the handsome lady-wife about +the ghosts in the castle, and how the devil had wrung old Stoffel's +neck when his time was up, and they both laughed,--the lady laughed +most. She often paused on the way up and looked around. She thought the +country lovely, and when they had reached the summit of the rocks and +saw the view from the balcony of the main building of the castle, she +was enchanted. The whole castle must be repaired and newly furnished, +she said, and then it would be a delightful place to invite one's +friends to in summer-time. + +In a few days the old place was turned inside out; an architect arrived +with numbers of workmen, and they all went to work. They began +rebuilding in the middle of May, and by the middle of July everything +was finished, and the whole castle splendidly furnished ready for the +master and mistress, who were not slow in making their appearance, with +quantities of servants and numerous guests, mostly officers. There were +but a couple of ladies among them. + +And now began such a life in the castle as no one in Tausens had ever +seen before; no emperor and empress could have lived more splendidly. +Every evening almost all the windows in the old pile blazed with light, +and down from the rocks came floating the sounds of revelry and wild +dance-music. In the old baronial hall there was singing and playing and +dancing and feasting and carousing until deep into the night. + +In the mean time nothing was heard of the ghost,--the devil was +probably highly content with the goings on, for they were surely far +from correct. Why the mistress and the couple of ladies went about in +the evenings with their shoulders all bare and never minded the men, +but danced and jested with them. + +The mistress outdid them all: she was the gayest, and was always +friendly and kind to her guests, and to the servants, and even to the +country-people, to every one except to her husband; he must have felt +very uncomfortable in the splendid castle, and he went alone among the +mountains as often as he could. + +Madame, too, often made excursions with her guests, to the waterfalls +in the Rothwald valley, to the lake on the Frauenalm, and to other +beautiful places, but she never went with her husband. She was a +capital mountain-climber, but she was always accompanied by one of the +other gentlemen, most often of all by Count Menotti, a younger brother +of the former possessor of the castle. The Count and madame were always +together, so that even the villagers talked about it. Whether they were +right in declaring that there was sinful intercourse between the Count +and the lady the postmaster did not know: he had never seen anything +wrong, but there was plenty of malicious gossip about them, when one +day there came to Tausens a travelling merchant, who said he had known +madame before her marriage to Herr von Heydeck. + +In a gossip over a can of wine he told of how the Count, although a +married man, had been madame's lover for a long time, and that she had +married Herr von Heydeck because it was the only way in which to avoid +public scandal. And certainly all was not right between madame and the +Count and Herr von Heydeck, for the latter's face would grow gloomier +than ever when he chanced on his walks to meet his wife with Count +Menotti. He avoided them as far as he could; accompanied by a guide +only, he explored the loneliest parts of the country, and while madame +was making merry with her guests he was collecting all kinds of herbs +butterflies ugly worms, and even venomous snakes and vipers, which he +would bring home to a room he had had arranged for himself in the +castle. + +This wild life lasted for four weeks, and then every one +departed,--leaving however a theme for gossip in Tausens during the +whole ensuing winter. Nothing else was talked of in the inn parlour +among the gentlemen, or in the common room among the peasants. The +postmaster, a young fellow at the time, had to serve the gentlemen who +came in the evening to drink their wine at the inn, and he heard all +they had to say among themselves. Of all the gentlemen there was only +one. Dr. Putzer, who had ever been to the castle while its possessors +were there, and he had gone only because one of the ladies had been +slightly ill and there was no other physician to be had. Herr von +Heydeck had received him very politely, but madame had hardly looked at +him, and so he hated her, and had all sorts of bad stories to tell of +her. + +About a year had passed since the gay doings at the castle, when one +day Dr. Putzer brought a piece of news to the gentlemen in the inn +parlour that excited them greatly. He had just had a letter from his +brother, an advocate in Vienna, and he read it aloud. The Vienna man +wrote that madame had died in her confinement, and had left an immense +fortune, not to her husband, but to her new-born child. Castle +Reifenstein belonged to him now, and Herr von Heydeck was only his +son's guardian. After the letter had been read, the gentlemen made many +malicious remarks,--the worst came from Dr. Putzer, who in his tipsy +mood boasted that if he were Herr von Heydeck he would tie a stone +about the little bastard's neck and drown him like a kitten, but Herr +von Heydeck had no _nous_. As he had shut his eyes for fear of his wife +and Count Menotti, and taken no notice of what all the world knew, so +now he would patiently acknowledge the Count's son, and live on as the +brat's steward. + +About four days after this conversation Herr von Heydeck arrived at +Tausens, this time accompanied by no brilliant company or numerous +retinue. Only one servant sat beside the coachman on the box of the +carriage inside of which was Herr von Heydeck and opposite him a woman +with a child carefully wrapped in shawls and blankets; it was the nurse +with his dead wife's child. + +The Herr only stopped in Tausens long enough to leave word at the inn +for Dr. Putzer to come to the castle as soon as possible, and then +drove on to Reifenstein. Here he took up his abode in his old room, +while the nurse and child lived in another wing of the building. He +sent to the farm in the valley for old Stoffel's two daughters. Trine +and Lene, and the youngest son, Melcher, the stupidest of all, a +perfect blockhead, and they were hired to do all the work of the +household. + +Henceforth Herr von Heydeck led the life of a hermit in the castle; the +only man with whom he had any intercourse in all the country round was +tipsy Dr. Putzer, whom he often sent for to visit the child and report +to him the state of its health, for the Herr himself never saw it. The +nurse was strictly forbidden ever to take it out of the apartments +appropriated to her; if she was obliged to leave them herself, she was +ordered to leave the child in the cradle and lock the door after her. +Except the doctor, nobody in Tausens ever saw the baby; even the +servants were not allowed to go into the room where it was. + +The nurse was a very proud person; she never condescended to speak a +word to any one except the doctor; she was always polite enough to him. +They two understood one another extremely well; they would sometimes +sit together for hours, while the master was in his room buried in his +books. Once Trine saw him kiss her. + +One evening--it was in the beginning of the winter--the doctor came to +the inn parlour and told the gentlemen who were sitting there over +their wine that he had just come from the castle, where matters looked +badly; the child was seriously ill. He could not yet say what was the +matter with it, but he thought it had the smallpox. + +The gentlemen were greatly surprised at this intelligence. There had +been one or two cases of smallpox in the neighbouring valleys, but none +in Tausens or its immediate vicinity. It seemed impossible that the +child should have taken it, living as he did in one part of the castle +and seeing no one but his nurse and the doctor. But nevertheless it was +the case, for a few days afterwards he proved to have the smallpox in +its most malignant form, and within a week he was dead. + +He was buried the day he died. The doctor ordered this for fear of +contagion. Herr von Heydeck spared no expense. The child had a splendid +funeral, and the master paid a lot of money for masses for his soul, +besides giving the priest a large sum to distribute among the poor. But +for all that he could not stop people's mouths. There were strange +tales told in the village. No one spoke out loud; they only whispered +among themselves. But one and all, gentlemen as well as peasants, +thought that all had not been right at the castle. They did not believe +in the smallpox. The child had died some other way, of which the +master, who was his heir, would know nothing. That was why no one had +been allowed to see the little corpse. This which was whispered at +first was soon talked of loudly, and the doctor confirmed the tale, for +he married the nurse. The wedding was celebrated scarcely two months +after the child's death. The doctor bought the house in Tausens where +he still lives with his wife. Where he got the money no one knew, for +until the boy died he had more debts than hairs on his head; and +when Herr von Heydeck furnished and fitted up the house for the +newly-married pair as if a count and countess were going to live there, +every one in the village said plainly that the master had good reasons +for doing so. He had to show his gratitude to the doctor and his wife, +who had made him a wealthy man. + +In the inn parlour the matter was thoroughly discussed in the doctor's +absence. The forester boldly declared his belief that the doctor had +poisoned the poor little boy; but the district judge took him sharply +to account for his words. He had no right to accuse the doctor of what +would warrant the interference of the law; the gossip of the villagers +was unworthy of repetition, and the doctor would be justified in +dealing hardly with whoever did repeat it. + +After this warning from the judge, which was soon known throughout the +village, no one dared to utter a suspicion aloud, but the peasants +thought that if a poor labouring man, and not a rich gentleman and a +Herr Doctor, had been suspected of such a crime, the district judge +would have spoken differently. + +Herr von Heydeck was a very wealthy man after the death of the boy, but +he altered nothing in his manner of life. He lived just as solitary as +before in the old castle, only leaving it for a few weeks in the year +to visit the baths, for the sake of his health, the doctor said. Then +occurred what surprised every one. Many years had passed since the +boy's death, when, just nineteen years ago, Herr von Heydeck returned +from one of his summer excursions that had lasted longer than usual; +and this time he was not alone. In the carriage beside him sat a lovely +young wife, looking like an angel with her blue eyes and golden curls. +"The gentlemen can see now how she looked," the postmaster remarked, +"for our Fraeulein Hilda is very like her." + +And the young mistress of Reifenstein was an angel. The village priest +acknowledged that, although she was a heretic. No one in the village +believed it when the doctor told them so until the Herr Pastor had +confirmed it. + +At first the people shook their heads and declared that such a thing +had never been heard of in the Tyrol,--that a heretic should be +mistress of Reifenstein. But the Herr Pastor himself comforted them, +and he had good reasons for doing so, for a golden time had come for +the poor in Tausens with the new mistress's arrival. Before long the +people had forgotten that madame was a heretic. Although she never went +to mass or to confession, she used often to go to church to listen to +the sermon, and no one there could be more devout than she. + +She never was haughty to any one, but had a kind word for the poorest. +The only people she could not endure were the doctor and his wife. She +made the first visit herself to the wife of the district judge, and +begged her to come often to the castle, but although the doctor's wife +went up to the castle the day after the bride arrived there, Madame von +Heydeck could not have liked the former nurse from the first, for she +never asked her to repeat her visit; and never as long as she lived did +she set foot beneath the doctor's roof. She could not endure the doctor +himself either. She told the judge's wife that she was afraid of his +cunning gray eyes, but since there was no other physician in the +country for miles round, she had to send for him whenever there was +sickness at the castle. He never went there at other times, although +they said he was still good friends with Herr von Heydeck, else how +could he live as he did? He could hardly buy the wine that he drank +with the couple of hundred guilders that he got from the peasants +yearly; and certainly they would not have paid for the silk dresses and +ornaments that his wife wore even on weekdays, not to speak of the show +she made when she went to church on Sundays, or took a journey to +Vienna, which she did two or three times every year. + +All the villagers loved the mistress, and the master perfectly idolized +her; he had become another man. There never were again such doings at +the castle as there had been during the first mistress's reign. Herr +and Madame von Heydeck lived for the most part a very quiet retired +life, but they were not entirely without society. The judge and the +collector, with their wives, were often invited to the castle, and +sometimes there were grand visitors from Germany, relatives of madame, +who was a countess. + +But this happy life in the castle lasted only a few years. The second +wife began to sicken: she lost her fresh colour; the doctor said the +keen mountain-air did not agree with her, but she would not leave the +beautiful country where she was so happy. At last, one autumn, she had +to follow the doctor's advice. It is just twelve years ago now; her +cough grew so bad that she herself saw that she could not spend another +winter in the castle, around which the cold northern blasts swept +continually. She went away with her husband and her little daughter, +then six years old. + +When the carriage drove through Tausens, all the villagers crowded +about it to have a last word from the lovely lady, and she spoke to +every one as kindly as she did to the judge himself. + +She never came back. The doctor said she followed his advice too late. +In Italy, at Nizza, they buried her. She died there hardly a year after +she took leave of Tausens. + +In a short time the master and his little girl returned. He brought a +governess with him for his daughter, but she found it too lonely at the +old castle. She soon went away again, and the master lived on alone, +and the poor child would have had no woman to speak to if the judge's +wife had not taken pity on it. She talked seriously to the Herr about +his duty to his child, and told him how wrong it was to pay no +attention to her education. And so the Herr took the little girl to +Vienna to school. After that he led a more solitary life than ever at +Castle Reifenstein, never leaving it except to go to Vienna three or +four times a year to see his child; the rest of the time he spent +without one human being to speak to: even the doctor was not allowed to +go often to the castle. + +And thus it has gone on until the present day, for even when a year ago +Fraeulein Hilda came home from Vienna, her father never altered his way +of life. He sits up there in his gloomy old room with his books and +plants and worms; he has grown old and feeble, so that he cannot take +long walks among the mountains, but only in the castle garden, and he +studies all day long,--his daughter is with him only at dinner and in +the evenings. + +But if he is not changed, the Fraeulein's return has brought back the +golden time for the poor people in Tausens; the same time that there +was while her mother was alive. Fraeulein Hilda is the image of her +mother; just as lovely, but fresher healthier and stronger; just as +kind, but merrier and a wee hit wild,--no rock is too steep and no +mountain too high for her. Not a boy in the village can outstrip her in +a mountain walk, and she clambers about everywhere by herself, looking +for the plants which she thinks will give her father pleasure. If any +one is ill, she is upon the spot to aid wherever help is necessary. She +is a heretic to be sure like her mother, but every one loves her, and +the poorest most of all. + +During his narrative the postmaster had emptied many a glass, and when +he described the fair Hilda, her golden curls, her frank blue eyes that +looked for all the world like those of the Holy Mother in the picture +over the altar in church, he grew very earnest, and would have gone on +expatiating upon a theme so dear to him had he not been called away. + +His wife had several times timidly opened the door of the parlour a +little way and peeped through the crack, but had quickly withdrawn when +she saw Paul turn and look at her. She did not dare to call her husband +while he was talking so earnestly with the stranger gentlemen, but at +last she lost patience, and sent the maid into the room for him. + +"What do you want, Loisel?" the postmaster asked his wife, impatiently; +he would have liked to talk longer with the gentlemen who listened so +attentively to what he had to say; he had quite forgotten that the +post-bag was not yet locked, and that the wagon was waiting that +carried the mail to town once a day. + +Quite vexed Hansel set about this duty,--almost the only one which his +office of postmaster imposed upon him,--and in a quarter of an hour it +was concluded. His wife stood quietly by his side while he clumsily +made the necessary entries in the books, then counted over the letters +and locked them up in the old leather bag, which he handed over to the +driver of the wagon. She waited patiently until the crack of the whip +was heard and the wagon rolled off, and then she said to her husband, +"Did you take a good look at the stranger gentlemen, Hansel?" + +"I did." + +"At the one with the black beard and the yellow face? My mind misgives +me I've seen his face before!" + +This remark of his wife's made Hansel very thoughtful. He too when +Delmar first spoke to him had thought his face and figure familiar, and +yet he could not remember ever having seen the stranger before. And +when in the course of conversation it appeared that neither of the +three gentlemen had ever been in the Tyrol, it was plain that he never +could have seen Delmar, since he himself had never been farther from +home than Linz, Bozen, and Innspruck. + +During the long conversation Paul had been the principal speaker; the +others had listened in silence. It was Paul who by a timely remark now +and then had recalled mine host, when he was disposed to be discursive, +to the interesting story which was thus related quite connectedly. +Therefore to Delmar Hansel had always addressed himself, and again and +again he found himself wondering why this peculiarly keen face seemed +so strangely familiar to him. Now that his wife had remarked the same +thing, he once more puzzled his brains to remember where he could have +seen the stranger before; but in vain, and Loisel could not help him. + +Meanwhile the three friends had taken counsel together in the +postmaster's absence; his recital had given them food for reflection. + +"My poor Leo!" said Paul, as soon as the door had closed upon Hansel's +sturdy figure. "Fine stories these! Your uncle appears possessed of +even less honour and courage than your father gave him credit for; but +then on the other hand the fairy Hilda seems worthy of a trial,--she +spurs us on to conquest. What shall we do?" + +"Yes, what is to be done?" said Leo. "I am more irresolute than ever. +After what we have just heard of my uncle I am very unwilling to +present myself at the castle." + +"But you promised your father." + +"Unfortunately, yes." + +"Your visit to the castle is settled, and you will soon see what next +ought to be done. Be sure matters are not so bad as they seem from the +gossip of the bare-kneed postmaster. The noble Herr von Heydeck, it is +true, does not appear to suffer from an excess of amiability, but the +devil is never so black as he is painted." + +"Do you forget the suspicion that rests upon him with regard to the +death of his child?" said Herwarth. + +"Nonsense, my noble knight! mad inane nonsense, such as is only +conceived in the superstitious stupid heads of Tyrolean peasants. That +suspicion of murder is of a piece with the ghost-stories which every +old ass in Tausens--our worthy postmaster among them--believes firmly, +and with the highly probable explanation of the death of the old tenant +when 'his time was up.' The judge and the doctor seem to be the only +sensible men in the village. We must try, and I suppose it will not be +very difficult, to make their acquaintance." + +"You take the suspicion of murder confoundedly coolly," Kuno rejoined. + +"I take it as such nonsense must be taken,--not coolly. I attach a +certain significance to it as showing the low estimation in which uncle +monster is held. It is certainly significant that he should be +suspected of murder; but this may be only a consequence of his +misanthropy and his tastes for herbs, worms, and poisonous reptiles. +Nothing is essentially changed by the postmaster's narrative; therefore +I think we had best adhere to our plans. I, as quartermaster of the +party, will inspect the accommodations of the house and select our +rooms. We will then remove as far as is possible the traces of our +glacier tour, so that Leo at least may present a respectable appearance +to his uncle and the golden-haired Hilda. The Knight Kuno and I will +accompany him as far as the castle, and then leave him to his fate for +a while and return here to rest upon the laurels which we have won upon +our wanderings. Are you agreed?" + +Leo and Herwarth had no objection to make, and Paul proceeded to carry +out his plan. He went to the postmaster, whom he found in conversation +with his wife. Both greeted him with a gaze of keen scrutiny, to which +he paid no heed, informing Hansel that he with his friends was minded +to spend some time at the inn if they liked their quarters. + +The postmaster highly delighted displayed the accommodations that his +house afforded, and Delmar found the rooms far more numerous and +spacious than he could have anticipated. He engaged the largest and +finest with a glorious view from the windows, of the castle and the +snowy peaks in the background, for a sitting-room, and also a huge room +adjoining with three beds in it, and then, after a short conversation +with Hansel, returned with him to the inn parlour and informed his +friends that they might inspect and approve his choice. + +"So everything is arranged," said Paul, rubbing his hands, "except the +price we have to pay. What do you want for the two rooms, Herr +Postmaster? Don't ask too much; be reasonable, and we shall stay here +all the longer." + +The postmaster regarded him with a sly smile. "Would two guilders a day +be too much for the two rooms?" + +"Two guilders a day! Man, do you think we are made of money? One +guilder is enough, and I will not give more." + +"But, Delmar, pray----" Herwarth interposed, but Paul would not let him +speak. + +"I am quartermaster, and allow no interference in my affairs. Are you +satisfied, postmaster, with one guilder?" + +"'Tis not much, but it will do," Hansel replied, apparently not greatly +disappointed at this reduction in the rent of his rooms. In fact he +laughed when Paul explained that he would have no money transactions +with an underling, but would settle with the postmaster himself daily. +He assured the gentlemen that they should be well provided for and not +overcharged, and then he went off grinning to the kitchen, and told +Loisel that he had rented his two best rooms, and that the gentleman +with the black beard had offered him four guilders a day for them, but +the others were not to know it, to suppose he was only paid one +guilder. + +The gentlemen's portmanteaus were carried up to their rooms, and half +an hour later the three friends, having changed their dress, appeared, +and inquired the way to the castle. Hansel advised them to go by the +road, which--although it ran circuitously around the base of the +mountain--would take them to the castle in an hour, and upon which +there was no danger of their losing their way, rather than by the much +shorter foot-path which led from the last house in the village, and +upon which they might easily go astray. He described the foot-path to +them, but counselled them, if they should decide to go by it, to hire +some lad in the village to act as guide. + +"Thanks, we will," Paul rejoined; and then the three walked briskly off +up the valley in the direction of the castle. + +Hansel gazed thoughtfully after them. "I have seen the black-bearded +one somewhere!" he exclaimed to Loisel, "but I cannot for the life of +me remember where." + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +This eleventh of July was an eventful day for the Post inn at Tausens, +and certainly merited to be underscored with a red pencil, as it was +that very evening by Hansel in the almanac. + +The postmaster was still standing at his inn-door looking up the valley +after the three friends, when, just as a winding in the road hid them +from sight, he rubbed his eyes which he had lazily turned in another +direction, and thought he must be dreaming. No, it was no dream, he saw +advancing upon the high-road towards the village the realization of his +most extravagant hopes. Two equipages, each drawn by four horses, were +coming rapidly along the highway. + +Since the death of the first madame, for more than a quarter of a +century no four-horse equipage had been seen upon the road to Tausens, +and here were two, one behind the other, and each, as Hansel's sharp +eyes discerned even at a distance, laden with large trunks, while the +light dresses of ladies were visible inside the carriages. These were +certainly grand and wealthy travellers, and that they meant to stay in +Tausens was plain from the quantity of luggage. + +With intense eagerness Hansel awaited their arrival; he did not have to +wait long,--the first carriage was close at hand; all right: it turned +aside from the road, and with a sharp turn the coachman reined in his +four fiery steeds before the door of the Post. + +A servant in rich livery sprang from the box to open the door and +assist the occupants of the carriage to descend. They consisted of a +very stout elderly lady, a gentleman also elderly, and a young +gentleman who had been sitting on the back seat. + +The young man refused the footman's proffered aid; he sprang out, and +turned to assist his elderly companions. With the greatest care and +attention he helped out the stout lady, who descended from her seat +with difficulty, and then he gave his hand to her companion. The lady +thanked him with a pleasant smile, the gentleman in words. "Thanks, my +dear Guido. Here we are at last; my legs are positively stiff, and my +clothes are sticking to me with the heat. There comes the other +carriage. Eva looks as red as a cherry." + +The second carriage now drove up; two young ladies were sitting inside, +and on the box beside the driver sat a third, much more showily dressed +than the others. The liveried footman hastened to help this last to +descend from her high perch, and his aid was accepted most willingly, +the young person leaning on his arm as if loth to leave his support. + +The young gentleman who offered his aid to the occupants of the +carriage was not as fortunate as the footman; one of the young ladies +said, coldly, "Thank you, Herr von Bertram, I do not need any help," +and the other said nothing, but the glance of her dark eyes spoke +plainly enough,--his assistance was rejected. + +"Why will you not allow me to render you even the small service you +would accept from your servant?" Bertram whispered, quite aggrieved by +his repulse. + +"Because I do not wish services forced upon me which I do not require. +When I need your aid I shall certainly request it," was Eva's sharp +reply, as she swept past him towards her Uncle Balthasar, who was in +eager consultation with the postmaster. + +Poor Hansel! He stood there like some convicted criminal. He had taken +his short pipe from his mouth out of respect for the grand arrivals, +and in the other hand he held his black cap, with which he repeatedly +slapped his bare knee in his embarrassment. For the stranger gentleman +had demanded three rooms with five beds, with two smaller rooms for the +servants, the one for the lady's-maid near her young mistress, and two +sitting-rooms besides; and with the best will in the world Hansel could +not accommodate him, for the entire inn did not contain so many rooms. + +If the three 'Bergfaxes' had not already been in possession! Hansel had +three unoccupied rooms, and beds enough. The servants could also be +taken care of, but that was all the accommodation the house could +afford, since the two best rooms were already occupied by the three +'Bergfaxes.' This Hansel told the stranger gentleman, who was in great +consternation at the intelligence. + +Uncle Balthasar gazed in despair at the various huge trunks which the +coachman was taking from the carriages; where could they all find room +in the two apartments? for one of the three must be given up to +Bertram. And what in the world would become of Aunt Minni if she had no +sitting-room where she could recline comfortably all day on the sofa? +And was Eva to be cramped up in one room with Fraeulein Aline? The thing +was impossible! + +Poor Uncle Balthasar contemplated with horror the tedious drive back to +the town,--five long hours of jolting,--for he thought he foresaw that +Eva would never consent to remain here a single night. He imparted to +her the sad intelligence that the two best rooms had been appropriated +by three gentlemen, who were going to remain some time, so that only +three sleeping-rooms were to be had. + +"Only three rooms? That is not very pleasant, to be sure," Eva said, +much less alarmed than Uncle Balthasar had supposed she would be. "What +can be done with Wilhelm and Nanette?" + +There was room for the servants. The maid could sleep in the same room +with Nannerl, and the footman in the garret, the postmaster said. + +At this arrangement, and at the word 'maid' from worthy Hansel's lips, +Nanette made a wry face, and her anger was great when Eva said quietly, +"That might be arranged. If the rooms are clean and neat we might +manage to stay here for a while." + +For a while! The postmaster's face shone at the prospect of a visit of +some duration from such grand guests, while a corresponding gloom +settled upon Uncle Balthazar's countenance. "Well, yes, my dearest +Eva," he assented with a resigned air, "if you say so we will try it. +It will be a little crowded, but just as you say, my dear." + +"We will contrive to make ourselves comfortable. The country is +enchanting, and I hope we shall be able to spend some weeks here very +pleasantly and quietly in the enjoyment of nature in this retired +valley, undisturbed by the hordes of detestable tourists that make so +much of the Tyrol odious at this season of the year. First of all let +us see the rooms; the largest and most convenient will of course be +yours and Aunt Minni's, uncle dear. Aunt Minni must be comfortable. +There will surely be a place in her room where we can put a nice sofa; +and if there is no sofa here, Wilhelm must drive to the town before +night and buy one." + +"Oh, we have a sofa," the postmaster declared. + +At this joyful intelligence every cloud disappeared from Aunt Minni's +face. If she could have a good sofa, where she could doze away most of +the day, and if the cooking was good, she was abundantly content. + +"There is another thing that can be done," Bertram remarked. "The host +might ask the three gentlemen to give up one of their rooms. Men do not +need a special sitting-room in an inn; they can make use of the inn +parlour in the daytime. If the host insists, they will consent to +vacate one room, and if they do not, they must be forced to do so!" + +Eva cast a look of great disapprobation upon the speaker. "We are not +so selfish as to wish to interfere with the rights of others," she +said. "We shall certainly confine ourselves to our three rooms." + +"I don't think Herr Delmar would give up the room," the postmaster +remarked. + +The name of Delmar produced an electric effect upon Eva and Bertram. +Guido's face suddenly became leaden in hue, and across Eva's there +flitted a crimson flush, but she quickly recovered herself. "Is one of +the gentlemen who have taken the other rooms called Delmar?" she asked +the postmaster. + +"Yes, one of them." + +"Is he a northern German?" + +"I think so." + +"A young man about thirty years old, with dark eyes, black hair and +beard, and an olive complexion?" + +"Just so; I think I knew him once somewhere, but I can't tell where." + +"And the two other gentlemen? Do you know their names?" + +"One I do; they call him Leo. I didn't hear the other's name at all." + +"Herr Paul Delmar and his friend Herr von Heydeck!" Eva exclaimed in +some agitation. "What an unfortunate encounter!" + +Bertram was not less moved; he bit his lips and did his best to +preserve his composure and not betray the dismay that he felt in +discovering that his two hated enemies, Delmar and Leo von Heydeck, +were in Tausens, and that he might at any moment be brought face to +face with them. + +What terrible consequences might ensue from such a meeting if any +explanations should be made! If Delmar should ever give Eva an +account of the odious scene beneath Buechner's awning; if she should +learn by what means Bertram had been forced to make his disgraceful +apology,--that it had not been made in compliance with her wish but for +fear of ruinous revelations,--all would be lost! + +He breathed more freely when Aline took Eva's hand and said in a voice +full of tenderness, "We cannot stay here, Eva dear; such a meeting, +such unavoidable encounters in this retired place would be too painful +for you and for all." + +"I must say, Eva my dear, that I think Fraeulein Aline is right. Let the +trunks be taken out again to the carriages, landlord; we shall not stay +here." + +Uncle Balthasar gave this order, quite convinced that Eva would +immediately desire, as he did himself, to leave Tausens; and it almost +seemed as if she agreed with him, for she did not object to his +directions to poor Hansel, when suddenly Bertram, by an imprudent word, +prevented what he himself most desired. He meant to reinforce Aline's +words and Uncle Balthasar's remark, and to confirm Eva's wavering +resolution. "We must go, go instantly, my dear Eva," he said. "We +cannot possibly expose ourselves to a meeting with that man and his +friend Delmar. We cannot subject ourselves to fresh insults, which I +must not even avenge. You owe it to yourself, you owe it to me, to +avoid such an encounter!" + +His remark was most unfortunate. It decided Eva to act in direct +opposition to his wishes. "I am the best judge of what I owe to +myself," she said, proudly. "I will not have Herr von Heydeck believe +that I avoid meeting him because I am afraid of him. We shall certainly +remain here for the present." + +"Eva, I entreat you not to be headstrong," Aline interposed. "Herr von +Bertram is quite right in this instance. You owe it to him and to all +of us to avoid all chance of a meeting which might have disastrous +consequences. Let us leave here, if we only go as far as the next +village. We can rest there and then continue our tour. Do it for my +sake, Eva!" + +Eva would certainly have yielded to Aline's entreaty if coward fear of +an encounter with Delmar and Heydeck had not been plainly imprinted +upon Bertram's pale face. This fear seemed to her so pitiable, so +despicable, that her pride revolted at the idea of flight. No, she +would not retreat; she would not grant such a triumph to the man who +had insulted her. + +"I cannot comply with your request, Aline," she said firmly. "Do not +urge it: my resolution is fixed; I shall stay. Come, dear, let us see +the rooms; the landlord will show us to them." She followed the +postmaster into the hall, and the others could do no less than imitate +her example. Guido alone was left standing in front of the house. His +portmanteau was not yet taken from the foot-board of the carriage, and +one of the men was busied in untying the rope that bound it there. +Should he order it to be left where it was? It was not easy to decide. +Like a flash of lightning all that had lately occurred passed through +his mind. Eva had indeed thanked him when he brought her the +intelligence that the duel had been made impossible, but then she had +asked for particulars with regard to what had occurred at Buechner's, +and he had been forced to give her an account that had some similitude +to the truth lest she should hear of it elsewhere. + +He told her that after an interview with Count Waldheim he had awaited +Leo von Heydeck at Buechner's, to make him the apology which he had +promised Eva should be made, but that the execution of his design had +been hastened by the intervention of the old colonel and Delmar. He had +skilfully interwoven truth and falsehood in his narrative, but it had +not escaped him that Eva's countenance betrayed a certain distrust of +him while he spoke. He had begged her to allow him to accompany her +upon her tour, and she had not refused, but this journey had been to +him a daily source of the greatest humiliation. He would have liked +nothing better than to withdraw, but he could not leave the field to +his enemies; he must stay. + +"Take the small leather trunk to my room," he gave orders to the man, +and then followed the servant into the house. + +Meanwhile, Eva had subjected the three vacant rooms to a thorough +inspection, and had found that their neatness and comfort far exceeded +her expectations. One was very spacious; besides two beds it contained +a sofa, wardrobe, bureau, washstands, and two cushioned easy-chairs. It +would be easy to be comfortable here for a while. The second was +considerably smaller, and contained neither sofa nor wardrobe, but then +the prospect from the windows was perfectly enchanting. They looked out +upon the picturesque ruins of Castle Reifenstein, which here intervened +between the eye and the inhabited part of the building. In the +background the view was bounded by the snowy peaks of the Weisshorn and +the Drei Maidelspitz, with the blue shimmering glaciers of the +Schiechhorn between them. The third room, between the first and third, +and connected with each by a door, was small enough, with only one +window; a bed, washstand, and two chairs were all it could contain. + +Such were the apartments which the postmaster placed at the command of +the travellers; in addition they could have the exclusive use of a +balcony, upon which a door opened from the wide hall. The magnificent +view from it of Castle Reifenstein and the glacier background made it +seem a most attractive resort, and even in bad weather it might be +used, since it was protected by a broad roof. + +Eva's arrangements, after she had seen the three rooms and the balcony, +were soon made. "We will stay here," she said; "we can make ourselves +very comfortable here for a while. The large room with the sofa is +yours and uncle's of course, Aunt Minni; Aline and I shall do very well +in this next largest room, and Nanette can have the one with one window +if Herr von Bertram leaves us." + +"Which he certainly will not do," Guido rejoined, having overheard the +last words. + +"Then Nanette will sleep in Nannerl's room, and the little room is +yours." + +Guido made no reply. + +"Come, Aline," Eva said to her friend, "let us arrange our room." With +these words she left the spacious hall in which the conversation had +been held and entered her apartment. Then, while Aline closed the door +after them, she examined the door leading to the room she had assigned +to Bertram. To her satisfaction she found it provided with a heavy iron +bolt, which she pushed home, and then turned to her friend. + +Hitherto she had exerted herself to preserve an appearance of quiet +composure, while all the while her heart was beating so violently that +she could scarcely bear it. Now that she was at last alone with her +friend and there was no need longer to control her emotion, she threw +her arms around her and leaned her weary head upon her bosom. + +"My poor, poor Eva!" said Aline, with tender sympathy. + +"Oh, Aline, I am so wretchedly unhappy!" + +With a gentle hand Aline stroked the dark curls from her friend's brow +and kissed her. "Cry, my poor Eva, as much as you want to," she said +lovingly; "the tears which you have so long restrained will soothe your +pain. And then you shall bathe your eyes and compose yourself. Your +betrothed must not see that you have been weeping." + +"My betrothed! Why do you torture me with that word? You know how from +the very depths of my soul I hate it!" + +"Then it is your duty to break this miserable engagement," Aline +rejoined gravely. "You would not listen to me when you gave your hasty +promise, and therefore I have been silent until now, but I cannot bear +to see you so unhappy. It is my duty as your friend to advise and to +warn you even although I should offend you by doing so. I will not +quietly look on when I see you obstinately determined to seal your +unhappiness forever!" + +"But what shall I do, Aline?" + +"You must make up your mind to break the fetters which you yourself +forged." + +"But I have promised." + +"Promised? And is this wretched promise to annihilate your happiness +for life? You used to be indifferent to Bertram, and that was bad +enough; but now I can read in your eyes as in an open book, he becomes +more odious to you every hour of every day, and you would give +yourself--swear love and fidelity before the altar--to this man whose +very touch inspires you with loathing. Will it not be perjury and a far +greater wrong to Bertram than if you should break your hasty promise?" + +"He knows well that I do not love him." + +"So much the worse. If he does not wish for your heart, for your +love, he is speculating upon your money. Give him a share of your +fortune,--you are rich enough,--but do not sacrifice yourself!" + +"How gladly would I do so, but he will not release me. Do not urge me +further. Aline, you only make me more unhappy. I have had a hard +struggle with myself; indeed the fulfilment of the duty I have +undertaken demands all the strength I am mistress of, but it must be +fulfilled. Bertram has sacrificed his future to me. Can money requite +him for the honour he has lost? I cannot retreat. My destiny must be +fulfilled!" + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +The road to Castle Reifenstein, upon which the three friends had +started, ran through the village of Tausens and the isolated dwellings +of the peasants on the bank of the Schwarzenbach. After passing the +last of these it left the broad beaten valley road, turned to the +right, and passed around the mountain crowned by the castle, gradually +ascending on the northern more gentle slope until, after many windings, +it reached a bridge leading across a broad, deep chasm in the rocks to +the ancient portals of the castle. + +Before the invention of gunpowder Castle Reifenstein had been an +impregnable fortress, although it owed little of its impregnability to +art. Nature had provided for the discomfiture of any possible besiegers +by the inaccessibility of the steep rocks that formed its base on the +southern side. + +If the ancient Counts of Tausens, whose nest it was, raised the +drawbridge they were secure from any attack, for on one side it was as +impossible to climb the smooth, straight wall of rock, on the summit of +which stood the castle, as it was to spring across the broad and ugly +chasm, several hundred feet deep, across which the bridge was flung, +and which cut off the rock from the gentle declivity of the mountain on +its northern side. Thus a few archers, placed behind the walls and in +the round tower, could command the entire road up from the valley. + +On the eastern side alone the rock was connected with the mountain. A +green meadow, which had latterly been converted into a garden, extended +from the forest upwards to the wall. Art had here contributed towards +rendering the fortress impregnable. A single huge door opened out of +the castle courtyard upon this garden. At either end of the wall had +stood a huge round tower; of one of these nothing remained but the base +in ruins, while the other, in good preservation, stood proudly erect in +close vicinity to the inhabited wing of the castle. + +The two towers and the wall of the court-yard formed a more than +sufficient protection for this eastern side of the castle, for only a +few besiegers at a time could approach it through the irregular and +broken masses of rock that covered this part of the mountain. Even the +peasants seldom ventured to approach the castle on this side. They used +the broad road from Tausens almost exclusively, and only a few stout +mountaineers preferred the narrow foot-path that left the broad road +just behind the last house in Tausens and led straight up the mountain, +then turning to the left cut off many of the windings of the road until +it joined it again on the summit at the bridge. + +Paul paused at the spot where this foot-path left the road. "Is there +anything more tiresome in the world than a broad, well-kept road like +this?" he said. "All the world can use it,--any fool may walk along it +and go dreaming on to his destination. I hate the smooth white dusty +thing! Look at this inviting foot-path, Leo; it is wonderfully +attractive. Suppose we leave the stupid road?" + +"The landlord warned us against it," Leo replied. "He said we should +surely lose our way if we took it." + +"Bah, nonsense! These peasants always think that city men will lose +their way; we have the castle always in sight, how can we go astray? +Noble Knight von Herwarth, what do you think?" + +"I am for the foot-path." + +"Forwards, then! The majority carries the day." + +Paul struck into the foot-path which, leading through thick alders, was +too narrow to allow of the friends walking abreast. Leo followed Paul, +and Herwarth came last, but he had hardly gone a few steps before he +stepped upon a loose stone and almost fell. He recovered himself +instantly, but when he attempted to proceed he felt a violent pain in +his ankle. He stood still for a moment and then tried again to walk, +but the pain was too severe: he could not go on. + +"What is the matter, noble knight?" Delmar called back to him. + +"I do not know: I must stop a moment; my foot pains me. I hope it will +pass away in a moment." + +But it did not pass away. The pain, on the contrary, increased with +every attempt to walk. Herwarth had to sit down upon a fallen tree: he +could not go on. + +This was a most unpleasant interruption to their expedition. They +consulted what had best be done. Paul proposed to go back immediately +to the village to procure surgical aid, but this Kuno would not listen +to; he was sure that rest would bring him relief; it would be quite +time enough to consult a Tyrolean village doctor when the hurt was +proved to be serious, which he was quite certain was not the case. He +begged his friends to proceed quietly without him, and he would wait +here a couple of hours until Paul should return, after having +accompanied Leo to the castle-gate. By that time the pain would have +abated sufficiently to allow of his walking back the short distance +they had come. It certainly was no misfortune to lie on the soft moss +for a couple of hours and enjoy the lovely landscape. + +At first Paul and Leo refused to agree to Kuno's plan, but after they +had examined his ankle, and convinced themselves as far as was possible +for the uninitiated in the science of surgery that the leg was neither +broken nor seriously injured, they consented to do as he desired. They +left him lying comfortably on the grass lighting a cigar, and once more +Leo advised Paul to pursue the road where they could not go wrong. +This, however, the latter was less inclined to do than before. + +"Can I leave our wounded knight alone in the desert for so long?" he +asked. "The foot-path is much shorter than the worthy postmaster said. +As soon as I have delivered you safely to your uncle I shall return by +the same path to Kuno." + +The shortest road! Many a one among the mountains has found that the +shortest road to his destination has proved the longest for him in the +end. Thus it was with Delmar and Leo. + +As long as the foot-path led through the bushes it was easy to trace; +it was evidently not much frequented, but the grass was worn upon it +and it could not be missed; the case, however, was different when it +emerged upon a steep, stony waste,--here it suddenly vanished, and even +Leo's practised eye could find no signs of it over the stones. + +"I think it would be better to go back to the road," said Leo, after +vainly searching about. + +"Then we must retrace our steps, for we cannot turn to the left, where +it lies, because of that deep chasm." + +"Better go all the way back than lose our time and our way, as the +landlord warned us we should among these stones." + +"We have come a quarter of a mile at least, and as we have been +always ascending we must be half-way up. I cannot see how we can go +wrong,--there is the castle always before us to point the way. The +nearest way is the best. Let us scramble directly up over these stones, +and we must reach the castle." + +Leo was not convinced, but he yielded and followed Paul, who began to +clamber sturdily over the stones. + +It was a wearisome ascent. At first the stones were small, often +slipping and turning beneath the feet; but gradually they grew larger, +until they became huge blocks, between which it was often very +difficult to find a way. + +It was no longer a stony waste which they were trying to traverse, but +a chaos of immense masses of rock piled one upon another. There was not +the slightest trace of a path; and Delmar, who went first, had to turn +to the right and left continually to advance a single step upwards. +"Leo," he said at last, stopping to wipe his heated brow, "I see now +that you were right, and that I am an ass,--a discovery, by the way, +which I have made frequently during my life. This climbing is the very +devil!" + +"If it only led somewhere!" Leo replied; "but I am afraid we are among +the rocks against which our host warned us. I cannot see the castle any +longer." + +In fact the castle had vanished. In vain did Paul look in all +directions for its massive proportions. He had forgotten to keep it in +view lately, absorbed as he had been in the difficulties that beset +their progress, and now he noticed for the first time that it was +nowhere to be seen. + +In the direction in which Delmar had thought to find it there arose +perpendicularly from among the chaos of rough blocks of stone, a smooth +wall of rock. It might be that the castle was upon its summit, but they +were too near to it to decide this question. + +"We're in a deuce of a scrape!" Delmar exclaimed in irritation. "We are +positively lost. I can see no way forwards or backwards. The enchanted +castle has vanished, and I have no idea where it is. I believe the evil +fairy Hilda has conjured it away." + +A clear, merry laugh answered this outburst of irritation. Leo and Paul +looked startled in the direction whence it proceeded; but in vain: no +human being was to be seen. So melodious a peal of laughter could have +come only from the throat of a young girl, and she must be hidden by +some one of the giant masses of rock that barred both way and vision on +every side. + +Paul thought he knew exactly whence the sound came. His curiosity was +strongly excited, and without reflecting he left the spot where he was +standing with Leo and began forthwith to climb a huge rock upon his +right, from the top of which he hoped to have a more extended view. It +was a difficult undertaking, and not without peril; but Paul's frame +was lithe and his muscles steeled by constant gymnastic exercise. He +succeeded in gaining the summit, and the result amply rewarded his +exertions; for not only could he see far and wide over the chaos of +rocks, but he found himself face to face with the girl whose gleeful +laughter had just resounded in his ears,--she was sitting on this very +rock, a little beneath the summit, on the other side. As she looked up +at the young man there was evident in her eyes an admiration of his +strength and agility which did not escape him and which flattered his +vanity. + +"Excellently done. Cousin Leo!" she said, laughing. "You have atoned +for your blunder in losing your way among the Reifenstein rocks by your +agility in climbing them." + +Paul was startled by the frank, fearless tone of this address. 'Cousin +Leo!' Hilda von Heydeck then was sitting at his feet, and she took him +for the expected cousin whom she thus familiarly accosted. Even had she +not spoken he would have recognized her, remembering the postmaster's +description, by the masses of golden curls beneath her picturesque +straw hat, only she was far more charming and lovely than he had +anticipated. He had smiled when Hansel, in his enthusiasm, had compared +Hilda to an angel; now he thought the comparison admirable. There was a +rare and wondrous charm in the expression that animated the young +girl's lovely features; and nevertheless the merry, unrestrained +laughter became her well, and did not disturb the truly feminine grace +of her whole bearing. + +For the first moment Paul was so surprised by the girl's extraordinary +beauty that he, usually so ready with an answer, could not find a word +to say in reply. His amazement, so evident in his face, increased +Hilda's merriment. She sprang up lightly from where she was sitting and +made a profound courtesy, saying, "I see I must introduce myself, or my +cousin Leo will not deign to say one word to me. Fraeulein Hilda von +Heydeck has the honour to receive her cousin among the Reifenstein +rocks. In her own distinguished person she has descended from the +enchanted castle to guide her bewildered cousin into the right path. +And now give me your hand, Leo; we shall soon be the best of friends, +if you are only half as delightful as papa says you are." + +She held out her hand to Paul, who took it and kissed it, whereupon she +withdrew it hastily, saying, with a blush, "That is not the custom with +us, cousin!" + +"In Germany a man has a right to kiss his lovely cousin's cheek," Paul +replied, having quickly recovered from his first surprise; "but I dare +not lay claim to such a privilege, since I am not the happy man you +think me, but only his poor friend, Paul Delmar." + +Hilda blushed crimson. "You are not my cousin Leo?" she asked, in great +confusion. + +"No, unfortunately not; I wish I were. My friend Leo is down below +somewhere trying to find a path out of this rocky labyrinth. Leo! Leo! +where are you?" + +"Here!" Leo's voice replied, from a considerable distance. He had +mistaken the direction whence the sound of Hilda's laugh was heard, and +had consequently plunged more deeply into the bewildering labyrinth. +Paul's repeated call told him where his friend was to be found; he +scrambled over several rocks and finally reached the foot of the huge +mass upon which Paul and Hilda were standing. + +"Most fortunate of mortals!" Delmar called down to him, "come up here. +I will give you a hand, that you may display all the grace you are +master of in ascending. Here you will find the lovely fairy who reigns +in the enchanted Castle Reifenstein, and who has descended to aid us +miserable mortals." + +With no less astonishment than Delmar had experienced Leo now looked up +at Hilda, who was standing beside his friend; he, too, recognized her +from the postmaster's description, and he, too, thought her extremely +beautiful. Still her beauty made no extraordinary impression upon him; +he thought the worthy innkeeper's enthusiastic comparison of her to an +angel rather exaggerated; nevertheless he was most pleasantly surprised +by this encounter with his cousin. + +Before Paul could hold out a hand to help her she sprang lightly down +from rock to rock until she stood beside Leo, to whom she held out her +hand with the same easy grace with which she had offered it to his +friend. This time, however, although it was grasped cordially, it was +not kissed, and was instantly relinquished. + +Leo had anticipated with a certain anxiety his first meeting with the +cousin whose hand had been destined by the will of her father and of +his own to be bestowed upon him. He now stood face to face with the +destined bride whom he had made up his mind never to marry, without any +of the embarrassment he had expected to feel when he should first see +her. No; any uncomfortable sensation of the kind was entirely dispelled +by Hilda's easy frank reception of him as a near relative. She +evidently saw in him, not a future lover, but simply her cousin Leo, to +whom she was ready and pleased to show all the familiar kindness +warranted by their close relationship, and he was instantly as much at +his ease with her as if they had known each other for years. + +"It is a very extraordinary but none the less delightful chance. Cousin +Hilda, that led you here to us in the midst of this rocky waste, where, +of all places in the world, I least expected to meet you." + +"It is no chance," she replied, looking with a smile at Delmar, who had +just made his descent from the rock. "Papa and I have been expecting +you for some days; a letter from your father told us that you and one +of your friends were coming to the Tyrol. When a little while ago I saw +from my window two strangers coming up to the castle, I instantly +divined that you were one of them, and when I saw you go astray among +the Reifenstein rocks I made haste to join you to show you the path, +which it is impossible that any stranger should find. I had just +climbed this rock to see where you were when I heard voices close by. I +sat down instantly I confess to play the part of eavesdropper, and when +I heard that the 'evil fairy Hilda' had 'conjured away' the castle I +could not help laughing aloud." + +As she spoke Hilda gave Paul an arch smile. "To be sure, the 'evil +fairy' afterwards became a 'lovely fairy,' but she will always remember +the first adjective bestowed upon her." + +"Be merciful to a poor sinner," Paul begged, "and do not reckon against +him words wrung from his despair in finding himself lost in such a +labyrinth." + +"We shall see hereafter whether I can exercise mercy for justice; first +of all I must guide these two erring wanderers up the mountain and into +the foot-path." + +"Did you not come down from the castle by some other way, Fraeulein +Hilda?" Delmar asked. + +"I did, it is true, come by another and a much shorter way," Hilda +replied; "but it is fit only for the feet of the evil mountain-fairy of +an enchanted castle, and not for two fashionable men from the city; I +cannot show you that way." + +"Do you suppose that a path you can use will be too difficult for us? +You show very little confidence in our powers. Pray show us the nearest +path." + +"I will do so in punishment for your presumption, but upon one +condition. Promise me that the instant you are dizzy you will say so, +that we may turn back; the path lies along the very brink of an abyss." + +"I promise; but I shall not have to redeem my word." + +"Will you promise too, Cousin Leo?" + +"Yes; but you need have no fear, neither Delmar nor I know what it is +to have vertigo." + +"Then follow me." + +Hilda walked on before. In perfect security, and with an airy grace +that enchanted Delmar, she sprang from stone to stone, and in a few +minutes they had reached the base of the wall of rock, which here +ascended nearly perpendicularly several hundred feet. Here she paused. +"There is still time to turn back," she said, seriously, "and I beg +you, Herr Delmar, and you, Cousin Leo, to do so; I ought not to show +you the path up the rock, an accident might so easily happen for which +I never should forgive myself." + +"You shall have no cause for self-reproach," Paul replied, "for I see +the path clearly now. You do not show it to me, I choose it myself. It +leads up the rock just here; it has been worn by the goats, and is just +what I like,--perfectly easy to follow." + +The path was certainly plain to be seen by any one who chose to follow +it. It was scarcely a foot broad, and went directly up the side of the +mountain; on one hand was the perpendicular wall of rock, and on the +other the abyss, and the higher it went the steeper and dizzier the +path became. + +Paul had taken in at a glance the difficulty and danger of the ascent; +but he did not hesitate a moment to begin it, nor would he have done so +had the path been twice as steep and giddy as it was. + +"Herr Delmar, I pray you turn back!" Hilda exclaimed, anxiously; but he +continued to advance fearlessly. + +"Let us follow him, cousin," Leo said, with a smile. "Make your mind +easy about Paul; he will carry through whatever he attempts; no power +on earth can stay him. I am convinced that he would take that path even +although he knew that he should fall into the abyss. But he will not +fall; he has no fear, and he is never dizzy." + +"And you, Cousin Leo?" + +"I? Why should I fear? Only those who love life fear to lose it." + +"What can you mean, cousin?" There was a genuine compassion and ready +sympathy in her words that soothed Leo. Hilda looked at him very +reproachfully. Did she know that her father had destined her to be his +bride, and was she wounded that he could speak thus? + +"Well, Leo, are you going to stay down there?" asked Paul, who had +already ascended about fifty feet of the path, and who now turned and +looked down at the two cousins. As he looked he leaned forwards so far +over the abyss that Hilda experienced a sudden vertigo. Hitherto she +had never known the sensation even when looking from the dizziest +heights; but when she saw how carelessly Delmar leaned forwards so far +that it seemed as if he must fall, she fairly trembled. "For God's +sake, Herr Delmar, turn away!" she exclaimed. + +"Have no fear, lovely fairy!" was the reply. "'Tis true that a magic +power draws me towards you, but I will not choose the direct way to +reach you at present. Indeed, you have calumniated this path,--it is as +easy as possible, and commands a glorious view. Well, Leo, are you not +coming? Do you not like it?" + +"I am coming," Leo cried, and quietly walked on after his friend. + +Hilda followed him up the height. How often she had ascended the rock +by this path! how often, when, only the hardiest mountaineer could +follow her, had she descended by it into the valley, and never before +to day had she thought of its danger! Now she was fairly tormented by +anxiety. + +Not upon Leo's account; he walked on before her with as firm and even a +step as if he had been upon level ground. He, however, neglected no +necessary precaution, testing the firmness of the stony soil, as Hilda +saw, at every step; for him the path had no danger, but it was full of +peril for Delmar, who seemed to challenge it in the wildest fashion. + +Where the path was so narrow that there was almost none at all, and the +greatest caution was necessary at every step, Delmar walked as +carelessly as if he were upon a broad road, and at the very most +perilous point he stopped, coolly relighted his cigar, and then walked +on, not even looking down to pick his way, but with his gaze riveted +upon the distant view. + +Hilda's heart throbbed as she observed his careless demeanour; she had +warned him, but she did not venture to call to him again. The ascent of +the rocks had never seemed to her half so long, and only when she saw +that Paul had reached in safety the small but secure strip of +meadowland that intervened between the old castle-wall and the edge of +the precipice, did she once more breathe freely and with an easy mind +follow Leo, with whom she soon joined his friend. + +Paul received her with a laugh. "Thanks, charming fairy," he said, +again advancing to the edge of the precipice and leaning forwards so as +to overlook the entire path up the rock; "thanks for the greatest +enjoyment I have had in our mountain tour. I delight in a path like +this; it is inspiriting to climb the rocks by it. One false step is +certain death. Life is the meed only of strength and sureness of foot. +Let fear once assail the climber, vertigo is sure to follow and he is +lost; but for a steady brain and strong muscles there is no danger; and +what a glorious prospect we have had over the fertile valleys to the +snowy peaks that bound the horizon on the south! If I lived at Castle +Reifenstein I should choose no other path save this by which to reach +the valley, and I am sure that you also. Leo, will visit us in Tausens +by no other." + +"You are much mistaken," Leo quietly replied. "I have come once by this +path, and I shall not again pass over it, least of all in descending to +the valley. I shall take the safer footpath or the road, even although +it be somewhat longer." + +"How can an artist be so terrible a Philistine!" Paul exclaimed, +indignantly. + +"If not to run into unnecessary peril is to be a Philistine, I +certainly am one. You will admit, I know, that I am not backward in +facing danger when any good end is to be gained thereby." + +"I should be the last to dispute that. Do I not know that you, my +unattainable model and example, are all compact of the strongest and +loftiest principles? Do I even try to emulate you? I should be the most +tiresome fellow in the world if but the half of your virtues were mine, +although I confess that they suit you remarkably well; so keep them +all, I pray. Trust one who knows, lovely fairy; your excellent cousin +is the embodiment of pure principles and strong good sense; he has only +one fault: he chooses his friends very foolishly." + +"Are you not one of them?" asked Hilda. + +"Exactly; that is just it. His reputation suffers from my friendship. I +am principled against principle. My aim in life is to do what I like. I +am a thorough egotist, who has no idol but self. Now is such a man a +fit companion for Leo von Heydeck? He should blush to own such a +friend, by whom he may be judged by others. But here we are safely +arrived at the castle, and I will take my leave. I must bid you +farewell, Fraeulein von Heydeck, only asking permission to return and +visit my friend Leo at Castle Reifenstein." + +They had, in fact, reached the garden, which lay on the eastern +declivity of the mountain, and before them was the colossal old pile. + +"You are not going to leave us, Herr Delmar?" Hilda asked, in surprise. +"You cannot be in earnest. Rooms were arranged for you and Leo two days +ago. Of course you will stay at Castle Reifenstein with my cousin?" + +"A most kind and amiable invitation, and so tempting from such lovely +lips that I should not perhaps be able to refuse it had I not promised +to return immediately to Tausens. As, unfortunately, I have so +promised, there is nothing for me to do except to thank you most +sincerely for the hospitality, which, to my regret, I cannot accept." + +"To whom can you possibly have made such a promise?" + +"To a third friend, the noble knight Kuno von Herwarth, who, but for a +slight accident upon the way, would have accompanied us to the castle. +I promised him that I would return to him as soon as possible, and hard +as it is, I must keep my word." + +"Paul is right," Leo added. "Kuno expects him, and I know that his +peculiar egotism would make all persuasion to stay useless. His +selfishness will not permit him to allow Herwarth to wait for him +longer than is absolutely necessary." + +"Not at all; you have no comprehension of good sensible selfishness. I +don't trouble myself about Herwarth one whit; but it gives me an +uncomfortable sensation to know that he is lying down below there upon +the grass, looking up at the castle, pulling out his watch every few +minutes, and thinking I might have returned long since. And so for my +own sake--what is Herwarth to me?--I shall hurry back to him." + +"Exactly; that is the very kind of egotism in which you excel +particularly." + +"If you suppose your sneer will have any effect in detaining me, you +are mistaken. It only confirms my purpose. The delightful goat's track +will take me to our unfortunate friend in half an hour." + +Hilda's heart beat afresh as she heard Delmar announce this intention; +she knew how much more dangerous was the descent than the ascent of the +steep path. True, she had fearlessly tripped up and down by it many a +time; but then she knew every stone, every dangerous spot, and was, +besides, accustomed to mountain-climbing. The peril was twice as great +for a stranger, and she trembled at the thought that if his foot should +slip he was lost. She had known Delmar but one half-hour; but his odd +talk and manner interested her much, and he was her cousin's friend. +Surely she might treat him with some degree of familiarity. So when +Paul lifted his hat by way of farewell, she held out her hand to him +with a slight blush at the remembrance of the kiss bestowed upon it +half an hour before. The blush made her look lovelier than ever, and +Paul absolutely lost his heart as he slightly pressed the little hand +thus graciously offered. + +"I cannot ask you to break your promise to your friend, Herr Delmar," +the girl said, not without a shade of embarrassment. "I can only hope +that both you and my cousin Leo's other friend will consent to be my +father's guests at Castle Reifenstein. This I trust my cousin will +arrange with you and your friend to-morrow morning. In the mean time I +have a request to make of you. Perhaps your selfishness will allow you +to grant it." + +"Oh, my selfishness is a very convenient selfishness; of course it +allows me to do whatever gives me pleasure, and nothing, I am sure, +could give me greater pleasure than to fulfil any request of yours, +Fraeulein von Heydeck." + +"It is certainly a most courteous selfishness," Hilda said, with such a +bewitchingly merry glance that Paul registered a silent vow upon the +spot to bring her the moon from the skies if she asked for it. + +"Only tell me what you desire, Fraeulein von Heydeck," he exclaimed, +"and I will make impossibilities easy!" + +"I am not quite so exacting," Hilda replied. "My desire can be easily +complied with: it is only that you should return to Tausens by the +usual way. Since you are such an admirable mountaineer, I will allow +you to take the common foot-path, and show you myself where it is; you +cannot miss your way by it in descending the mountain. Will you do as I +ask, Herr Delmar?" + +"Ah, here I recognize the lovely but evil fairy who has already cast +her spells upon me! Nevertheless, a promise is a promise, and must be +kept." + +Hilda thanked him merrily, especially for the title of "evil fairy," +and declared herself quite ready to act as his guide to the foot-path +down the mountain, the shortest way to which was through the garden and +court-yard of the castle. She went first, Leo and Paul following. + +Paul could see nothing but his lovely guide; he had no eyes for the +beauty of the garden through which they were passing, and he scarcely +noticed that as they entered a shady walk an old gentleman appeared +walking towards them. Only when Hilda paused and, addressing the old +man, cried joyously, "Papa! here is Cousin Leo with his friend!" did he +turn to scrutinize with a certain curiosity the man of whom he had +heard so much. + +The old gentleman was evidently not prepared for the encounter: he had +a book in his hand, and was walking in the garden, reading; apparently +he never would have noticed the strangers if Hilda's exclamation had +not called his attention to them. + +When he heard the name of Leo a smile passed over his withered face, +but it vanished in an instant as, with an expression of positive +horror, his eyes opened to their utmost extent, he gazed at Paul, who +approached and, lifting his hat, bowed courteously. + +This was an extraordinary reception. For a minute the old man seemed +incapable of speech; he gazed silently at Delmar, whom he waved off +with his hand, retreating a step at his approach. He never even looked +at Leo: Paul absorbed his entire attention. + +"Oh, papa, what is the matter?" Hilda asked, in surprise. + +But her father did not seem to hear her; the longer he looked at Paul +the more intense was the expression of terror upon his face and in his +eyes; several seconds passed before he could so far control himself as +to stammer in broken words, "What do you want of me?--How did you come +here?--Who are you?" + +Delmar had, it is true, cherished no expectation of any particularly +kind or courteous reception at the hands of "uncle monster," and the +picture formed of him in his imagination had not been very flattering, +but what he now saw and heard transcended his expectations: he had not +believed in such a monster as this. + +Herr von Heydeck, once tall and handsome, was now a sickly, emaciated +old man, his tall figure was bent, his withered features showed no +trace of their former beauty, and were entirely wanting in the +expression of dignified repose which makes an aged face attractive. The +working of the lips, the protruding light-gray eyes the uncertain +glance of which always avoided your own, made the spare wrinkled +countenance positively ugly. + +Paul experienced actual repulsion at first sight of this old man, and +the sensation was heightened by the strange broken questions addressed +to him. + +It was not Delmar's habit to show much consideration towards those whom +he disliked, and a sharp reply to the inhospitable queries was upon his +lips, when his glance fell upon Hilda; he saw in her face the terror +and surprise which her father's reception of him was causing her. Could +he wound her? However ugly and unpleasant this old man might be, he was +nevertheless the father of the lovely fairy, and Leo's uncle. In +consideration of this he suppressed the angry retort upon his lips and +replied quietly, "My name is Delmar; I am a friend of your nephew Leo, +whom I have accompanied upon his journey to the Tyrol. I do not know +what further particulars I can give you with regard to myself at +present, Herr von Heydeck." + +The old man did not hear his last words, the name alone riveted his +attention. "Delmar! Paul Delmar!" he muttered to himself "I knew it +must be he! What do you want of me?" he continued, aloud. "I must know +what you want. Do not imagine that I am afraid of you! It was only the +first shock of surprise; but I am not in the least afraid of you, not +in the least. Speak! what do you want of me?" + +Paul listened with increasing astonishment to these unconnected, +unmeaning words. Had the old man a sudden attack of insanity? It must +be so, else how could he thus receive his nephew's friend? Such a +reception was utterly inexplicable, and least of all could Paul +conceive how Herr von Heydeck had got hold of the name Paul, which he +had muttered to himself. He did not trouble himself, however, to ponder +this, but, seeing Hilda's distress, resolved to cut short so +disagreeable a scene. + +"I want nothing of you, Herr von Heydeck," he replied, courteously; "on +the contrary, I bring you something in the person of your nephew +Leo,--my dearest friend. And now I must beg your permission to leave +you, as I must immediately return to Tausens to a friend who awaits me +there." + +This quiet reply had the effect of partially allaying the horror that +had filled the old man's mind, and with a degree of self-control he +recovered the consciousness which had nearly forsaken him. He still +regarded Paul with a strange, scrutinizing look, without venturing to +meet his eye. But his composure returned by degrees; his glance fell +upon Leo, and remembering Hilda's words and Delmar's explanation, he +was conscious that he had been guilty of discourtesy and had not yet +spoken to his nephew. "Welcome, Leo!" he said, offering him his hand. +"Yes, I should know you anywhere, you look so like your father, my +Hans. Welcome to Castle Reifenstein. And you, sir, are Leo's friend? +Yes, I remember my brother's letter mentioned that Leo was coming to +the Tyrol with a friend. You, then, are Leo's friend? Herr Delmar? Herr +Delmar? Is that your name?" + +"It is; my name is Paul Delmar." + +"Paul Delmar; exactly, I knew it; and it is only as Leo's friend that +you come here? you have no further intentions?" + +"What further intentions could I possibly have?" + +"Of course, of course! What further intentions could you have? Forgive +me for my strange reception of you: my mind sometimes wanders; you must +not take it ill of a feeble old man. I hope, Hilda, that you have the +rooms ready for Leo, and Herr Delmar, Leo's friend?" + +"Certainly, papa; they were all ready two days ago; but Herr Delmar +refuses to stay with us, and says he must return to the Post at +Tausens." + +"Indeed? I am very sorry." + +The 'very sorry' did not sound genuine. The old man's mind was +evidently relieved when he heard that Paul had declined to be his guest +at the castle. Apparently the coldness of his expression of regret +struck him also, for he hastened to atone for it by a request that Paul +would reconsider the refusal. But upon receiving Paul's courteous +excuse for not complying with this request, he forbore to urge it, and +when Delmar expressed his regret in being obliged to return immediately +to Tausens, he did not press him to remain, but gave him his hand in +token of farewell, and expressed, although with some hesitation, a hope +that he would frequently visit his friend Leo at the castle. + +Hilda fulfilled her promise; she accompanied Paul through the garden, +the castle court-yard, and the large gateway, across the bridge to the +foot-path, which, lying to the left of the road, passed down the +mountain at some distance from the steep rocky side. She walked beside +Delmar in silence; her father's strange conduct had filled her with +vague anxiety. She felt that there must be some relation which she did +not understand existing between him and Herr Delmar, and she vainly +wondered what it could be. She knew that her father was misanthropic +and inhospitable, but with regard to Leo and his friend he had not been +in the least so until a few moments previously, but had given express +orders that everything should be done to make the young men's stay at +Castle Reifenstein agreeable to them. + +What reason could he have for such terror at sight of a stranger, and +for receiving him so disagreeably? She longed to say some word to +Delmar in excuse: she was afraid that he was offended; but what could +she say? In vain she tried to find words suitable to the occasion, and +while she was trying they had crossed the bridge, and she had +accompanied the young man as far as was fitting, and not one word had +she uttered. + +Paul, too, who was not often at a loss for words, had been vainly +searching for something to say during their short walk; and thus both +went on together in silence until Hilda held out her hand to him by way +of farewell, when he asked, "Has the lovely fairy no word for me that I +may take as a permission to return?" + +Hilda blushed. Why should the words 'lovely fairy' move her strangely +at this moment? She had heard them and laughed at them repeatedly in +the last hour, but now she could not laugh,--she was confused,--for the +tone of Delmar's voice was far more serious than before. She did not +reply directly, but asked in her turn, "Oh, Herr Delmar, what will you +think of us? I do not know what papa had in his mind, but I am sure he +did not mean to offend you. I beg you not to be angry with us!" + +"How could I be angry? Your father was under some mistake with regard +to me. What puzzles me is how he should have known that my name is +Paul. Perhaps Colonel von Heydeck mentioned it in his letter." + +"No; he wrote only a few words to say that my cousin Leo had gone to +the Tyrol accompanied by a friend, whose name he did not mention, and +that in a few days he would arrive at Castle Reifenstein." + +"And yet your father knew my first name, Paul, although I only told him +of my family name." + +"I cannot understand it!" Hilda said, dejectedly. + +"A riddle indeed. But time will surely bring its solution, and of one +thing I am sure: that I have never given your father any reason to be +angry with me." + +"Most certainly not; and I entreat you not to be vexed with papa for +his unkind reception; the next time you come he will be kinder." + +"May I come again? Will you allow me?" + +"Assuredly; Cousin Leo will be delighted to see you often at the +castle." + +"And the lovely fairy?" + +"Will never be an evil fairy for you. Adieu, and come soon." + +She nodded smiling, and hurried back to the castle much lighter of +heart than she had been a few minutes before. + +While Hilda was acting as guide to his friend, Leo had remained in the +castle garden with his uncle. The strange scene of which he had been a +witness had made a disagreeable impression upon him also. While it +lasted he had observed his uncle narrowly, the profound horror he had +testified at sight of Delmar, a horror increased by hearing his name, +and the effort it had cost him to regain his composure. At last the +morbid interest with which the old man watched Paul while he was +present, and with which he followed his retreating figure until it +disappeared behind the wall of the courtyard, vanished. For the first +time Herr von Heydeck seemed to breathe freely, although his mind was +apparently still occupied with Paul alone; he did not turn to welcome +the nephew who had come upon his pressing invitation to visit him from +distant Germany; he did not ask after the brother whom he had not seen +for thirty years; his first words were of Paul. + +"This Herr Paul Delmar is your friend?" he asked Leo, with a keen, +suspicious glance. + +"My dearest friend from my childhood." + +"Ah? from your childhood? You have known him, then, a long while?" + +"We were playmates and schoolfellows; we grew up together. He is a few +years older than I, but the slight difference in our ages never +interfered with our friendship." + +Again the old man shot a sharp glance of suspicion at his nephew; but +seeing that Leo met his gaze freely and frankly, he shyly averted his +eyes. Lost in thought, he walked silently by Leo's side, forgetting +that the duties of hospitality demanded that he should conduct his +nephew to the castle; he was lost to the present and buried in +recollection of a time long past. Tormenting memories which he had long +laboured to forget, but which would not be forgotten, arose within him +more distinctly and more tormentingly than ever: they filled his mind; +his nephew was forgotten. + +Leo did not disturb his uncle's revery, and was very glad not to be +expected to converse. He watched keenly the varying expression in the +features of the old man, who was all unconscious that a scrutinizing +eye was endeavouring to read his very soul. He would else have put a +force upon himself; his hand would not have been clenched, nor would so +gloomy a frown have appeared upon his brow. And certainly he would have +controlled the angry twitching of the thin lips that gave so hateful an +expression to the wrinkled face. + +What was going on in this man's soul? Leo asked himself. He no longer +inclined, as he had hitherto, to excuse his uncle's faults, to think +more kindly of him than his knowledge of the past would warrant. +Although he could not divine the mystery that enveloped the old man's +reception of Paul, although he had no conception of what cause his +uncle had to hate Delmar, Leo nevertheless felt that he did hate him +with a fierce hatred that he strove in vain to conceal. The ugly face +was animated by an expression of such savage malice, that Leo could no +longer be in doubt as to the character of this his nearest relative. +The man had no heart; he could not love: he could only hate,--hate with +all his soul! + +But no; Leo was wrong! Suddenly there flitted over the sullen, wrinkled +face a smile like a ray of sunshine,--a gentle, loving smile that +transfigured it. Leo, startled by such a contradiction to his thoughts, +looked up to see what had caused such a transformation. The cause was +plain: Hilda was coming quickly towards them. + +"But, dearest papa," she called out from some distance, "why are you +and Leo still in the garden? I could not believe you were here when old +Melcher told me. Cousin Leo must be hungry and tired, and you keep him +walking in the garden!" + +Herr von Heydeck passed his hand across his forehead as if to smooth +away the ugly frown, and really he almost succeeded in doing so. He +could hardly look kind, but he looked far less sullen and angry, as he +said, in a tone meant to be amiable and gay, "Forgive me, Leo; the +child reminds me of my duty; I was wrong not to take you into the +castle to your room. I am a feeble old man and very forgetful. I have +so much sometimes to confuse me, you must not take it amiss if I have +sinned against hospitality; my Hilda will atone for my omissions." + +And Hilda did so; with graceful cordiality she conducted Leo into the +castle and to the rooms that had been prepared for himself and his +friend, her charming face lit up by a happy smile as she saw his +pleased surprise. + +Leo was indeed no less surprised than pleased at sight of the bright, +cheerful room they reached after traversing various rooms and a long +dark corridor, and of the glorious view, through open windows, of the +wooded Schwarzenbach valley and its magnificent background of glaciers. + +A careful, feminine hand had evidently been busy here in providing +every luxury that could make the expected guest comfortable. Leo was +most touched, however, at seeing a new easel set up by one of the +windows, and beside it, leaning against the wall, a couple of canvases +ready stretched. + +"Ah, how kind!" he exclaimed. "A northern room with a glorious +view,--an easel and canvases all ready! I am indeed surprised. How +could you know of my love of painting, my dear Hilda?" + +"I know you better than you think, Leo," Hilda replied, gayly. "I have +long known that you were an artist, and I look forward with delight to +overlooking your work. I draw a little, and you must give me some +lessons; my father has told me all about you. Although he shuns all +personal contact with strangers, he is in constant correspondence with +the principal naturalists in all the larger European cities. He has +long made use of his extensive acquaintance among scientific men in +K---- to procure tidings of you and of Uncle Hans. In every letter he +sent there he asked about you both, and nothing pleased him so much as +to receive good news of his only brother and of his nephew. His friends +faithfully replied to him, and thus he has followed your career, even +all through the war; and when I came home from school to live here in +this lonely castle with him, he told me everything that he knew of his +dear relatives. Now you understand how I know that you are not only a +brave officer, but an excellent artist." + +"I am no longer an officer, and I only wish I were an artist," Leo +rejoined. + +"You are no longer an officer?" Hilda asked, in surprise. "We had not +heard of that." + +"Very naturally; I only sent in my resignation a few days ago. My +reasons for doing so I will shortly give to yourself and your father. I +hope he will find them sufficient." + +Hilda gave a little nod of assent. She had no doubt that his reasons +for resigning were good, and it never entered her head to imagine that +he had been forced into it by any fault of his own. Desirous as she +naturally was to know what had induced him to quit a career in which, +as her father had informed her, a brilliant future awaited him, her +sense of delicacy prevented her from all further question. + +Once more she cast a glance around the room to see that nothing was +wanting, and then took her leave, begging Leo to establish himself +thoroughly in his new home, and assuring him that his luggage would +arrive from Tausens in less than an hour, since she would instantly +despatch a messenger for it. After which, she added, she would await +him in the garden, where the table would be spread in the large +summer-house, and whither she begged he would come to partake of some +refreshment. + +Leo was now left alone to occupy himself with a careful examination of +the apartment which was for some time to be his. Everywhere he observed +proofs of kindly loving care. By one window stood a writing-table, +provided with everything that he could require in that line. A +paint-box filled with water-colors and pencils and brushes of all sizes +lay open upon it, and two vases of mountain-flowers adorned a shelf in +the corner of the room. + +In a bookcase he found a fine collection of German authors, and the +preponderance of historical works showed that Hilda and his uncle had +been aware of his preference for the study of history. + +This regard for his peculiar inclinations, this evident desire to make +his stay in Castle Reifenstein pleasant to him, awakened in Leo a +feeling of remorse. He remembered how unwillingly he had complied with +his father's imperious desire that he should visit these relatives who +received him with such affection. How charming had been the kindly +familiarity of Hilda's manner to him! How evident her desire, by her +care for his comfort, that he should feel at home beneath her father's +roof! + +But this father! Leo had never met a human being who had impressed him +so disagreeably at first sight; and yet had not this very uncle given +convincing proof of his friendly interest in his nephew? Would Hilda +ever have been able so to minister to her cousin's tastes and +inclinations if her father had not first taken the trouble to ascertain +what those tastes and inclinations were? Leo reflected that, +disagreeably impressed though he were by his uncle's conduct, the +strange harshness of his first words had borne reference to Paul, and +not to his nephew. What cause the old man could have to hate Delmar Leo +could not guess, but it was none the less certain that, in the sudden +terror caused by Paul's appearance, he had given vent to his hatred in +those first few broken words. The coldness of his uncle's reception of +himself was due entirely to his hatred of Paul, and Leo had no right to +be aggrieved by it,--he had reason to be grateful to the old man for +the kindness shown in the provisions made for his comfort. + +True to the principle which forbade his yielding undue influence to +first impressions, Leo was no sooner convinced that he had no cause for +resentment towards his uncle than he exerted himself to conquer all +feeling of repulsion for the old man, or rather to transform any such +feeling into gratitude for the kindness shown him. Although he could +not comply with his wishes in regard to a union between Hilda and +himself, he could at least do his part towards establishing friendly +relations between his nearest of kin and himself, and pave the way for +his father to be reconciled to his only brother. + +Filled with this resolve as the result of his short season of +reflection, Leo went into the comfortable sleeping-room adjoining his +sitting-room to remove from his dress all traces of his dusty walk +among the Reifenstein rocks. After which he set out to join his cousin +and uncle in the garden, in compliance with Hilda's invitation. + +The way thither, however, after he had left his rooms, was not so easy +to find. He remembered passing through numerous apartments, decorated +partly in mediaeval style and partly according to modern ideas, but how +many he had seen of these, or in what direction he had come after +reaching a large central room into which numerous doors opened, he +could not say. He trusted to his luck, however, and from this central +apartment, which he easily reached, he entered a small room, which he +thought he remembered. The beautiful old wainscoting on the walls had +struck his artistic eye, and he now paused to examine it more +leisurely. The work must have dated from the end of the fourteenth or +the beginning of the fifteenth century, and the carving had evidently +been executed by a master's hand. Around the wall, directly under the +ceiling, ran a long inscription cut into the wood-work. Leo tried to +decipher it, but it baffled him, and he determined to devote himself to +the task when he should be less hurried; at present he would not keep +his cousin waiting for him. + +He wandered through a long range of rooms. In each he found interesting +and extremely valuable relics of mediaeval splendour, and many precious +works of art, upon each of which he would have gladly bestowed +attention had he had the time. One room in especial interested him +greatly: it was Herr von Heydeck's study; a large, gloomy apartment, +into which the narrow windows admitted so little light that a dim +twilight reigned in its remote corners although the sun outside was +shining brightly. Its rays could not penetrate the thick octagonal +panes of glass, set in leaden frames, which had apparently not been +cleaned for years and were hardly transparent any longer. All the walls +were covered with wide shelves filled partly with old books, partly +with boxes and bundles of papers, and partly with bottles; these +bottles, containing all sorts of snakes, lizards, and fish, preserved +in spirits, might well have inspired the uninitiated with disgust. + +Close by a window, in a deep embrasure of the wall, stood Herr von +Heydeck's writing-table. It was half covered with open books, +and a microscope placed just against the window and several +magnifying-glasses bore witness to the industry of their possessor. + +Leo would have greatly enjoyed a thorough examination of the various +objects of interest that made this old room the very ideal of the +magician's den of an enchanted castle, but he preferred to do so in his +uncle's society, and at present what he most desired was to find the +way to the court-yard. He opened a door in this room, and discovered a +dark, steep winding staircase, which he descended, quite sure that it +would lead him into the open air; but when he reached the bottom he +found himself in a dim, deserted kitchen, only so far lighted by a +window high up in the wall as to enable him to distinguish where he +was. Opening an opposite door, he was disappointed to find, not another +room or hall of entrance from the court-yard, but a narrow, dim +passage, which evidently did not lead out to light and air. Probably +this was the way to the round tower of which the postmaster had had so +much to tell. + +Leo's curiosity was now excited. He could not withstand the temptation +to go on and have a look at the haunted tower, especially as he found +that the passage was only a few feet long in the thickness of the old +wall, and that a door at the other end was secured only by a large +bolt. This bolt, although as rusty as such old bolts are sure to be, he +managed to slip quite easily, with a noise that sounded ghostly enough +in the dim, low passage, and the door opened without any difficulty, +but his hopes of finding any interesting mediaeval relics here were +disappointed. He had entered a huge round room, evidently occupying the +entire basement of the tower, which must have served in former times +for the dwelling of the warder of the castle, although it had +apparently not been inhabited for many years. The room was lighted by +the old loop-holes, that had been glazed in modern times, and were high +up near the ceiling of the apartment. + +Several old pieces of furniture, a dilapidated table, and a child's +crib, in which there were still some dirty pieces of bedding, were +standing in disorder about the room. The thick coating of dust that lay +everywhere upon everything was evidence that for years no one had used +the apartment. + +Leo made haste to leave so uninteresting a spot; he closed the door +behind him, producing, as he bolted it again, the same unearthly creak +that had startled the echoes a moment previously, and soon found +himself once more in the spacious deserted kitchen. Here he now +discovered a second door unbolted, by which he entered a large room +with windows opening upon the court-yard. The coarse furniture and +arrangement of this room bore evidence to Leo's mind that it was +probably the abode of the old servant of whom the postmaster had made +mention in his narrative. He would have passed through it to reach the +court-yard by the opposite door, when this was suddenly opened from +without, and an old man appeared upon the threshold with features +inflamed with rage. He shouted out several words in utterly +unintelligible German, and then threw himself upon the young man, +clutching his throat with both hands with a strength and ferocity which +could never have been looked for from his age and appearance. As he did +so he uttered a shriek of rage that sounded more like the howl of a +wild beast than any sound from human lungs. + +For a moment Leo was confused by so unexpected an attack. He recoiled +as the man rushed upon him with the evident intention of throttling +him; but in the next instant he freed himself from the griping fingers +at his throat, and threw off his assailant, exclaiming, "Take care! +What do you mean?" words which received no reply save the same +unmeaning howl and a second attack on the part of the old man. This +time however Leo was prepared, and he repulsed his assailant with such +vigour that he staggered backwards and fell on the floor. + +Nothing daunted however, the furious creature was on his feet in +an instant, and looking wildly about him, found what he sought,--a +broad-bladed knife that lay upon the window-ledge. This he seized, and +with another cry, rushed once more upon the young man. + +It was a struggle for life. Hitherto Leo had only acted in +self-defence; he could no longer spare his assailant. He avoided his +savage thrust by stepping aside, and felled him to the floor with a +blow on the side of his head. He fell headlong and for a moment lost +his hold of the knife; it was but for a moment however: he had not lost +consciousness; and again he would have imperilled Leo's life, when, +"What is the matter here? Melcher, are you crazy?" was heard in a deep +voice, and Herr von Heydeck appeared at the open door. The old man's +hand, raised to strike, fell by his side, and the knife dropped from +his grasp. + +Left at liberty by his furious assailant, Leo could see what manner of +man he was. The vacant, animal expression of the old fellow's coarse +features placed it beyond all doubt that he had been attacked by a +maniac. Leo remembered now that when he heard the name 'Melcher' the +Tausens landlord had spoken of this son of old Stoffel's as a +'Troddel,' a name synonymous in the Tyrol with idiot. + +Yes, old Melcher was an idiot; the vacant face and the protruding, +watery blue eyes were idiotic; the sudden change in the countenance so +lately animated by bestial rage, and now smiling a dull, unmeaning +smile, was idiotic, and so also was the unintelligible, stammering +speech in which he replied to Herr von Heydeck. + +Was there any sense in what he said? Leo could not understand a single +word, but he saw Herr von Heydeck's face grow dark, and noticed that he +glanced anxiously towards the door of the old kitchen and then keenly +at his nephew. + +It was evident that his anger was roused by the old man's words; he +turned hastily to Leo with, "What are you prying about here for? Why +should you intrude here?" + +"I do not understand you, sir," Leo replied, haughtily. "What possible +motive could I have for 'prying'? Accident led me hither. I was seeking +some means of egress into the court-yard when this old maniac assaulted +me." + +"Accident? Melcher tells me he heard the bolt creak." + +"He did. I found a door in that deserted kitchen leading to the old +tower. Curiosity prompted me to penetrate its depths, as I would have +explored any other mediaeval dungeon. I had no idea you could be angry +about it or I should not have done so." + +Herr von Heydeck grew pale as he heard that Leo had penetrated to the +room in the tower. He paid no heed to his apology, the only thing that +interested him was the fact that Leo had seen this room. "And what did +you find there?" he asked in a trembling voice. + +"A wretched, uninteresting, deserted peasant-room, which you however +must know far better than I do, and I cannot conceive why my harmless +curiosity should have so vexed you." + +Leo's frank quiet explanation had its effect upon Herr von Heydeck; he +saw that he had been hasty with his nephew, and in a much more composed +manner "You are right," he said, "a wretched, uninteresting, deserted +peasant-room; Melcher used to sleep in that tower-room, but it was too +damp, and so it has not been used for years. There is nothing to see +there. There is indeed no reason for my being vexed, but I do not like +to have people ranging all over the castle, and I cannot see how you +came here, since your rooms are in the other wing." + +"I lost my way in the labyrinth of rooms as I was looking for the +stairs leading to the court-yard, and I found myself in your study, +whence I thought to descend into the court-yard by the winding +staircase, which however brought me to the old kitchen. Thence I +penetrated to the tower-room." + +"I see, I see. Any one not familiar with the castle will very likely +lose his way, but I advise you to be more careful in future. Melcher +will not suffer any man except myself in his quarters. He is an idiot, +but old as he is his muscles are iron; and if I had not chanced to come +into the courtyard to look after you, you might have had the worst of +it. It was fortunate that I came." + +"It was indeed, for the old man and for myself, for I should have been +sorry to do him an injury, and yet I might have been forced into it. +How, sir, can you allow so dangerous a maniac to go at large in the +castle?" + +"He is not dangerous; he is a harmless idiot. There is no need to mind +him, except when he is irritated and falls into a rage. Take no notice +of him, and be careful to avoid this part of the castle, and he will +not molest you. Look here, Melcher; this gentleman is my nephew; he +will not come here again; you must let him alone." + +With a vacant smile Melcher nodded to his master, and picked up and +laid aside the knife, uttering, as he did so, some unmeaning sounds +which were entirely unintelligible to Leo, but which Herr von Heydeck, +acquainted with the Tyrolean patois, and used to the old man's +indistinct utterance, seemed to understand, for he replied to them, +"That's right, Melcher; only lock the door, and I will see you again by +and by." + +Then turning to Leo his uncle continued: "The old fellow is afraid you +will intrude upon him again. Be careful not to do it, for it would +throw him into a rage in which he would be quite capable of murder." + +"I am not afraid of him," Leo quietly replied; "but I shall certainly +not provoke him intentionally." + +"Promise me that you will never try to open that door into the tower +again," Herr von Heydeck said to his nephew as they passed out into the +court-yard. + +"Certainly; your wish is quite sufficient." + +"Thank you. Then you will have nothing to fear from old Melcher. You +have had but a sorry reception in Castle Reifenstein, Leo, but I trust +you will forget it and yet feel yourself at home here. Now let us go +directly to Hilda, in the garden." + +Leo followed his uncle through the court-yard to the shady +summer-house, where Hilda was awaiting them at the head of a +delicately-spread table. She reproached her cousin laughingly for +spending so long a time over his toilette,--her father had grown so +impatient that he had gone in search of him. + +Leo's excuses gave his uncle a pretext for inquiring more closely into +the manner in which he had gone astray, and while Hilda poured out his +coffee, Leo described minutely the way he had taken upon leaving his +room. It appeared that instead of taking the door opening upon the +staircase from the large centre apartment he had left it by one leading +to the wing in which Herr von Heydeck had his study. This simple +explanation entirely banished the mistrust which had been evident in +his uncle's manner. The old man saw clearly that it had been with no +desire to pry, but from accident, that Leo had penetrated into the +hidden recesses of the castle. The frown on his brow disappeared, and +he became genial and cordial. + +Hilda listened eagerly to her cousin's account of his error; and when +he told of reaching the deserted tower-room by the narrow passage from +the old kitchen, she was greatly amazed. She had never even heard of +such a room; she had been no farther than into Melcher's kitchen, and +had not gone even there since her return from school, for she could +perfectly remember, as a child, making the old servant very angry by +going once alone into his kitchen and looking about her. Why he should +be so jealous of the solitude of his kitchen, and why he should make +such a mystery of the tower-room, Hilda could not divine. + +Herr von Heydeck showed uneasiness at the continuation of the +discussion with regard to Melcher and his tower-room, and he several +times tried to change the subject of conversation; but Hilda's +curiosity was excited, and she would recur to it. She was no less +surprised by Melcher's outburst of insane fury than by the existence +of the tower-room. She had always known the old servant as a +good-humoured, harmless old fellow, ready to fulfil her every wish, and +she asked so many questions about the attack he had made upon Leo, that +her father, after fruitless efforts to change the subject, at last lost +patience. + +"Do not tease Leo with any more questions, my dear," he said. "The +disagreeable scene is over; do not let us discuss it further." + +"But I cannot imagine, papa, why Melcher, who never does harm to any +one, should attack Leo with such fury just because he found him in his +room." + +"Why should we try to imagine the motives that rule the actions of an +idiot?" + +"But, papa, you know very well that Melcher is no idiot. He knows +perfectly what to do and what not to do, and he certainly would not +guard this tower-chamber, of which I never heard before, so jealously +if he had not some reason for it." + +"Perhaps he hoards his savings there, and is afraid of being robbed; +perhaps he keeps some articles of special value to him hidden there. +Who can tell what fancies he may have in his feeble brain? If he is not +entirely idiotic, he is certainly not a responsible person: he has not +the usual amount of intellect. It would be impossible to conceive of +the workings of his small amount of mind. But indeed we have wasted too +much time upon him. I do not want to hear another word about him. We +have far other things to talk of with our Leo than of old Melcher, and +his deserted tower-chamber with which we certainly have nothing to do." + +Hilda could not gainsay so determined an expression of her father's +will; she questioned Leo no further upon the forbidden topic, but +listened attentively to the conversation which her father skilfully led +to the subject which interested him most at the moment. Leo had to give +an account of his life in K----, of his father the old colonel, and of +his friends. + +It was a matter of course that Delmar's name occurred frequently in his +discourse. + +This was what Herr von Heydeck wanted. For good reasons he was very +anxious for exact intelligence concerning Paul's past life, +intelligence which he could procure nowhere so easily as from Paul's +most intimate friend, and to learn all possible particulars with regard +to Delmar he had given the conversation its present turn. + +The old man now had his features under perfect control; his face +betrayed no emotion beyond a justifiable curiosity as he said, "Your +friend interests me; he is very like a man, now dead, with whom I had +relations at a most eventful period of my life. The memory of that time +always agitates me, and therefore the sudden appearance of the young +man was such a shock that I lost my self-control and transgressed the +duties of hospitality. I should like to know whether the resemblance +that so struck me is accidental, or whether your friend is really +distantly connected with my old acquaintance." + +"Delmar has no relatives; he is alone in the world." + +"But he certainly must once have had relatives. Where was he born and +educated? What are his circumstances? You would oblige me very much if +you would tell me all you know of him, for, as I said, I am greatly +interested in him." + +Should Leo comply with this direct request? He called to mind the +expression of intense hatred and of horror with which his uncle had +regarded Paul. The quiet manner in which the old man now questioned him +with regard to his friend's past did not impose upon him; he divined +that the information he asked for had a deeper interest for his uncle +than that excited by a chance resemblance, and yet he saw no reasons +for concealing what he knew about Paul. Therefore he made up his mind +to accede to his uncle's desire. He told all that he knew of his +friend, and as he did so he involuntarily warmed with his topic; his +love for Paul, and the esteem in which he held him, lent glowing +colours to the picture that he drew. He observed with pleasure that not +only did his uncle listen to him with interest, but that Hilda's eyes +sparkled as she leaned forward in eager attention. + +Leo had known Delmar from childhood; they had gone to the same school, +and as they were near neighbours at home, they had grown to be +inseparable playfellows, and afterwards loyal friends. + +Paul's father had not been a wealthy man in the old schooldays. He had +come to K---- with his only son to invest a small capital in some +business. He lived only for this business, which he established and +conducted with great success. He was so engrossed by it that he had not +much time or attention to bestow upon little Paul, whose mother had +died a few hours after the birth of her child. + +Thus the boy, who was full of talent, grew up in his father's house +over which an old housekeeper presided, left entirely to himself, and +his heart would have been fairly starved had he not found in Leo a +faithful friend upon whom he could lavish the tenderest affection. + +During his school-life, however, a great change took place in his +circumstances. His father embarked in daring speculations, and they +were successful. Herr Delmar grew rich; the small business he had +founded became the greatest banking establishment in K----. The +merchant's time was more than ever absorbed by the cares of business in +his unceasing efforts to accumulate wealth; he saw his son only at +meal-times. + +When Paul passed through his college examinations he devoted himself to +the study of history and philosophy. He had pursued these with ardour +for about a year, when his course of life suddenly changed. The young +student had noticed for some time that his father's manner had been +absent, and his air grave and even depressed; the reason of this was +explained to him in a conversation he held with the head book-keeper of +the banking-house. It appeared that Herr Delmar, with unequalled +daring, had, in the hope of doubling his wealth, embarked in a giant +speculation, involving not only his every penny, but also all the +credit that he possessed. If it was unsuccessful complete ruin was +unavoidable, and at present affairs looked gloomy. The money market was +uncertain; the credit of the house was shaken. Herr Delmar was +anxiously awaiting what the future might bring forth. + +One day, as the banker was sitting, silent as usual, opposite his son +at the dinner-table, letters were brought to him so unfavourable in +their contents that he broke the silence to say to his son, with a +glance of irritation, "If you had turned your attention to business +instead of studying philosophy and such stuff, you might now have been +of some service to me!" He made no further remark, but arose from +table, leaving his untouched dinner, and shut himself up in his office. + +The next morning when the office opened, Paul was standing behind a +desk,--he had applied himself to his father's business, and he then +received from Herr Delmar the first look and smile of affection that he +could remember in his life. + +The young man was endowed with so keen an intellect, so excellent a +memory, and such power of ready comprehension, that he soon mastered +the difficulties of a commercial career. Under the skilful tuition of +the head book-keeper he soon became an admirable business man, and +when, a few weeks later, his father, oppressed with care, was stricken +down by illness, he was perfectly capable of conducting his affairs, +with the assistance of the faithful book-keeper. + +This time of trial developed all the strength and intellectual vigour +of Paul's character. Under his prudent but brilliant direction the +great banking-house passed successfully through the dangerous crisis. +As bold, but not as venturous, as his father, he avoided all too daring +speculations: he established the business upon a firm basis; and when +Herr Delmar, though only half convalescent, was driven by anxiety to +leave his bed for his office, he found, to his astonishment, that all +peril was past. The great banking-house had emerged from the crisis +with greater wealth and firmer credit than ever. + +But Herr Delmar had left his bed too soon. A relapse was the +consequence: recovery was impossible; although too feeble to take any +part in the conduct of his affairs, he lived on confined to his couch +for three years longer. At the end of this time, in the midst of a +night of intense suffering, he felt that his last hour was at hand. He +had Paul awakened and summoned to his bedside. He was in entire +possession of his faculties; his long illness had been powerless to +weaken his vigorous intellect and the conviction that he was dying +never for a moment disturbed the repose of his mind. + +He smiled affectionately at Paul when he entered the room, and replied +to his inquiries by a cordial pressure of the hand. "I sent for you," +he said, in a failing voice, "because I know I shall not live until +morning. I want to thank you for the filial affection you have always +shown me. To you I owe all that I possess; through you I have been +enabled to establish my house; your unselfish devotion preserved my +wealth for me when my previous good fortune threatened to leave me. +Your care and prudence have tripled my property during these years of +sickness when I have been unable to attend to business, and it is no +more than just and right that you should be the only heir to the +fortune you have so contributed to make. There is no one in the world +with any just claim upon my estate. While I was poor my distant +relatives took no notice of me, and since I have grown rich I have +treated them in the same manner. You alone therefore, my dear Paul, +will inherit my property, and with my lawyer's help, I have made a will +to confirm you in the possession of your inheritance if any +unjustifiable claims should be made upon my estate. + +"I see that you do not comprehend why a will should be necessary when, +as my only son, you are legally my only heir. I could explain this to +you, but I beg you not to require me to do so. You have always honoured +and loved me as a father should be honoured and loved by a son. I thank +you for it from my very soul, and my last wish is that you should +retain the same affection for my memory." + +Paul would indeed have liked some explanation of his father's strange +words, but he did not venture to ask for them, and a few more words of +gratitude for this forbearance were the last uttered by the dying man. +He soon after fell asleep with a smile upon his pale lips, and did not +wake again. + +The day after his father's death Paul received a visit from one of the +best-known lawyers in K----, who came to read to him the will which he +had drawn up a year before at Herr Delmar's desire. To Paul's +disappointment it contained no explanation of his father's last words, +but on the contrary surprised all who were present at the opening. In +the introduction to the will Herr Delmar stated that Paul had always +performed all the duties of a son with the greatest self-forgetfulness; +that the maintenance and increase of his business were owing to the +young man's skill and devotion; and that therefore, and not because he +was his son, the testator declared him his sole heir. At the close of +the will Herr Delmar expressly mentioned that he left behind him no +relatives legally entitled to any portion of his estate or who could +have the slightest claim upon Paul. + +The singular wording of the testament caused considerable talk in legal +circles in K----, and the lawyer who had drawn it up was of course +applied to by many people, and indeed by Paul himself, for an +explanation, but he assured every one that he knew nothing; he had +strictly followed Herr Delmar's instructions in drawing up the will, +the wording of which was the testator's own. + +Why Herr Delmar should have taken such pains to secure his property to +a son who was legally his heir remained a mystery, since no one +appeared to put forward any claim to the young man's inheritance. + +Thus Paul entered into undisputed possession of his father's immense +wealth. There was no longer any reason for his continuing to carry on a +business, in which he had never had the least interest, merely to +accumulate money. To the surprise of every one on 'Change, he disposed +of the entire business to a stock company at a very reasonable price, +and invested his capital in safe government securities, in bonds, +mortgages, and real estate. This done, he devoted all his energies to +scientific research. + +He lived in K---- the life of a man of wealth. He filled his +magnificent villa with the finest paintings and statuary, and spent +enormous sums upon his library. The greater part of his income, +however, was expended in satisfying what he called his egotism,--his +love of self,--which prompted him to purchase whenever he could the +pleasure of assisting the poor in the quietest manner possible. + +"And as an egotist to whom no sacrifice seems great in the interest of +a friend,--whose aid is always ready whenever aid is necessary,--Paul +Delmar lives in K----, where every one who knows him loves and respects +him. I am proud that he honours me with his friendship." Thus Leo +concluded his account of his friend. + +Herr von Heydeck had listened to every word, and when his nephew had +finished he nodded in approval; his face wore a very different +expression from that which had animated it while he was questioning Leo +with regard to Paul. He even smiled quite gayly. "Your friend seems to +be an admirable fellow," he said. "I am very glad, doubly so, for I +think I have some reason for special interest in him. I will tell you +about it hereafter. Very rich you say he is,--a millionaire, eh?" + +"I do not know the amount of his wealth; he never speaks of it, and +seems to value it but little. In K---- he is said to be worth four +million thalers at least. He is the wealthiest man there." + +"Four millions!" exclaimed Herr von Heydeck. "That is enormous! I had +no idea of it! Four millions! Then he certainly does not need any more. +He would not care for a few hundred thousand guilders, and therefore +will not----" + +Herr von Heydeck suddenly paused and cast a timid glance at Leo, who +looked inquiringly at him expecting the end of his remark. The old man +did not finish it, but arose and, half turning away, said without +meeting Leo's eyes, "But what nonsense I am talking! What is this Paul +Delmar to me? He is your friend, and as such shall be a welcome guest +at the castle; but don't ask me to interest myself about him. I am an +old man, often ill, and unaccustomed to social intercourse. My head +aches if I converse for any length of time, and then I grow very +confused. That is why I receive no visitors. My head aches to-day. You +must forgive me if I retire to my room. To-morrow we will talk more +together; to-day I must leave you to Hilda. Good-evening." + +He waited for no reply, but nodded to Leo without looking at him, and +left the summer-house. Passing quickly through the garden, he was soon +lost to sight among the shrubbery. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +When Hilda left him, Paul Delmar walked on quickly down the mountain. +The pathway was charming and well worthy of more attention than Delmar +bestowed upon it. It passed by turns through groups of tall larches, +and then through low shrubbery, where there were continual glimpses of +the lovely valley, with the shining snow-peaks in the distance. But +sensitive as Paul was to the charms of mountain-scenery, just now his +mind was too much occupied with his late reception at Castle +Reifenstein to allow of his enjoying this walk down the mountain as he +would have done at another time. + +And yet what most occupied his thoughts was not what one might have +supposed would have made the deepest impression upon him,--the strange +and unjustifiable dislike shown him by Herr von Heydeck,--no, the +farewell words of his charming guide were what he dwelt upon,--"At +least I will not be an evil fairy to you. Good-bye, and come soon +again." + +How lovely Hilda had looked as she said those words! They were not a +merely conventional phrase: they were sincere. Of course he must do her +bidding; he should indeed have to repeat his visit to the castle on +Leo's account. Only on Leo's account? + +He suddenly experienced a sensation almost of pain. Leo had, it is +true, come to the Tyrol only in compliance with his father's desire, +and firmly resolved never to further his uncle's scheme. But could he +remain faithful to this resolve after he had seen Hilda, the 'Fair one +with the golden locks'? Surely her grace and loveliness must conquer +the distaste Leo had for the union desired by his uncle; he never could +withstand such charms. + +Paul sighed profoundly as he reflected thus. "He is a lucky +fellow,--Leo!" he said to himself. "Happiness drops into his grasp +without any effort on his part. He needs no help from me. He must soon +see that the union he would have avoided will be his greatest blessing. +What have I to do at the castle? It is better that I should escape from +the enchanted ground before I am too surely entangled in the spells of +the enchantress! It would be base in me to place a pebble in Leo's path +towards happiness,--I, who came to serve him if I could. Happy Leo!" + +He sighed again. He was sorry, near as he was to Castle Reifenstein, +not to be able to avail himself of the invitation of the charming fairy +of the place, but loyalty to Leo forbade his seeing Hilda again. + +Still, would she not have just cause for offence if he took no notice +of her kind invitation? Oh, she would soon forget the stranger, who was +to her only her cousin's friend. And he would try to forget her, +although he doubted his power to succeed in the attempt. + +Paul was so deep in reflections of this kind that he hardly thought of +where he was going, and was greatly surprised at a turning in the path +to see before him the grassy opening where he had left Herwarth. At the +same moment he was hailed by Kuno, who had thought him long in +returning. + +"Here you are at last!" he exclaimed. "I was afraid you had lost your +way among the mountains." + +His call aroused Paul completely from his revery, and he was instantly +himself again. Herwarth must not guess at the gloomy nature of his +thoughts, and he replied,-- + +"You are a model of wisdom, noble knight, and a true prophet, who must +of course be without honour in his own country. We did lose our way up +there among the rocks, where we should have been at this moment if a +golden-haired angel had not descended and borne us aloft to Paradise, +where I left our Leo, while I returned to this sordid earth to succour +a wounded knight. How are you? Is your foot better?" + +"You did get to the castle then? And you have seen Leo's lovely cousin? +Tell me about it." + +"All in due order; you shall hear everything, and the account shall be +as full and detailed as you desire, but you must wait for it until we +are back at the inn. First answer me, as a docile patient should, how +is your foot?" + +"Better; it does not pain me now. I think I shall be able to walk very +well after my rest." + +Herwarth arose, but his first attempt to walk renewed his pain. "It is +worse than I thought," he said. "I must beg you for your arm to help me +even on the short way back to the inn." + +"Shall I not get some of the people from the village with a litter?" +Delmar asked anxiously. "The injury seems graver than we suspected. I +am afraid your ankle is broken." + +"No, it is not; I am sure of that. I shall certainly not be carried +through the village on a litter like a dying warrior because of a +slight sprain or bruise. If you will give me your arm I will hobble +back to the inn without more delay." + +"As you please. His own way is a man's kingdom of heaven; and if you +choose to hobble through Tausens, you shall do it." + +Propped upon Delmar's arm, Herwarth contrived, although with great pain +and frequent pauses for rest, to walk back to the inn. Just before +reaching it he paused once more, not however to rest this time, but in +astonishment. "I must be dreaming!" he exclaimed. "Look up, Delmar, at +the fourth window of our inn. Is it possible? Fraeulein Aline von +Schlicht, and Fraeulein Schommer." + +Delmar, whose eyes had been fixed upon the road, in his desire to help +his companion, looked up, and laughed aloud when he recognized the two +young girls. "Fraeulein Eva, sure enough!" he said. "What a charming +meeting we shall have! 'Tis a pity that Leo did not take up his +quarters down here with us; he would take such a childlike delight in +the happy chance that has brought the fair Eva to Tausens. The presence +of my friend Bertram is all that is wanting to make the party quite +perfect." + +"It is not wanting: there the scoundrel goes!" Herwarth cried eagerly; +and he was right. Delmar recognized Bertram in the distance walking +along the road, his head bent as if lost in thought. + +"True! there goes the worthy soul!" Delmar said, laughing. "What say +you, Kuno? shall I bestow a few more attentions upon him for the sake +of his fair betrothed? The fellow ought to be punished for his +insolence in crossing our path again." + +"Let him alone, Delmar. Why provoke gossip? He probably does not cross +our path intentionally." + +"As I have before had occasion to remark, you are a model of wisdom, +noble knight. You are right; we will let the rogue alone. Let us leave +him to all the joys of his betrothal,--to the lovely Eva. It is an +admirable match. Lean more heavily on my arm, Herwarth. It is time you +were on the sofa. Come!" + +Kuno summoned up all his resolution to endure the violent pain in his +foot that he might not seem a weakling in the eyes of the ladies, who +were regarding him with great compassion. He could not bear his weight +upon it, however, and even with Delmar's assistance he had great +difficulty in gaining the house, where he took what consolation he +could from Aline's pitying smile as she returned his salutation. + +More carried than led by Delmar, he reached the apartment Paul had +engaged for their sitting-room, and sank exhausted upon the sofa. +Delmar did all that he could to make him comfortable, relieving the +foot of its boot and swathing the ankle in wet bandages, after which he +declared his intention of going in search of medical aid. "If the +postmaster's tale be true," said he, "the physician here, Dr. Putzer, +although a thorough-paced vagabond, is a man of skill and experience. I +am going to find him." + +"What trouble you take for me, Paul! How shall I thank you?" + +But Paul had already left the room. In the hall he met the postmaster, +who showed him the way to the doctor's house. At the inner door he +encountered Bertram just returning from his walk, and saluted him after +his usual mocking fashion. + +"Rejoiced to see you, Herr von Bertram. The tender regard which has +prompted you to follow me thus touches me and deserves recognition. I +trust your charming betrothed is well. What refreshment I shall have in +the contemplation of your new-born bliss! It will be a lesson in the +noble art of love." + +Bertram replied to this sneer by a furious glance, but he suppressed +his rage and only asked humbly, "May I ask for a few moments of +conversation in private with you, Herr Delmar?" + +"What can we possibly have to discuss in private, sir?" + +"I beg you to listen to me for a few minutes." + +"Your modesty shall receive its reward. You may accompany me in a short +walk I am obliged to take through the village, and on the way you can +tell me what you have to say. I have no more time for you." + +With these words Paul left the inn, leaving Bertram to follow him, and +rightly suspecting what the ex-lieutenant (he had been forced to leave +his regiment) had to say. + +Bertram walked at his side for some time without speaking. He had been +debating with himself for the last hour as to how he should approach +his detested enemy, how induce him to be silent. He had prepared +himself for this interview with the greatest care, and yet, now that he +found himself confronted with Delmar's mocking smile, he forgot all the +fine phrases he had made ready, and did not know how to begin. + +"Well?" Delmar asked, when the two men had walked for some distance +without one word from Bertram. "You are silent? If you have anything to +say to me, I advise you to do so quickly, or you may lose the +opportunity." + +"I will not detain you long, Herr Delmar," Bertram humbly replied. +"Have patience for a few minutes. As unhappy chance will have it we +meet thus unexpectedly in this retired spot." + +"Chance! and you call it unhappy? Then it was not a desire for my +amiable society which attracted you hither? Herr von Bertram, it wounds +me to be thus undeceived." + +"You sneer, Herr Delmar, and I cannot answer you, for I am powerless +against you. Is it honourable thus to triumph over the defenceless?" + +"No; you are right, and I take shame to myself that I have deserved the +reproof. Tell me briefly and without circumlocution what you desire of +me, and you shall be safe from my contempt for the next few minutes, +but take care not to cross my path again; my promise holds good only +for this interview. What do you want? Answer me at once and to the +point." + +"I wish to implore you not to let my betrothed know of the means by +which you forced me to make the declaration to Herr Leo von Heydeck +which drove me from the army. Have compassion upon me, Herr Delmar!" + +"Do you deserve compassion?" + +"If I sinned my punishment has been great. I never injured you, and yet +you have been the one to give the deathblow to my honour. Do you wish +to rob me of my last hope in life? You have terribly avenged the insult +to your friend. I cannot resent your doing so, but I implore you not to +drive me to despair. Do not take from me the last thing left to me in +life,--the love of my betrothed!" + +"Be honest, Herr von Bertram. If you really wish me to spare you, +answer me frankly. Is it really the love of the fair Eva which you +prize so highly? Is it not her millions which are so dear to you?" + +"I give you my word of honour, Herr Delmar----" + +"Let your honour alone if you wish me to believe you. I want a frank +answer." + +"I assure you that I love my betrothed from the depths of my soul. It +is this love that drove me to the course that ruined me. I hoped by a +duel with Herr von Heydeck to win Fraeulein Schommer's gratitude and +affection." + +"You knew that Leo was principled against duelling." + +"I was convinced that he would prove false to his principles. You may +judge of the sincerity of my love for Eva by my submission to her +wishes. Without your intervention I should have offered an apology to +Herr von Heydeck, the same in substance with the one you insisted upon, +although couched in language less humiliating to me. Fraeulein Schommer +required this of me when she consented to our betrothal." + +"Really? That then was no empty subterfuge of yours. Fraeulein Schommer +required that you should make an apology?" + +"She did. Only upon this condition would she yield an assent to my +suit." + +"Strange! I had not credited the young lady with such delicacy of +feeling. This information so exalts her in my opinion that I doubt +whether I have a right to conceal from her what manner of man he is to +whom she has entrusted her future happiness." + +"You will not use my frankness against me? You will not ruin me +because, in accordance with your wish, I have told you the entire +truth? You could not take so mean an advantage of me, Herr Delmar? On +that terrible day you gave me hopes that you would spare me if I +complied with your demand. I did comply, to the annihilation of my +future career. Will you take the last thing that I possess from me, +when you promised to spare me?" + +"I expressly told you that I would promise you nothing." + +"But you justified me in hoping." + +"That I dispute; nevertheless, I will consider the matter. I have made +you no promises, and I will make you none. For the present I see no +reason for pointing out to Fraeulein Eva the worthlessness or the +excellence of the man upon whom she has bestowed her fair hand; if time +should develop any reason for my doing so, I shall act as I see fit. +And now, no more of this. We have reached the house I came to seek, and +I have no desire to prolong this interview. One more question. Are you +going to stay any length of time at Tausens?" + +"I do not know; Fraeulein Schommer seems to think of doing so." + +"Does Fraeulein Schommer know that Herr von Heydeck is staying here?" + +"Yes; and for that very reason she has determined to remain. She does +not wish to appear to avoid Herr von Heydeck." + +"She shows pluck, upon my word! Then we can hardly avoid seeing and +speaking with each other occasionally; but I would advise you, Herr von +Bertram, to spare me such annoyance as far as you can. The seldomer we +meet the better it will be for you." And not waiting for a reply, +Delmar, having reached Dr. Putzer's house, left Bertram without another +word. Then, opening a gate in the low iron railing, he entered a front +garden, at the end of which was an arbour, where sat a lady and +gentleman. + +Dr. Putzer's house, the style of which was more pretentious than that +of most of the houses in the village, lay at quite a distance from the +road, from which it was separated by a large, carefully-cultivated +garden, that, with its tasteful flower-beds and various rare plants +certainly not to be found in any other of the village gardens, was +worthy of more attention than Delmar now bestowed upon it. Without a +glance at the fragrant and beautiful shrubs on either side of his path, +he walked directly along the white-pebbled way leading to the arbour, +where, as he suspected, the doctor was. + +His approach was unnoticed. The lady sitting in the arbour was busy +with some embroidery,--so busy that she did not look up; the gentleman +was leaning back in one arm-chair with his feet resting upon another, +comfortably resigning himself to the enjoyment of a cigar. He sat, or +rather he reclined, with his back towards the approach from the garden. + +Delmar paused at the entrance of the arbour; although he had taken no +pains to tread softly, neither the lady nor the gentleman had heard his +step. If he had ever cared to imagine what this couple were like, the +reality would have accorded well with the fancied presentment. + +The doctor's wife was still an imposing woman; indeed, her +well-preserved features would have been beautiful if they had not been +disfigured by her girlish cap with pink ribbons, and quantities of +pearl-powder and rouge. The old woman's efforts to look young destroyed +the charm that her regular features might else have possessed. + +Her youthful dress, fluttering all over with ribbons and fringes and +lace, bore testimony to a craving for admiration, all the more +ridiculous because, in the retired village where she lived, there was +not probably a man, woman, or child who was not perfectly aware that +she had long passed fifty. + +In striking contrast to the extreme elegance of his wife's appearance +Dr. Putzer's dress displayed no care whatever. The white summer coat +that covered his broad shoulders was rumpled and dirty; two buttons +were gone from the front, and it hung loosely about his huge figure. +His still abundant coarse sandy hair was in wild disorder, and the +spectator was led to suspect that the doctor did not often come in +contact with soap and water. + +Dr. Putzer was not handsome, although one could see that he might once +have been a personable man. His fat, flabby face had the purple hue of +an habitual drinker; his light-gray eyes were dull and watery, and his +figure, which must formerly have been good, was marred by corpulence. + +Paul took in this worthy couple at a glance; he did not need to scan +them long to come to a conclusion with regard to them. Their +distinguishing characteristics were patent to view,--the ridiculous +vanity of the woman and the man's indolence and love of eating and +drinking. + +For one moment Paul hesitated. Could he confide his friend to this +drunkard's surgical skill? On the table beside the man was a half-empty +bottle of wine; he had evidently been partaking freely. But Delmar +called to mind that the postmaster, in his story, had laid great +emphasis upon the fact that the doctor, in spite of his dissipation and +general worthlessness, was a skilful physician,--the best in all the +country round,--and this reflection confirmed his resolve. "Have I the +pleasure of seeing Herr Doctor Putzer?" he asked courteously, lifting +his hat. + +The doctor's wife looked up at this unexpected address, and at sight of +Paul uttered a slight scream of surprise; the embroidery dropped from +her hand, and she stared at the stranger with wide-open eyes. If her +cheeks had not been plastered with white and red paint, Paul, who +noticed her startled look, would have seen her become ghastly pale. + +The doctor, too, seemed strangely startled by Paul's appearance. Upon +first hearing himself addressed he turned his head heavily and +clumsily, but with one glance at his visitor he started to his feet +with a celerity that was almost comical in so corpulent a personage. He +ran his hands through his dishevelled bushy hair, and his little gray +eyes were riveted upon Paul's face. "Holy Apostles!" he cried, in +terror. "Who are you, sir? What do you want of me?" + +Here was another strange reception, precisely similar to that accorded +to Delmar by old Herr von Heydeck. Was Tausens then so secluded from +the world that the appearance of an ordinary stranger brought with it +terror and dismay? Just as the doctor and his wife were now doing had +Herr von Heydeck stared Paul in the face. + +Paul could conceive no reason for the extraordinary manner in which he +was received in Tausens: he would have liked to make some inquiries +with regard to it; but all that he wanted at present was to procure +medical aid for Kuno as quickly as possible, and he therefore answered, +"My name, which can possess but little interest for you, is Delmar. I +come to request your services for a friend who has injured his foot +among the mountains; will you have the kindness to return with me to +the inn, where he is in great need of your skill?" + +"Delmar?" the doctor muttered, seeming to heed nothing but the name in +the young man's reply. "Your name is Delmar, then,--not Menotti?" + +Delmar gazed at him in surprise; what made the man think of this name +of Menotti? Paul remembered to have heard it, but he could not recall +at the moment when or where; he only knew that he had heard the name +lately of a Count Menotti, if he were not mistaken. + +"Why do you mention the name of Menotti?" he asked, curiously. + +"Then it is not your name?" the doctor repeated, without answering. + +"No; as I told you, my name is Delmar,--Paul Delmar." + +"Strange! The resemblance is most striking. But what am I thinking of? +Young Count Menotti cannot be more than twenty years of age, and the +younger brother is a cripple. But the resemblance! Rosy, what do you +say to it?" + +The doctor's wife said nothing, she only nodded her head, never turning +her eyes away from Delmar. She scanned his features with eager +scrutiny, as if to stamp them upon her memory. + +For Paul the whole scene was extremely annoying, he especially disliked +being stared at by this odious woman; he did not like charades, and to +find himself a principal actor in one was very disagreeable. He asked +rather sharply, "Who is this Count Menotti whom I so strangely +resemble?" + +"A very distinguished nobleman," the doctor replied, continuing to +regard Delmar with curiosity, although he had regained his indolent +calm of manner, out of which it needed some special occurrence to +startle him. "You need not be ashamed of the resemblance, Herr Delmar, +Count Menotti was a very handsome man." + +"Was a handsome man? Is he no longer living, then?" + +"He died a few years ago. 'Tis strange that you have never heard of +him. Your resemblance to him is so great that I could have sworn you +were akin to him. No son could look more like a father. And you know +nothing of him,--you never heard of him?" + +"I think I have heard the name, although I cannot now remember when or +where. But let us drop this resemblance at present, Herr Doctor; at +some future time I hope you will tell me more of Count Menotti. I shall +be some weeks here in Tausens, and shall have abundant opportunity of +conversing with you about this Count whom I so greatly resemble. At +present let me beg you to come to the inn with me as quickly as +possible to the assistance of my friend." + +"Excuse me; in my astonishment at sight of you I forgot. Injured his +foot, you say? Pray tell me as briefly as possible how it occurred." + +Paul told, and the doctor listened attentively, now and then +interrupting him with an intelligent question. He then declared himself +ready to accompany Paul immediately to the inn, only asking him to wait +until he should fetch some bandages from the house, whither he repaired +with more briskness than could have been expected of his ungainly form. + +Paul was left alone with the doctor's wife. He tried to converse with +the lady, but in vain; he received such curt replies to his few general +remarks as made it plain that she did not mean to be drawn into +conversation with the stranger, although she continued to regard him +with the same wearisome curiosity. Therefore Delmar was more than +content when the doctor's clumsy tread was heard approaching from the +house. He had hurriedly made a kind of toilette, and the dirty linen +coat was replaced by one of cloth, rather more respectable in +appearance. + +"Here I am, at your service, Herr Delmar," he said. "I am ready to +accompany you, but I must beg you to walk slowly as my size forbids +speed." + +Delmar took leave of the lady with a courteous inclination, which she +did not return, and then walked beside the doctor down the pebbled path +to the road. At the gate he turned and saw that Frau Putzer had arisen +from her seat and was standing at the entrance of the arbour, still +watching him. + +Paul was annoyed by so disagreeable a degree of attention, and walked +on in silence, while the doctor also seemed to feel no inclination for +conversation; and thus they reached the inn with the exchange of but +very few words upon the way. + +They found Kuno sitting at the open window, awaiting them impatiently. +He arose to greet the doctor, but violent pain in his foot made him +wince as he did so. The doctor saw this, and immediately took charge +most intelligently of the case. "The pain is severe," he said. "Let us +see what is the matter. The bone is not broken; that I could see as you +arose. Lean upon me as heavily as you please, my shoulders are broad, +and I will lead you to the sofa, where we will make a thorough +examination." + +He spoke with calm and kindly decision. As a physician he perfectly +understood how to inspire confidence in his skill and experience. Kuno, +although he had been prejudiced against the man by what he had heard of +him from the postmaster, could not but yield to the influence exerted +by him upon all his patients. He did just as he was bidden, and a +thorough examination of the foot was made. + +"Well, doctor, what is it? Is there any serious injury?" Delmar asked +anxiously, when the doctor had at last finished his investigations. + +"No, I can reassure you; it is only a sprain. If Herr von Herwarth is a +docile patient all will be right in a couple of weeks; if not, I cannot +say when the foot will be well again. For two weeks you must not use +the foot at all. You ought to lie in bed. But this would I suppose be +asking too much, and I will allow you to recline on the sofa, begging +you upon no account to touch the injured foot to the floor. If you will +follow my directions, I will promise that you shall walk again in two +weeks, and that after a month you will hardly remember the injury." + +"Am I not to walk for two weeks?" Kuno asked. + +"Not for two weeks. I will not assume any responsibility in the matter +unless my orders are strictly obeyed." + +"They shall be obeyed. I will answer for it," Delmar interposed. To his +own surprise, he found himself agreeably impressed by the doctor's +manner. "A patient is not an individual, but a case; he should have no +will of his own. I will take care of him. I shall see life from a new +point of view. I will enact my part of nurse well. It will be a fresh +sensation in this everlasting monotony. Do not be anxious about this +amiable young fellow, doctor. He shall obey orders, put on bandages, +hobble or sit still, just as you command." + +"Excellent! Then I will answer for the result," the doctor said. "I see +that my patient is in good hands. I may leave him. To-morrow afternoon +I will come again and bandage the ankle. Until then, farewell!" + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + +Dr. Putzer yawned and stretched his huge limbs as he left Herwarth's +room and the door was closed behind him. In a sick-room and in +intercourse with strangers he was a different man from the Dr. Putzer +of private life. Towards a patient and with those whose rank in life +was superior to his own and with whom he had not yet become familiar, +he displayed a gentle courtesy which was entirely foreign to his usual +manner, and which was quite attractive. Whenever he pleased he could +thus assume the air and bearing of a man of refinement and culture; but +as soon as he was left to himself, or to his daily associates, he threw +off all such self-restraint and took no pains to conceal his innate +coarseness of nature. + +He descended the stairs, which creaked beneath his heavy tread, and +opening the door of the parlour, called, in thundering tones, "Nannerl! +Where the deuce is the lazy hussy! A half-measure of red!" he added, as +the maid came hurrying from the kitchen. "And send the landlord here. I +have something to say to him." + +As he finished he pinched the girl's red cheek with an ugly leer +and laughed coarsely as she recoiled from his familiarity. Then +turning into the parlour he settled himself comfortably in his usual +position,--leaning back in one of the large strong chairs, with his +feet on another of them. + +Nannerl soon appeared with the wine, which she placed upon the table, +carefully avoiding, as she did so, any contact with the man whose +coarse familiarity she dreaded. + +While she was thus setting out the wine Hansel entered the room, and +observing her annoyance, said angrily, "Let Nannerl alone, Herr Doctor; +your old head ought to teach you better than to tease a poor girl." + +The doctor was not at all offended by the rough rebuke, but with a +laugh, offered a glass of wine to the postmaster. "That's right. +Hansel," he said. "Keep strict watch over your maid's virtue. Take a +sip to cool your anger, and then we'll have a gossip. Fine doings here. +Hansel! Two four-horse carriages have not been seen together for many a +year in Tausens; and a couple of strangers into the bargain. I have +just left one of them, who has sprained his ankle." + +"I know it. Herr Delmar asked me where you lived." + +"Exactly; Herr Delmar came for me. Do you know Herr Delmar? where he +comes from? who he is?" + +"No, I don't, but I know his face, although I can't remember where I +have seen it." + +"Do you remember Count Menotti, Hansel?" + +Scarcely had the doctor uttered this name when Hansel struck the table +with his fist and exclaimed, "That's the man! The Count Menotti! Yes, +yes; just so he looked with his black eyes and yellow face! Now I see! +He may call himself Delmar if he will; he's a Count Menotti for all +that. That's why he wanted me to tell him all those old stories,--about +Herr von Heydeck, and his first wife, and Count Menotti, and the child +that died of smallpox." + +The doctor suddenly started from his reclining posture and frowned +furiously at the postmaster. "And you told him all that, you cursed old +blab!" he exclaimed angrily. + +"It's no secret. Herr Delmar may as well know what everybody else +knows," Hansel replied stoutly. + +The doctor's wrath was not at all appeased, but he made an effort to +control any further expression of it, and rejoined, "True, Hansel, it +is no secret, but where's the use of raking up such old forgotten +tales? Well, it can't be helped,--only I should really like to know +what you did tell him." + +The postmaster was not perfectly comfortable at this request. When he +called to mind his long conversation with the strangers, and the +extraordinary eagerness that Herr Delmar had shown in inducing him to +tell all that he knew of the life at the castle and of Herr von +Heydeck, he could not help thinking that the stranger who was so very +like Count Menotti had cross-examined him very skilfully, and the +doctor's request strengthened him in this conviction. + +Why had the doctor been so vexed to learn that Hansel had told of Herr +von Heydeck's dead child? Try as he would to seem composed the Herr +Doctor could not conceal his agitation. He was evidently afraid that +the postmaster had told too much, and honest Hansel began to share this +fear himself. + +The poor fellow found himself in a very disagreeable situation; if he +refused to tell what he had told the strangers, the doctor would +suspect matters of being worse than they really were, and yet if he +informed him of all that he had said, matters were bad enough, for he +had told enough to make the doctor his bitter enemy. It was very hard +to give the right answer, but something must be done, and Hansel did +his best, extricating himself from his dilemma with greater cunning +than would have been thought possible for him. He told the doctor +faithfully of all he had said to Herr Delmar about Herr von Heydeck, +the life at the castle, about the first mistress, and her relations +with Count Menotti. He reported also that he had spoken of the report +that Herr von Heydeck was by no means sorry for his child's death, but +he never hinted that he had once made mention in the narrative of the +doctor or his wife. + +Hansel had the reputation in Tausens of being so honest and +simple-minded a fellow that it never occurred to the doctor to doubt +his frankness, and his mind was set at rest with regard to the extent +of Hansel's revelations; not so, however, as to the stranger's motive +in questioning the postmaster. It could not, the doctor was convinced, +have been ordinary curiosity. + +What could have interested the strangers in Herr von Heydeck? Delmar's +striking resemblance to Count Menotti could be no mere chance freak of +nature. Such resemblances between strangers in blood do occur, it is +true, but they are very exceptional, and Delmar's curiosity regarding +matters connected with Castle Reifenstein showed plainly that this was +not one of the exceptions. + +But if Delmar were related to Count Menotti, and had not come by chance +to Tausens, what could he want there? + +A sudden suspicion flashed upon the doctor's mind, but he rejected it +immediately,--it was so wild and improbable; still, Delmar's presence +made him excessively uncomfortable. To conceal this discomfort from the +postmaster, he talked and drank incessantly. The measure of wine was +emptied and refilled several times, while the doctor's bloated face +grew redder and redder, his eyes more watery, and his speech thicker. +He tried to learn more of the strangers from Hansel, but in vain; the +postmaster knew nothing of them except what he had heard from their +guides from the Zillerthal, and this he freely imparted without in the +least satisfying the other's curiosity. In his good humour the +innkeeper was recounting every particular for the fourth time, although +he could not conceive what interest it could have for the doctor, when +he was interrupted by a message from the doctor's wife. + +A servant reported that her mistress was very much annoyed that the +doctor was staying so long from home, and that she begged he would +return thither immediately, since a message from the castle was +awaiting him. + +The doctor started up and, pouring down a last glassful of wine, set +out for his home, but his progress thitherward was not of the swiftest, +for his gait was unsteady and his head was confused,--he could not +collect his senses when he tried to divine whether this message from +the castle had any connection with Herr Delmar's arrival at Tausens. + +The doctor's wife awaited her husband in the arbour, where she had been +ever since his departure. She was standing at the entrance looking out +for him; but as she saw him approach with a heavy, unsteady gait, she +received him with anything but a smile of welcome, and the words, +spoken in a tone of profound contempt, "The brute is drunk again!" + +The doctor was perhaps not entirely unaccustomed to such tender +addresses, at all events he did not resent her words, but replied quite +humbly, "No, Rosy dear, sober,--perfectly sober,--s'help me God," the +thickness of his utterance belying his words. + +His wife took no notice of his reply, but, with the expression of +contempt upon her face intensified, she ordered him harshly, "Go to the +brook this instant, and when you are fit to hear it I have a message +for you." + +The doctor ventured no word of remonstrance; with wavering steps +he went towards the spot where, to the left of the arbour, a +mountain-brook was pouring through a hollow tree into a stone basin in +the grass. He held his hot hand under the icy stream and hesitated for +a moment, but at the sound of a sharp 'make haste' from the arbour he +delayed no longer, but stooped and let the water pour over his head. +His breath came in quick, loud pants, his face grew dark purple in hue, +and his limbs trembled,--it was a hard ordeal, but he bore the shock +bravely, and let the icy water stream over his brow and temples for +several minutes. Then he stood erect, and shaking his dishevelled shock +of hair like a dog emerging from the water, dried his face with his +cotton pocket-handkerchief, and went back to his affectionate wife in +the arbour. The cold bath had produced its effect,--his gait was +steadier and his head clearer. + +"Are you sober enough now to understand what is said to you?" + +"Sober enough; but I shall have a stroke one of these days." + +"Drink less then, and you will not have to resort to such violent +measures to make yourself sober. You are to go to the castle. Herr von +Heydeck has sent for you." + +"I am not his slave; let him wait." + +"You'd better go to the brook again,--you can't be sober yet." + +"I am sober, I tell you; but I can't see why I should always dance to +his piping. Let him come to me if he wants to talk with me." + +"You'll never be anything but a blockhead in spite of all your +book-learning. Don't you see that we must keep straight with the old +man? We are all in the same danger, and must stand together." + +"What danger?" + +"What danger, stupid? Have you no grain of understanding? Don't you +know who this man is who calls himself Delmar, and what he wants here +in Tausens? You recognized him at once as the son of Count Menotti!" + +"Yes; but I can't for the life of me see----" + +"Of course not,--but I can tell you! He is the son of Count Menotti and +the noble Frau von Heydeck, the heir of Castle Reifenstein, and he has +come for his inheritance!" + +His wife's words did not surprise the doctor; the same idea had +occurred to him, but he had rejected it as impossible. Now the uttered +words gave it distinct form in his mind, and he began to yield it +credence. "I thought of that," he said, reflectively; "but it is +impossible. The boy died long since." + +"The old fellow invented that tale for us. Rely upon it he is alive, +and has come to claim his own. It is for this the old man wishes to see +you, and you must go to him, but take care what you say. You must make +him confess that he lied to us. You must threaten him,--you can do +anything with such a coward. But you must not break with him, for we +are all alike in danger. You wrote the certificate of death,--the man +will revenge himself upon you as well as upon the old scoundrel at the +castle. Try to get as much money as you can out of the old fellow. If +the worst comes to the worst we must leave Tausens,--I have no mind to +end my days in a jail." + +"It wouldn't be as bad as that." + +"It would be bad enough. That man will have no pity for us. I saw that +in his bold black eyes. And you in your stupidity made matters as +desperate as you could by letting him see that you recognized him at +once." + +"I was so startled----" + +"That's no excuse. But that's over, and we can't help it; we must do as +well as we can. If you are really sober, go immediately to the castle. +Speak as little as possible, and get all that you can out of the old +man's cowardice. I wish I were going in your stead, for it's likely +you'll spoil all. Now go!" + +The doctor's wife thus dismissed her liege lord, who did as he was +bidden, although he had but little inclination at present for an +interview with Herr von Heydeck. The fumes of the wine he had drunk +were still clouding his intellect; he could not collect his thoughts as +he wished, and the way to the castle was long and steep. + +The warm July day had hardly grown cooler at its close. The sun, it is +true, had already set behind the mountains, but the air of the valley +was heavy and sultry, and made every step a weariness to Dr. Putzer's +massive frame. + +He was frequently obliged to rest while on the way, and heat and +fatigue combined to increase his irritation against the lord of the +castle. When at last he gained the bridge leading across the chasm, old +Melcher met him, and in the broken babble which few could understand, +but which was perfectly intelligible to the doctor's accustomed ears, +gave him to understand that his master had been impatiently awaiting +him for more than an hour. + +A savage oath was the doctor's only reply, but he hastened his steps, +and passed directly across the court-yard to Melcher's quarters. He +well knew the most direct way to Herr von Heydeck's study; he had been +familiar enough with it in years long gone by. By the winding staircase +from Melcher's room he mounted to the master's study, which he entered +without knocking. + +"Here you are at last!" the lord of the castle exclaimed. He had been +pacing the room to and fro for a long while in extreme impatience. +"Could you not come sooner? I sent for you more than two hours ago!" + +The imperious tone in which Herr von Heydeck spoke irritated the doctor +still more deeply. "Am I your slave?" he asked angrily. "I ought not to +have come at all in obedience to a command which should have been a +request. A pretty reception you give me! I've more than half a mind to +turn round and go home again." + +These words, spoken in a coarse, loud voice, had a strange effect upon +Herr von Heydeck. He recoiled timidly from the angry man; his wrinkled +features twitched nervously, and it was not until he had moved, so as +to place the heavy round table, covered with books, between himself and +his visitor, that he said in a changed and gentle tone, "You need not +be offended, doctor. I did not mean to be cross. You must not take it +amiss that I am a little impatient. I have waited more than an hour, +and have very important matters to discuss with you. Pray be seated." + +The doctor threw himself into an arm-chair, that creaked in every joint +with his weight. "I know what you want," he said sullenly; "but get me +some wine first. My tongue fairly rattles in my mouth." + +Herr von Heydeck rang a bell, and old Melcher, who answered the +summons, was sent for 'a measure of red' for the doctor. When it was +placed upon the table, Putzer poured out a glassful, emptied it at a +draught, and then, after settling himself comfortably in his chair, +said, "Now I am ready to listen. What do you want of me?" + +Herr von Heydeck did not reply. He had waited for the doctor with the +greatest impatience, but now that he had come he could not find words +in which to tell him of what was weighing upon his mind. Startled and +terrified by Delmar's appearance at Castle Reifenstein, Leo's narrative +had banished his fears but for a short time. As soon as he was alone in +his room they returned to torture him. While he gazed into his nephew's +frank, honest eyes, he gave him full credence, but when left to himself +to review the dark past, he was haunted by suspicion lest other reasons +besides friendship for Leo had brought Delmar hither. He felt himself +suddenly menaced by a peril which he had indeed dreaded many years +before, but which had long since ceased to trouble him. + +What should he do to avert disaster? He was helpless; a terrible future +was present to his excited imagination. He saw himself driven forth a +dishonoured beggar from the castle which he had for so long considered +his own; saw the gates of a prison open to receive him, condemned to a +disgraceful punishment for a deed which he hoped and believed had been +buried in oblivion. + +And there was no one to aid him in this extremity! Suddenly he thought +of Putzer, the accomplice in his schemes,--the man who must suffer with +himself if their secret was discovered,--and he despatched a messenger +to Tausens to require his immediate presence at the castle. The doctor +alone could advise and assist him. But now, when the man sat opposite +to him, and he looked into the bloated face, the leering, watery eyes, +he lost all hope of any support or aid from such a source, and +hesitated to ask him for advice, since in doing so he must confess that +for years he had deceived him. + +The doctor waited for a while in vain expectation that Herr von Heydeck +would begin what he had to say. He divined what was passing in the old +man's mind, and inwardly exulted in the terror and embarrassment +plainly to be seen in his face. At last however he grew weary of +waiting, and bringing his fist down heavily upon the table, exclaimed +with brutal violence, "Well! are you going to speak or not? Did you +send for me to come here to be stared at? Tell me what you want of me." + +The doctor knew perfectly well that it was only by brutal violence of +manner that anything could be done with Herr von Heydeck. Smooth words +had no effect upon him; but every violent gesture, every menacing word, +inspired him with fear, and fear made him docile. Cowardice was Herr +von Heydeck's distinguishing characteristic, and influenced all his +actions. + +Thus the doctor's angry words did not now fail of their effect Herr von +Heydeck moved uneasily. "Why should you be so violent, doctor?" he +asked timidly. "I did not mean to offend you. I was only thinking how +best to put into words the important intelligence I have to +communicate." + +"Have you not had time enough for that? If you are puzzling your brains +with the invention of fresh lies with which to impose upon me, you may +spare yourself the trouble. Do you suppose I don't know that you have +sent for me because you are afraid of this Herr Delmar?" + +"How?--You know?" Herr von Heydeck asked, his anxiety increasing with +every word uttered by Putzer. + +"I know more than you care to tell me. You are afraid of this fellow; +and well you may be, for he knows what he wants. Have you seen him?" + +"Yes." + +"Then there's no need to warn you. One look into his black eyes will +tell you that you've no mercy to look for there. I don't know whether I +can help you. You deceived me and lied to me; you told me your son had +died in Switzerland!" + +"My son!" Herr von Heydeck exclaimed indignantly. "You know perfectly +well----" + +"Well then, your wife's son. What is that to me? You needn't look so +furious,--I'm not afraid of you. Your cunning has overreached itself, +that's all. If you had been honest and open with me you would have had +nothing to fear now. I could have settled the boy so that you would +never have heard from him again." + +"Perhaps that would have been best," Herr von Heydeck said humbly; "but +I could not make up my mind to it then, nor could I now. I hated the +boy whose undeniable resemblance to his father was a constant disgrace +to my name. My dearest wish was for his death, but by natural means, +not by poisonous drugs. If I had left him to you, as you advised, I +should never have had another peaceful moment. Murder!--the very sound +of the word freezes the blood in my veins! I should have been frenzied +by the thought that I had permitted the deed, even although I had not +caused it to be done." + +"Who talks of murder? I forbid all such expressions as far as I am +concerned," the doctor rejoined angrily. "Do you imagine that to make +you a rich man I would have stained my soul with blood and put my neck +into a noose?" + +"But you offered the first time I spoke to you of the boy----" + +"I offered nothing except to relieve you from all anxiety. And that I +would have done if, after I had made out the certificate of the child's +death, you would have handed him over to me instead of keeping him here +in the basement of the tower, in care of Melcher, for a year, and then +carrying him off yourself. What is done should be done thoroughly. But +you are a coward, too timid to act decidedly. You were afraid of me, +and so you cheated me with the story that the boy died a year after you +had put him to board in Switzerland. Now, when he suddenly appears here +to claim his rights, you are trembling again in terror." + +"He has really come then to claim his rights? Oh, what do you know +about him, doctor?" cried Herr von Heydeck, wringing his hands. + +The doctor gazed with a scornful smile at the despair of the old man, +whom fear seemed to deprive of the capacity for thought. Putzer felt +vastly superior,--his blood was quickened by the wine, his pulses +throbbed feverishly, but his brain had regained more than its wonted +clearness. He had suddenly and advisedly uttered as fact what was only +suspicion, and thus won from Herr von Heydeck an indirect confession; +but this was not enough,--he must know the whole truth, and he was sure +that he could extort it by increasing to the uttermost the coward's +terror. + +"Time enough by and by to tell what I know about Herr Delmar, as he +calls himself," Putzer continued. "You will find to your cost that I +know more than you ever meant I should. Perhaps I can devise a means of +getting you out of the scrape, although your affairs do look black +enough; but not one step will I take in the matter, rely upon it, +unless you treat me with entire frankness. You must tell me exactly +what you did with the boy, where you put him to board, and everything +else that you know of him." + +"But if you know all about it----" + +"That is no affair of yours. I want to hear it from you, and I advise +you not to try to deceive me. I have already meditated whether to offer +my services to Herr Delmar or to stick to you. If you lie to me you +will force me for my own sake to go over to the enemy's camp, and you +know best what that means!" + +"For the love of heaven, doctor, you would not betray me?" + +"Not unless you force me to it by lies or concealment. Come, begin! +Tell me all that you know of this Herr Delmar, from the moment when I +saw the boy for the last time until the present day." + +Herr von Heydeck sprang up from his seat and paced the room to and fro +in the wildest distress. He tried to reflect, to come to some +determination, but his mind was confused; the doctor's threat had so +terrified him that he could think of nothing but the wretched +consequences of such a betrayal, and he lost sight of the fact that his +guilty accomplice had an equal interest with himself in preserving his +secret. + +The doctor allowed him no time for reflection. "Will you do as I say, +or not?" he asked roughly. And his threatening manner was, as ever, +effectual. + +Incapable of further resistance, the old man again sank into his +arm-chair, and, in the fear of offending the doctor by suppressing some +fact that he might have learned from other sources, gave him the full +and circumstantial account that he demanded. + +After Herr von Heydeck had, with the help of the doctor and of the +woman who afterwards became Frau Putzer, established the fact of the +death of the child of his late wife by means of the mock funeral and +the false certificate of death, he kept the boy, whom he loathed doubly +as the child of Count Menotti and as the obstacle to his own fortune, +in the basement of the old tower, tended by Melcher and his half-idiot +sister. Herr von Heydeck never saw it, but, as he sat in his study at +night, he could frequently hear its cries, and they not only awakened +in him the stings of conscience, but tortured him with the dread lest, +if heard by other ears, they should lead to detection and punishment. +The false certificate of death had given him all the wealth that should +have been the child's. + +Again and again the doctor's offer to rid him forever of the detested +infant recurred to him, but he recoiled from a crime that seemed to him +far more odious than the child's concealment. + +Thus a year passed amid pangs unspeakable for the lord of the castle. +He had cherished a secret hope that the child would not live long in +the gloomy tower, but this hope was blighted by Melcher's account of +the boy's thriving condition. He was almost in despair. He had not +sufficient courage for a fresh crime; and yet it would be impossible to +keep a growing child in the basement of the tower much longer without +discovery. His cries had already been heard by the villagers in the +silence of night, but superstition had lent its aid to protect the +guilty. + +"The devil is at his pranks again in the castle," the peasants in +Tausens would say, and they avoided the haunted tower as far as was +possible,--crossing themselves with a muttered prayer if they were ever +near enough to it to hear any inexplicable sounds. + +Thus far their superstition had shielded Herr von Heydeck; but who +could say when some man, more courageous than his fellows, might not +attempt to explore the source whence the ghostly cries proceeded? And +then? Why, then discovery, disgrace, and misery were the inevitable +consequences. + +The wretched man had almost made up his mind to have recourse once more +to the doctor's aid, when chance pointed a way of release for him. He +saw an advertisement in a paper offering a child for adoption. An +unnatural mother, pleading extreme poverty, appealed to the compassion +of any generous individual who would adopt her child, and consented, if +any such were found, to relinquish all her maternal rights. + +As Heydeck read he thought of the hidden child. If this woman had been +successful in only appealing to human compassion, could he not be far +more sure of success in invoking the aid of man's cupidity? And he +devised the scheme which he proceeded to carry into execution. + +He put an advertisement in a Berlin newspaper offering a sum of ten +thousand thalers to any one who would adopt an orphan boy and so +educate him as his own that the child should never learn that he was +not the genuine offspring of his adopted parent. + +He used every caution with regard to this advertisement. He went to +Berlin, and there, under an assumed name, he himself received all the +answers to his offer,--destroying them after he had read them. + +Among these one seemed especially desirable. A merchant by the name of +Delmar, residing in a distant provincial town, declared himself ready +to take the boy. He wrote that he had had the misfortune a short time +before to lose his wife and only child, Paul. The care of another child +would soothe his grief, and by a judicious outlay of the promised +capital he trusted he might insure the boy's future welfare. + +That this letter seemed less than the rest the result of greed of gain +would hardly alone have decided Heydeck to accept it as the answer to +his offer, but he was also moved thereto by the consideration that it +came from a small provincial town so distant from the Tyrol that it +could never have had the slightest cognizance of Castle Reifenstein. + +Herr von Heydeck went to H----, and made inquiries at the inn there +concerning the man who had written to him. The intelligence that he +received was satisfactory. Delmar was a small tradesman, living very +quietly, but with an excellent reputation. He was a solid, sensible +man, but had been very unfortunate. He had not only lost his wife and +only child, but the bankruptcy of a large Berlin house had so +imperilled his business that his townsfolk were afraid he would be +obliged to dispose of his stock in trade to satisfy his creditors. + +After learning these particulars, Herr von Heydeck called upon Delmar. +He introduced himself as a Herr Steineck, commissioned by a lady of +rank to provide for her illegitimate child. If Herr Delmar would bind +himself never to inquire after the child's parents, but to bring him up +as his own son, giving him his own name,--if further, in order that the +boy might never learn from strangers that he was an adopted child, he +would consent to leave H---- and establish himself in another place, +whither he could take the child as his son Paul, the boy should be +immediately handed over to him and also the ten thousand thalers. + +Delmar gladly acceded to all these conditions. He promised to leave his +present place of abode, which was full of sad memories for him, to sell +his business and go to some other German town, where he hoped to invest +the ten thousand thalers with success, and where he might make use of +his dead child's baptismal certificate to legitimate his adopted son, +so that no one could have the slightest cause for suspicion that he was +not really and truly his son. + +Delmar and Steineck were thus soon agreed; the latter paid down a +thousand thalers for a retainer as it were, and it was settled that +Delmar should immediately proceed to close up his affairs in H----, and +should inform Steineck when he was ready to move elsewhere by an +advertisement in a certain Berlin newspaper. It was made a principal +condition of their agreement that Delmar should never make the +slightest attempt to discover Steineck's place of residence. + +A month later Herr von Heydeck read in the Berlin paper that Delmar was +ready to receive the child. To effect the infant's removal was the +hardest part of Heydeck's task. He would admit no one to his confidence +in the matter; neither Dr. Putzer nor his wife should know whither the +child was taken; thus only could the secret remain such forever. + +Late in the evening Heydeck left the castle in his carriage, driven by +Melcher; the boy had been drugged, and was in deep slumber. The +Bavarian town of Rosenheim was selected by Delmar as the place where +the child was to be delivered up to him. + +All went well: Delmar was on the spot, and received the boy with the +promised sum of money. He immediately departed for Munich, and Herr von +Heydeck returned to the Tyrol, firmly convinced that Delmar had no idea +who had delivered the child to him. + +Six months later he informed Dr. Putzer that he had placed the child in +an establishment in Switzerland, where it had died of the measles. As +there was no reason to doubt this, Putzer made no further +investigations in the matter: indeed, any such would have been useless, +so perfect had been Herr von Heydeck's precautions. + +Thus everything seemed happily concluded. Herr von Heydeck had no +treachery to fear, for Dr. Putzer and his wife had as much to dread +from discovery as he had himself, and Melcher and his sister, if they +had been capable of understanding matters, were entirely dependent upon +their master, to whom they clung with slavish devotion. + +And yet Herr von Heydeck was not content. The phantom of possible +discovery pursued him awake and in dreams. In vain he repeated to +himself that he had nothing to fear, that there was no flaw in the +precautions he had taken; he could not banish the dread lest his sin +should one day find him out. + +Become more misanthropic than ever, he secluded himself from all human +companionship, and if he had not been obliged to visit the baths every +year for the sake of his health, he never would have left Castle +Reifenstein. + +But when years passed by and nothing was heard further of the boy, when +he married again and enjoyed a happiness of which he had never dreamed, +he became reassured. The dreadful dreams in which he saw his secret +discovered and himself about to receive the punishment of his crime, +tortured him no longer; he had even felt perfectly secure for years, +when suddenly he had been startled out of this security by the +appearance at the castle of his nephew's companion. + +His fears had become reality. It was impossible that the dreaded +stranger could have any motive but revenge and the recovery of his +property. Leo's information that his friend was a millionaire, and had +accompanied him to the Tyrol solely out of friendship for him, had +satisfied Herr von Heydeck but for a few moments,--the more he pondered +this information the more improbable did it seem to him. He could not +believe that this meeting was due solely to accident. + +Therefore he had in this moment of supreme peril sent for Dr. Putzer, +as the only living being to whom he could look for aid and advice, and +therefore, a prey to torturing anxiety, he made his long confession +with the greatest minuteness, interrupted but rarely by a question from +his listener. + +While he gave his utmost attention to these revelations, the idea which +he had thrown out just before, simply to intimidate Herr von Heydeck, +recurred to Dr. Putzer's mind. He too was now more than ever convinced +that Paul Delmar was aware of his parentage and of the right which he +possessed to all that Herr von Heydeck possessed, and that he had come +to Tausens to assert this right. But if this were the case, what the +millionaire coveted was certainly not the possession of an old castle +and some hundred thousand guilders which he could not possibly need, +but the ancient noble name and title, upon which the plebeian merchant +would of course place the greatest value. + +Now this was just what Herr von Heydeck had the right to withhold from +his opponent. The doctor knew perfectly well that, in view of the +proofs which Heydeck could adduce, no court in Germany could force him +to give his name to his wife's illegitimate child. Delmar's right to +his mother's property was indisputable, but he had none whatever to the +name and title of a Herr von Heydeck. If he coveted this, he must be +reconciled to Herr von Heydeck, in which case he would no longer be +dangerous, but would doubtless be willing richly to reward the man who +should help him to the fulfilment of his desires. + +And this man the doctor would be. In imagination he saw a shining +stream of gold flowing from the millionaire's money-bags into his own +open pockets, for such a lavish young Cr[oe]sus was a very different +customer from miserly old Herr von Heydeck, from whom it had been +difficult, latterly, to extort even as much as sufficed to pay the +doctor's wine-bill. + +He would ally himself with Paul Delmar: his safety as well as his +advantage required it; he was not yet quite clear as to how this +alliance was to be most advantageously concluded; he would see about +all that later, when his head should be a little clearer. Now he must +take great care lest Herr von Heydeck should suspect his scheme. Its +success was perhaps dependent upon the old man's placing implicit +confidence in him. + +When the doctor was busy thinking he was fond of refreshing himself +with a glass of wine; therefore, while Herr von Heydeck was making his +revelations, he had frequent recourse to the bottle, which, when the +narrator had come to an end, was nearly emptied, while the listener's +good humour had so increased that he found it difficult to restrain the +expression of it. "'Tis a confounded queer story, and you are in for +it," he said, at last. "This Delmar is a devil of a fellow; he'll make +you squeak. I should like to know where the deuce he heard it all. You +say you took every precaution." + +"I cannot understand it: I thought I was perfectly safe," Heydeck +replied despairingly. + +"You must have done something stupid; what it was the devil only knows; +but you're in for it now; the fellow will pull the house down about +your ears!" + +This expression seemed to the doctor so eminently fitted to the +occasion that he burst into a coarse laugh, which so irritated Herr von +Heydeck that he started up, exclaiming, "What are you laughing at? I +should think matters looked grave enough! I ask you for counsel, not +for idiotic laughter----" + +This angry outbreak only increased the doctor's tipsy merriment. +"You're a wonderfully fine old fellow!" he said, vainly trying to +steady his voice. "But, still, you're an old coward, afraid of your own +shadow, and a skinflint into the bargain! But never mind, we're the +best of friends, and I'll stand by you in this matter with your wife's +son. He shall not hurt you, depend upon me. But we'll have no more of +the stupid old story to-day: we'll drink and be merry. Take a glass, +you old sinner; come, and don't put such a d----d wry face on the +matter." + +He held out to Herr von Heydeck a glass of wine as he spoke, but the +old man rejected it angrily. He had been so absorbed by interest in his +own narrative that he had not until this moment noticed the condition +of his listener. What advice or aid could he look for from this sot? +"You are drunk again," he said with contempt. "Go home and sleep it +off!" + +This was just what the doctor desired. He knew that his brain was +confused, and that he was not in a condition to talk without betraying +his secret intentions; therefore he had feigned to be more drunk than +he really was, hoping thus to end the conversation for to-day. "You may +be right, old Solomon!" he exclaimed, with a loud laugh. "I am a little +cloudy, and a nap can do me no harm. I'll come again tomorrow and have +another talk. Sleep in peace; you need not be afraid; you and I are +more than a match for the young fellow!" + +He arose, and although he knew he had already drunk too much, he could +not withstand the temptation of the glass that was standing filled upon +the table, but emptied it before he turned towards the door. Then, +nodding a familiar farewell to Herr von Heydeck, who took no notice of +it, he left the room by the same door by which he had entered. When he +reached Melcher's apartment he thought his head felt less confused and +that his gait was sufficiently steady to justify his refusing the old +man's proffered guidance down the mountain, and accordingly he left the +castle alone. + +As he reached the court-yard a cool breeze was blowing down the valley +from the snow-mountains in the north, and by the time he had crossed +the bridge the wine had produced its full effect upon him. So far from +being able to reflect upon the best way in which to carry out his +schemes, he needed all the mind he could muster to provide for his +safety in descending the mountain. His capacity for thought was not +quite destroyed, although his brain was thoroughly bewildered. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + +"Two weeks to spend in hobbling from the bed to the sofa, and from the +sofa to the bed! it is insufferable!" Herwarth exclaimed when he was +again alone with Paul, after Dr. Putzer had left his room. + +In his vexation he did not meet with much sympathy from his friend. +"You are wrong, noble knight," Paul replied, mockingly. "You will not +only suffer it, but after a while you will admit that this enforced +rest is highly beneficial for both of us. I at least am always +delighted to have a good excuse for luxurious idleness. With what +ecstasy shall I now survey from a distance the blue ice-rifts in the +glaciers, in the consciousness that I am not called upon to ascend them +in the sweat of my brow! I verily believe, my dear Herwarth, that you +divined my secret wishes, and in heroic self-sacrifice sprained your +knightly ankle to do me pleasure, that I might lounge and dawdle here +for two weeks. It was true magnanimity on your part, my noble friend. +We shall have some delightful days together. I will send for piles +of books from Innspruck and Bozen, and I have any quantity of good +cigars,--that is, as good as can be had in this confounded Austria. Oh, +we will idle away the time gloriously!" + +"Do you think I shall allow you to sit still here in the inn on my +account while such delightful excursions are to be made all round the +country?" + +"On your account? You know perfectly well that you have nothing to do +with it, noble knight. I act to please myself. I follow my inclination +for the _dolce far niente_--for a season of repose after all these +nonsensical, tiresome mountain-ascents, of which I have had in the last +week enough to last me my lifetime. I have a horror of your delightful +excursions, where your only gain is an unquenchable thirst. The view of +the mountains from below is far finer than that of the valleys from +above. I will have none of your mountain-excursions." + +"But, Delmar, you are the most indefatigable mountain-climber. You have +been the chief instigator of our boldest efforts." + +"Have I? Very likely. I sometimes am a prey to whims. I suppose it is +because I have done so much of it that I feel such an unconquerable +repugnance now to any mountain ascent." + +"You cannot convince me. I will never consent to have you tied to the +house on my account." + +"You will never consent? You do not consider the significance of the +words so calmly uttered, noble knight. You have not the slightest idea +of all to which you will consent. As I said just now, a patient is not +an individual but a case. You will therefore consent to whatever I see +fit; for example, to let me put a fresh wet bandage upon your foot at +this moment. Let me advise you not to irritate me by opposition. Do not +force me to cool your head also with a wet bandage." + +"But, Delmar, let us speak seriously." + +"You are not to speak at all," Paul replied with a laugh; "but to keep +quiet while I bandage your foot." He proceeded to do this with a firm +and gentle hand, and then continued: "And now, noble knight, let me +beseech you not to fatigue yourself with representations and remarks +which will be of no avail against my obstinacy." + +"But, Delmar, I myself cannot bear being shut up in this room for two +weeks, and how can I allow you----" + +"As I said before, you will not be consulted upon the subject. Besides, +the doctor spoke of a balcony whither I might take you, with a lovely +view of the castle and the distant mountains. I will immediately +proceed to discover where this balcony is, and whether I can arrange a +comfortable seat there for you. If I can, we will stay in the open air +all day long, and all the evening too if you desire it." + +He left his friend, and summoned Hansel in stentorian tones to show him +the way to the balcony. This balcony was the worthy postmaster's pride. +He had himself added it to his inn, and it flattered him not a little +that every stranger who visited Tausens declared it to be a charming +place to enjoy the prospect. + +And in truth there could be no more delightful abiding-place for any +one unable to walk than this spacious balcony at the back of the house. +It was protected from sun and rain by a stout roof, and from the blasts +of wind by the house itself, and it was large enough to accommodate +easily more than thirty people. The view from it was glorious, +comprehending a distant prospect of the densely-wooded mountainside of +the valley of the Schwarzenbach, with Castle Reifenstein proudly +crowning the rocky wall at its entrance, and also the glaciers in the +background with the three peaks the Maidelspitz, the Weisshorn, and the +Schiechjoch. + +"Wonderful!" Paul exclaimed. "Here let us build our cots." And he +straightway proceeded to make every arrangement for Herwarth's +establishment in ease and comfort, being most cordially assisted in his +task by the good-humoured innkeeper. + +When all was ready he returned to Kuno's room for his friend, whom he +supported in triumph to the comfortable easy-chair provided for him. +The injured foot was placed upon another cushioned chair, and a plaid +thrown over it that the noble knight, as Paul said with a laugh, might +present a respectable appearance in case any ladies should visit the +balcony. + +"And I think they will not be long in coming," he added. "I remarked +Fraeulein von Schlicht's expression as she looked down at you. A wounded +warrior of this description has the same attraction for the fair sex as +a candle has for moths." + +Kuno would have resented this unseemly comparison, but how could he +resent anything from so kind a nurse? And besides, Delmar's words were +almost immediately confirmed, for before Herwarth could reply Eva +Schommer and Aline von Schlicht appeared upon the balcony. + +"Was I not right?" Paul whispered. "Here come the moths already." + +Kuno would have sprung up from his arm-chair to receive the ladies, but +Delmar detained him with a firm hand. "Sit still, my noble knight," he +said; "a patient has no right to be chivalric. Pray take the will for +the deed, ladies," he went on, turning to Eva and Aline. "You see that +this wounded warrior, in his joy at this unexpected meeting in a +strange land, would fain arise to do you reverence, but my strong grasp +detains him. The doctor has forbidden him to stand, and I am an +incorruptible nurse. As his present natural guardian, and in his stead, +I salute you with my most profound obeisance." And he bowed low, still +keeping his hand upon Kuno's shoulder. + +The latter still made efforts to rise, until Aline von Schlicht said in +a gentle tone of entreaty, "Do not drive us away from this charming +balcony, Herr von Herwarth. We must go if you are not perfectly quiet. +I hope the injury to your foot is not grave?" + +"Nothing of any consequence, Fraeulein von Schlicht," Paul answered in +Kuno's stead; "nothing that will prevent his waltzing as gracefully as +ever next winter, if he will only keep quiet for two weeks and obey +orders, which now that I have so charming an ally in my efforts to that +end I have good hopes of his doing. One word from your lips, fair lady, +will be of more effect than whole sermons from mine." + +Paul spoke to Aline, but as he spoke he looked at Eva, and scarcely +noticed that Aline approached Kuno's arm-chair and frankly extended to +him a hand, which the lieutenant kissed with more warmth than the +occasion seemed to require. + +Delmar's attention was absorbed by Eva, who did not follow her friend's +example, but leaning against the balustrade of the balcony had taken no +part in the short conversation. + +Hitherto Paul had seen Eva only in full dress at balls or in brilliant +assemblages, or driving in her carriage. He had always thought her +beautiful, but he regarded her as a purse-proud woman of fashion, and +as such he had a prejudice against her,--a prejudice strengthened by +the marked friendliness of her manner towards himself, the wealthiest +man of her acquaintance, in contrast with the cold reserve she +maintained towards all the other men about her, with the exception +perhaps of Count Waldheim. + +Money was of so little value in his eyes, he so detested pride of +purse, that he had intentionally kept aloof from the beautiful heiress; +he would not add another to the crowd of her adorers, and the sweet +smile with which Eva replied to his bow, instead of acknowledging it by +the haughty bend of her head which she accorded to others, increased +his dislike of her, for he thought this smile was given to his money +and not to himself. + +By her betrothal to the man for whom Delmar had so thorough a contempt +Eva had lost every claim to his regard. That she had made an apology to +Leo the condition of her betrothal caused him to waver for a moment in +his judgment of her. Only for a moment, however; he had not thought it +worth while to inquire into her reasons for so doing; very likely she +acted from fear lest her precious lover should be wounded, or perhaps +from mere whim. What did he care about the motives actuating the +purse-proud heiress? + +His prejudice against her was in full force when she appeared upon the +balcony with Aline, and yet he could not help regarding her with a +degree of interest. She had never looked as lovely, he thought, as in +her simple travelling-dress. The brilliant lady of fashion receiving, +in diamonds and lace, the homage of her ball-room adorers as her right, +with a haughty, disdainful air, was scarcely to be recognized in the +simple lovely girl who stood leaning against the balustrade of the +balcony contemplating Herwarth's reception of her friend, with a look +full of loving sympathy. The dark eyes, wont to flash with disdain, +were full of gentle tenderness, while a charming smile transfigured her +face for an instant as Kuno bestowed his eager kiss upon Aline's hand. +It vanished immediately however to give place to an expression of +profound melancholy, while the dark eyes sought the ground. It would +almost seem that the girl whom Delmar had always thought heartless was +a prey to some deep-seated grief. + +Paul was no sentimental enthusiast. When he found himself, after +observing the melancholy in Eva's face, upon the high-road towards +sympathy for the sorrow that brought it there, he started off in the +opposite direction. He was vexed with himself that a pretty face could +have such an influence upon him; his old aversion for Eva stirred +within him, and awakened a desire to prove to the purse-proud girl that +she could not drag every man at her chariot-wheels; that there was one +at least who saw through her and was dazzled neither by her beauty nor +her wealth. + +With the scornful smile which so often hovered upon his lips and did +not at all add to his attractions, Paul bowed low to Eva as he +approached, and addressed her in a low tone, "'Tis an unexpected +pleasure, Fraeulein Schommer, to meet you here in this retired corner of +the world. I am the more delighted, as it gives me an opportunity to +offer you my congratulations upon your betrothal; congratulations as +sincere as is my admiration for Herr von Bertram, who certainly, as far +as manliness and nobility of disposition are concerned, is worthy of +his lovely betrothed." + +As Delmar approached her Eva had raised her eyes to his for a moment, +but at sight of his scornful smile she instantly averted them. A +burning blush crimsoned her cheek and tears rushed to her eyes as she +listened to his words. + +With an effort to control herself, she replied, "What have I done, Herr +Delmar,--how have I ever offended you? How given you the right thus to +wound me?" + +Paul was prepared for a sharp reply, to which he would have made as +sharp a rejoinder; but tears, and this gentle reproof! He had never +been so nonplussed; he felt ashamed and confused, and hardly knowing +what he said, he stammered, "Indeed, Fraeulein Schommer--you are +mistaken--I did not mean to wound you." + +"You did mean to wound me, and you succeeded excellently well," Eva +rejoined, still mastering her emotion, and looking directly at Delmar +with eyes before which his own sought the ground. "I know how +unfavourable is your opinion of Herr von Bertram. Your sarcastic +congratulation was an intentional offence which I have not deserved at +your hands." + +Delmar felt precisely like some school-boy caught in a particularly +disgraceful trick and forced to listen without a word of reply to a +severe reprimand, the justice of which he could not but acknowledge. +The quiet dignity and the feminine gentleness of Eva's reply to his +ironical address completely disarmed him. His wonted skill in repartee +forsook him, and he could only say simply, in excuse, "Forgive me!" +From the altered expression of his face Eva saw clearly that these +words were prompted by sincere regret for his late attack. The sneer +had entirely vanished, and there was such genuine entreaty for +forgiveness in his eyes that she could not but accord it to him. + +"I am not angry," she said, not unkindly; "but it pains me that even +you, whom I have never offended, can take pleasure in wounding me. I +will forget the words in which you couched your congratulations just +now if you will frankly tell me in what way I have provoked your +hostility." + +"You subject me to painful embarrassment. I assure you that I entertain +not the slightest hostility towards you." + +"You evade me, but I cannot let you escape. I have a right to know of +what you accuse me, what you think gives you the right to speak +slighting words to a poor, defenceless girl. You are Herr von Heydeck's +friend, perhaps you accuse me, as he did publicly, of arrogance, +self-conceit, and despicable pride of purse, and therefore feel +yourself justified in humiliating me? You need not answer, I see in +your face that if you spoke honestly you would be obliged to say 'Yes;' +but I solemnly declare that you do me bitter injustice! You, who know +the misery of being rich, will believe me when I tell you how I detest +and despise this wretched wealth that poisons every enjoyment of life +for me. I purse-proud! I who am forced to feel with shame and pain +every hour of the day that I myself am nothing, that with the exception +of two or three friends every human being who comes near me values me +for my money! And never was I so painfully conscious of this as at the +present moment. For you, with your millions, my wealth is valueless. In +your eyes I am simply an insignificant girl whom you regard with +contempt, and whom you feel yourself justified in humiliating by +offensive words of reproof. But I promised to forget what you said, and +I will keep my word. Let us speak of something else. + +"I came out upon this balcony with my friend Aline with a purpose in +view. I knew you were here, and I wished to speak with you. Chance has +brought me to Tausens. I wished to avoid the stream of tourists, and if +possible to spend a few quiet weeks in some retired corner of the +Tyrol. I hoped to find this asylum in Tausens, and my kind uncle +consented to accompany me hither, although he knew that he should be +obliged to forego here many of his daily luxuries and even comforts. +Upon arriving at noon to-day we learned that three gentlemen were +already lodging at the 'Post.' Your name was mentioned, and also that +of Herr von Heydeck, whereupon my uncle and Herr von Bertram would have +left Tausens immediately. But I refused to do so. I am quite sure of +never having given Herr von Heydeck the slightest reason for the +offensive expressions which were the cause of his quarrel with Herr von +Bertram. I can therefore meet him frankly and fearlessly. There is no +reason why I should run away from him, and I shall certainly not do so. +This is why I stayed." + +Eva's long explanation had given Paul time to recover from his +embarrassment, and the change in her manner helped him to overcome his +confusion; but he had lost all desire for a war of words. He no longer +regarded Eva with his late dislike. Her frankness and candour inspired +him with esteem and interest; her lament over the misery of wealth +aroused his sympathy. Had he not often felt thus while he despised +those who flattered and cringed to him? He had known that their homage +was paid only to his money, and he could easily conceive how a like +knowledge should embitter Eva's very soul. Her determination, so boldly +expressed, to meet Leo frankly and fearlessly pleased him, and he could +not but say, "I admire your courage, Fraeulein Schommer, and I expressed +this admiration to your betrothed when he told me of your resolve." + +Eva blushed as Delmar uttered the word 'betrothed.' It sounded +strangely in her ears from his lips. True, there was not a shade of +sarcasm now in his tone, and yet it offended her to hear of Bertram as +her betrothed. She knew that she had no right to object, that any +objection would be extremely unbecoming, and yet when she asked, "You +have already spoken with Herr von Bertram?" she laid a sharp emphasis +upon the 'Herr von.' + +Delmar noticed this; it was not the way in which a true-hearted girl +would speak of her lover, and he called to mind Bertram's uneasy +anxiety in the conversation they had had shortly before. Paul was now +convinced that love had hardly tied the knot of this engagement, and he +wondered what inducement could have led the lovely heiress to bestow +her hand upon such a suitor. This wonder so occupied his thoughts that +it was not until Eva had repeated her question that he replied. + +"Yes, I have had a conversation with him." + +"By your own desire?" + +"Why do you ask?" + +"From certain expressions of Herr von Bertram's I am led to suspect +that you are no friend of his, nor does he regard you with friendly +sentiments. He feared a meeting with you and with Herr von Heydeck, and +so urged me to leave Tausens that I am surprised to hear of a +conversation between you. Therefore I asked. I wished to know whether +you had sought an opportunity to express the same congratulations to +him that you offered to me." + +"He accosted me, and begged me to grant him an interview. + +"Was it of a peaceful character?" + +"Yes." + +"You parted friends?" + +"You must excuse me from replying to that question, Fraeulein Schommer. +I do not wish to offend you again, and therefore we will say no more +with regard to your betrothed; my opinion of whom must be a matter of +entire indifference to you. Since chance has brought us together here, +and as we shall probably often meet in the next few weeks upon this +balcony, let us avoid all allusion to disagreeable topics. Let us +follow the example of my friend Kuno, and of yours Fraeulein von +Schlicht, who, to judge from their cheerful countenances, are certainly +not discussing anything disagreeable, but conversing together most +amicably. I think we can do so, too, if we only consent to forget the +past, and to consider ourselves merely as a couple of travellers +meeting in a retired and beautiful part of the Tyrol, where in the +beauty around us, and in our daily experiences, we can surely find +matter enough for pleasant talk." + +"You are right; I will follow your advice; only answer me one question. +I do not see Herr von Heydeck, but only Herr von Herwarth, who I did +not know was your travelling companion; has Herr von Heydeck gone +away?" + +"Not very far; he is staying up there in the fine old Castle of +Reifenstein, which belongs to his uncle, a Herr von Heydeck. He will +probably visit us down here but rarely, since he is held in magic +thrall by the soft spells of a lovely fairy, his beautiful cousin +Hilda." + +"Hilda von Heydeck?" Eva exclaimed. "An exquisitely beautiful young +girl with lustrous blue eyes and magnificent golden hair. A merry, +frank, charming creature! Hilda von Heydeck a near relative of your +friend's?" + +"You know Fraeulein von Heydeck?" + +"I met her at an evening party two years ago, in Vienna, where I with +my uncle Balthasar stayed a few weeks, and I was so delighted with her +loveliness and gayety that I talked with her almost the entire evening. +How strange that I should find myself so near to her now without having +intended it!" + +"She is the cause of our presence in the Tyrol. Leo came to Tausens to +make acquaintance with his charming cousin, whom his father wishes him +to marry, and Herwarth and I accompanied him." + +Eva did not reply, she gazed up at the castle on the rocks with eyes +full of a dreamy melancholy; the image of the lovely Hilda arose in her +mind side by side with that of Leo von Heydeck. How often had she +thought of him lately!--not in hatred, but in profound sadness. She +could not hate him, although he had insulted her; she could not but +feel that by her own cold reserve she had given him some reason for his +harsh words. She had thought of him almost as of a departed spirit. Was +he not dead to her,--the betrothed of his mortal enemy? And yet now a +sharp pain, inexplicable to herself, stirred within her at the thought +of the happy hours he was passing in the old castle with his lovely +cousin, who was one day to be his wife. But she knew that such vague, +unjustifiable emotion was unworthy of her; that it was her duty to +endeavour to conquer it; and she did so, forcing herself to say with +apparent calm, "I thank you, Herr Delmar, I trust any disagreeable +meeting with Herr von Heydeck may be spared myself or Herr von Bertram. +Although I do not fear it I would rather avoid it, and I think this may +be quite possible, since Herr von Heydeck must find the castle with its +fairy most attractive. And now let us join our friends, who have a +right to take it amiss that we have held ourselves aloof from them so +long." + +It was doubtful whether Eva really entertained the fear lest Aline and +Herwarth should take her _tete-a-tete_ with Delmar amiss. Had she done +so, one glance at the pair would have reassured her; they evidently +needed no other companionship. + +Aline stood beside Kuno's arm-chair, and had asked about the manner of +his accident with such tender sympathy, that the happy lieutenant +inwardly declared that such gentle, kindly words from such lovely lips +were cheaply bought by a sprained ankle. He told her how devoted and +kind was Delmar, whom he had only lately learned really to know; and +although Paul had never before particularly interested Aline, she +suddenly found him extremely amiable and agreeable. + +Kuno also told of Leo, and of his visit to Castle Reifenstein, finding +a most attentive listener. So absorbed were they that they never +thought of finding Eva's conversation with Delmar too long. Now, when +Eva made kindly inquiries of Kuno as to his suffering, he thanked her +courteously, and all took part in a conversation inaugurated by Delmar +about Tausens and the wonders of scenery in its neighbourhood. + +Paul was in the best of humours; he brought chairs for the ladies, +placing them where they could have the finest view of the Schwarzenbach +valley, and then gave a humorous account of all the friends had gone +through on their walk from the Zillerthal. His talent for conversation +was undeniable, and Eva felt the charm of it for the first time. +Meeting him only at balls and large assemblies in K----, she had always +regarded him as a _blase_ man of the world, probably because his +dislike of the haughty heiress had never permitted him to think it +worth the trouble to let his light shine in her presence. To-day, +however, resigning himself entirely to his natural mood, he soon +overcame the prejudices of his listeners. His dry humour even provoked +the grave Eva's frequent laughter, and she soon almost forgot how +unpleasant had been the first few moments of their meeting. Aline too +was much interested in Herr Delmar's talk, but what provoked her +special admiration was his constant care and consideration for Herr von +Herwarth, and the conscientious fulfilment of his duties as nurse. + +The appearance of Uncle Balthasar on the balcony was no interruption to +the pleasant conversation. He greeted Delmar and Herwarth with his +usual kindly good humour, and they returned his salutation in kind. Eva +was especially pleased to see that Delmar, who was generally so ready +with the sharp arrows of his sarcasm in view of any silliness or +weakness, had neither sneering word nor look for Uncle Balthasar. + +And yet the young man might well have thought Uncle Balthasar fair +game, as he came tripping out upon the balcony in his trim elegance of +costume, in one hand his fine straw hat, and in the other a delicate +cane, addressing Delmar in the richest Saxon patois: "Aha, my good Herr +Delmar, monstrous glad to see you in the Tyrol, I'm _suah_." + +But Delmar never seemed to hear Uncle Balthasar's mistakes either of +grammar or pronunciation; he treated him with all the respectful +courtesy due from a young man to one much older, thereby taking the +kindly old man's heart by storm. + +A couple of hours flew swiftly by; the sun had long set behind the +mountains, the valley of the Schwarzenbach lay in dim shadow, from +which only the distant peaks of the Weisshorn emerged, glowing in +crimson light; soon it, too, faded, and a dull ashen gray followed upon +the last shimmer of departed day. The increasing darkness warned Eva +that it was time to leave the balcony, and she arose. "We must not +leave Aunt Minni alone any longer," she said. "She will certainly be +waiting for us at her tea-table." + +Uncle Balthasar was enjoying himself hugely,--he would have liked to +spend another hour upon the balcony,--but he followed Eva's lead +immediately, and took leave of Delmar and Herwarth, assuring Paul that +it was _too_ delightful to find such entertaining society in Tausens, +and that he only regretted that "the dear Guido"--it was thus he spoke +of Herr von Bertram--was prevented by headache from taking part in the +delightful conversation. + +The name of Guido again provoked on Delmar's face the sarcastic smile +which had vanished from it during the last two hours. "Do you share +this regret, Fraeulein Schommer?" he asked hardily. + +"No! Good-night," was the brief reply, as, taking her uncle's arm and +followed by Aline, Eva left the balcony. + +After the ladies had left, Paul walked to the balustrade and, leaning +upon it, gazed thoughtfully abroad upon the landscape now fading +quickly into the gloom of night. + +Kuno, occupied in reflecting upon the last few hours, and upon many a +gentle word of Aline's, did not disturb his revery, which had been +prolonged for nearly half an hour, when suddenly Delmar turned to the +lieutenant and said, "Do you know, noble knight, that I have just made +a discovery which will not be half as new to you as it is humiliating +to me?" + +"What have you discovered?" Kuno asked. + +"That I have been a confounded ass, a stupid, addled ass! And it is all +the more humiliating to find this out just when I thought myself so +very wise." + +"Confessions of a fair soul!" Kuno laughed. "May I ask what has led you +to so unflattering a discovery with regard to yourself?" + +"Yes, you may ask, and it is my duty to answer, because it is to you +also that I have so often and so conceitedly displayed my superhuman +wisdom. I must confess to you, and in especial to Leo, the terrible +grief to which I am come with my boasted knowledge of human nature. I +deserve to have my ears boxed,--if there were only some one to do it +for me. + +"You make me curious." + +"You have often heard me speak of Fraeulein Schommer; do you remember +what opinion of her I expressed?" + +"Not a very flattering one." + +"It was brutal, thick-headed, idiotic! I called her purse-proud, vain, +arrogant, cold, heartless, and I have no doubt I used a great many more +adjectives equally stupid. It is not sufficient that I inwardly confess +and regret the wrong I have done her. I must apologize to you and to +Leo, with whom I have often spoken of her. She is a charming and lovely +girl, noble in disposition, and of great sensibility,--incapable of an +unworthy thought. Faults she may have,--I cannot say,--but pride of +purse is not among them, that I'll swear to." + +Kuno laughed. "Take care, take care!" he said. "You seem to me to have +been gazing too deeply into the lovely Eva's dreamy dark eyes. I have +never heard you speak of a girl thus. Keep fast hold of your heart or +you will lose it here on the balcony." + +"Do you think so?" Paul asked mockingly. "Your wisdom is profound, +noble knight, almost as profound as my own. One cannot lose what one +does not possess; my admiration for the fair Eva has nothing to do with +my heart. I should hardly have spoken of her so frankly to you had I +been in love with her; reassure yourself on that score. I am only +filled with remorse for having so misjudged her, and perhaps thereby +strengthened others--our Leo for example--in their false estimate of +her. Do you know what I have been pondering for the last half-hour?" + +"How should I?" + +"I will tell you; I have been dreaming of a happy future for our +friend. It is particularly stupid to indulge in waking dreams, but it +is a habit of mine, and I cannot get rid of it. I saw Leo with a +charming young wife,--saw him wealthy and happy, valued by every one as +a true artist and scholar, and beloved as a friend by all who stand in +need of aid or counsel. I saw him thus, and his lovely young wife gave +me a bewitching glance from her dreamy dark eyes, and smiled the +gentle, kindly smile which I saw to-day for the first time. It was a +dream, Herwarth, but a delightful dream, and I wish I could make it a +reality. Leo and Eva! What a charming couple they would make!" + +"You forget that Fraeulein Schommer is betrothed." + +"To that scoundrel Bertram! That is what vexes me, and what I cannot +understand. This betrothal was a puzzle to me when I thought Fraeulein +Schommer a cold, heartless, vain, purse-proud creature; even then I did +not see how she could throw herself away upon the fellow, and the only +explanation I could find was that she had fallen in love with his +smooth, handsome face. But she does not love him; I know it now, and I +know more than that,--I read in her face to-day that this engagement is +a disgrace in her eyes, and that she despises Bertram. And yet she is +betrothed to him! She shrinks when he is spoken of as her lover; she +never speaks of him except as _Herr von Bertram_; she confesses that +his presence wearies her, and yet she is his betrothed! I cannot +understand these contradictions; I must discover what they mean; and if +I find that this Herr von Bertram has played false with Fraeulein Eva, +and perhaps with me, let him look to himself. He has not yet reached +the goal of his hopes,--an engagement may be broken,--and I do not +relinquish the hope that my dream may be fulfilled,--that Leo and Eva +may come together at last!" + +"But you quite forget Leo's profound aversion for Fraeulein +Schommer,--an aversion which was the cause of that wretched scene at +Buechner's. You have indeed been dreaming, my friend; your fancy has run +away with your understanding. Eva and Leo! The strangest combination +imaginable! I find it much easier, after your glowing description of +the beauty and loveliness of his charming cousin, to believe that Leo +will find a balm for all his woes up there at the castle, and that he +will return to K---- happily betrothed to the 'Fair one with the golden +locks.'" + +"That he never will!" Paul cried angrily. "I tell you---- But no, I had +better tell you nothing, but change the bandage on your foot; it will +be pleasanter both for you and for myself." + +He did so, and then walked again to the balustrade to look out once +more over the valley, now shrouded in black darkness. Nannerl brought a +lamp with a screen, which she placed upon a table beside Kuno. Paul +never noticed it; she asked what the gentlemen would have for supper; +he did not hear her, and Kuno, contrary to custom, gave orders in his +stead. Paul dreamed on, resigning himself to the unrestrained play of +his fancy, although he had just denounced all waking dreams as folly. + +A coarse, rough voice saying loudly, "Good-evening, Herr Delmar!" +recalled him to earth from the realms of imagination, and turning, he +saw before him the bloated, purple face of Dr. Putzer, who had just +come with an uncertain step from the house out upon the balcony, and +who thus greeted him with repulsive friendliness. + +One look into the doctor's eyes sufficed to tell Paul that he was +intoxicated, and the good impression he had produced upon his first +visit to his patient was entirely obliterated by his present air and +manner. With positive disgust Delmar withdrew the hand that Putzer +would have grasped. + +The doctor was in too exalted a frame of mind with the wine he had +taken to notice this repulse; he staggered to the table, dropped into a +chair, and drummed with his fingers upon the table-top. "A can of red, +Nannerl!" he bawled hoarsely, "and be quick! My throat is as dry as +dust with my long walk! Do you know where I have been?" he continued, +turning to Delmar, after Nannerl had brought him the wine and he had +tossed off a glass. "Guess where!" + +"I think, Herwarth, we had better go to our rooms," Paul said, paying +no heed to the doctor's question; he did not want to enter into +conversation with the man in his present state, and he thought it best +to vacate the field. + +"What are you talking about?" the doctor interposed. "Nonsense! We are +just beginning to enjoy ourselves. Here comes your supper. A measure of +wine for the gentlemen, Nannerl! We'll show you how we drink in the +Tyrol!" + +Nannerl, who had just brought the supper ordered by Herwarth, looked +from the doctor to Delmar, and the latter was about to give orders that +the supper should be carried to his room, when Kuno whispered, "Stay, +Delmar; the fellow is tipsy, and may be off his guard in speaking of +the castle and Heydeck. Stay for Leo's sake." + +Paul nodded assent and stayed. He could not bring himself to take a +seat beside Putzer, so great was his disgust at the man, but he pushed +his plate and napkin over to the other side, and took his place just +where he could look directly into the doctor's face. + +"Now where have I come from?" the doctor repeated after Paul had seated +himself. "Guess! You won't guess? Aha, I see you're a sly one! You know +well enough where I have been. With the old man up there of course. +You've put him in a deuce of a worry. Yes, you're a sly one, but you +can't fool me, and I am not afraid of you as that old coward is. He +thinks his castle and his property are all gone. Such a fright as he is +in! You should have seen him shaking! Ha, ha, ha!" + +The doctor leaned back in his chair and laughed, or rather roared, +until it took him some moments to recover his breath. + +What did these tipsy sentences mean? Delmar would have attached no +significance to them, coming from such a source, had he not remembered +the strange manner in which Herr von Heydeck had received him, and the +disconnected words he had then uttered. The doctor now spoke of the old +man's dread of losing his castle and his property. Had Herr von Heydeck +in former years had money transactions with Paul's father, the deceased +banker? Was there any bond or note of hand hidden away somewhere? The +name of Delmar had evidently not been unknown to Herr von Heydeck. He +had muttered 'Paul Delmar' without having heard the name of Paul from +its owner. + +Delmar's curiosity was excited. He was anxious to learn what was the +mystery at the foundation of Herr von Heydeck's terror of him, and +surely no better opportunity than the present could be found for +gaining this knowledge. The doctor's tipsy garrulity was driving him to +tell all that he knew. By taking care not to awaken any suspicion in +him that he was under examination, Paul might easily learn as much as +he wished. + +In an instant he had decided what course to pursue. He went on +carefully cutting the loaf which Nannerl had brought, and, without +looking at Putzer, he casually remarked, "The old man is afraid, eh? +Well, perhaps he has reason to be so." + +"Found out! found out!" the doctor roared, with another coarse laugh. +"I told you you couldn't fool me. That's what you've come for, then! +Well, the old miser deserves it. But if you think you can force him to +acknowledge you as his son and give you his name, you're mistaken +indeed. If you can bring proof you can take from him his castle and all +he owns, but not his name and rank. You can never be a Herr von Heydeck +unless he chooses, I tell you that; I, Dr. Putzer!" + +With all Paul's self-control he could not quite suppress some +expression of the measureless astonishment which he felt at these +words. The doctor observed this, and laughed more uproariously than +ever, ascribing the look of startled amazement upon Delmar's face to +the young man's dismay at finding his schemes discovered,--a view in +which he was confirmed by Paul's laconic "Do you think so?" + +"Do I think so!" he exclaimed, amid peals of stentorian laughter. "Do I +think so! I don't think so at all, I know it; I know everything. You're +a sly one, and so is the old fellow up there, but Dr. Putzer is slyer +than the pair of you together. You can't fool me; I know more than you +think. You may look as mild as milk, but I know what I know! The old +fellow is rich enough, to be sure, but you won't go to law with him for +that. If a man has millions, what does he care for a paltry couple of +hundred thousand guilders? You want to be a Herr von Heydeck, a +nobleman with an ancient name; that's all you need. Ha, ha, ha!" + +And he laughed until he brought on a coughing-fit, from which it took +him some time to recover. + +Paul's desire to know more was now aroused to the utmost, but he forced +himself to appear quite calm. Replying to Kuno's whispered "Is the +fellow only drunk, or is he insane?" by a sign to remain quiet, he went +on eating his supper with an air of perfect indifference until the +doctor had ceased laughing, and then asked, with a contemptuous shrug, +"Can you prevent my getting it, doctor?" + +"I? On the contrary, I'll help you to it!" exclaimed the doctor, +emphasizing his declaration by a blow of his fist upon the table. "The +old man will struggle and resist. You will never be able to do anything +with him, as I know well enough. But leave him to me; I know how to +work upon his fears. If you don't mind a matter of ten thousand +guilders or so, I am yours; but if you are such an infernal miser as +the old fellow up there, you'll never be a Herr von Heydeck as long as +you live. There's nothing to be done with the old man by violence; +cunning must be used, and I have more of that than both of you +together." + +"You ask ten thousand guilders? That is a very large sum." + +"Are you not a millionaire? And you can do nothing without me, +nothing!" + +Paul was prevented from replying by the arrival upon the balcony of +several of the village dignitaries. + +The circuit judge, who had been stationed for about half a year at +Tausens, the forester, and the collector, having just returned from a +walk, had come to the inn to enjoy the pleasant breeze upon the balcony +after the sultry day. They were regular evening guests at the Post, and +were a little later to-night than usual on account of the aforesaid +walk. + +They saluted the two strangers with great courtesy, nodding to the +doctor with a degree of contemptuous familiarity that testified to the +estimation in which he was held by them. With kindly sympathy they +inquired about the injury to Kuno's foot, adding the soothing assurance +that however grave it might be he could rely upon the skill of the +doctor, who, the circuit judge remarked without any regard for any one +present, although a confirmed drunkard, was an admirable physician. +Just at present, to be sure, he was in an entirely irresponsible +condition, but on the following day, when sober, he would be all they +could desire in a medical man. + +The doctor was not in the least offended by this explanation on the +part of the judge; he laughed, and declared that the judge was a little +tipsy himself or he would not accuse others of being so. To show how +thoroughly sober he was he swallowed several more glasses of wine, and +shortly became so uproarious in his merriment that the Tausens +gentlemen, mortified by such a disgraceful scene in the presence of +strangers, called the postmaster and had the drunkard led home to his +house. + +Delmar and Herwarth spent another hour in most agreeable conversation +with the three gentlemen upon the various points of interest in the +neighbourhood, after which they bade them good-night, and Paul +conducted Kuno to his room. + +Delmar passed a restless and sleepless night after a long discussion +with Kuno as to the meaning of the doctor's mysterious talk,--a +discussion in which neither of the young men arrived at any conclusion. +They could not divine what could induce the man to suppose that Delmar +intended to deprive Herr von Heydeck of his estate and to lay claim to +his name. The account of Paul's reception at the castle threw no light +upon the subject; no one but the doctor could do this, and to him Paul +determined to appeal the next day. Perhaps Leo had in the mean time +received some intelligence from his uncle which would make any such +appeal unnecessary. At all events, Delmar felt it his duty to see his +friend and talk frankly with him before taking any steps which might be +regarded with suspicion by his uncle. + +Hitherto Paul's existence had pursued a smooth, commonplace track; he +had always seen clearly the duty that lay nearest him, and even in the +only troubled time he could remember, the years he had devoted to +business before his father's death, he had never doubted what path to +follow. The large accession of wealth that had been the consequence of +the enlargement of his business had never moved him; it was of value to +him only as a source of content to his father, and thus the success +that crowned his efforts left him cold. + +Nor had his father's odd will made any great impression upon him; he +regarded it as the result of the morbid desire of the sick man to +atone, by some special acknowledgment of love and esteem, for any +neglect of his son in past years. But now, as he tossed restlessly upon +his bed, this will recurred to his mind, and he racked his brain to +discover any connection that it might have with the doctor's words. In +vain; and the more he pondered the more confused became his thoughts; +his head throbbed: he could not stay in bed; he arose, dressed, and +lighting a candle took a book and began to read. It was long before he +could command his thoughts sufficiently to understand as he read; but +at last his mind became more composed, and before morning he was able +to throw himself upon his bed once more and snatch an hour's refreshing +slumber before he was roused by the early noises in the awakening +village. + +Herwarth did not awake until eight o'clock from his long night's rest, +which he declared had so strengthened him that he was eager after he +was dressed to repair again to the balcony. This Paul positively +forbade until his patient had received the doctor, who upon his +professional visit of the day before had promised to come early in the +morning. + +Kuno was too grateful a patient to rebel; but the time seemed long +until, shortly after the clock of the village church had struck ten, +the heavy tread of Dr. Putzer was heard outside the door of their +sitting-room. + +Upon entering the doctor looked very much as if he too had passed but a +sorry night, his red, bloated face had a weary, dragged expression, his +watery, lack-lustre eyes were dimmer than ever and his step was +unsteady. Still, he was certainly no longer intoxicated, although the +flush upon his cheeks betokened that he had possibly indulged in a +morning glass. + +Putzer saluted the two gentlemen with the same quiet affability that +had distinguished him upon his first professional visit, asked +intelligently about the injured foot, and was in his whole bearing so +entirely the educated man of the world, the benevolent physician, that +no one could have recognized in him the brutal drunkard who had been +led from the inn by the stable-boy on the previous evening. + +He examined Kuno's foot, expressing great satisfaction at the +improvement produced in it by the wet applications, and he then +proceeded to bandage it more firmly than before, with such gentleness +and dexterity that Delmar was really amazed, and almost wondered +whether this could be the same man who had left them on the previous +evening. + +"In two weeks," said Putzer, rubbing his hands after he had finished, +"we shall remove all bandages, and I will go surety that you shall walk +as well as ever if you will remember not to use the foot in the mean +time, except to hobble out upon the balcony, where you must sit with it +up in a chair." + +Kuno promised obedience. + +"You have no further need of my aid," the doctor rejoined upon this +promise, "unless you should feel any pain again, when I beg you to send +for me. Nevertheless, I hope to see you frequently on the balcony. I +come to the Post every evening and drink my glass of wine, either there +or in the inn parlour. I have the honour to bid you good-morning." + +With a more graceful obeisance than would have been thought possible +for his clumsy figure he took his leave, without having made the +faintest allusion to the previous evening. He had reached the door when +he turned once more. "I shall surely have the pleasure of seeing the +gentlemen on the balcony to-night?" he asked. + +"Certainly, Herr Doctor," Delmar replied. "Why should you not?" + +"Why not, indeed? Still, let me confess frankly that I rather feared I +might have offended the gentlemen yesterday evening. For several days +past I have had a tightness about my head,--a rush of blood to the +brain,--which was of course aggravated by the intense heat and the +unwonted exertion of my ascent to the castle. I may also have taken a +glass or two more of wine than usual. I was, I am ashamed to confess, +but it cannot be denied, stupidly intoxicated, not from excess, but +from feeble health. At this very moment I fear a recurrence of the same +rush of blood to the head. I must have talked all sorts of nonsense +yesterday evening, and perhaps I offended you. Whether this be so or +not I cannot say, for I have not the slightest remembrance of what +occurred. In any case I pray you to excuse me, and not to avoid the +balcony for fear of similar scenes. It shall not occur again." + +"You did not offend us, Herr Doctor," Paul declared. + +"I did not? That reassures me, and I may then hope to see you again +this evening." + +He bowed once more; and as he did so his face grew purple, and when he +would have grasped the handle of the door he had to feel for it twice, +like a blind man. His step too as he went out was strangely unsteady. + +"Can he be intoxicated again so early in the morning?" Kuno whispered. + +"I think not, he spoke so quietly and sensibly. Remember how +differently he behaved last evening. No, I think he really is ill now." + +Paul walked to the window whence he could overlook the path the doctor +must take to the village. Several minutes passed before he came out of +the Post, but then he turned directly into the road to his house, +walking very slowly, and staggering at every step. + +A peasant meeting him nodded familiarly, and then looked after him with +a laugh. + +"He must be drunk after all," said Paul, "or he is still feeling the +effects of yesterday's debauch. Can he really have forgotten all he +talked about last evening?" + +"It would certainly seem so." + +"At all events, I had better see Leo as soon as possible. Therefore, +noble knight, when I have settled you comfortably on the balcony I will +leave you to your fate,--not a very hard one in this instance, since I +heard Fraeulein Schommer not half an hour ago order her breakfast to be +served upon the balcony,--and I will take my way to the castle to have +a talk with Leo." + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + +As soon as Kuno was established upon the balcony and commended to the +kind attention of the ladies, Delmar rapidly ascended the narrow, +precipitous path by which he had reached the castle on the previous +day. He did not heed the heat which had begun to be intense; he +accorded not a look to the magnificent landscape, nor had he any care +for the dangers of the way. What he desired was to reach the castle as +quickly as possible. + +His brain was in a chaos of confusion; he was in a labyrinth of +puzzles, out of which he could find no clue. Nevertheless he passed on +his perilous way in perfect security, and soon reached the garden of +the castle. + +Here he looked around him, hoping to encounter his friend, but Leo was +nowhere to be seen. In the midst of a thick growth of shrubbery, +however, he saw the flutter of a light dress, and in a moment Hilda +appeared. She must have seen him coming, for she advanced directly +towards him, holding out her hand in greeting, and speaking before he +had time to address her. "You have done wrong, Herr Delmar," she said +reproachfully. "You come from the rocks by the rock-path; I am really +angry with you for not keeping your promise." + +Was she really angry? Why then should she have received Paul with so +enchanting a smile? Her words betokened a care for his safety that +delighted him. He thought her far lovelier than upon the previous day, +and far more like an angel, with her wealth of hair framing in so +girlish and beautiful a face. When he had seen her before her straw hat +had concealed its masses; now her head shone in the sunshine like pure +gold. + +When he took her hand he felt an intense longing to press it to his +lips, but he remembered her reproof of the day previous and forbore, +contenting himself with a slight pressure, which he rejoiced to fancy +was in some measure returned. "You must not come to the castle by that +path up the rocks," Hilda continued, when Paul did not reply to her +first remonstrance. "You must give me your word not to take it again, +or I shall always be anxious if you come at all late when you have +promised a visit to Leo." + +"Would you really be anxious on my account?" Paul asked, never thinking +how low and gentle was the voice in which he put the question, or how +Kuno would have laughed at him if he had heard it. + +But Hilda did not laugh; she answered gravely and frankly, "Yes, Herr +Delmar; I have deeply repented my thoughtlessness in showing you that +path, and I should never forgive myself if you were to meet with any +accident there. I have already been anxious about you this morning; you +were so long in coming, when Leo thought you would be here directly +after breakfast. Will you not make me the promise I ask?" + +"Any promise that you ask is already made, lovely fairy. Delightful as +is that scramble up the rocks, the path will not exist for me in +future. You have forbidden me to use it, and I, as your obedient slave, +venture no opposition to your command, but obey!" + +"Then as a reward I will instantly conduct you to Leo, who is anxiously +expecting you. He would have gone to Tausens himself this morning to +see after his friend Herr von Herwarth, but he was kept here by the +intelligence that a wealthy and well-known family from K---- had +arrived at the Post." + +"Then Leo already knows who they are?" + +"Yes; the maid from the Post came up to the castle last evening to beg +for some fowls. She reported that a very grand family from K---- had +arrived in two four-horse carriages and were to spend some time in +Tausens. She mentioned their names too as my housekeeper told me. The +name of Schommer was familiar to me,--I met a charming girl, a Fraeulein +Schommer, in Vienna,--and so I asked Leo this morning if he knew these +people." + +"And he said?----" + +"He said yes. But he seemed to me not very well pleased that they +should have come to stay at Tausens. When he told me that he should not +go to the Post this morning because he wished if possible to avoid any +personal encounter with these strangers, I said nothing further, +although I should like to know more of them." + +"Perhaps I can gratify this desire, Fraeulein von Heydeck. I have the +honour of knowing Fraeulein Schommer." + +"Ah, how glad I am! I should so like to know whether she is the lovely +Eva Schommer whom I saw nearly two years ago in Vienna, and who so +charmed me that I never left her side for an entire evening. +Unfortunately I could not pursue the acquaintance, for she left +Vienna the next day, and we never met again. Yes, she said her home was +in K----. What a pleasure it would be to see her again here in +Tausens!" + +"That pleasure you can easily enjoy. Fraeulein Schommer spoke to me last +evening of her pleasant remembrance of you in Vienna." + +"Oh, delightful!" Hilda exclaimed. "I have thought of that lovely Eva +so often! I will go this very day to Tausens to see her. We must be +together constantly!" She spoke impulsively, but suddenly she paused. +"I forgot," she said sadly, "that Leo wishes to avoid meeting these +people. Does he know this lovely girl? He cannot wish not to see her. +But no, do not answer my question, Herr Delmar. I had no right to ask +it. If Leo had wished me to know his reasons for not wishing to meet +these people he would have told me them himself. I would rather have +you say nothing to me about it." + +"I thank you, Fraeulein von Heydeck. It would have been hard to refuse +any request of yours, and yet I have no right to speak of Leo's +position with regard to Fraeulein Schommer's family without his express +permission. Of one thing however I can assure you: Leo can make, and +can have, no possible objection to your renewing your acquaintance with +Fraeulein Schommer." + +"Are you sure of this?" + +"Perfectly sure; promise me that you will pay Fraeulein Schommer a visit +this afternoon, and I will answer for it that Leo shall accompany you." + +"You will greatly oblige me by doing so, for I could not of course seek +out the lady if our guest wished to avoid her." + +As they talked, Hilda had conducted Paul into the castle and through +the rooms to the corridor, at the end of which were Leo's apartments. +"You cannot go astray now," she said. "Leo's room lies just before you. +You will find him at his easel. He would not go out for fear of missing +you. When I called him to breakfast he had begun a sketch, and was so +absorbed in his work that he never left it. I did not see it, but I am +hoping to enjoy it when it is finished." + +Here Hilda left him, and Delmar went along the corridor to the last +door; he knocked twice without receiving any answer, and then opened it +and entered the room. + +Leo had heard neither the knocking, the opening and shutting of the +door, nor his friend's footstep. He was standing lost in thought before +his easel, gazing at a sketch of a head, the result of his last few +hours' labour. + +When he had entered his sitting-room in the early morning, refreshed by +his night's rest, and had seen the easel by the window with the canvas +upon it ready stretched, he had been irresistibly tempted to take up +his crayon and enjoy the delight of which he had been deprived for a +week. Yielding to this irrepressible desire, he had made a sketch of +the fair face that filled his dreams both sleeping and waking. It was +so like that he stood now lost in contemplation of it, quite dead to +the outer world, not hearing when Paul entered the room, not noticing +the approach of his friend, who stood behind him for some minutes in +silent admiration of the sketch upon the easel. + +"Bravo, Leo! You have outdone yourself! 'Tis the most artistic sketch +you've ever made!" + +Leo started like one awakening from a dream that has held him +spell-bound. His first impulse was to snatch the picture from the +easel, and from the eyes of his friend, but Delmar stayed his hand. + +"Come, come, Leo! let the picture stay! No artist is justified +in hiding from sight the fruits of his genius. The picture is +wonderful,--a masterpiece. Her eyes had just that deep, dreamy look in +them yesterday when she so bitterly lamented your injustice in accusing +her of pride of purse. You must know that I have concluded a peace with +the fair Eva. I solemnly retract everything derogatory that I ever said +or thought about her; indeed, I frankly confess to you that I never in +my life fell into so pitiable an error as when I pronounced such hasty, +crude, and unjustifiable judgment upon this charming girl. If she would +but allow me, I would beg her pardon on my knees." + +Leo regarded Paul with amazement, looking in vain for the sneer that +was wont to play about his lips when he wanted to tease his friend. + +Delmar had been steadily contemplating the picture as he spoke in a +tone of honest conviction. Now he turned to Leo, and remarking his +amazement, he continued, with a smile: "You look at me as if you hardly +believed me, and, remembering my folly with regard to Fraeulein +Schommer, I cannot blame you. The age of miracles however is not yet +over; the most hardened of sinners may be converted by the logic of +lovely lips, and I am a convert. With a few simple, frank words she has +reversed my ridiculous judgment of her. I wish you could have heard her +yesterday when she so sadly bewailed her misfortune in being 'too +rich.' You, too, would have changed your opinion of her, and no longer +have hated her, as you apparently do at present. Only intense hatred or +intense--affection could have stamped her features so deeply upon your +memory as to enable you to reproduce them in this wondrous way. And as +you assuredly do not love Eva, you of course hate her. And yet how +admirably you have managed to show no trace of this dislike in your +drawing!" + +"Paul, do not torture me!" + +This simple sentence disarmed Delmar; he grew grave instantly. "I will +not tease you," he said, "although you deserve it for never giving the +confidence you owe a friend to one so devoted to you as I am. Have I +not a right to be angry with you that accident alone--the sight of this +picture--has told me your secret? You love Fraeulein Schommer, although +to me you denied that you did so. It was not true friendship, Leo." + +"What else could I do? I hardly knew myself at first whether I loved or +hated her; and when I did know, I was ashamed of my hopeless passion." + +"Hopeless? It is folly to use such a word. How can a man like yourself, +endowed with physical and mental superiority and distinguished both by +birth and by position, condescend to utter such a word? You never tried +to gain Fraeulein Schommer's affection." + +"She has repulsed me with proud reserve upon the only occasions when I +have been in her society. And even if she had not done so, I should not +have paid court to her,--she is too rich!" + +"Too rich! There it is! That is the root of the matter!" Paul exclaimed +with irritation. "Too rich! It is Fraeulein Schommer's misfortune and my +own. While the wretches who envy us for our wealth crowd about us to +gather up servilely the golden crumbs we may throw them, while they +flatter and cringe and worship us as their golden calf, those whom we +esteem and love withdraw from our society. We are too rich for those +disinterested souls who would love us for our own sakes,--they will not +expose themselves to the degrading suspicion of seeking us for the sake +of our wealth! How often I have been devoured with rage when you, Leo, +my dearest friend, have refused to share with me the enjoyments that +wealth can procure! I was 'too rich' for you, and therefore you +bestowed but a few meagre hours of your society upon me when I so +coveted your companionship; therefore you withdrew from me more and +more, and would, I verily believe, have forsaken me utterly if I had +not clutched you and refused to let you go. Poor Eva Schommer! +She, too, is 'too rich,' and therefore throws herself away upon a +heartless vagabond. For the man who would love her disinterestedly +for her own sake she is 'too rich'! The devil take wealth! if it robs +us of all that is best and noblest in this world,--the love of our +friends,--giving us instead only the flattery of fools, ennui, satiety, +and disgust of life!" + +Leo had never seen his friend thus agitated. His cheeks were flushed +and his voice trembled with emotion as he spoke. To Heydeck's friendly +remonstrance be made no reply, but, walking to the window, stood gazing +for some minutes at the magnificent view. Then, having recovered his +self-possession, he turned to Leo, and with a gentleness of manner rare +in him, said, "I was cross to you, Leo; forgive me. A sense of the +misfortune that dogs my life overcame me for a moment,--it shall not be +so again. I know that you, in spite of my millions, are my true, my +only friend. Enough of this! we have other matters to discuss. First, +let me tell you that Herwarth's sprained ankle will keep him tied to +his arm-chair on the balcony at the Post for two weeks; therefore if +you wish to see him you must go to him, he cannot come to you." + +Leo was annoyed by this intelligence, much as he wished to see his +friend. He would have liked to avoid the meeting with Fraeulein Schommer +and Bertram, that would doubtless take place if he visited Herwarth. He +expressed this annoyance to Delmar. + +But Delmar would not heed it. "Bertram will hardly dare to put himself +in your way; and as for Fraeulein Schommer, it is your duty as a man of +honour to ask her pardon. It is not enough to see that one has been +wrong,--the wrong should be confessed to whomsoever it has injured. But +I will not press you. I am sure that you will do what is right, and I +hope you will come to Tausens this afternoon with your cousin, who +wishes to renew an acquaintance with Fraeulein Schommer. And now let us +speak of another matter, of the greatest interest and importance to me. +You must help me to solve a mystery in which I suddenly find myself +involved, and to this end I must tell you in detail all that happened +yesterday." + +And Paul began his story, first recalling to Leo's remembrance the +extraordinary reception accorded him by Herr von Heydeck,--dwelling +upon the fact that the old man had mentioned his Christian name, +'Paul,' without hearing it. He then told of his visit to Dr. Putzer and +of the doctor's amazement at seeing him; of his first taking him for a +Count Menotti,--a name which Paul had certainly heard somewhere lately, +he could not remember where; and last he gave an account of the +incomprehensible phrases which had escaped the tipsy doctor during his +evening visit. + +Leo listened with eager attention. As Paul went on he thought +involuntarily of the postmaster's information with regard to his +uncle's earlier life, connecting with it the strange interest which +Herr von Heydeck took in Paul Delmar, the deserted room in the tower, +and the old cradle. All this, combined with the tipsy talk of Dr. +Putzer, suddenly aroused in Leo a suspicion, which he at first rejected +as too wild and incredible, but to which every word of Paul's, as he +continued, gave greater probability. + +When Delmar ended his recital with, "Now tell me, Leo, what do you +think of this strange tale?" Heydeck had no doubt that he had +discovered its meaning,--a meaning that brought disgrace to his uncle. + +"I will tell you, Paul," he said, "but first answer me one question. +Look back to the days of your boyhood, think of your relations with +your father, of his last days, and of his will. Did it never occur to +you that he must have had a particular reason for the terms in which it +was couched? You were his natural heir; why should he have made the +express statement that he left you his property, not because you were +his son, but because of your love for him, and because you were the +founder and preserver of his wealth? What reason could your father have +for such a will?" + +"I cannot tell. I have often wondered, but never have arrived at any +conclusion." + +"Did you never think haw your father, during all your early childhood, +held himself aloof from you, only according you his parental affection +in later years; and that he may have had some reason for this conduct? +Would not all these apparent contradictions be explained if you were +not his own child, but an adopted son, whose dutiful and filial conduct +at last aroused his genuine affection?" + +Paul, who had been leaning back in an arm-chair, here started to his +feet. "What do you mean?" he exclaimed, in great agitation. "Such an +idea never entered my mind; my brain whirls at the thought. But go on; +to what does all this lead?" + +Leo obeyed, reminding Paul of the postmaster's narrative, of the +suspicion awakened years before with regard to Herr von Heydeck,--a +suspicion that he had, in connection with Dr. Putzer and his wife, +caused the death of his son, to whose estate he had thus become heir. +Formerly it had been whispered that Herr von Heydeck was not the +child's father, but that the boy was the offspring of Frau von Heydeck +and of Count Menotti. + +"There is where I heard the name!" Paul exclaimed; "but go on, go on! I +am upon the rack of expectation!" + +Leo went on to speak of the cries which had been so often heard from +the round tower after the child's death, and that no one save Herr von +Heydeck himself and his half-idiotic servants had ventured to go near +this part of the castle. He then told of his losing his way upon the +previous afternoon, of his visit to the deserted room, of the cradle, +and of his struggle with Melcher. From all this, taken in connection +with his uncle's expressions and the doctor's talk, he drew the +conclusion that possibly many years previously his uncle and Dr. Putzer +had combined to remove from the world the unfortunate child which his +uncle was convinced was not his own, but the son of Count Menotti. This +was not effected by murder, of which vulgar gossip had accused them, +but by the removal of the child whose little corpse no one but the +doctor was allowed to see. + +For this purpose the haunted tower had been put to use; there they had +kept the boy whose cries, heard in the silent night, had stricken with +terror the superstitious villagers. Afterwards, for his perfect +security, Herr von Heydeck must himself have removed the child. If this +were so, and if the deceased Herr Delmar had been induced to adopt the +forsaken boy, the strange provisions of his will were clearly +explained, as were also the expressions of Herr von Heydeck and the +doctor, who had both instantly recognized the resemblance of Delmar to +Count Menotti, and were doubtless convinced that he had come to Tausens +to lay claim to his inheritance and to the name and title of a Herr von +Heydeck. + +"If my suspicion be correct," Leo concluded, "and the more I reflect +upon the matter the more convinced I am that it is so, you are the +boy, the lawful possessor of this castle, whom my uncle has deprived +of his estate and of his name. According to law you are my uncle's +son,--Hilda's brother." + +"Hilda's brother!" Paul almost shouted. "Would you drive me mad? Is +it not enough to take from me everything to which I have hitherto +clung,--even the father whom I loved and in whom I had full faith? I, +Hilda's brother! Never I never! I cannot believe it! And yet can I help +believing it?" he continued, after a short pause. "Have you not +succeeded in discovering an explanation for all which I thought +inexplicable? Heydeck, who stole from me my estate and thrust me forth +into the world because he knew that I was not his son, recognizes me by +my likeness to the man who dishonoured him. There is not in my veins +one drop of your worthless uncle's blood, and yet the law makes me +Hilda's brother,--and the worst of criminals, should I ever dare to +entertain for her in my heart one sentiment save that of a brother for +a sister!" + +As he spoke, Paul was pacing the room to and fro in the greatest +agitation; his olive cheek was deeply flushed; and such unmistakable +despair was painted in his face, that Leo, who had had no idea of the +depth and strength of the 'love at first sight' that had taken +possession of Paul for Hilda, could have no doubt as to the sentiments +that filled his soul. He was utterly amazed. Paul, with his critical +sneer, his ridicule of all sentimentality, his constant insistance that +the intellect should always maintain its dominion over the affections, +had suddenly lost his heart,--lost it irretrievably to a young girl +whom he had known only for a few hours, and who, in Leo's opinion, was +to be sure very charming and amiable, but not at all the one to inspire +such a man as Delmar with this sudden overmastering passion. + +Yet although this love was a riddle to Leo, none the less did his +friend's despair excite his compassion, and he repented having so +pitilessly pronounced the sentence 'according to law you are Hilda's +brother,' without dreaming of the effect it might produce upon his +friend. + +"Calm yourself, Paul," he said gently; "do not forget that all I have +said is only hypothetical. I have no facts to substantiate my +supposition, no way of proving even the possibility of its +correctness." + +"Who want proof?" Delmar angrily exclaimed. "Did I come here to lay any +claim to the wretched inheritance which that woman, whom I will not +call mother, left her son? You know well enough that I am too rich now. +Or can you suppose that I aspire to the honour of the name of von +Heydeck? I love the name for your sake, Leo; you have ennobled it, and +it is that borne by your cousin, else I should hate it. Proofs! If I +possessed proofs clear as sunlight that this castle belonged to me, and +that I had a legal right to the name of Heydeck, I would consign them +to the flames, that no one upon earth might know that I had a right to +be considered your uncle's son." + +"Why then, Paul, should the thought of Hilda bring you such misery? If +you never lay claim to the right which the law would perhaps accord +you, she is not your sister. As you yourself said, no drop of her +father's blood flows in your veins." + +"Are you so sure of that,--sure that I am not your uncle's son, whom a +freak of nature stamped with a resemblance to his mother's friend. +Count Menotti? In that case Hilda would really be my sister. I grow +giddy at the horrid thought, and yet I must learn to grasp it. I should +despise myself if, in view of such a possibility, I ever dared approach +Hilda with other than a brother's love. Shall I poison her young life? +If she should love me and become my wife, as I, fool that I was, +ventured to dream a few hours ago, and should then, by any chance, +learn that the law makes her father, mine, how horrible would be her +fate! No, Leo; I will never sacrifice her happiness to my insane +passion! She shall never suspect it. I will be all to her--faithful +friend, true counsellor--that a brother may; but she never shall hear +from my lips one syllable betokening a warmer feeling than the love of +a brother." + +"I know you will remain steadfast in this resolution, Paul. I shall not +gainsay it by a single word. Only let me pray you to act calmly and +without passion. You have no right to take my conjecture for reality +without further confirmation; the facts upon which it is founded may +perhaps bear a different interpretation. You must not allow the +happiness of your life to be destroyed by an ill-founded suspicion." + +"What would you have me do?" + +"Investigate the truth concerning your birth. First spare no pains to +discover, here in Tausens, whether my uncle's son did not really die +here years ago; your wealth will help you to do this. I will do all +that I can to assist you, not only here, but also in Germany, where you +must search out the former home of Herr Delmar, and succeed, if +possible, in establishing proof that you really are his son, and that a +chance resemblance has thus befooled us all. You must not lose courage, +Paul; you have a sacred duty to fulfil, both to yourself and to Hilda." + +"Be it so!" Paul replied, with a firm grasp of his friend's hand. "I +will do what you ask; I will investigate this wretched mystery; I will +search for proof that I am the son of this scoundrelly Herr von +Heydeck, as if in this certainty lay my every hope of happiness instead +of my doom to misery; but I am inwardly convinced that your suspicion +is only too well grounded. The task I propose will not be a difficult +one. I know the hand wherein lies the clue to the secret. That wretch, +Dr. Putzer, is your uncle's accomplice. He will do anything for money, +as he clearly made known to me yesterday. _In vino veritas_. If I give +him what he asks, and insure him from all risk, he can easily be +brought to betray his principal and give me the proof I want. I will +not chaffer with him; he may have as much as he asks. I will tell you +more, Leo, if you will come to Tausens with your cousin this afternoon. +Now I leave you to go to Dr. Putzer. Farewell." + +The friends separated with a cordial grasp of hands that told better +than in words of their determination to pursue earnestly the task they +had undertaken; and then, when Leo had conducted Paul to the head of +the grand staircase, he returned sadly to his studio. + +As Paul passed through the portal of the castle and saw upon the right +the old round tower, a bitter sense of injury possessed him. There was +the place where he had been imprisoned as a helpless infant, while the +avaricious man who was legally his father annihilated all trace of the +existence of the child whom he dared not kill, but would not allow to +live. + +"If he had only killed me!" Paul sighed; and the thought suddenly +occurred to him whether it would not be best to end his misery by a +leap from the castle rock. "No! no!" he reflected; "they must not +despise me as a coward." + +And yet the thought had a positive fascination for him. Could he not +contrive that a misstep upon the perilous path up the rocks should +cause his death to be considered by his friends the result of chance? +They would--Leo would--mourn him truly, and the will by which he had +made his friend his heir would smooth Heydeck's future career for him. +He would not hesitate then to approach Eva as a lover. The miserable +millions would at last bring happiness to their possessor. + +But as he was walking through the garden towards the narrow rock-path, +oblivious of his promise to Hilda, a prey to dire temptation, a voice +was suddenly heard that caused him to pause, startled. + +"Where are you going, Herr Delmar?" + +He looked up, and Hilda stood before him, with pain and reproach in her +eyes. + +Her simple question covered Paul with confusion. He now first +remembered the promise so frankly given a short time before; a promise +he was on his way to break. He might have given an evasive reply. +Indeed, Hilda helped him to do so by adding, "Perhaps you hoped to meet +me here in the garden. Did you speak with Leo about my visit to +Fraeulein Schommer?" + +But such an evasion seemed unmanly and unworthy of him. "Forgive me, +Fraeulein Hilda," was his only reply. + +Hilda understood him. "Were you really about to return to Tausens by +the rock-path in spite of your promise?" + +"I had forgotten it. Indeed, you have a right to be angry, but if you +knew----" + +He hesitated; he could not make Hilda the confidante of his misery. + +"What has happened, Herr Delmar? Why do you pause? You are evidently +agitated. What can you have learned in the short time since I saw you? +Tell me, I pray." + +As she spoke she kindly offered him her hand, but he did not take it. +He shuddered as he thought of how happy he had been but a few short +moments before when he took that little hand, and of the hopes that had +then dawned in his soul, hopes that must be crushed forever. Should he +press his lips upon it in one farewell kiss? No! not even that. She +must not dream how hard it was to part from her; she must think of him +as of a stranger, and he looked away, that Hilda might suppose he did +not see the hand she held out to him. + +But Hilda was not deceived. The interest which she felt in Delmar was +too deep and vivid to allow her to remain ignorant of the change he had +suddenly undergone. She saw that he intentionally avoided taking her +hand, and she was afraid that she had in some manner offended him. Was +he vexed at her suspicion that he had meant to break his word? She had +not meant to call him to so strict an account. "Are you vexed with me, +Herr Delmar?" she said gently; "I did not mean to offend you." + +"I know that, Fraeulein Hilda," Delmar replied, recovering his +composure. "How could you offend me? I confess that I am agitated by +the conversation that I have just had with Leo about family matters, of +which I am not at liberty to speak. I had forgotten my promise with +regard to the Reifenstein rocks, but be assured I will keep faith with +you now. Farewell, Fraeulein Hilda!" + +He bowed formally and walked away through the garden towards the +court-yard. In the dim gateway leading into it he turned to look at +Hilda once more. She was standing on the spot where he had left her, +with amazement and sorrow expressed in her whole air and bearing. His +strange manner, his formal farewell, had filled her with vague +misgivings. + +He waved his hand in token of adieu, and hurried from the castle across +the bridge to the well-worn foot-path down the mountain. Again, as he +walked on, did that grim temptation to self-destruction assault his +soul. He turned aside among the shrubbery that bordered the pathway, +and penetrating it, reached the brink of the abyss and gazed down into +its misty depths. As he looked his foot slipped upon a loose stone; in +an instant the instinct of self-preservation was on the alert. +Involuntarily he seized the stout branch of a tree growing beside him +and swung himself up to the level ground. As he did so a scornful smile +curled his lip at the thought of the exertion he was making to save a +life now so worthless in his eyes. But dreary as the future seemed to +him, he shrank from the cowardice that would flee from trials and +agonies that might be bravely met. He remembered how often he had heard +Leo denounce the pusillanimity of those who lacked courage to meet the +inevitable shocks of life. And Hilda,--could she ever have even a +kindly thought for the memory of a suicide? + +One more look he gave to the abyss at his feet, and then turned back +into the secure foot-path and walked on slowly, lost in thought, to the +village. He was no longer occupied solely with self; his mind reacted +healthily and he thought of his friend. What change might not the next +few weeks bring about in the life of the man who had been to him more +than a brother? Eva and Leo must have opportunities for knowing and +understanding each other. With closer knowledge of his friend, Fraeulein +Schommer could not but return his affection. To this end Paul would +exert himself: he would give his life a new purpose; and this +resolution exalted and refreshed him. He had almost forgotten the dark +shadow brooding over his own existence when he was reminded of it by a +sudden glimpse among the trees of the village in the midst of which Dr. +Putzer's house was conspicuous. + +He remembered that he had promised Leo to attempt to learn from Dr. +Putzer more concerning Herr von Heydeck. The result of such an attempt +had lost all interest for him, it is true, so convinced was he of the +truth of Leo's surmises, but nevertheless he would, as he had promised, +do all that he could to drag every fact connected with this mystery to +the full light of day. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + +When Paul at last reached the village street, he did not turn in the +direction of the Post, but went directly towards Dr. Putzer's house. On +approaching it he noticed several peasants talking in the road in front +of the garden. Among them was the postmaster, gesticulating eagerly. + +Paul would have passed them and entered the garden, but the postmaster +detained him. "If you want to speak to the doctor," said honest Hansel, +taking off his cap, "you come upon a vain errand." + +"Is he not at home?" + +"He is at home, but you cannot speak with him." + +Hansel's answer was made in quite a solemn tone; he was evidently +burning with desire to tell Delmar what he had repeated already three +or four times to the peasants, who listened with eager attention to his +every word; but he waited to be questioned by Paul. As soon as this +occurred the floodgates of his eloquence were opened. + +He told minutely all that he had heard from the doctor's servant. +Yesterday evening, when the stable-boy from the Post had taken the +doctor home, he had been received very unkindly by his wife, who had +called him an irreclaimable drunkard, and more hard names besides than +the poorest peasant's wife in the village would have bestowed upon her +husband. The doctor only laughed childishly, and, although his wife +forbade his speaking before the maid, went maundering on unintelligibly +about Herr von Heydeck at the castle, and Herr Delmar, and Count +Menotti. + +The doctor's wife had grown quite furious when she could not make him +hold his tongue, and had dashed a bucketful of cold water over his head +to bring him to his senses. She had often done this before, and the +doctor also often held his head under the cold stream of water at the +brook to make himself sober; but on this evening the cold water did him +no good: he grew quite purple in the face, and it was a long time +before he came to himself and got to bed. + +To-day they had a great quarrel early in the morning; the maid did not +know what it was about,--they often quarrelled,--but she heard the +name of von Heydeck very often; and towards ten o'clock the doctor took +his hat and stick and went to the Post, to pay his visit to the sick +gentleman there, and as he walked through the garden the maid had +noticed that his face was much redder than usual when he had been +intoxicated the day before. He spoke very quietly and was entirely +himself; but when he came home again, walking very unsteadily and +looking very ill, the doctor's wife flew into a rage, and insisted upon +his letting the water at the brook flow over his head. He refused to do +it at first, but his wife stormed and insisted, and he yielded at last, +as he always did. Scarcely however had he held his head under the +stream for a minute when he suddenly fell on the ground and lay like +one dead. + +His wife's screams brought the neighbours to the spot, and they got the +sick man into the house and put him in bed, where he was now lying +perfectly unconscious. He was still living, but he could not possibly +recover. His wife was no true wife to him, but a worthless, miserable +creature. Instead of taking care of her husband, she had left him. As +soon as he was got to bed she had ordered a conveyance from the Post; +and the postmaster had provided it immediately, for he thought she +wanted to send for a doctor. But the wretched woman had never thought +of doing so; she had packed up her clothing and various other articles +in a hurry, and had driven off no one knew whither. She had told the +servant-girl to take care of the doctor and to send for another +physician, but that he would certainly not last long. And so the poor +man was lying in bed, unconscious, with no one but the servant to +attend to him. The postmaster, however, for old acquaintance' sake, had +sent another conveyance for Dr. Atzinger. Dr. Atzinger had just left +the sick man, and had said that he might get over the stroke this time, +but that he never would have the use of his limbs, and that no one must +be allowed to see him. All this the postmaster related to Delmar, who +thus found himself deprived of any hope of immediate aid from Dr. +Putzer in his investigations. This did not trouble him, however, since +he had only been interested to fulfil his promise to Leo, and he was +rather relieved to feel entirely free to devote himself to his friend's +affairs. + +Upon his return to the inn, Delmar found the entire Schommer family at +dinner with Herwarth upon the balcony. Bertram alone was missing; he +had not returned from an expedition to some cascades which he had +undertaken that morning; indeed, a messenger had arrived from him +saying that he had gone on to Rothwald, whence he should make a +mountain-ascent, which would probably detain him there until the +following day. Uncle Balthasar told Delmar of this, lamenting that +'dear Guido' could not join their little circle, but he was the only +one who regretted his absence; the others all felt relieved in the +consciousness that they should not see Bertram for some hours at least. + +Kuno had enjoyed himself greatly during Paul's absence. Eva declared +with a smile that all the ladies had bestowed upon the invalid their +tenderest solicitude, and had succeeded in compelling him to comply +with the orders of his physician, although he was at times a most +unruly patient, in his determination to prevent them from exerting +themselves in his behalf. + +These few hours of unconventional intercourse on the balcony had +established a degree of friendly intimacy between Kuno and the young +ladies which pleased Delmar much. Eva treated him with frank +familiarity, jesting with him as with an old acquaintance. Aline was +not quite so unconstrained; although not less kind, there was a certain +reserve in her manner towards Herwarth. Paul noticed this, and that her +eyes, which evidently rested with pleasure upon the lieutenant when he +was talking with Eva, were quickly averted if he looked towards +herself. It was not difficult for so keen an observer as Delmar to read +the secret of these two hearts. The discovery gave him a melancholy +pleasure. "Another couple who will and shall be happy!" he thought to +himself "It was best that Fraeulein Hilda should keep me away from the +path down the Reifenstein rock; a ghastly accident would have scattered +these happy people, and I may be of use here yet." Filled with this +thought, Paul forgot himself and his sorrows. He sat down at the table, +and was the life of the little party. He contrived that Aline and +Herwarth should have frequent opportunity of conversation, while he +entertained Eva, Uncle Balthasar, and even silent Aunt Minni with his +gay talk, seeming to all to be even more merry than on the previous +day. Eva forgot her usual gravity, and Uncle Balthasar was enchanted; +his only sorrow was that 'dear Guido' could not be present to enjoy +'this delightful conversation.' Paul said but little of his visit to +the castle; he simply told Eva that in a short conversation with +Fraeulein von Heydeck he had told her of the guests at the Post. The +young girl remembered, with great pleasure, her evening with Fraeulein +Schommer in Vienna, and would certainly come to the inn with her cousin +Leo to renew her acquaintance with her. As he spoke, Delmar watched Eva +narrowly, although he was apparently toying indifferently with his +wine-glass. When he mentioned Leo's name, and his intention of coming +to the inn, he saw the girl's cheek flush; she suddenly raised her +eyes, and as quickly dropped them again upon meeting Paul's keen +glance. She turned away to hide her confusion, and addressed a few +words in an undertone to her aunt, who sat beside her. + +"Will it be disagreeable to you, Fraeulein Schommer, to have Leo come +down to Tausens?" + +Eva hastily turned towards him, her cheek still flushed, but all +confusion overcome. "Did you arrange this visit of which you now tell +me, Herr Delmar?" she asked, not without asperity. + +"I may have done so. You expressed a wish yesterday to see again +Fraeulein Hilda von Heydeck. I could not suppose that you contemplated +going up to the castle, and I therefore proposed that Fraeulein Hilda +should come to you. She only half promised, however, and I am not sure +she will be able to fulfil her intent." + +"I was not speaking of Fraeulein Hilda, but of Herr von Heydeck. I asked +whether you had arranged this visit, because I had hoped you would +remember what I said yesterday." + +"You said yesterday that you were not afraid of meeting my friend." + +"And I also said that I thought it desirable that any such meeting +should be avoided. It is not fair in you, Herr Delmar, intentionally to +expose me to embarrassment of this kind." + +While she was speaking Paul regarded her with gentle gravity; her +reckless frankness enlisted his sympathy profoundly. As she finished he +bent his head, and in a low and gentle tone said, "Your frank, honest +reproof shall receive as frank and honest a reply. I might easily +deceive you by telling you that Leo must see his friend Herwarth, and +that therefore I had arranged this visit; but I will not deceive you. +Frankly and honestly, then, I wish Leo to see you again for his own +sake and--for yours!" + +"Herr Delmar, I must beg----" + +"Stay, Fraeulein Schommer! I know what you would say. You would accuse +me of unjustifiable interference in your affairs which are no concern +of mine; but there you are wrong. I take a deeper interest in them than +you would probably think permissible, but nothing is so near to me in +this world as Leo's happiness. You see I am honest and do not flatter +you." + +"No, you have shown me that you do not, both yesterday and to-day; yet +I really cannot see what interest your affection for Herr von Heydeck +can have for me." + +"That is not said with your usual ingenuousness, Fraeulein Schommer," +Delmar said earnestly. "You know well that you take a degree of +interest in my friend Leo's destiny, and you ought not to deny it. Leo +bitterly regrets having been misled in an unfortunate moment to say +words which wounded you." + +"That is not so, Herr Delmar." + +"Excuse me, it is so; and Leo is all the more sensible of his injustice +since he was not true to himself in what he said. Irritated by a +certain haughty demeanour, which Fraeulein Schommer is apt to display +towards those whom she knows but slightly, Leo was induced that day, in +answer to his friend Herwarth's badinage, to say what was no sooner +uttered than it was deeply repented. He will never be satisfied until +he has had an opportunity of entreating your forgiveness,--an +opportunity which I am sure you are too magnanimous to deny him." + +Eva was much moved by Paul's words. Was he telling the truth, or was +what he said the result of the ironical mood that so often possessed +him? Had he read her heart? Did he know that she could not bear a +grudge to Leo,--that his insulting words had long since been forgiven +by her,--that she only mourned he should have been prompted to utter +them? + +"You do not reply, Fraeulein Schommer," Paul continued, so gravely that +Eva could no longer suspect him of a sneer. "You hardly seem to trust +my words, and therefore you force me to say more than I had intended. +Do you remember what you said yesterday,--your bitter lament over the +misfortune of being too rich?" + +"Yes; why do you ask?" + +"You never uttered truer words than those then spoken. Yes, it is your +greatest trial, as it is my own, to be 'too rich.' Your wealth has +poisoned your soul. Conscious of these wretched riches, you receive all +who approach you with haughty disdain, believing them attracted solely +by the glitter of your gold. Such was your treatment of Leo, the +noblest and most disinterested of men, and the cold contempt of your +manner cut him to the quick. And this is not the worst,--an unkind word +can be atoned for by kindness,--Leo would not be implacable any more +than you will be so, but--you are too rich. He loves you, Fraeulein +Schommer. Your image is so deeply engraven upon his soul that it stands +upon his easel at this moment wrought by his hand, so like you that it +almost seems your living, breathing self. He loves you, but you are +'too rich.' Not your cold reserve, but your miserable money, repels his +pride. That fortune, which is a bait for the avarice of a--Bertram, is +a barrier between yourself and the man in whose affection you might +find the deepest bliss attainable in this world. But enough of this. I +have presumed incredibly, I know, but I hope not past forgiveness when +you consider how profound is that regard for my friend, in which I +refuse to believe that you take no 'interest.' Fraeulein Aline is +looking at us in surprise at our withdrawal from all part in the +general conversation, and we must really devote more of our attention +to these excellent trout." + +Delmar had seized a happy opportunity, when the rest of the circle were +variously absorbed, to prepare Eva's mind thus for Leo's visit. He had +succeeded; the girl's glowing cheeks, and the dreamy expression of her +dark eyes, told him how profound was the impression he had produced. +She did not reply, her heart was too full for words. + +Beloved by Leo! No, this was no ironical jest of Delmar's; he had +spoken in the tone of intense conviction. She could not doubt his +words; the consciousness, vague although it was, of being loved by the +man whose image she had so cherished in secret, filled her with a sense +of blessed content which not even the knowledge that she was separated +from him forever could at first disturb. + +Separated forever! Yes, she was the betrothed of Bertram. When Delmar +had uttered his name she had shrunk involuntarily, as if conscious for +the first time of her detestation and contempt for him. But she was +his; she must keep the vow that bound her to him. It was a duty which +she had voluntarily imposed upon herself, as she now knew, for Leo's +sake. She had sacrificed herself that he might escape a threatened +danger; the knowledge of this gave her strength to bear the misery that +must be her future lot. Her fate was decided, but in the consciousness +that she was beloved, she no longer found it so hard to bear. + +Paul divined what was passing in her soul; he saw that his words had +produced upon her an ineradicable impression, but she must not be left +to reflect upon them. He turned away and began a conversation with +Uncle Balthasar, in which the rest speedily joined. Never had Paul +seemed half so merry and entertaining, how could Eva refuse to bear her +part in the general cheerfulness that prevailed? Even Aunt Minni was +startled from her usual indolent serenity, and once or twice actually +laughed. As Delmar had succeeded in banishing his own brooding fancies, +he now prevented Eva from indulging in any such. + +Several hours passed thus gayly upon the balcony. Coffee had been +served, and still no one arose to leave it. Uncle Balthasar had +foregone his usual afternoon nap in view of the agreeable society in +which he found himself. + +Thus the moments flew by, and no one noticed that Delmar grew slightly +restless, casting frequent glances towards that part of the landscape +where a small stretch of the road from the village could be seen. In +fact he began to be afraid lest his well-devised plan for a +reconciliation between Eva and Leo should fail, in view of the latter's +great unwillingness to approach one whom he felt he had so deeply +offended. He was not however doomed to such a disappointment. The visit +he had so desired was at hand. + +In the distance he first noticed the flutter of a light dress, and soon +recognized Hilda, beside whom walked Leo, engaged in earnest +conversation. Paul breathed freely now,--in a few minutes they would +reach the inn. Leo's visit could not have occurred at a happier time. +Eva had been prepared to see him again; she had forgiven him; she had +been told that he loved her, and to this declaration from Delmar's lips +she had replied by no word of reproof. Delmar was convinced that a few +friendly words from either would suffice to banish the shadow that now +lay between them, and then he could make up his mind what to do +next. They must have frequent opportunities of meeting, that was +certain,--frequent occasion for familiar intercourse. Delmar must see +that Bertram did not interfere here. + +Although Paul was aware of his friend's love for Fraeulein Schommer, he +knew nothing of the state of the girl's heart, except for the gentle +sympathy for Leo which he had read in her eyes. Her readiness to bestow +her hand upon Bertram was inconsistent Paul thought with the existence +of an affection for any one else. And yet this uncertainty did not +deter Delmar from the pursuance of his schemes. He was convinced that +Leo could succeed in winning Eva's heart if only time and opportunity +were given him. She must admire his brilliant talents and respect his +lofty enthusiasm; love would surely follow, and then would come the +time to dissolve her engagement with Bertram, and the end for which +Delmar was now living would be attained. + +"There come our friends Fraeulein Hilda and Leo von Heydeck!" he turned +to say to Eva, who was talking with Aline, and as he spoke he pointed +towards the road. For a moment Eva lost her self-possession: her cheek +paled and her lips trembled. + +"Courage, Eva dear!" Aline whispered. "You must summon all your +self-control." + +Aline's efforts to calm her friend were seconded by the extraordinary +surprise which Uncle Balthasar displayed at Paul's information, a +surprise which greatly amused every one. + +"Oh, Holy Apostles! Herr von Heydeck!" the old man exclaimed in the +broadest Saxon, with such positive horror imprinted upon his broad, +good-humoured face as only some fearful intelligence should have +provoked. He had not much time to recover from his fright, for a few +moments later Hilda appeared upon the balcony followed by Leo. + +Herwarth's and Delmar's laughter at Uncle Balthasar's exclamation of +dismay had restored Eva's composure, and when Hilda hastened up to her, +expressing in her fresh girlish way the delight that it was to her to +meet Fraeulein Schommer once more, every trace of embarrassment on Eva's +part disappeared. She returned Hilda's kiss with equal cordiality, and +then presented her to her uncle and aunt as the "charming Fraeulein von +Heydeck whom she had met in Vienna, and of whom she had so often spoken +to them." She acknowledged Leo's profound bow most courteously; she +could not be perfectly easy and unconstrained while doing so; the blood +rushed to her cheek as she felt that Delmar was watching her the while. + +In spite however of the cordial meeting between Hilda and Eva, all the +members of the little circle, with the exception of Hilda and Paul, +suffered under a certain constraint. They could not but remember the +past, and it was not easy to enter into general conversation. Uncle +Balthasar cast timid side-glances at Leo, who, to conceal his +embarrassment, was making minute, inquiries after Herwarth's health. +Aline was anxiously watching Eva, who was exerting all her self-control +to appear at ease, and even Aunt Minni, usually so perfectly +unimpressionable, seemed aware of the general disturbance, and sat in +her arm-chair with her fat red face studiously turned away from the +terrible Herr von Heydeck. + +Paul was quite unembarrassed and much amused by the evident efforts of +every one to appear at ease, the sarcastic smile which his friends knew +so well hovered upon his lips; he was master of the situation which he +himself had contrived, and which was to aid his schemes. He managed +with a jest directed towards Uncle Balthasar to relieve the good old +man from constraint, and then skilfully drew him into conversation with +Leo and Herwarth, so that Eva, Aline, and Hilda were left to talk +together. Aunt Minni always preferring to be left to herself. + +It was Paul's fashion in pursuit of any aim to act with great +recklessness, and now, determined to reconcile Leo with Uncle +Balthasar, instead of avoiding all allusion to the scene at Buechner's +and the affront offered to Eva by Leo, he led the conversation directly +to the subject, and thus gave his friend an opportunity to express his +regret to Uncle Balthasar for what had occurred. Leo did this in so +frank and manly a way that the placable old man was entirely satisfied, +and no longer remembered the dismay with which he had received the +announcement of Herr von Heydeck's visit. + +For a while Paul left the young girls to themselves; then by appealing +to Eva upon some opinion just expressed by Leo, he drew them also into +the conversation, which thus became general. To his great satisfaction +he noticed that Eva replied willingly and pleasantly to the few remarks +which Leo addressed to her. + +But a first visit should not be too prolonged. At the end of an hour +Hilda rose to take leave, after having arranged that Aline, Eva, and +herself should meet frequently, Hilda promising to act as their +cicerone to all the points of interest in the country round. + +"If you will allow me, Fraeulein Hilda, I will walk some distance with +you and Leo on your way back." Paul said to Hilda; and then turning to +Eva he added, "Will not you, Fraeulein Schommer and Fraeulein von +Schlicht, improve the occasion for a walk? you have not left the house +to-day,--and I will promise to escort you safely back to the Post." + +Hilda of course seconded this proposition, and Eva agreed to it, to the +surprise of Aline, who could not but consent to accompany her friend +after commending Herwarth to the kind offices of Uncle Balthasar. + +Eva and Aline started with Hilda, while Delmar walked by the side of +Leo; and how it happened no one except perhaps Paul could have told, +but after a little while Leo walked by Eva's side, while Paul followed +with the two other ladies. Gradually the distance between the two +parties increased, for Delmar walked very slowly, and often stopped to +ask Hilda the names of the various mountain-peaks, or to point out to +Aline some special beauty in the landscape, while he talked so fast and +so eagerly that he absorbed the entire attention of his companions. +They never noticed that Leo and Eva were now a considerable distance in +front of them. + +Leo's entertainment of his companion was by no means so glib and ready +as was Delmar's of Aline and Hilda. He was glad that Paul had so soon +procured him this opportunity of speaking to Eva alone and undisturbed; +and yet, now that it was thus his, he could hardly find courage to +improve it. He walked along by Eva's side in silence for some minutes, +and did but grow more and more confused. Never had he felt so utterly +and insanely stupid. Of course Eva could not begin a conversation, and +how she must despise his inability to find the right words in which to +address her! The right words! he thought he could not find them, and +yet they came, when, yielding to the feeling that had mastered him, he +simply asked, "Can you forgive me?" + +These were the right words! They came from the heart, as Eva felt, and +she looked up to Leo with a charming smile. "I have nothing to +forgive!" She said nothing more, and yet she seemed to Leo to have +spoken volumes. He could have shouted for joy, so exquisite was the +pleasure that the low whispered words gave him, dispelling the dark +shadow that had rested upon his life. Eva had forgiven him! The words +that she spoke, and still more the eyes that had gazed for a moment +into his, had assured him of this. + +He took her hand and pressed it to his lips; he could not help it, and +Eva did not resent his doing so, nor did she withdraw it when he placed +it within his arm. She had forgiven him, there was no cause for offence +between them. He never thought of her wealth, of her betrothal, nor of +the future. He walked silently beside her in a blissful dream of the +present, conscious only of the pressure of that little hand upon his +arm. + +They said nothing more; now and then their glances met, and they seemed +to have uttered all that it was in their hearts to say. + +"Halloo, Leo!" + +It was Paul's shout. Leo looked back in amazement, and noticed for the +first time that he and Eva had left the road and were walking along the +foot-path, very much in advance of the others. + +"It must be time for me to turn back; we have really come quite a +distance," said Eva, withdrawing her hand from Leo's arm. + +"May I come to Tausens again to-morrow?" + +"Yes." + +Again he kissed her hand rapturously, and she allowed it, although at +the sound of Delmar's voice near by she withdrew it more quickly than +before. Paul had shouted at the request of Hilda, who, now that they +were approaching the steepest part of the way, thought it too difficult +climbing for Eva, unaccustomed as she was to mountain-walks. + +Twilight was settling down upon the landscape as Eva, Aline, and Delmar +took their leave and returned to the Post, while Leo and Hilda pursued +their way up the mountain. + +"Eva is a charming girl," said Hilda. + +"She is an angel!" Leo replied. He said nothing further; Hilda glanced +up at him in surprise, but he did not notice it as he looked down, lost +in dreams. An arch smile flitted across the girl's face; she nodded +archly at her cousin, who did not see her, and said no further word to +disturb his revery,--she thought she could divine its subject. + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + +Eva had anticipated a first meeting with Leo with absolute dread, and +yet one brief hour and two or three words had sufficed to dispel the +dark cloud between them. They were reconciled. + +A delicious sense of repose and peace filled Eva's soul as she silently +accompanied Aline and Delmar back to the inn. Paul guessed that she was +in no mood for conversation, and so left her free to pursue her +thoughts. + +And when they were again all seated upon the balcony, and the three +gentlemen from Tausens made their appearance as usual, Paul contrived +that no one should notice that Eva scarcely took any part in the +conversation. Aline alone saw how quiet the girl was, and divined the +cause of her silence. + +Only when the two young girls had retired to their room did Aline put +her arms about her friend, and, looking into her dark eyes, ask, "Are +you reconciled?" + +"Yes, Aline. Oh, I am so happy!" was the reply. And then Eva poured +into her friend's ready and sympathizing ear an account of all that +filled her heart, all she had heard from Delmar, telling last of the +few words she had exchanged with Leo, and of the kiss he had imprinted +upon her hand at parting. + +Aline listened with the deepest interest, never interrupting her, but +when she had finished she asked, in a low tone, "You love him, Eva?" + +"Yes, with my whole soul! Now I dare tell you. Aline, of the warm +interest I felt in him long before I ever saw him. You and Lieutenant +Herwarth had told me so much of him, of his heroism in the field, of +his humanity to the conquered; he was my ideal of a hero, and when I +first saw him I was confused and strangely moved, for all my +expectations were so much more than answered. I was so happy when Uncle +Balthasar presented him." + +"And yet you received him so coldly that he could not but feel hurt!" + +"It was my misfortune, Aline! I have shed many a secret tear at the +thought of it. Delmar is right: wealth has poisoned my soul and filled +me with unjust suspicion. I take shame to myself for ever thinking that +my money could have any attraction for him. And so I threw away the +happiness of my life. He loves me, but he will not approach me,--we are +separated forever! I am betrothed to Bertram!" + +Eva wept bitterly, while Aline clasped her closer in her arms. "You +must not be unhappy, Eva," she said earnestly; "you must not sacrifice +your life to an illusion! This miserable engagement should never have +been entered into. There is still time to break it; you must not give +your hand to a man whom you detest and despise while your heart belongs +to another. Courage, Eva! Your fate is in your own hands. Break the +disgraceful chains that fetter you!" + +"I cannot, Aline! Bertram has my promise; he knows that I do not love +him, but he will hold me to my promise. Would not Leo von Heydeck +despise me if he thought me capable of wantonly breaking a promise for +which Bertram has sacrificed his entire future? And if I did so, I +never could be really happy. Leo is himself betrothed." + +"Herr von Heydeck betrothed?" Aline asked in surprise. + +"Yes; he has complied with his father's desire that he should be +betrothed to his cousin Hilda. Herr Delmar told me this." + +"My poor Eva----" + +"No, not so, Aline! I was indeed wretched when I thought that Leo von +Heydeck hated and despised me. Now that I know that he cherishes for me +a pure, disinterested affection,--that he loves me, although he knows +that we are separated forever,--I am no longer unhappy. The thought +that I am sacrificing myself for his sake consoles me. I gave my +promise to Bertram that Leo von Heydeck might escape a great peril,--I +cannot be unhappy." + +"You deceive yourself, Eva; you must not sacrifice yourself to a +phantom of the imagination. Bertram loves not yourself, but your money; +with money you can atone to him for his lost future." + +"Say no more, Aline, I cannot bear it; you must not think so meanly of +the man who, although I cannot esteem or love him, has never given me +reason to believe him so sordid a wretch as you describe. I will keep +the promise I have given. Do not try to shake my resolution, it is +firmly fixed." + +"I have no right to urge you further," Aline said sadly, "but answer me +one question, what are you going to do now? Will you return Fraeulein +Hilda's visit? Will you thus provoke frequent opportunities of meeting +Herr von Heydeck? I should think such interviews would be alike painful +for yourself and for him." + +"You are wrong; we are reconciled. If our future destinies separate us +forever, we may at least avail ourselves of these few chance weeks of +friendly intercourse. I am resolved to enjoy this time, troubled by no +sad thought of the future. When I leave Tausens I will go to meet my +fate serenely, for I know that Leo von Heydeck will have none but +kindly thoughts of me." + +"A most extraordinary purpose!" Aline rejoined, as she looked at her +friend with a dubious smile; "but so be it,--it may result in good. +Then we are to enjoy the society of our friends at Castle Reifenstein +as if there had never been any unpleasantness between Herr von Heydeck +and yourself I confess I am curious to know what Herr von Bertram will +say to this." + +"Do not mention his name to me now!" Eva exclaimed impatiently, +instantly however kissing her friend, and saying, in a gentle +tone of entreaty, "My dear true Aline, do not be angry with me for my +cross words,--you know how tenderly I love you, and how I depend +upon your counsel and sympathy. Let me enjoy this short season of +happiness,--even Herr von Bertram shall not alloy it for me,--he has no +right to do so; I am still my own mistress. And now goodnight, my +dearest friend." + +Thus with a tender caress they separated for the night, but it was long +before either fell asleep. Eva resigned herself to waking dreams, and +Aline's thoughts were occupied with her friend's fate. She had long +since surmised that Eva was far from indifferent to Leo von Heydeck; +her surmise had just been made a conviction, and she now knew that Leo +reciprocated her friend's sentiments. Aline had the most sincere +affection for Eva; she took the deepest interest in her future; she +knew how firm and loyal she would be to a given promise, and that no +entreaties would avail to make her false to her idea of right. She had +often declared that nothing should cause her to recall the words spoken +to Bertram, and this declaration she had just repeated, although she +now knew that Leo loved her. + +Nevertheless she must not be allowed to carry her resolve into +execution. Bertram was utterly unworthy of such a sacrifice. Aline had +become entirely convinced during the last week of his mercenary +disposition; she saw plainly that it was Eva's wealth and not herself +that he coveted. The constant coldness and reserve that characterized +her manner towards him had created in him almost a feeling of hatred +for his betrothed, the existence of which, in spite of the servile +smoothness of his manner, could not always be concealed from Aline's +eyes, made keen as they were by affection for her friend. + +In Fraeulein von Schlicht's opinion there was only one person who could +be of use here, and that was Paul Delmar. Aline would speak with him, +or--no, it would be far better to confide the whole matter to Herr von +Herwarth, who was intimate with both Herr von Heydeck and Herr Delmar. +He would know what to advise. This thought soothed her, and she fell +asleep with a happy smile upon her lips. + +The next morning the whole party again met upon the balcony. Bertram +alone was missing; he had not yet returned from his expedition. Delmar +was in his gayest humour,--only Fraeulein von Schlicht noticed that he +was rather pale, and that his eyes lacked something of their wonted +brilliancy; the others were content to yield to his influence and laugh +at his jests. + +Leo and Hilda came down from the castle in the early morning to arrange +a walk to some waterfalls, and all went as smoothly as possible. Eva +received Leo with a smile that transported him to the seventh heaven, +and Hilda greeted Delmar as amiably. For a moment Paul forgot his role; +he grew very grave as he took Fraeulein von Heydeck's proffered hand, +but the next instant he was gayer than ever, rallying the cousins upon +their condescension in descending from their rocky throne to mix with +the humble inhabitants of the valley. Hilda was ready in her replies, +and merriment was the order of the day. + +When the party were about to start upon their expedition. Aline +declared that she was still fatigued with her walk of the previous day, +and preferred to remain quietly upon the balcony. She therefore begged +Delmar to join his friend Herr von Heydeck, and leave to her the charge +of the lieutenant. She made the request in so gentle a tone of +entreaty, and Kuno seconded her so eloquently, that Delmar could not +but comply. Thus Aline remained alone with Kuno on the balcony, for +Uncle Balthasar made one of the walking-party, and Aunt Minni, as soon +as breakfast was over, retired to her room and her beloved sofa. + +Aline's wish was fulfilled; she now had an opportunity of speaking to +Herwarth of Eva, and her relations with Bertram. She found it difficult +at first to allude to so delicate a topic, but Fraeulein von Schlicht +was too natural and frank a person to yield for long to girlish +shamefacedness; she was convinced of Herwarth's truth and honour and of +his friendship for Leo, and so she gave him her entire confidence with +regard to Eva and Bertram. She told him that her friend was bound only +by her promise,--that she had not the smallest esteem or affection for +her betrothed,--and that if her engagement were not broken the +happiness of her future life would be entirely destroyed. Of course +Aline never alluded to Eva's sentiments for Leo von Heydeck, she had no +right to do so; it was of her relations with Bertram alone that she +spoke; and she concluded with an earnest request that Herwarth would +induce Delmar to exert the influence which Herwarth had told her he +possessed over Bertram to force the lieutenant to free Eva from her +promise. + +As Aline spoke, Kuno watched her with enthusiastic admiration; she had +never seemed to him so bewitchingly lovely. Her cheeks flushed, her +blue eyes sparkled in the glow of her devotion to her friend as she +eagerly explained and entreated. He was only too happy to be the +recipient of her confidence, and he promised with ardour to do +everything that she desired. It was only natural that when she offered +him her hand in token that the compact between them was sealed he +should refuse immediately to resign it, but should retain the 'white +wonder' in his clasp and imprint upon it a fervent kiss. + +It is not quite safe for a young girl to pour confidences into a man's +ears, especially when their subject is love, and Aline had proof of +this. Kuno's ardour embarrassed her; she tried to withdraw her hand, +but he clasped it only the more firmly, and even drew its owner nearer +to him, as he reiterated his promise to do all, everything, always that +she could desire if only she would not repulse him, but would listen +while he told her that life was worthless to him unless he might keep +as his very own the little hand he then held. How could Aline withdraw +it? + +When at noon the pedestrians returned from their waterfalls, they found +Aline and Kuno still together, and the lieutenant rapturously presented +to them Fraeulein von Schlicht as his betrothed. + +Here was a delightful surprise, and yet afterwards every one, with the +exception of Uncle Balthasar who was unaffected amazement itself, +professed to have foreseen it all along. + +Delmar regarded Kuno with eyes that sparkled strangely. "Number One!" +he said. "You're a lucky dog, my noble knight! Have you not made fools +of us after all? Confess: was that sprained ankle accident, or did you +so contrive it that pity might bring her nearest of kin to minister to +you? And if it were so, my congratulations are none the less sincere, I +swear to you, Herwarth, that for only one hour of such happiness as +yours I would give not only a miserable foot but my head into the +bargain!" + +Involuntarily his glance sought Hilda. Their eyes met, but were +instantaneously averted, and Delmar turned hastily away to conquer the +emotion that threatened to overcome him. In Hilda's look of tender +sympathy he read, "You too might be as happy!" Poor child! She did not +dream of the woe that awaited him, making it impossible that he should +be happy. The thought shot a pang through Paul's heart; there was no +bliss in the conviction of Hilda's tender sympathy for him, it only +made his fate harder to bear. With all his self-control, the struggle +was wellnigh too much for him. He hurried away,--anywhere to avoid +again meeting Hilda's eyes. + +Eva, too, was much moved as she embraced her friend, and wished for her +every blessing that life could bring. "You happy girl!" she whispered. + +"You will soon be just as happy," Aline replied, in as soft a whisper, +glancing at Leo, who was warmly congratulating the lieutenant. But Eva +brushed away a tear and made no answer. + + +Never had Hansel, our worthy postmaster, enjoyed such delightful days +as those which ensued upon the betrothal of Fraeulein Aline with the +Herr Lieutenant von Herwarth. He went about the house with a constant +grin upon his broad face which beamed with special satisfaction +whenever he saw Herr Delmar, for Hansel was proud to acknowledge that +it was owing to Herr Delmar that his wildest dreams were now +transcended by reality. + +The honest fellow listened daily to exclamations of admiration from +Herr Schommer and the ladies over the wonderful degree of comfort to be +found in this excellent inn, although Tausens was so retired a spot. +Every day he listened to thanks and praise of his wonderful energy and +skill in ministering to the wishes of his guests. Sometimes when Uncle +Balthasar was exhausting himself in surprise, and the young ladies +uttered cordial thanks in addition, Hansel, to be sure, would become +confused, and quite unable to suppress a maidenly blush, but he liked, +notwithstanding, to be so lauded. + +Indeed, his guests had good cause to be amazed and grateful, for each +day brought some fresh surprise, prepared as Herr Delmar assured them +by the worthy Hansel, for whom Herr Delmar had a positively +enthusiastic regard. + +A large box full of books, the best works upon the Tyrol, and the +latest novels, arrived from Innspruck. Hansel had ordered them from a +bookseller there, sparing no expense to provide amusement for his +guests if the weather should chance to be rainy. + +Several furniture-wagons arrived from Bozen laden with comfortable +lounges and arm-chairs. Hansel had sent for these by express, because +he heard that Aunt Minni was fond of such luxuries. He showed a most +refined aptitude in supplying every desire of his wealthy guests. Money +was no object to him; no expense was spared in any direction. + +And the table,--Herr Delmar had indeed maligned Tausens when he had +declared that there was nothing to be had there but veal. Hansel sent +to Bozen, Triest, Riva, and even to Venice, to procure delicacies +wherewith to tickle the palates of his guests. He sent his own +messengers, empowering them to make the required purchases. Uncle +Balthasar declared that nowhere in the world could a better table be +found than at the Post at Tausens. He really could not understand it, +for the charges were extremely moderate, not a kreutzer higher than at +other Tyrolean inns where not a delicacy was to be had. + +And not only in luxurious lodgings and delicate fare did he testify his +desire to please. Every wish expressed in other respects by the +strangers, and especially by the ladies, was fulfilled almost before it +was uttered. + +Fraeulein Eva, upon a short walk where the postmaster was guide, +expressed her special admiration for a certain point of view and a +desire to visit it frequently. The next morning a couple of convenient +wooden benches and a table were erected upon the spot, and the path +leading to it was found to have been cleared of stones during the +night. Labourers were also employed to open and clear various +mountain-paths in the neighbourhood of the inn, making many charming +places accessible for the ladies. But Hansel's tenderest care for his +guests was shown in an arrangement which excited the unbounded surprise +of the entire village. Fraeulein Aline von Schlicht was not very strong, +walking fatigued her, and she therefore often remained at home with the +invalid lieutenant when some pleasant expedition on foot was to be +made. One evening Fraeulein Eva expressed her regret that in consequence +of the entire want of mules and riding-horses in Tausens her friend was +obliged to lose so much of the beauty around them, and that Herr von +Herwarth also would know nothing of the finest points of view, since he +would have to spare his sprained ankle for some time to come. An hour +afterwards the village schoolmaster departed for the railway-station in +Hansel's own conveyance, the driver being ordered to drive furiously so +as not to miss the train, and two days later an Italian appeared from +Bozen bringing four strong mules, which he quartered in the stable at +the Post, and placed at the disposition of the guests there, two of the +animals being provided with side-saddles. + +Hansel, admirably careful host that he was, must have overheard Eva's +remark, and instantly ordered the mules and their owner from Bozen. + +Their host's care and attention did not alone conduce to make the stay +of the Schommer party in Tausens agreeable. After Herwarth's betrothal +to Aline there was constant and delightful intercourse between the +inhabitants of the castle and the guests at the inn. + +Every day Leo and Hilda came from the castle to carry off Eva and +Delmar to some point of beauty in the neighbourhood, while Aline +remained upon the balcony with her betrothed, and kindly Uncle +Balthasar felt it his duty to bestow his society upon 'our dear Guido,' +who never took part in the daily walks. Besides the mountain-paths were +too steep for the old man, and thus Hilda, Eva, Delmar, and Leo were +left to themselves to enjoy the exquisite weather and to explore, with +Hilda for a guide, all the beauty and grandeur that abound in the +neighbourhood of Tausens. + +The steep mountain-paths were for the most part so narrow as to allow +only two persons to walk abreast; and upon first leaving the village +Hilda and Eva usually went before, followed by the two young men; but +this arrangement did not last long,--it was but natural that in any +climbing Eva should lag behind her fleet-footed guide and that Leo +should hasten to assist her unaccustomed steps, while Delmar walked +with Hilda, who never needed assistance, and that in this order they +should continue to pursue their way even when there were no +difficulties to surmount. + +And when, after his two weeks of rest, Herwarth was able to mount a +mule and take part in these expeditions this arrangement was in no wise +altered, for naturally he rode beside his betrothed, who no longer +desired to be left at home upon the balcony. Another mule was sometimes +provided for Eva in very steep ascents; but Hilda, the mountain maid, +could never be induced to admit that walking upon her beloved mountains +could fatigue her, and her boldness and agility were quite equal to +those displayed by Leo and Delmar. + +These expeditions had a rare charm for all who took part in them. +Conventional constraint vanished in the familiar intercourse thus +induced. A greater degree of intimacy was established among the party +than would ever have been possible in the life of a city. + +When Leo led Eva along the narrow pathway upon the brink of some steep +abyss and she grew giddy with a glance into its misty depths, she would +cling to her guide in full confidence in his strength and sureness of +foot; he would bear her in his arms across a foaming mountain-brook, +lift her on and off of her mule, all small services which she could not +but permit him to render her, and which filled him with a sense of +ecstasy. + +When at some distance from the others he walked with her beneath the +fragrant firs, as she leaned upon his arm he would gaze into the large +dark eyes lifted to his own and forget past and future in a dream of +the present, a dream which Eva shared, and it banished all memory of +the hateful tie that bound her to Bertram. She would listen with a +happy smile to Leo's words, and now and then her cheek would flush, +although he never breathed a word of the love which she knew possessed +his soul. Yes, she knew;--there was no need of a confession from his +lips. + +Delmar did not, as did Leo and Eva, yield to the enjoyment of the +moment without resistance; but even he could not withstand the charm of +these daily walks by Hilda's side, of constant intercourse with one so +frank and fair. + +In her gay unconsciousness Hilda never concealed from Paul how happy +she was; she talked so merrily and freely that he could not but adopt +the same familiar tone. He tried at first to treat her with reserve; +she must not know how wildly his heart beat in her presence; he must be +to her but an every-day acquaintance, no more to her than any other +stranger. + +He would have avoided being alone with her, but that was impossible. If +Leo and Eva were to come together they must be left to themselves; +their love must so increase in familiar intercourse as to conquer any +prejudice that might separate them even after Eva's engagement to +Bertram should be annulled. If he would promote his friend's happiness, +Paul must be Hilda's sole companion upon these mountain-walks. + +Thus he was forced to take with her the lead in all their expeditions, +although he offered her none of those small services which Leo rendered +to Eva with such delight. Hilda would have laughingly rejected them, +for she needed no assistance even on the steepest paths and dizziest +heights. Her head never for an instant swam even when she stood upon +the extreme brink of some frightful abyss and gazed down into its +depths; she sprang with graceful agility from stone to stone in +crossing the mountain-torrents, and was always at hand to give aid, +although she never needed it. + +Once only Paul was forced to proffer Hilda the aid of his strong arm; +they had reached the banks of a rushing brook, across which there had +formerly been a bridge, which a late freshet had carried away. There +were no large stones in the midst of the water by which Hilda could +cross. Had she been alone she would, it is to be feared, have dashed +across without minding a thorough drenching, but that would never do +with any one by to see her, and she looked eagerly for some way to gain +the opposite bank. + +"You will have to let me carry you across, Fraeulein von Heydeck," Paul +said, after searching in vain for a place where Hilda could cross +without his aid. + +"Shall I not be too heavy for you, Herr Delmar?" the girl asked, with +an arch smile. + +For answer he lifted her lightly in his arms and strode through the +foaming water. How easily he seemed to do it, and yet the light burden +was almost too much for him. His heart throbbed so that he thought she +must hear it; his cheeks flushed crimson, and he almost staggered +beneath her light weight, when Hilda shrank from the dashing water and +leaned more closely upon his shoulder. + +And yet he could have wished to bear her thus in his arms for hours. +With a sigh he released her upon the opposite bank of the stream, and +she thanked him, and laughing at his thoroughly drenched condition, +passed on through the forest, while he stilled the wild throbbing of +his heart and the rushing of the blood in his veins as best he might. + +How variable and whimsical he must seem to Hilda! he thought. Now he +would adopt a cold tone towards her, and now indulge in outbursts of +the wildest merriment, striving with a jest to deaden the agitation of +his soul. He saw that these jests were not pleasing to Hilda; she grew +very grave when he was recklessly gay; he would not distress her, and +so restrained himself and compelled himself to talk earnestly and +quietly. For this she rewarded him with eager interest and ready +sympathy. + +He would have held himself aloof from her, but that was impossible; she +regarded him not as a stranger, but as her cousin Leo's dearest friend, +of whom he had talked so much and so often that she felt thoroughly at +home and at her ease in his society, and she treated him with a frank +familiarity that was irresistibly attractive to him, and the influence +of which he could not resist. + +Often, as they walked fearlessly along the brink of frightful abysses, +he remembered his despairing desire to end a life that could offer him +no future save pain and anguish. As he talked gayly with Hilda such +thoughts would assail him; he would pause for an instant and gaze with +longing into the blue depths. Why should he live on? Eva and Leo were +reconciled. All that remained for him to do was to break the tie +between Eva and Bertram and his work in the world would be at an end. +But as he wandered on at Hilda's side the spell that her presence threw +around him would inevitably exert its power; gloomy thoughts would be +banished, and the love of life and all that makes life fair would stir +strongly again within him, although he deceived himself into the belief +that his only desire was to live until Leo's happiness should be +secured and Dr. Putzer be sufficiently recovered to tell him all that +he feared to learn. + +Convinced that after at most a few more days he should be separated +from Hilda forever, he at last resigned himself utterly to the +enchantment of her presence, unaware of how her constant society fed +and increased the love which he felt for her. Consequently he grew +calmer; the feverish excitement which drove him to indulge in +extravagant merriment subsided: he took cheerful part in the general +conversation; and when they rested after some long ascent at the +wished-for point of view, he could thoroughly enjoy both the enthusiasm +of the others and the glories of the landscape. Still, when at the end +of the day the entire party would sit discussing their expedition, upon +the balcony, Paul was apt to fall into a gloomy revery from which it +needed a word from Hilda to rouse him. Thus the days and weeks passed +at Tausens with very little change, and no one divined what was going +on in the mind of him to whom all turned for enjoyment and sympathy. + +One person however suspected that Delmar was by no means so careless as +he seemed. Guido von Bertram watched him keenly whenever he had an +opportunity, with many a misgiving that a storm was gathering above his +head. When it would break he could not tell, and he racked his brains +for some means whereby he might escape it. + +The ex-lieutenant played but a sorry part in Tausens. When he returned +from his mountain-expedition, on the day of Herwarth's betrothal, he +found the entire party assembled upon the balcony, for Leo and Hilda +had despatched a messenger to the castle to inform Herr von Heydeck +that they should not return until late in the evening. + +Uncle Balthasar had brewed a bowl of punch in honour of the occasion, +and the three gentlemen from Tausens had taken part in the festivity. +Uncle Balthasar was in an ecstasy; he repeatedly proposed the health of +the betrothed couple, and made them a short congratulatory speech in +his comical patois. His only disappointment was that 'dear Guido' was +not yet returned; and when 'dear Guido' did actually make his +appearance upon the balcony, the old man's happiness reached its +climax; he immediately filled him a glass of punch and required that he +should drink the health of the betrothed couple. + +The surprising intelligence deprived Bertram for an instant of his +self-possession, and his face showed the dismay that he felt. In fact, +there was reason for it. Herwarth, Leo's most intimate friend, +betrothed to Aline, Eva's friend and confidante! What results might not +ensue! Probably a reconciliation between Eva and Leo. True enough, +there was his dreaded enemy beside his betrothed, and the two were +conversing as easily and pleasantly as if there had never been the +slightest misunderstanding between them. At the moment Leo was standing +with his hand on the back of Eva's chair; he bent above her and said +something in a low tone of voice. And she? She looked up at him with a +gentle smile, so lost in what he was saying that she never heard Uncle +Balthasar's joyous exclamation, "Here is our dear Guido!" and did not +know that her betrothed was looking on while she conversed familiarly +with his mortal enemy. + +They were reconciled! The phantom which had scared Bertram since the +day of his betrothal had become a terrible reality. Eva loved Leo von +Heydeck,--her sweet smile, the tender light in her eyes as she looked +at him, revealed the fact even more plainly to Bertram's jealousy. He +grew giddy; he saw his whole future in peril, his fairest hopes +destroyed, and himself upon the brink of an abyss. But he must suppress +all manifestation of the dismay that he felt. Mechanically and with a +hand that trembled he took the glass which Uncle Balthasar offered him. + +Fortunately, the individual members of the little party were too much +occupied with themselves to pay much attention to Bertram. Leo and Kuno +had indeed been aware of his entrance upon the balcony, but they did +not deign him a glance. Delmar however bestowed some notice upon him, +saying with the sarcastic smile which Bertram so detested, "When you +have congratulated our friends as in duty bound, Herr von Bertram, let +me pray you to bestow upon me the short time which the fatigue of your +expedition allows you to accord us this evening. Here is a place by my +side." + +This was a command which Bertram did not dare to transgress. With rage +in his heart he obeyed. + +He offered his congratulations to the betrothed couple. Aline received +them with the merest bow required by courtesy, and Kuno noticed them +not at all,--for him Herr von Bertram did not exist. + +Guido controlled his anger; he did not dare to resent the contempt +shown for him by Herwarth. He had to pay his respects to his betrothed +after two days of absence,--a duty he would gladly have omitted. He +offered her his hand; she placed her own within it, but withdrew it +instantly. She asked one or two cold questions as to whether he had +enjoyed his excursion, and then turned and continued her conversation +with Leo, who did not accord him even a glance. + +"Come, Herr von Bertram, I am waiting for you impatiently," said Paul. + +Bertram obeyed, and took the vacant place beside his tormentor. + +"Tell me of your excursion,--you know the interest I take in all that +concerns you. Egotist as I am however, I am not so selfish as to detain +you long when you must be so very much fatigued with your walk. Give me +only five minutes, and then when you have taken a couple of glasses of +Herr Schommer's excellent punch, I will not keep you an instant +longer." + +This was another disguised command. This man was a tyrant, who refused +to allow his slave the slightest freedom of action, but Bertram obeyed. +With morbid loquacity he began to tell of his excursion, of the +glorious views from the Spitzhorn, and of the difficulties of the +ascent. He broke off however in the midst of his discourse, having +taken two glasses of punch, when Delmar took his watch from his pocket +with a meaning glance; he declared he was really too tired to continue +his description, and neither the request of the judge, who wanted to +hear more of the ascent of the Spitzhorn, nor Uncle Balthasar's +entreaty could detain him. He arose and took leave. Eva again gave him +her hand, scarcely interrupting as she did so her conversation with +Heydeck,--which, indeed, she had continued steadily, never paying any +attention to Bertram's loud description of his mountain-ascent or of +the natural beauty of the Rothwald valley. + +Thus passed Bertram's first meeting with Leo since the scene beneath +Buechner's awning; he had suffered a fresh defeat and had left his enemy +at Eva's side; the worst he had to fear had nearly occurred. + +Bertram had in fact had a most fatiguing walk; he was very weary, but +nevertheless he tossed restlessly upon his bed. There was no sleep +there for him,--he started up whenever the sound of gay laughter from +the balcony reached his ears, only to bury his head again among the +pillows to shut out if possible the hateful noise. + +And even late in the night when all was still, when nothing stirred in +the rooms on either side of him, and he knew that Eva, as well as Aline +and Uncle Balthasar, had retired for the night, sleep fled his eyelids. + +He thought with horror of his future. What would become of him if that +demon Paul Delmar should reveal to Eva her entire right to recall her +promise? He could not return to K----, where his debts were immense and +his honour and credit both gone. How should he even live from day to +day? + +His property, which had been considerable, he had squandered in the +wildest dissipations; his creditors had abstained from resorting to +extreme measures only in the hope which he had held out to them of his +marriage with the wealthy heiress. If his engagement with Eva were +broken, nothing could keep him from their clutches should he attempt to +return to K----. The moisture stood in cold drops upon his forehead as +a vision of his probable future rose distinctly before him. A jail and +the disgraceful habit of a convict were all he had to look for. The +check with Count Waldheim's forged signature was in Delmar's +possession, and unfortunately it was not the only witness to be brought +against him. A well-known usurer in K---- possessed similar papers, +having been easily induced over Count Waldheim's name to furnish +Bertram with a large sum of money for the liquidation of a pressing +gaming debt. + +With the recklessness of a thorough gamester, Bertram had lived along +from day to day in the hopes of winning Eva's hand. To escape dishonour +he had become a forger; to cover one counterfeit check he had drawn up +another for a larger sum. Delmar had helped him upon one occasion,--he +had not dared to apply to him again; and so he had gone on plunging +deeper into debt and disgrace, until he saw no means of escape save by +a marriage with Eva. + +A jail! Horrible thought! There was no sacrifice he would not make to +escape such a fate. Once in a feverish vision of so frightful a future +there had risen in his excited fancy the thought of a certain casket, +in which Eva kept her most valuable jewels, diamonds, and ready money; +but he had rejected this thought with horror. Now it recurred to him +again. He knew the casket well; it was of ebony, with Eva's monogram +inlaid in gilt on the lid. He had helped to pack it into the +travelling-carriage when they had left K----, for Eva took it with her +wherever she went; it was dear to her as her dead father's gift. + +Just before leaving her home Eva had opened it in his presence to put +in a large sum of money designed for travelling expenses, and he had +admired the brilliancy and size of the diamonds it contained. He had +asked his betrothed why she took such valuable jewels with her upon a +tour among the mountains, and had received for a reply that she never +left them behind her when she went from K----, since the casket with +the diamonds was her father's last gift to her, and she was nervous +lest it might be stolen if she did not have it with her. + +As he now tossed restlessly in bed, the ebony casket, with the +glittering diamonds and the large roll of notes, recurred to Bertram's +mind. What might be the possible value of the diamonds? Uncle Balthasar +had mentioned that his brother had paid more than ten thousand thalers +for them in Berlin. Besides the diamonds the casket contained other +jewels, worth at least several thousand more, and then the money. +Bertram did not know how much there was, but the bundle of large notes +was thick, and there were two or three packets of gold besides. There +must have been several thousand thalers,--a trifle for Eva, the wealthy +heiress, but a treasure for one who looked forward to a jail as his +only future. + +Physical exhaustion at last overcame him; his eyes closed and he sank +into an uneasy slumber, in which his dreams were still of the ebony +casket and its contents. He dreamed that Eva gave it to him. He counted +the money: it amounted to a huge sum. He took up the diamonds, and was +just feeding his gaze upon their lustre, when Leo von Heydeck snatched +them from his hand. He turned and grappled with him; but just as he +would have overthrown his foe he felt himself in Delmar's iron grasp, +and heard his sneering voice cry, "To jail with the scoundrel, he stole +both money and diamonds!" In his struggle to free himself he awoke. + +Trembling in every limb, he sat up in bed and looked about the room, +which was lit up by the pale moonlight. It was some minutes before he +could recover from the effects of his feverish dream, and he could not +rid himself of the thought of the ebony casket. Eva had it in her room +upon a table beside her bed; at least it had been there on the previous +morning, for he had noticed and recognized it as he passed by the open +door of her room. + +He was now wide awake, and his glance fell upon the door that connected +his room with Eva's. In the moonlight he saw the glitter of the key in +the lock. Were Eva and Aline sound asleep? They had taken a long walk +in the morning and had retired late. Bertram had heard the postmaster +say that the young ladies had returned quite fatigued from their +expedition. Honest Hansel had forgotten to mention that Aline had not +joined them. + +If he could succeed in unlocking the door and opening it without noise, +it would be easy enough to enter the room unheard by the sleeping +girls. To possess himself of the casket would be but the work of a +moment, and no one would dream that he could have taken it. + +Bertram got out of bed, slipped on his dressing-gown, and noiselessly +crept to the door leading to Aline's and Eva's apartment. He listened +with his ear at the key-hole. The profound silence told of the deep +slumber of the occupants of the room. With the greatest caution he +succeeded in turning the key noiselessly in the lock; all that +was to be done was to open the door as silently. His heart throbbed and +his hand trembled as he took hold of the latch. "Courage! Boldly +ventured is half won," he said to himself, as he pressed down the latch +and pushed against the door, which however did not yield to his +efforts,--it was bolted on the inside. "Fool that I am!" he exclaimed +to himself as with a whispered curse he stole back again to his bed. + +The sun stood high in the heavens when Bertram next awoke. He +remembered the events of the night as those of a terrible dream, and +yet strangely enough, its fantastic images pursued him in his waking +hours. His thoughts dwelt perpetually upon the ebony casket, and upon +how he could gain possession of it without being suspected of the +theft. + +Theft! It was an ugly word, and had not occurred to him during the +night, but in the light of day the deed he contemplated showed for what +it was, and he acknowledged to himself, with an angry flush that proved +him not quite dead to a sense of shame, that the appropriation to +himself of the casket, even although it belonged to his betrothed, was +nothing more or less than a common theft. + +Such thoughts however were uppermost but for a moment. He reflected +again that a theft was no worse than a forgery, nor more severely +punished by the law. The possession of the casket would enable him to +escape punishment for forgery, by providing him the means wherewith, if +the worst came to the worst, he might seek refuge in foreign lands. It +was folly to shrink from a word, and he found some excuse for himself +in the consideration that all that was Eva's might soon be legally his. +Was she not his betrothed? If she kept her promise to him it would be +easy to contrive some way of restoring the casket to her at a future +day; and if she broke her engagement with him she deserved no mercy at +his hands, and he must look out for his own safety. + +While he dressed, his mind was filled with thoughts of this description +with which he silenced the last whispers of conscience. He left his +room and betook himself to the balcony. He feared that he should find +Delmar at breakfast there, but that could not be helped. As long as the +balcony served the guests of the inn for a dining-room it was +impossible to avoid seeing them there. + +But to Bertram's satisfaction, Delmar was not on the balcony, nor, +indeed, was Eva to be found there. Uncle Balthasar and Aunt Minni were +sitting at the breakfast-table with Fraeulein von Schlicht and Herwarth, +and they had finished drinking their coffee. + +Uncle Balthasar received him with some good-natured badinage about his +late rising, telling him that Leo von Heydeck and Fraeulein Hilda had +carried off Eva and Herr Delmar upon a mountain-excursion early in the +morning. They had started at six o'clock, and would not return until +evening, for Eva had ordered her servant Wilhelm and a boy from the inn +to follow them with lunch packed in baskets. + +Guido was relieved, it is true, to know that there was no chance of his +meeting his enemies for some hours to come, but vexation at Eva's +treatment of him far overbalanced this relief. Had she forgotten that +she was betrothed to him? Did she not outrage decency by thus wandering +about the country with Delmar without even giving her future bridegroom +a choice whether or not to join them? This conduct on her part gave him +a right to treat her with the same want of consideration, and again he +thought of the ebony casket. + +Uncle Balthasar also probably felt uncomfortable at the slight put upon +his 'dear Guido' by his niece, and tried to excuse it by remarking that +Eva would not have him disturbed after his fatigue of the previous day, +and that he, Uncle Balthasar, was quite ready to accompany him if he +felt like a morning walk, an offer which Bertram declined almost +roughly, explaining that he was far too tired to take another walk, and +that he would go to his room and write letters. He finished his +breakfast in silence, replying in monosyllables to Uncle Balthasar's +good-humoured inquiries with regard to his expedition of the previous +day, and immediately rose and left the balcony. With Aline and Aunt +Minni he had not exchanged a word, and his morning salutation to +Herwarth had been barely acknowledged. + +As he passed along the passage to his room he noticed that the door of +Eva's apartment was open. The thought suddenly occurred to him, "What +if this were the right moment?" He looked cautiously about him,--no one +was to be seen. He hastily entered the half-open door, and found +himself face to face with Nanette, who was putting the room in order. + +"Nanette!" + +There was so distinct an expression of surprise unmixed with pleasure +on Bertram's face as he uttered her name, that Nanette could not but +perceive it, and her temper was not at all improved by doing so. She +gave the intruder an angry glance, and said in a sharp tone, with an +emphasis upon every word, "Much obliged, I'm sure. Herr von Bertram +does really remember my name. I shall certainly find some way to show +my gratitude for such condescension. No need to shout until one is out +of the woods. If you want to catch gold-fish, see that no one throws +stones in the water." + +The girl was really angry; her eyes fairly flashed with malice. Bertram +saw that she was offended by his neglect of her, and just now she might +prove a most valuable ally; she must be appeased. He looked round once +more to see that there was no one near, and then entering the room, +closed the door carefully behind him. Yes, there beside the bed stood +the table upon which was placed the ebony casket,--the goal of his +desires. He needed but to stretch out his hand and it was his. But +Nanette must be won over to his schemes. + +With the sweetest smile at his command he regarded her. "What's the +matter, my little darling?" he asked, in the tenderest of tones. "Are +you angry with me? What have I done? Here am I so happy to have a +chance of seeing you alone at last, hoping you would run into my arms, +and you receive me with hard words. How can you do so, you naughty +little thing?" + +He approached her and would have put his arm around her waist, but she +pushed him away. "Don't touch me!" she said crossly. "You think it +needs only a couple of smooth words to wind a silly girl around your +finger; but you shall find to your cost that you are wrong! I'll show +you what it is to turn a poor girl's head and then break her heart for +the sake of a purse-proud Zantuppy. You shall learn who I am, my fine +Herr Lieutenant!" + +"But, my darling----" + +"Hands off, or I'll scream!" the girl exclaimed, when Guido made +another attempt to put his arm around her; and she struck at him with +the coarse dust-cloth she had in her hand. "I'll not be fooled again +with your flattering, deceitful speeches. It's all very well to call me +'darling' now, and make eyes at me, but for a whole week you've never +even looked at me. I hate Fraeulein Eva's stupid black eyes, but the +haughty thing shall know who used to steal to my chamber at night when +I lived with the Privy Councillor's lady. She'll be furious enough, and +the Herr Lieutenant will see what will become of his gold-fish. Ugh! I +can't stand these vulgar commoners! While she drives her four horses, a +girl worth ten of her must perch like a scarecrow on the box; and while +she's off in the woods with Herr Delmar and Herr von Heydeck, Nanette +has to stick at home in a wretched inn and sleep in the garret with a +stupid maid! I've lived with the best, and I'll not stand it. I'll give +them all something to think of, and the Herr Lieutenant into the +bargain. I'll have my revenge, and I hope you'll enjoy it." + +Nanette paused for breath, and would then have continued with her angry +outburst, but Bertram interrupted her: "Has jealousy made you mad, +girl? Do you not know that I hate your mistress as much as you do? +Can't your bright eyes see that? You are the only one whom I love, you +foolish little darling----" + +"I have not seen much of it this last week." + +"How can my foolish little pet be so blinded by jealousy? Can we live +on air, my dear? We have nothing,--for your sake I must be the victim." + +"A pretty victim!" + +"And hard enough it is; I am sometimes almost wild with fury when I see +how the odious creature treats you; but let her once be my wife, and I +will repay with usury every hard word she ever gave to my sweet angel; +she shall suffer for her arrogance, and you shall have everything +that heart can desire,--a charming villa, a superb carriage, silk +dresses, and as many jewels as you want. We will live together in +Paradise,--that shall be your revenge!" + +Nanette's eyes sparkled: the malicious look passed from her face. She +smiled, and did not shrink from the lieutenant's encircling arm; but +she shook her head nevertheless, and said, "Those are only castles in +the air. You don't know the Zantuppy,--she guards her money like a +dragon, or like the foul fiend himself!" + +"I do not see that----" + +"But I do! There in that black box she has more money than she can ever +use; but she keeps it locked up, like a perfect miser. Only a little +while ago, in Munich, when I asked her for a paltry advance of fifty +thalers of my wages to buy a new bonnet and a silk mantilla for the +journey, what did she do? Glared at me out of her stupid black eyes, +and said, 'I do not desire to see my maid tricked out in finery; you +shall have your wages as you earn them, but not a penny in advance to +gratify your vanity.' Those were her very words. I should have liked to +box her ears!" + +"Odious creature!" + +"Yes; and is it not hard to see you making eyes at her and never even +looking at me?" + +"Can I help it, you foolish child? If she guessed how dear you are to +me she would dismiss you instantly, and I should never have a chance of +seeing you. I have suffered enough this last week, but I hope we can +arrange matters better in future. I have a plan by which we can often +be together undisturbed. With your help it can easily be carried out." + +"What is it?" + +"It is simple enough. You are often busy here while Eva and the rest +are on the balcony. I might come to you here, but that would be too +dangerous; we might be surprised here at any moment, and all would be +lost. And you cannot come to my room either, for fear of being seen; +but if you will always take care that the bolt on this side of the door +between the rooms is slipped back, we can be together as often as we +choose and not a human being suspect it." + +Nanette gave an ugly laugh as Bertram made this proposal. "Not so +stupid as you think," she said. "Thank heaven I can see through a +millstone, and have long known your silly admiration for Fraeulein +Aline's doll-face. You would like to pay her a quiet visit now and +then. No, I thank you, Herr Lieutenant!" + +"You are perfectly insane with jealousy!" Bertram exclaimed, forgetting +his wonted caution in his surprise at an accusation so unfounded. +Warned however by the angry flush on Nanette's cheek, he restrained his +vexation, and continued in a tone of mild reproach: "How can you +entertain so odious a suspicion, my pet? I detest that waxen-faced +Aline almost as much as her friend. I cannot understand how you can +speak so." + +"Are you to be trusted, I wonder?" + +"You will really provoke me, Nanette. This is all I have in return for +my affection. At great risk I come to look for you, to speak with you +for a moment, and you receive me thus unkindly. Come, lock the door +into the passage and unbolt the one leading to my room, where we can +then talk further without any danger. We can hear the moment Frau +Schommer leaves the balcony, and you can slip back here again without +the slightest fear of detection." + +The invitation was too tempting to be refused. Nanette locked the door +into the passage, and unbolted the one between Fraeulein Schommer's and +Bertram's rooms. + +Guido's end was attained to his great satisfaction, and he now had so +much to say to Nanette, of the future that awaited her when he should +have married the heiress and her wealth should be his, that the girl +quite forgot her former jealous ill humour, and imparted to him the +import of the various conversations she had lately contrived to +overhear between her mistress and Fraeulein Aline. Fraeulein von Schlicht +had done all that she could, Nanette said, to induce Eva to break her +engagement, but Eva had declared firmly that she would keep her +promise. + +This intelligence was very soothing to Bertram, and he began to think +that it would perhaps be better to resign his designs upon the casket; +but he reflected that Eva's purpose would never be maintained should +she ever learn from Delmar that her promise was the result of falsehood +upon the part of her betrothed. Half an hour passed thus in +confidential discourse, when the door leading from the passage to Aunt +Minni's room was heard to open. Nanette, at this note of warning, +slipped back into Eva's apartment, and the next instant Bertram heard +her push the bolt home. He uttered a low curse. "D--n her stupid +jealousy!" was the flattering phrase bestowed upon Nanette, as he +walked to the window and sat down to ponder upon some other means of +obtaining the casket. He could devise none, save by taking it at night. +Although Eva's room was often open in the daytime, there would be no +possibility of concealing it elsewhere in the house, where it would be +immediately missed; and to carry it off to the forest by daylight, when +the inn was full of people, would be equally impossible. + +Nevertheless he did not resign his project, and he determined to +accustom Nanette to a frequent unbolting of the door, in hopes that, +grown careless, she might some time forget to bolt it again. + +This determination he carried out during the ensuing weeks. He could do +so all the more easily by reason of the part which he was compelled to +play with regard to the rest of the party. Herwarth, and Leo who came +daily with Hilda from the castle to join in excursions among the +mountains, took no notice whatever of Eva's betrothed. They never even +looked at him, and Aline only spoke to him when common courtesy +required that she should do so. + +Eva did not hold herself so entirely aloof; she preserved towards +Bertram the same cold politeness that she had always shown him, +allowing him to call her by her first name, although she never +addressed him otherwise than as Herr von Bertram. All familiar approach +on his part she repelled by a frigid reserve. Bertram was made to feel +that the slightest attempt to assert his rights as her betrothed would +be fruitless, and he could not but see how much more familiar was her +manner towards Delmar, Herwarth, and even Leo than towards himself. + +Warned by his enemy, Guido never ventured to take part in the daily +excursions. He made one of the party only at breakfast, dinner, and +supper, and here Delmar endured his society no longer than he thought +absolutely necessary. + +If, at the end of an hour at most, Bertram made any attempt to join in +the general conversation, Delmar was sure to make some remark which +contained a command to leave in disguise,--a command which the former +dragoon hastened to obey. His observation, quickened by terror, told +him that at the first sign of rebellion against his enemy's authority +the storm which he so dreaded would burst above his devoted head. + +In these last few weeks Paul had greatly changed. Often when the others +were conversing eagerly he would sit gazing dreamily out upon the +distant mountains, in a way very unlike himself. When he roused himself +from such brooding reveries, Bertram almost always caught an angry +glance from his dark eyes, which convinced him more and more that he +meditated striking a blow at his prospects, and that, for some hidden +reason, his hand was stayed for the moment. He guessed that this blow +was the breaking of his engagement with Eva, for any one could see the +pleasure Delmar took in the growing intimacy between Leo and Fraeulein +Schommer, and that he would gladly remove any obstacle to their +happiness. + +The firmer this conviction became in Guido's mind the more was he +strengthened in his resolve to insure his own future by the possession +of the ebony casket, and he availed himself of every opportunity for +the private interviews he had contrived with Nanette. Almost every +evening they met in his room, and to his great satisfaction he saw that +he was gradually destroying in her frivolous mind all mistrust of him, +although every evening when she left him he still heard the low +creaking of the bolt as it was pushed into its staples, and Eva's door +remained not only closed to him but fast bolted. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + +Four weeks had passed since the arrival of the strangers at the inn at +Tausens; every day, favoured by the clear summer skies, they had made +delightful excursions among the mountains, and still no one talked of +leaving; Uncle Balthasar indeed, instigated thereto by Aunt Minni, who, +in spite of her comfortable quarters, missed the luxuries of the villa +in K----, had once or twice asked his niece how long she intended to +stay at Tausens, but he had received no decided answer. The kindly old +man, seeing how his pet was enjoying herself, would have been the last +to wish to cut short her enjoyment, even had he not been so thoroughly +at his ease as he was. For his own part he declared he never had been +so much entertained as in the agreeable society in which he now found +himself. Every evening the party at the inn was joined by the cousins +from the castle, and by the judge, the forester, and the collector from +the village, and Uncle Balthasar was in his glory. Also he spent as +much time as he could with 'dear Guido,' only regretting that his +favourite was not duly appreciated by the rest of the party. He gladly +accompanied him upon his walks from time to time, never dreaming that +the former dragoon's only reason for desiring his society was the hope +that he entertained of gaining some certainty as to his future +prospects from the old man's artless talk of Eva and her relations with +Delmar and Leo. + +In fact, poor Uncle Balthasar was deeply grieved that Delmar, Herwarth, +and Leo should treat Bertram with such haughty reserve, and that Eva +did not comport herself towards her lover as a girl should, but showed +a decided preference for the strangers. The kindly soul therefore took +care that Bertram should always have a place at the breakfast-table +which made it possible for him to avoid all necessity of speaking with +Delmar or Herwarth. + +Such a seat Uncle Balthasar had provided, between himself and Aunt +Minni, for his 'dear Guido' on a certain clear, rather cool morning in +August, when the party had assembled upon the balcony at the Post. It +was rather late, nearly nine o'clock; there was to be no long walk +to-day, because the young people had made so distant an excursion the +day before. Leo and Hilda had not come down from the castle, but had +invited Eva and Delmar, with Herwarth and his betrothed, to spend the +day with them in the castle garden and in seeing all that there was of +interest within the old walls. + +Conversation did not flow as easily as usual this morning. Herwarth and +Aline talked, it is true, but Delmar sat gazing dreamily abroad over +the valley, and Eva rarely spoke. + +Paul had lately lost much of his former vivacity; he sometimes had no +power to rouse himself and conquer his depression, and would sink into +a revery, from which he awakened only when he observed Hilda regarding +him with a look of trouble on her lovely face. Then perhaps for a while +he would be as merry as ever, although this would not last long. He +would leave the rest, lagging behind upon some side-path if they were +walking, or absenting himself upon some slight pretext from the party +on the balcony. + +After a month of hard struggle Paul at last confronted a crisis in his +fate. The goal which he lived to attain was reached. Between Leo and +Eva there was now only the promise given by the latter to Bertram. The +heart of each was laid bare to the other. It was in Paul's power to +remove the obstacle that separated the lovers. Why did he hesitate to +pronounce the word that would avail to do so? He excused this to +himself by urging that he must first keep the promise given to Leo, +whereby he was pledged to learn all that could be known of his past +from Dr. Putzer. He did not confess even to himself that he dreaded +keeping this promise; that he shuddered when he received from Dr. +Atzinger, who was in constant attendance upon the sick man, daily +intelligence of the slow improvement in his patient's condition; that +his heart had throbbed fast when he heard that Putzer would soon be in +complete possession of his faculties and able to receive Delmar's +visit; and that on this very morning, as he sat silent at the +breakfast-table, he was lost in gloomy reflection because Dr. Atzinger +had reported on the previous day that he hoped on the ensuing morning +to allow Delmar the long-talked-of interview with the sick man. + +This visit Delmar was now anticipating with harrowing anxiety. In the +sleepless night he had passed he had reviewed in detail every +circumstance of the last few weeks. Four weeks since death would have +been welcome to him, in view of the horrible certainty that Hilda was +legally his sister, although bound to him by no natural tie; all that +had given life an interest to him then had been the hope of insuring +his friend's happiness; he thought this hope now upon the point of +fulfilment, and yet a possible death seemed to him far from welcome +now. + +What had produced this change in the last month? Was his conviction +that Hilda was legally his half-sister shaken? No, on the contrary it +had been confirmed; after his conversation with Leo he had written to a +prominent lawyer in K----, instructing him to make every possible +inquiry as to Herr Delmar's place of abode and family circumstances +before he had come to reside in K----; placing at his disposal the +means for making these investigations thorough at any cost. The result +had been such as to remove all doubt in Paul's mind, had any such +existed, as to his relationship with Hilda. + +The lawyer had established the fact that Paul Delmar, the son of Herr +Delmar, had died a few days after his mother,--there were official +records of this,--and also that Herr Delmar had established himself +in K---- shortly after leaving his native place. He had brought to +K---- with him a child, whose certificate of birth and baptism as his +son Paul had been shown to the proper authorities. Of course, as the +lawyer wrote, the fact that Herr Delmar had produced an adopted son as +his own could be proved beyond a doubt; but this would never be done +unless by Herr Paul Delmar's desire. + +After this intelligence from his lawyer, Paul needed no confirmation +from Dr. Putzer of his relation to Herr von Heydeck, but nevertheless +he was determined to obtain it. Towards ten o'clock Dr. Atzinger made +his appearance, and announced that his patient had exceeded his +expectations by himself earnestly entreating that Herr Delmar would +visit him. + +When Paul heard this he sprang up from the breakfast-table and would +have hurried away, when suddenly his glance fell upon Bertram, who was +observing him narrowly. The thought instantly occurred to him that +after this interview with Dr. Putzer he might not be able to endure +another twenty-four hours in the society of his friends. Therefore +before seeing the sick man Eva must be released from her bondage. + +He stood reflecting for a moment, and then turning to Herwarth, Aline, +and Eva, he begged them not to delay their visit to the castle upon his +account; he should in all probability shortly follow them, although he +might be detained longer than he anticipated by Dr. Putzer. Eva's offer +to wait for him he decidedly refused to accept; and only when they had +all promised to set off without him did he turn to Bertram, saying, +"Before I see Dr. Putzer, Herr von Bertram, you will perhaps grant me +the pleasure of fifteen minutes' conversation with you. Shall we walk?" + +Certainly no invitation could have been more suavely and courteously +expressed, and yet Bertram's face grew ashy pale, and his heart sank +within him as he bowed and stammered a few words of assent to Delmar's +proposal. + +As soon as Paul had requested Dr. Atzinger to await him at Dr. +Putzer's, he left the balcony and led the way, Bertram following, +to the village street, where first he moderated his pace, that the +ex-lieutenant might walk beside him. + +"Do you know, Herr von Bertram, why I have thus requested your +company?" he began. + +"Indeed--Herr Delmar--I cannot conceive----" + +A look of contempt from Delmar greeted these stammered words of denial. +"Your embarrassment assures me that you are perfectly aware of what I +wish to discuss," Paul continued. "I will therefore come to the point +at once. Your unnatural relations with Fraeulein Eva Schommer must cease +this very day,--this very hour!" + +"Herr Delmar----" + +"Do not interrupt me. Experience must have taught you that when I speak +I mean what I say. For the last four weeks I have watched Fraeulein +Schommer narrowly; there is no need to tell you that your betrothed +abhors you, that she loves my friend, Leo von Heydeck, with all her +soul, and that nothing but her inexorable sense of right withholds her +from retracting the promise by which she bound herself to you. You know +all this as well as I do. If you were a man of honour, such knowledge +would suffice to induce you voluntarily to renounce----" + +"Herr Delmar, you insult me! Remember your promise!" + +"I promised you nothing, and I cannot conceive how the mention of a +fact of which you are perfectly cognizant can insult you; but we will +not quarrel about words. The fact is that you do not voluntarily +dissolve an engagement which you never should have contracted, and that +you thus force me to make use of the power over you which I possess. +Listen then to a brief declaration of my intentions. Either you will, +in order to preserve at least the semblance of honour, make known to +Fraeulein Schommer in a letter that you release her from her promise, +that you voluntarily dissolve the engagement between you, after which +you will instantly leave Tausens, so that all further explanation may +be impossible, or Fraeulein Schommer shall learn from me what reasons +moved you to make your public apology to Leo von Heydeck, and I will +present in K----, to be cashed, a certain forged check. + +"If you do as I require I am ready to hand over to you a sum of five +thousand thalers as soon as your letter is sent to Fraeulein Schommer. +If you refuse, you will be expelled this very day from our circle, +where there is really no room for a detected forger. Make your choice!" + +Guido trembled with futile rage while Delmar went on speaking with calm +decision. Had he only been alone with his foe, he would have throttled +him. But they were walking along the village street, the observed of +many eyes. Bertram knew that he was in his enemy's power, and he knew +Delmar, and that his was no vain threat. He dared not make any +resistance; he only hoped to gain time. He thought of the ebony casket, +and of Nanette. If Delmar would only grant him a little time, a few +days, he might bring the maid over to assist in his plans, now that she +was daily yielding more and more to his influence. Therefore he +suppressed all expression of anger; nothing could be wrung from this +man by opposition; submission and entreaty must be tried. + +"You are fearfully hard upon me, Herr Delmar," he said, with feigned +humility. "Was it magnanimous to leave me so long in torment between +fear and hope? I implore you to give me a few days in which to prepare +myself for the step you demand of me. I will speak with my betrothed, +and will entreat her to tell me frankly whether indeed she cannot look +for happiness in a life spent by my side. And if, as I fear she will, +she tells me that she cannot, that she can only give me her hand +without her heart, and that her promise alone binds her to me, then I +can fulfil your desire honourably, Herr Delmar. Why, after keeping me +waiting for weeks without pronouncing judgment against me, do you +suddenly insist upon handing me over to disgrace? Only give me a few +days' respite, and I promise to do your bidding." + +Paul's eyes gloomily sought the ground. A word of entreaty always had +great weight with him; it was only where he met with resistance that he +was hard. True humility and docility were sure to disarm him. Earnestly +as he wished that Leo's fate should be decided, much as he desired to +be at liberty to do as he pleased, it is more than probable that he +would have yielded to Bertram's entreaty if a suspicion had not +suddenly dawned upon him that the man meant to play him false. Why +should he desire an interview with Eva? Did he hope to induce the +wealthy heiress to buy her freedom from him? Such a scheme might well +be attributed to the scoundrel, and Paul was convinced that Eva would +be ready to sacrifice her entire fortune if by so doing the detested +tie might be severed. The sudden suspicion steeled him against +Bertram's entreaty, and he replied, "Not a day, not an hour, will I +give you; you must decide upon the spot!" + +One look into Delmar's calm, resolute face convinced Bertram that he +had no respite, however short, to expect; he still might perhaps +succeed in moving him in another respect, and with a profound sigh he +continued: "You are terribly severe and cruel with me, Herr Delmar. How +have I deserved such scant mercy at your hands? In a miserable moment +of my life, a prey to despair, I was led to invoke destruction upon my +head by that stroke of the pen. I was half frantic. I had to choose +between disgrace and death by my own hand. Love of life conquered, and +I forged that signature, an act which I have repented bitterly ever +since. You then saved me from merited disgrace, for which I was +inexpressibly grateful to you. I felt the wrong I had done you in +handing you the forged check, and I was never without a sense of +devotion to you as my saviour from dishonour. And yet you are now the +one to invoke disgrace upon my head. Remember how you have punished me +already. You forced me to public dishonour among my comrades, to resign +from the army, to destroy all my hopes in life, and now you thrust me +into the abyss from which a marriage with Eva would save me. + +"You are enormously wealthy, and you know nothing of the misery of +poverty; therefore you thrust me forth into the world with a paltry +pittance of five thousand thalers. You offer me five thousand thalers +as indemnification for what you take from me! Can five thousand thalers +begin life afresh for me and worthily support the name I bear? Can I +even live for a few short years upon such a sum? Be magnanimous, Herr +Delmar, and let me have, not as a gift but as a loan, a sum sufficient +to buy an estate upon the income of which I can live as a landed +proprietor, and in time repay you. You will not miss it, and I shall be +forever grateful to you." + +With inexpressible contempt Paul regarded the speaker who thus in his +servile entreaty for money laid bare all the meanness of his sordid +soul. He would gladly have paid any sum to secure Leo's happiness, but +to supply this aristocratic beggar with the means for a life of +dissipation would in his estimation be a sin against humanity. Utterly +disgusted, he turned away; he would have nothing more to do with the +fellow. "Not a word more, Herr von Bertram!" he exclaimed, harshly; +"you have heard my offer, which I now almost regret having made; you +must now decide whether to accept or to reject it. You would squander +fifty thousand thalers as quickly as five thousand at the gaming-table. +I know that I was wrong in offering you money. But I did so, and will +stand by my word, if you declare yourself ready this minute to do as I +command you. The time which I was free to devote to you is past. I must +have a simple 'yes' or 'no'! Answer me!" + +"I implore you, Herr Delmar----" + +"'Yes' or 'no'! Not another word! If you do not reply, I shall +understand it as 'no,' and you must abide by the consequences." + +Not yet could Bertram bring himself to utter the decisive 'yes.' He +still hesitated, but Paul left him no time for further reflection. When +Bertram paused he turned from him with contempt, and would have +returned to the inn. His firmness conquered. + +Bertram saw that all would be lost, and the promised five thousand +thalers besides, if he did not instantly submit. He hastened after +Delmar. "Yes, Herr Delmar!" he exclaimed, "I submit to your wishes; I +confide in your magnanimity!" + +"You have made prudent use of the last moment," Paul rejoined coldly; +"follow me to my room." + +Again he led the way, Bertram following him. At the door of the inn +they met Aline, Eva, and Herwarth about to start for the castle. "I +will soon join you," Paul said, as he passed them. Bertram never lifted +his eyes from the ground, and they did not appear to notice him. + +Arrived in his room, Delmar directed Bertram to his writing-table. "Sit +there," he said; "take a sheet of paper, and write. I will dictate to +you a letter that shall serve as the last chapter of the miserable +romance of your betrothal. You shall extricate yourself from this +wretched business as a man of honour; at least you shall appear such in +Fraeulein Schommer's eyes. It is of course more than you deserve, and is +probably great folly on my part; it is not done for your sake, but +because I owe some reparation to Fraeulein Schommer for a former unjust +estimate of her, and I should like to save her from the humiliating +conviction that she has been betrothed to so utter a scoundrel as +yourself. Therefore I will surround your brow with the halo of +high-souled renunciation. Write!" + +Bertram bit his lips, not daring to vent the rage that was consuming +him. Without a word of reply he took up a pen, and wrote down the words +which Delmar, standing behind him, dictated over his shoulder. + + +"Four terrible, agonizing weeks have I passed, weeks in which each day +was torture to me. With every miserable hour I have become more and +more clearly convinced that you, dearest Eva, have accorded me a right +to remain near you as your betrothed only in consequence of a promise +too hastily given. I have seen that your heart belongs to another, and +that it never can be mine. + +"I do not blame you; I only bewail the ill fortune that shatters all my +life's fairest hopes. I should be indeed lost to all sense of honour if +I attempted to hold you, my beloved Eva, to a promise given me when you +were ignorant of your own heart. You, at least, shall not be unhappy. I +give back to you the faith which your inexorable sense of rectitude +forbids you to recall. I voluntarily release you from your engagement. + +"I shall not, I cannot, see you again. It is with the deepest pain that +I leave you, but there is some consolation for me in the thought that +you will not think of me with hatred, but will accord me some measure +of friendly remembrance in the knowledge that I have sacrificed my +happiness to yours. + + "Guido von Bertram." + + +The letter was written. Paul took it, and read it aloud, laughing +bitterly as he finished it. "Excellent!" he said; "an epistle which +might worthily find a place in any romance, and which is certainly not +dear at five thousand thalers. Uncle Balthasar may still speak with +genuine emotion of his 'dear Guido;' the fair Eva may think kindly of +the noble self-renunciation that inspired the letter, and perhaps +privately repent that she did the writer such injustice. Even Leo will +shake his head, unable to conceive how such words could have been +written by him who penned them. Seal it with your signet-ring, and I +myself will deliver it to Fraeulein Schommer." + +Bertram obeyed in silence. He sealed the letter and gave it to Delmar, +who in return took from his pocket-book five thousand thalers in large +notes, which he handed to the ex-lieutenant, saying, "Our business is +now concluded, Herr von Bertram. I leave you, never to see you again. I +myself will order a carriage for you from the postmaster. It will be at +the door in five minutes; just in time for you to catch the midday +train from the railway-station. In a quarter of an hour you will have +left Tausens. Only upon this understanding; do I give you this money. I +shall reclaim it if I find you still here when I return from a visit I +am about to make in the village. And if you should dare to attempt to +obtain an interview with Fraeulein Schommer, I shall ruthlessly use +against you the forged check in my possession. Make haste with the +packing of your portmanteau; you have but a quarter of an hour's time +at the most." + +Delmar expected no answer, and received none. Bertram swept up the pile +of notes, and with a last look of hatred as his only farewell to Paul, +hurried away to his room, where he locked himself in, while Delmar +quietly went down-stairs and ordered Hansel to have a conveyance +brought to the door for Herr von Bertram, who wished to catch the +midday train. After which he proceeded to pay his visit to Dr. Putzer. + +When Bertram found himself alone in his room, he no longer restrained +the expression of the rage that possessed him. Muttering curses upon +the failure of his schemes, he paced the floor like some caged wild +beast. All was over! He was powerless in the grasp of his deadly foe; +thrust forth thus into the world with a paltry pittance of five +thousand thalers to atone for the millions he had lost. + +How gladly he would have murdered his pitiless, inexorable enemy! But +even in the midst of his paroxysm of anger he shuddered at the thought +of Delmar's cold, quiet manner, which always had power to overawe his +coward will. + +His fate was decided; he must submit. The ebony casket again recurred +to him. Just then there was a rustle in the next room. Eva and Aline +had gone to the castle. Nanette must be there alone. Hitherto he had +not thought of making her his accomplice in the theft; this now +occurred to him. Only with her aid could he hope to make the coveted +prize his own. + +But if he did thus gain possession of it, would not suspicion instantly +fall upon him? Eva would miss her treasure as soon as she returned from +the castle, and Delmar would not leave her long in doubt as to who had +stolen it. He pondered the matter. Eva could not possibly return from +the castle before two a clock; she was to dine at three at the inn. But +by two he might be far away. If he took the train to Toblach, and then +drove to Schleuderbach, he could reach the Italian frontier before even +a telegraphic message could be despatched in search of him, although +Delmar should immediately institute a pursuit of the fugitive. Once +across the frontier he would surely be able to elude all discovery. + +What would Eva say when she found her precious casket missing and +divined who had taken it? As he thought of the letter he had just +written, and the contrast it formed to the act he contemplated, he +laughed bitterly. But his time was short, every minute was precious, he +dared delay no longer. He knocked cautiously at the door leading to the +next room. The bolt was withdrawn, and Nanette opened it. She was +received by him with a tender embrace. "My little darling," he said, +"how fortunate I am in seeing you once more before I leave!" + +The girl looked at him with terrified surprise. "What do you mean, Herr +von Bertram? You are going away? How? Where?" + +"I will tell you, my pet, and you only. I have just received +intelligence that a suit has been instituted against me in K---- for +leaving there without leave of absence from my superior officer. I am +to be arrested here to-day and taken back a prisoner to K----. I must +fly or I am lost; in a quarter of an hour I must leave Tausens." + +"What will become of Fraeulein Schommer?" + +"Do not mention her. I am glad to be rid of her even in this way. I +hate her, but it breaks my heart to leave you. Oh, Nanette, if you +really cared for me you would leave all and come with me! You should be +my darling little wife, with nothing to do but enjoy yourself all day +long!" + +Nanette listened, speechless with rapture. Here was a proposal she had +never ventured to hope for! A great gentleman, and the betrothed +besides of her hated mistress, asked her to fly with him and be his +wife,--his real wife,--a lady of rank! Her head grew giddy at the +thought. She could hardly believe her ears. + +But Bertram went on pouring forth his insidious protestations and +entreaties until she could doubt no longer. And when he pointed to the +ebony casket and said that it contained what would give them a +careless, happy life in Italy, she made no resistance to his taking it +from the table where it stood, and bewildered and submissive only asked +whether they should not be found out. He soothed her with the assurance +that they should both be far beyond the Italian frontier before the +absence of the casket was detected or any pursuit thought of. + +Before many minutes were past Bertram had won the girl over to his +purpose; she consented to accompany him in his flight, she became his +accomplice. By his directions she locked on the inside the door leading +from Eva's room to the passage, and then followed her grand gentleman, +who carried the casket, into his room where he locked the door of +communication and put the key in his pocket. + +Time was precious, and Bertram made haste to thrust the casket, which +must be hidden from sight while he was leaving the inn, into his +portmanteau. Here however he encountered an unexpected difficulty. On +each side of the box was a large ornamented gilt handle, by which it +had usually been lifted. These handles made the box too large for the +interior of his portmanteau. As Bertram tried in vain to pack away the +casket so that the small trunk would close, he muttered an oath. He +could not possibly allow the box, which the postmaster and the inn +servants knew to be Eva's property, to be seen in his possession, and +there was no way of concealing it except by packing it into the +portmanteau, which was too small for it. He tried to bend one of the +metal handles, and as he did so it broke off in his hand. "So best!" he +said, throwing it aside, and then wrenching off the other, which he +also threw on the floor. The casket now fitted perfectly inside the +portmanteau, filling it however so completely that Bertram was forced +to leave most of his clothes behind him. + +In a few minutes the portmanteau was locked, and Bertram himself +carried it down to the conveyance which was awaiting him at the +inn-door. The postmaster stood by it, cap in hand, expressing sorrow +that the gentleman was about to leave him. His surprise was great when +Nanette suddenly made her appearance in her bonnet and shawl and took +her seat beside Herr von Bertram in the carriage. + +"I will take this opportunity of driving to town," she said, observing +honest Hansel's amazement. "I have several commissions to execute for +my mistress, and I will come back towards evening in the carriage. +Adieu, Herr Postmaster!" + +"Drive on!" cried Bertram. "I must catch the midday train!" The driver +cracked his whip, and the horses started at a rapid pace. + +Hansel looked after the carriage as long as it was in sight, and then +turned into the inn with a wise shake of his head. This sudden +departure of the young nobleman, and so strangely accompanied too, did +not seem to him just what it should be. But these great people from the +city certainly did have many queer ways, and as long as Herr Delmar had +ordered the carriage everything must be right, and thus Hansel forced +himself to think. + +He went up-stairs to see that Herr von Bertram had forgotten nothing in +his room, and to his surprise found the door locked. This was +vexatious. The Herr must have locked it absently and put the key into +his pocket. Ten to one he would forget to give it to the driver when +they reached the railway-station. + +Hansel went grumbling and fetched his master-key, which opened all the +bedrooms in the house; but when he entered Bertram's apartment he found +it in a condition which greatly increased his misgivings with regard to +the sudden departure. One or two suits of clothes and a quantity of +linen lay about the floor in disorder. They could not have been +forgotten; they must have been left behind intentionally. All these +clothes had been brought to the inn in Herr von Bertram's portmanteau, +and yet Hansel had noticed that it had looked much fuller without all +these articles in it when the gentleman had put it into the carriage +just now. Again Hansel shook his head; he did not know what to make of +all this, and he resolved to ask Herr Delmar about it as soon as he +returned to the inn. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + +After Delmar had ordered the carriage for Bertram, he walked slowly +along the village street towards Dr. Putzer's. The nearer he came to +the house the more he lingered; never had he experienced such a dread +as possessed him at thought of the coming interview which would decide +his fate. + +But he was ashamed of what seemed to him cowardice, and as he paused +for an instant at the small grated gate opening into the doctor's +garden he braced himself to meet his fate, reflecting that no delay +would postpone the inevitable, and then walked quickly through the +garden to the house-door. + +Dr. Atzinger received him. "You have been long in coming, Herr Delmar," +he said. "Our patient has been impatiently awaiting you. If I had +yielded to his wishes you would have seen him some days ago; but even +now, I confess frankly, I should have liked to postpone this interview. +I think him far too weak for any agitation of mind, and I have yielded +to him in this instance only because I feared more from the effect of +his restless impatience than from the conversation with you, which he +evidently considers as of the first importance. Unfortunately I cannot +be present at this interview. He has asked to see you alone, and I must +therefore entreat you to use extreme caution, remembering that any +over-excitement on his part is certain death. Pray do all you can to +soothe him." + +Paul willingly promised all that was asked of him. He felt no +irritation towards Putzer, who had been but the tool of Herr von +Heydeck. + +Atzinger conducted him to the door of the doctor's bedroom, saying as +he opened it, "Here is the man you so wish to see; now remember, my +dear friend, to send him away as you promised, as soon as you feel +exhausted." + +"Yes, yes; tell him to come in," was the reply, in feeble tones. + +Delmar entered, and Dr. Atzinger left him alone with the patient. + +The room was large and sunny, and supplied with every comfort that +could be procured in a retired Tyrolean village. The sick man's bed was +so placed that as he lay with his face turned to the window he had a +full view of the steep rock crowned by Castle Reifenstein. + +Upon Paul's entrance the invalid raised himself into a half-sitting +posture and turned his face full towards his visitor. "I have been +longing for you for many days, Herr Delmar," he said, in a faint, +scarce audible voice. "You are come at last, and I thank you. I was +afraid I should never see you again." + +Was this Dr. Putzer? Delmar never could have believed it from the +evidence of his senses. There was absolutely no resemblance between +the wine-flushed bloated countenance which Paul remembered and this +ashy-pale flabby face, save for the light disordered hair that fell +on either side of it. And just as little did the invalid's weak gentle +voice resemble Dr. Putzer's hoarse brutal tones. + +Delmar was so shocked and startled by the alteration he observed in the +man that he could at first find no words in which to reply to his +salutation. + +The doctor continued: "Sit here, Herr Delmar, close by my bed; I have +much to say, and not much strength wherewith to say it. I must pray you +to lend me your patient attention." + +Paul obeyed; he drew a chair to the bedside and sat down, filled with +pity for the sick man, whose every word evidently cost him a painful +effort. His compassion got the better of his desire to hear what the +man had to say. "Talking is too much for you, Herr Doctor," he said +kindly. "You must not exert yourself I beg you reserve what you have to +tell me for another day, when you are stronger and better, and let us +discuss only commonplace topics at present. I will pay you a daily +visit, and your friend Dr. Atzinger tells me that you will be much +stronger and more equal to the task you have imposed upon yourself in a +few days." + +A grim smile, which reminded Paul of the Dr. Putzer of his remembrance, +flitted across the pale face. "My dear friend Dr. Atzinger is an +ignoramus!" the sick man replied. "I shall never be stronger; I +shall shortly be found dead in my bed,--perhaps to-day, perhaps +to-morrow,--any time within the next fortnight. I know this with +absolute certainty, and therefore I was so impatient to see you, for I +must and will speak with you. I will not die without being revenged +upon the worthless woman whose fault it is that I lie here a dying man, +and who has had no thought except for her own safety. She expected me +to die without ever being able to utter another word, and she robbed me +of every cent I possess that she might escape danger; but she was +mistaken,--I still live, and will use my last breath in revenging +myself upon her." + +The doctor's voice grew stronger and his eyes flashed as he said these +words. But the momentary excitement over, he sank back exhausted among +his pillows. Paul feared he was dying, and rose hastily to call Dr. +Atzinger, but Putzer divined his intention. "Stay," he gasped; "it will +pass off,--in a moment I shall be strong enough." + +Again Paul obeyed, and after resting for a few minutes, the doctor +continued: "Indignation at that wretched woman exhausted me; it shall +not occur again. I will husband my strength for what I have to do. +There may be no to-morrow for me, and you shall not leave me until I +have armed you for my revenge upon that fiend. I might tell you much, +but I think you already know most of what I have to say. You would not +have come to Tausens if you had not known that Herr von Heydeck has +defrauded you of your inheritance, and if you did not wish to recover +it from him. You know this, but you do not know what it is most +important that you should, and you perhaps imagine that with the help +of certain proof of which I am ignorant you can force Herr von Heydeck +to acknowledge you as his son and to leave you his property and his +name. Is not this so?" + +Paul made no reply except by a faint motion of the head, which the +doctor took for assent, and continued: "I thought so. You will scarcely +undertake a wearisome lawsuit for the sake of the property. I have +heard that you are very rich, that you are the possessor of millions. +Is this true?" + +"Yes, it is true!" Paul replied, firmly. + +His answer satisfied the doctor. "Then I am right. Herr von Heydeck's +wealth does not allure you; you did not come to Tausens to demand your +rightful inheritance? Answer me, am I right?" + +"Yes!" Paul said, distinctly. + +"Then it is the name and title of von Heydeck that you covet. I thought +so. Well, Herr Delmar. I shall have to depress your hopes slightly. I +think I remember, before my illness, when I was not exactly myself, +having told you that you could lay no claim to the name of Heydeck. +What I then said is true; you are the son of Count Menotti, not of Herr +von Heydeck!" + +"But Herr von Heydeck acknowledged me as his son, and such I therefore +am in the eye of the law," Paul rejoined, hoping to incite the doctor +to further revelations by this insistance. His hope was fulfilled. + +"You think so, but you are mistaken," the doctor continued. "You think +you know all about it because you probably possess proof that Herr von +Heydeck delivered you over to Herr Delmar as a child, and that you are +the boy whom Herr von Heydeck gave out for dead in order that he might +appropriate to himself the child's maternal inheritance. All this you +know, but you do not know that there was no child by Herr von Heydeck's +marriage with his first wife; that you were the illegitimate child of +your mother and Count Menotti; that you were born before Herr von +Heydeck was married to your mother, and that therefore you can lay no +claim whatever to the name of Heydeck." + +The words were spoken. Paul saw the yawning abyss which was to have +swallowed up his hopes suddenly disappear, and a sunny future expand +before him. The burden which had wellnigh crushed him for weeks beneath +its weight fell from him. Hilda was not even legally his sister, nor +was Heydeck his father, but a stranger, to whom he was bound neither by +the law of the land nor by that of nature. His brain reeled at the +thought that if the sick man's words were true there was no longer any +obstacle to separate him from his love. + +The doctor perceived how deep was the impression produced upon Delmar +by his words, but he ascribed his agitation to a false cause. "I see," +he said more kindly than was his wont, "that my information pains you +because it annihilates your hopes, but I could not spare you. You must +know the entire truth that you may not proceed to false measures in +dealing with Herr von Heydeck,--measures which might defeat your +object. This object there is a chance of your attaining if you will +follow my advice. I will put into your hands proof that you are not the +son of Herr von Heydeck, and it may be the very means of enabling you +to induce the cowardly old miser to leave you his name and title." + +"Give me this proof, Herr Doctor," Delmar cried, in the greatest +agitation, "and I assure you that at no price will I consider it dearly +bought! Ask what you will for this proof, and I will give it you!" + +Paul's eager words called forth a melancholy smile upon the doctor's +shrunken features. "That is a fine promise, but valueless to me," he +rejoined. "Four weeks ago I would have thanked you for it; to-day it +moves me not at all. In a few days this miserable body of mine will be +six feet deep in the ground. I have all I want till then, and all that +you have could not induce me to do your bidding against my will. But I +will be revenged upon my wicked wife, who made my home a hell, who +poisoned my life! I will atone for the wrong I did you. You have been +my benefactor in this illness, my friend Atzinger tells me that you +have sent a carriage for him daily, and given him a generous fee for +attending me. I will show my gratitude to you. Listen to me, and I will +tell you what you ought to know, and give you the proof which you +need." The doctor then told his tale; he spoke in low, measured words, +husbanding his forces, for he felt that he needed all the strength that +he could muster. The import of his communication was as follows: + +When Herr von Heydeck bought Reifenstein and passed some weeks there +with his handsome wife, Dr. Putzer was a gay young fellow; he had +studied well, understood his profession, and hoped to lead a pleasant +life in Tausens. He soon found however that the position of a village +doctor was by no means so pleasant or so lucrative as he had supposed, +and that its income would never afford him the social enjoyments which +he desired. He was fond of a glass of good wine, and he needed +periodicals and scientific books to aid him in his studies. He had no +mind for a hermit's life. The paltry fees which he received from his +peasant patients but poorly sufficed for half his needs; he became +deeply involved in debt, out of which he racked his brains in vain to +find any means of extricating himself. Under these circumstances he +thought it most fortunate that the wealthy Herr von Heydeck should buy +Reifenstein, and that he should be sent for to visit the castle in his +medical capacity. He took pains to recommend himself to the lord of the +castle, whose love of scientific pursuits he humoured; and he +succeeded. He became the confidant of Herr von Heydeck, who often +bewailed to him the sorrow caused him by his unworthy wife, but never +alluded to the past. It struck Putzer as very strange, this mystery +enshrouding the past of Herr von Heydeck and his handsome wife. The +husband lived in disgraceful dependence upon Madame von Heydeck's +whims, never even venturing to remonstrate when Count Menotti publicly +conducted himself as her declared lover. + +The mystery was explained for the doctor when Herr von Heydeck, after +his wife's death, came to Castle Reifenstein with his child. When +Putzer was sent for to see the boy, a single glance at the child told +the physician of the criminal deception that had here been practised +upon the world. The newspapers three months before had announced the +birth of a boy; but the child who had inherited his mother's property +was at least a year and a half old, and must have been born before Herr +von Heydeck's marriage, which had taken place not quite a year +previously. + +Herr von Heydeck, reading the doctor's thoughts in his face, could not +refrain from giving him his entire confidence, especially since he +needed his aid. He confessed to him that the infant was the child of +the Count Menotti, and had been born some months before his own +marriage. It was solely for the sake of bestowing an aristocratic name +upon the child that its mother had consented to marry Heydeck, after he +had promised in writing to acknowledge the child as his own within a +year after their marriage. Within that time the intelligence of Frau +von Heydeck's confinement was spread abroad in society, but the fruit +of it, a boy, was pronounced so sickly and weak that no one except the +nurse was allowed to see it. + +This nurse, Rosy, was the foster-sister and confidante of Frau von +Heydeck, and had contrived the entire scheme. It was by her advice that +the marriage with Herr von Heydeck had been contracted, and to her +keeping was entrusted the document whereby Heydeck bound himself to +acknowledge the child as his own. With this in her possession she ruled +her master with a rod of iron after his wife's death. + +Dr. Putzer, on his first visit at the castle, easily comprehended the +relations between the castle's lord and the pretty waiting-maid. The +young physician was taken with her handsome face and pert coquettish +ways, while her by no means spotless past was of no consequence in his +eyes. Loaded down with debts he had but one wish, and that was to +secure for himself a comfortable and assured existence; the safest way +to attain this end was by a marriage with Rosy; together they could +gain such an ascendency over Herr von Heydeck as to induce him to share +his wealth with them. + +They were soon agreed, and Heydeck weakly yielded to their mischievous +influence. Rosy suggested to him that the boy's death would be the best +luck that could befall him; but Heydeck, although scarcely too +conscientious, was too cowardly to commit so grave a crime as murder. +He consented to rid himself of the boy, but not by death; he would +cause the intelligence of his death to be spread abroad, and he would +bring him up in secret, until death did actually come, as he hoped it +soon would, to the weakly, sickly child. + +The doctor and his betrothed lent Heydeck their ready aid; the doctor +wrote the official certificate of the child's death,--he had spread the +report of its fatal contagious disease that no one might desire to see +the corpse,--and he fitted up the basement of the tower, whither the +unfortunate child was taken and committed to the care of the two +half-idiotic Melchers. + +The scheme which had been hatched in Rosy's brain was successful: the +mock funeral took place, the boy vanished, and Herr von Heydeck was his +heir. He paid the doctor and Rosy well for their services, and upon +their immediate marriage hoped he was rid of them. Here however he was +mistaken; his crime did not go unpunished, for he never was able to +shake off the mastery maintained over him by the intriguing Rosy, not +even when he secretly conveyed the boy away from the castle and falsely +told the doctor that the child had died in Switzerland. Whenever Rosy +wanted to extort money from Heydeck she threatened him with betrayal, +not of the mock death of the child, in which crime she herself was an +accomplice, but of that first deception of Heydeck's, whereby he had +made official announcement of the birth of a child, who was in reality +already more than a year old. + +Rosy could produce the proof of this deception; she had carefully +preserved the document entrusted to her by Frau von Heydeck, with a +series of letters which made the fact of the deception incontestable. +She could prove that the boy was Frau von Heydeck's illegitimate child, +and if she did so to the relatives of her deceased mistress they would +certainly come forward to assert their claims to an inheritance of +which Heydeck had illegally possessed himself. + +Rosy thus held the lord of the castle in perpetual thraldom, reducing +him almost to despair in forcing him to satisfy her avaricious greed. +She was the wretched man's evil genius. + +The doctor's life too was scarcely less wretched than Heydeck's; his +wife made, as he had said, his house a hell. She never ceased +tormenting and aggravating him, and he had recourse to drinking to +drown his misery. Only in forgetfulness could he find relief. The +wicked woman made a perfect slave of him; he hated her, but rarely +ventured to disobey her. + +The worm will turn however, and sometimes when his courage was screwed +up with wine the doctor rebelled against the tyranny that oppressed +him. At some such moment he formed the plan of appropriating to himself +the power which his wife possessed over Herr von Heydeck, thinking +thus to make the evil woman subject to his will. He stole from her +the papers by which she ruled Herr von Heydeck, and in spite of her +rage when she missed them, bade her defiance, and never revealed the +hiding-place where the important documents were concealed. + +By this bold stroke he was at least enabled now and then to intimidate +his wife by threats that he would deliver over the papers to Herr von +Heydeck; but he was never able to shake off the yoke of her stronger +nature, and his life was almost as miserable as before. + +The absolute hatred with which he regarded her was fiercer than ever as +he lay ill and helpless in bed; he could not forgive her for causing +his attack by insisting upon his plunging his head beneath the cold +water, and for then leaving him neglected and alone, that she might +escape the punishment of the crime which Delmar had probably come to +Tausens to investigate. + +To revenge himself upon her the doctor now handed Paul the papers, +which he had instructed Dr. Atzinger a few days previously to fetch +from their hiding-place, and which he had since kept beneath his +pillow. The worthless woman, the doctor declared, should perish in want +and misery,--she had spent everything that she had extorted from Herr +von Heydeck in dress and finery, and had only taken a small sum with +her upon her flight. With these papers her power over Herr von Heydeck +was gone,--he would certainly do nothing more for her when he knew that +she could do him no further harm. + +In possession of these documents Delmar could, the doctor explained, +force Herr von Heydeck to bequeath to him his name. Through fear lest +he should lose his money and be dragged through a disgraceful lawsuit +the old coward, so said the doctor, could be made to do just as Delmar +pleased. + +With a sensation of absolute rapture Delmar received the precious +papers which secured to him a happy future, from the hands of the sick +man, who never dreamed how worthless in Paul's estimation was a +high-sounding, aristocratic name. + +Delmar thanked the doctor warmly, but the sick man shook his head. "I +have done this not for your sake, but my own," he said. "I know that my +detestable wife will perish in want; I am content. I pray you leave me +now, Herr Delmar, my strength is exhausted. We shall never meet again. +Farewell!" + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Never had the heavens been so blue or the sunshine so bright,--never +had the hemlocks filled the air with such exquisite fragrance as upon +this blissful day, when Paul lightly trod the forest-path towards +Castle Reifenstein. A shepherd-boy upon a distant mountain jodelled +down to him, and Paul could not refrain from jodelling back a full +clear note, that echoed far over the sunny valleys. + +He could have embraced the world. He had suddenly been transported from +the black depths of despair to the heights of hope. A future, with +Hilda by his side, beckoned him. Where were all the gloomy reveries of +the last few weeks? As he walked briskly up the steep ascent, he +thought with horror of the dark temptation to self-destruction that had +once assailed him. Yes, Leo was right when he declared that only a +coward would ever seek such a solution of the problem of life,--that a +true man should possess a 'heart for any fate.' When he had nearly +reached the castle he heard well-known voices near him, and could not +forbear giving another genuine Tyrolean jodel. + +"That is Delmar's voice!" Leo exclaimed. + +"Oh, no; it is long since Herr Delmar has shouted so gayly," Hilda +replied. + +A second louder and gayer jodel was Paul's reply, as he turned in the +direction whence the voices came, and passing through a short stretch +of woodland, reached a small rocky plateau, whither Hilda had brought +her guests because it afforded them the best view down into the fearful +chasm in the rocks. + +"You were wrong, lovely fairy," said Paul, as he joined the small +party, taking Hilda's offered hand as he spoke; "no man upon earth can +shout as gayly as I can when inspired by the hope of seeing you." + +'Lovely fairy!' Paul had never bestowed this title upon Hilda since the +first day of their meeting; since then he had always addressed her +ceremoniously as 'Fraeulein von Heydeck,' and only rarely, in eager +conversation, as 'Fraeulein Hilda.' Hilda heard therefore in surprise, +and, blushing at the remembrance of that first day, looked up at him. +How changed he seemed since yesterday! His dark eyes sparkled with +gayety, a happy smile played about his lips,--he was the same frank, +light-hearted man whom she had so liked at their first interview, and +yet--no, not the same; he had become far handsomer and more attractive; +she had never liked him half so well as now. + +Leo also noticed the change which the few hours since he had last seen +his friend had effected in him. "What good news do you bring us?" he +asked. "I have hardly ever seen you look so gay." + +"Have you found that out already?" Paul asked in his turn, with a +laugh. "I revere your powers of observation, and will reward them with +a share of the treasures to be found in my pockets. But good children +should restrain their curiosity and wait patiently until it is +satisfied. If you love me, do me the kindness to act as guide to +Fraeulein Eva and our betrothed couple on their way to the castle +garden, and resign your former guide, the lovely fairy of the castle, +to me for a few minutes. I trust she will grant me a hearing for that +short space of time." + +This request had so strange a sound that Hilda grew confused, and +looked uncertain whether to grant it, but when Delmar added, in a low, +eager tone, "It is my first request; can you refuse me?" she shyly +placed her hand within his offered arm and lingered with him behind the +others, whom Leo, as Delmar had asked him to do, conducted to the +castle garden. + +Paul walked along slowly at Hilda's side, preserving an entire silence +until their friends were out of hearing. Then he turned to his +companion and said, "I owe you an explanation of much that must have +struck you strangely in my manner and behaviour during these last few +weeks. Will you hear me, Hilda? Will you let me be frank with you?" + +It was the first time that Delmar had called the girl by her first +name,--that he had spoken to her in so earnest and yet so confidential +a tone. She divined what he wished to say, but she did not refuse to +listen. Her low-whispered 'yes' enchanted him; it told him that he did +not hope in vain. + +Paul continued: "That little 'yes,' dearest Hilda, makes me +inexpressibly happy; it tells me that you trust me, and I would have +you trust me, now and forever, freely and unconditionally. You must +have seen that from the first moment when I met you, my lovely fairy, +in the labyrinth of rocks, my heart has been yours. I revelled in the +hope of one day winning your heart and your hand also. I was happy, +exquisitely happy! But my dream of bliss lasted but two short days. I +was suddenly and rudely awakened from it by the startling and as I +thought absolute certainty that your father never would bestow upon me +your hand, and that therefore I must not even try to win your heart. I +can never, my dear Hilda, tell you what created in me this belief. Here +you must trust me implicitly. You must never know the dark mystery that +interposed between us, nor the cause I thought there was for the utter +despair to which I was a prey. Life lost all value in my eyes; the +reckless gayety which sometimes distressed you, as well as the morbid +melancholy that assailed me when I was alone, was the result of the +terrible conviction that possessed me that you never could be my +own,--that I could never be more to you than a faithful friend and +brother. + +"But to-day I have learned, to my unspeakable joy, that all my fears +were but idle baseless visions,--that I was deceived, and that I +deceived myself,--that I may in all honour tell you how passionately I +love you, and may hope, if you will but let me try to win your love in +return, that your father will consent to give you to me. Will you, can +you love me, Hilda? Will you come with me to your father and hear me +pray him to give me this dear hand for my very own?" + +Hilda looked up into his face with a happy smile, and he needed no +reply in words; indeed she could have given him none, for in an instant +his arms were about her, and his kisses sealed her lips. + +She extricated herself from his embrace, and her pleading eyes +restrained his passionate outburst. He still however clasped in his the +little hand, which he kissed repeatedly, saying, "Come, come to your +father, lovely fairy! This moment must confirm the happiness of my +future life." + +Hilda conducted him across the castle court-yard to her father's study, +whither Herr von Heydeck had withdrawn from the presence of his +daughter's guests. + +He was so absorbed in his work that he did not hear the door open; only +when Paul and Hilda stood close beside him did he look up from his +books, and as his gaze rested upon Delmar the same look of horror with +which he had greeted his first appearance passed into his face. Again +he put up his hand, as if to ward off some attack, while he seemed +incapable of speech. + +Paul was no whit daunted however. "Do not repulse me, Herr von +Heydeck," he said, in a gentle voice. "I come not as your enemy, not to +demand, but to entreat. I pray you to receive me as your son in +granting me your daughter's hand." + +The simple words fairly overwhelmed the old man. He had started forward +in his arm-chair; he now sank back into it helplessly. "You--you ask to +be my son? You sue for Hilda's hand,--and you know?----" + +It was only with great difficulty that he gasped forth these broken +sentences. + +"I know everything," Paul replied calmly. "I come from Dr. Putzer's +death-bed; he gave me these papers, which I now hand over to you. I +pray you to destroy them; forget the past as I have forgotten it. +Receive me as a son, who never will forget the respect he owes to the +father of his dearest Hilda." + +Herr von Heydeck clutched with a trembling hand the papers which Paul +held out to him. He glanced at their contents, and his face was +illumined by an expression of intense joy. The next instant he had torn +the dreaded documents into countless shreds, after which he buried his +head in his hands and burst into a convulsive fit of sobbing. + +Paul did not disturb him, but whispering low reassuring words of +tenderness to the astonished and frightened Hilda, he waited calmly +until Herr von Heydeck had regained his composure. Only when the old +man lifted his head and looked from his daughter to her lover with +tear-dimmed eyes did Paul repeat his entreaty, adding, "Hilda has given +me her heart,--you will not refuse my suit, Herr von Heydeck?" + +"No, no; you shall be my son!" Herr von Heydeck exclaimed. "God grants +me thus an opportunity of repairing the grievous wrong I did you. My +Hilda will atone for my sin. She will be to you the angel of light +which her sainted mother was to me!" + +Again he was overcome by mingled emotions of joy and sorrow. His +conscience had been burdened with the consciousness of his guilt; he +had trembled at the thoughts of discovery for years, and he could not +bear the sudden joy of this moment. Again he sobbed convulsively, only +stammering, in broken accents, "Leave me now, my children. I must be +alone. God bless you!" + +Paul drew Hilda away from the room, knowing how greatly the old man +must stand in need of repose, and the girl, not venturing to oppose her +father's request, went with him willingly. + +When however the study-door was closed behind them she paused. "What is +the matter with my father? What wrong can he have done? Why should he +be so overcome?" she asked, with an appealing look into her lover's +eyes. + +Paul clasped her tenderly in his arms. "Do you not believe, dearest, +that I love you infinitely more than life?" he asked. + +"Yes; I trust you implicitly." + +"Then promise me, in this supreme moment, that you will never again ask +me what your father's words meant. It is not my secret but his, and I +could not in honour betray it even to you. But I swear solemnly that it +is the only secret that shall ever be between us,--no thought of my +heart shall be concealed from you. Will you not trust me? Believe me, I +but obey the dictates of honour when I beg you to forget what you have +heard. Will you promise me never to question either myself or your +father upon the subject?" + +"This kiss shall seal the promise that you ask!" + + +Leo had conducted the guests to the garden, there to await Paul and +Hilda; he tried to engage them in pleasant talk, but he could not +fairly succeed, for his thoughts would wander. They were with his +friend, the change in whom he could easily interpret, for he knew that +Paul had just had an interview with Dr. Putzer; and that the result had +been a happy one for Hilda's lover, was plainly to be seen in his +sparkling eyes and gay mood. And Paul had also had an interview with +Bertram, which must have been satisfactory, or he would hardly have +uttered the laughing remark about the treasures in his pockets. What +did he mean? He had glanced so meaningly as he spoke, first at Eva and +then at Leo. Heydeck was restless and impatient,--he guessed that one +short hour might decide his fate, and yet he could not understand how +the decision could be fortunate for him. He could conceive but of one +happy future, and that seemed unattainable. He loved Eva with a +passionate devotion which the familiar intercourse of the past few +weeks had deepened tenfold. He knew that his love was returned, +although no word that could betray his devotion to her had ever passed +his lips. He had never transgressed the bounds of friendship, nor had +she ever given him the slightest right to do so. + +The consciousness that she was not indifferent towards him enchanted +him, but at the same time it filled him with a despair that would often +wellnigh overcome him when he was alone in his room standing in rapt +contemplation of the picture,--the work not of his hand but of his +heart. Eva's dark eyes gazed at him from the canvas with a look that +seemed to promise the fulfilment of his boldest hopes, and in gazing he +was sometimes beguiled into delicious dreams, from which he was +startled by the consciousness of reality, and a stern voice within him +crying, "Lost, lost forever!" + +He knew that Paul could force Bertram to resign all pretensions to +Eva's hand, but even if Eva should be free she was still lost to him. +Could he, a poor artist, whose future life must be one of hard labour, +aspire to the hand of the millionaire heiress? He had sacrificed to his +principles a brilliant military career, his entire future, and even his +father's affections. Could he be untrue to himself now? Honour forbade +his ever addressing a word of love to Eva Schommer,--she was too rich! + +When he wandered beside her through the lovely scenes among which their +daily excursions were made, and she talked frankly and unrestrainedly +with him, he could not but resign himself to the spell of her presence, +but when he was once more alone those two words, 'too rich,' +annihilated every hope within him. And now, while he awaited Paul's +return, they destroyed all his anticipations of pleasure,--there could +be no happiness for him whatever might be the result of Delmar's +interview with Bertram; this was the verdict of his reason, but +nevertheless his heart rebelled against so cold a sentence, and +throbbed impatiently at the thought of his friend's return. + +It was not long before Paul and Hilda made their appearance beneath the +archway of the garden gate, arm in arm, their happiness so plainly to +be seen in the countenance of each, that Leo knew, and Eva, Herwarth, +and Aline suspected, what had happened, and hastened to meet them. + +Paul received them with a laugh. "I see," he said, giving his hand to +Leo, "you guess what I have to tell you, but nevertheless I am not +going to be defrauded of the pleasure of presenting to you my lovely +betrothed, Hilda von Heydeck. The betrothal has duly taken place, and I +beseech your congratulations." + +They were given in fullest measure. As Leo grasped his hand, Kuno +reminded him of how, four weeks before, he had exclaimed, "Number One!" +and had declared that he would purchase such bliss, not only with a +miserable foot, but with his head. + +"Exactly, I said so, and I repeat it," Paul replied, with a gayety +which had its root however in deep earnestness. "Only fortunately, +noble knight, the sacrifice of my head, which was nearer to being +consummated than you dream of, was not required. I said 'Number One' +then, never thinking that this lovely fairy would make me the happy +'Number Two.' Now we must find a 'Number Three,' that the trefoil may +be perfect." + +Then turning to Eva, he whispered, so as to be heard by her alone, "Is +there do hope, Fraeulein Schommer, of your aid in making a happy 'Number +Three'?" + +Eva did not reply, save by a blush and a reproving glance, which +assured Delmar he was understood, as she turned to Hilda and warmly +wished her every happiness. Her reproving look, however, glanced +harmlessly aside from Paul's armour of gayety, he only nodded and +laughed, as he continued aloud, "Number Two is proud and happy to +return thanks to his friends for their kind congratulations, which he +receives as the result of his share of the treasures which he brought +with him to Castle Reifenstein. It was due to my position as confirmed +egotist to provide for my own welfare first; now I am at liberty to +fulfil other duties which I have undertaken. I have certain interesting +communications to make to Fraeulein Schommer. Will she kindly grant me +an audience of a few minutes?" + +Eva looked up at him, confused and in doubt, but he suddenly dropped +his jesting tone and continued very gravely, "You owe the interview I +request both to me and to yourself. Pray add your entreaty, Hilda, to +mine." + +Hilda smiled; she knew what Paul wished to say to Eva; he had briefly +informed her on their way to the garden, and she eagerly seconded his +request, and proposed that she herself should conduct Leo, Aline, and +Herwarth through one wing of the castle, while Delmar showed Eva +through the other, and that they should then all meet in the large +hall. As she made this proposal she exchanged a glance of secret +understanding with Paul. + +Eva still hesitated, but Paul would take no refusal. He offered her his +arm and led her through the garden across the courtyard and up the +grand staircase to the wing in which were Leo's apartments. On the way +he pointed out to her everything of interest in the interior decoration +and architecture of the ancient pile, calling especial attention to the +massive antique furniture of some of the rooms. At any other time all +this would have been especially interesting to Eva, but to-day she +scarcely looked at all the rare antiquities, and even at last ventured +to interrupt the flow of Delmar's antiquarian enthusiasm, saying, "You +certainly had something else to say to me, Herr Delmar, when you asked +me for this _tete-a-tete_." + +"You are right, Fraeulein Eva," Paul replied, hastening along the dim +corridor, at the end of which was Leo's studio. "I will no longer +excite your curiosity, since we have reached the room which I think the +most appropriate place in which to tell you what I have to say." + +He opened the door of a room which Eva entered. "Have you any idea of +where we are?" Paul asked. The girl looked about her at the comfortable +arrangements of the room, and her glance suddenly fell upon the easel, +from which a face which she could not but recognize, regarded her with +a gentle smile. The tears rushed to her eyes,--she knew well where she +was, and with a burning blush she turned instantly to leave the room. + +"You are unkind. I have not deserved this," she said, in a tone of soft +reproach, as she laid her hand upon the door-latch. + +Delmar, however, prevented her from opening the door; he took her hand +and gently led her to the easel. "You must not, Fraeulein Eva," he said +earnestly, "at such a moment as this give any consideration to mere +conventionalities. This is a turning-point in your existence. Look at +this picture. You know who has painted it, and you know that Leo's hand +never could have executed so true a presentment of yourself if your +image did not fill his heart and soul,--if you were not present at all +moments to his mental vision. Far more convincingly than in words must +this picture tell you of his entire devotion to you, and it is for this +that I have brought you here." + +"You are cruel!" was Eva's only reply. She had withdrawn her hand from +Paul's, but she no longer thought of fleeing from the room. With +sensations both of rapture and of pain she contemplated the picture. +Yes, Delmar was right. The hand that had executed so true, so lifelike +a resemblance must have been guided by the heart. + +"I do not deserve your reproach," Delmar continued. "My only desire in +bringing you here is to make you happy; you must see for yourself the +truth of what I once told you of Leo. And now since there can be no +doubt in your mind of the intensity of his affection for you, I may +give you the letter which Herr von Bertram sends you through me." + +He handed Eva Bertram's letter and watched her narrowly as she took it, +half in surprise and half in terror, and read its contents. + +He hoped to see her lovely features illumined by joy at her release, +and gratitude to the messenger of freedom, but he was bitterly +disappointed. Eva's face, so far from beaming with joy, expressed only +profound sorrow, and a tear fell upon the paper as she read. When she +had finished, her hands dropped at her sides and she gazed at Delmar +with eyes filled with grief and regret. + +"I thank you, Herr Delmar," she said gently. "I will preserve this +letter as my most precious treasure. Although every line is a reproach +to me for the weakness which at present prevents me from appreciating +the happiness it should bring me, in time I shall conquer this +weakness. I will read the noble words again and again, and they shall +strengthen me if I should ever falter in the path which duty clearly +points out for me to pursue. I will leave Tausens this evening. I dare +not see Herr von Heydeck again. I pray you conduct me immediately to +the inn; tell your friends how it grieves me to part from them, but +that I now know my duty and cannot act differently." + +Paul's astonishment and dismay at Eva's words are hard to describe; he +had imagined all this so differently; he had anticipated with such +certainty her thanks to him for her release, and now---- "I cannot +understand you," he cried, in great agitation. "You wish to go to +Tausens,--to leave without seeing Leo again? What reasons under the sun +can you have for such a course? That letter releases you!" + +"You are mistaken, Herr Delmar," Eva replied with dignity. "I am less +free now than ever before. I have to atone for grievous wrong done to +my betrothed." It was the first time that she had ever thus designated +Bertram. "He was a victim of the wretched mistrust of every one from +which my soul has so long suffered as from some disease. I believed +that he loved, not myself, but my wealth, and therefore I treated him +with cold severity,--yes, even with insulting harshness. I did not know +the nobility of his character. I have learned it from the lofty +self-renunciation of this letter. My eyes are at last opened. He has +already sacrificed his future to me, and now for my sake renounces his +last hope. To make me happy he gives me back my promise; but I will not +accept this sacrifice at his hands. I know my duty and will fulfil it!" + +"Good God, what nonsense! This is sheer madness!" Delmar cried, almost +beside himself. "Is not that letter my----" He stopped short. He could +not possibly tell Eva how he had occupied himself with her affairs of +late, and that he had dictated Bertram's epistle in the hope of sparing +her feelings. What was to be done in view of Eva's inconceivable +resolve he could not see; he paced the room to and fro, racking his +brains for some way out of the dilemma which was of his own +fabrication. + +"Herr Delmar, let me pray you to conduct me back to Tausens," Eva said, +at last. + +"No, Fraeulein Eva; you must not leave the castle without seeing Leo. +You are mistaken about Bertram; you do not know your own heart. I will +not let you act so hastily." + +"I know my duty, and nothing that you can say will hinder me from its +performance." + +"Madness, sheer madness! my brain fairly reels at such insanity! What +is to be done with these conscientious people who, from a pure sense of +duty, sacrifice themselves and their dearest friends to confer +happiness upon blockheads and scoundrels? You know your duty! Do you +owe no duty then to yourself and to Leo, who loves you passionately and +will be unutterably wretched if you run after that scoundrel?" + +"Herr Delmar! I will permit no such expressions with regard to my +betrothed, whose noble heart I have learned to know, alas, too late. If +you will not conduct me to Tausens I must find the way thither myself, +for I must not and will not see Herr von Heydeck again!" + +Eva could not however fulfil this intention in spite of her firm +resolve to do so, for scarcely had she spoken when hasty steps were +heard in the corridor, the door opened, and Hilda entered with Leo, +Aline, and Herwarth, and followed also by Eva's servant, honest +Wilhelm, his sheepish face quite crimson with hurry and agitation. + +"Forgive us, Eva dear, for coming for you so soon," said Hilda, "we +could not help it, for your servant was anxious to see you instantly; +he brings very extraordinary tidings from Tausens." + +"Do not be frightened, my darling," Aline whispered, putting her arm +around her friend. "Be sure that whatever has happened, although it may +cause you momentary pain, will conduce to your happiness." + +"But what has happened? Do not keep me in suspense, Aline!" Eva +exclaimed. + +Aline beckoned to Wilhelm, who came forward and told, as well as he +could, all that Uncle Balthasar had commissioned him to say. The story +was confused enough; the fellow was so agitated and embarrassed that he +hardly knew what he was saying, but from his rambling tale his hearers +gathered that Herr von Bertram had run off with pretty Nanette, who had +stolen Aunt Minni's purse full of money out of her bureau, and that +Uncle Balthasar was afraid they had taken the ebony casket besides. + +"Impossible!" Eva exclaimed indignantly; "the man who could write this +letter is incapable of such baseness. I appeal to you, Herr Delmar, to +vindicate Herr von Bertram." + +"I could not if I would," said Delmar, whose good humour had been +entirely restored by Wilhelm's tale, and who had even laughed when +Wilhelm mentioned Uncle Balthasar's fears lest Bertram and Nanette +together had stolen the ebony casket. + +"You must, Herr Delmar! You yourself brought me Bertram's letter, and +you know its contents." + +"Only too well, and that is just why I cannot undertake the writer's +defence. But even I agree that we should not condemn the fugitives +without proof positive of their guilt. We must instantly return to the +village and learn the truth. You, Leo, will of course accompany us. My +darling," he whispered to Hilda, "you must come too,--we must all be +together to celebrate Number Three's betrothal." + +"Did you succeed?" Hilda whispered. + +"Not yet," Delmar replied, in as low a tone. "I have been a terrible +blockhead, but, fortunately, this Bertram is a worse rogue, and his +roguery will stand us in as good stead as my wisdom could have done." + +Paul's proposal to go instantly to Tausens was of course put into +immediate execution. Naturally, on the way thither the lovers walked +together, and there was nothing for Eva to do but to accept Leo's +escort. She walked at his side in extreme confusion, not daring to lift +her eyes to his. + +"Are you offended, Fraeulein Schommer?" Leo asked, after they had gone +on for some time in silence. + +"What right have I to be offended?" + +"You certainly have a right if you think that I permitted Paul to take +you to my room to show you the picture which you never should have +seen. I swear to you that I had not the faintest idea of my friend's +intention, or I should not have allowed him to fulfil it. He has +offended you, and me through you, in permitting you to see what was +utterly unworthy to be shown to any one, and I shall certainly take him +to task for so doing." + +"I am not offended," Eva replied in a faltering voice. + +"You must be, Fraeulein Eva! It must vex you that I should have dared, +without your permission, to paint your picture from memory, but I give +you my honour that Delmar saw it only by accident, that I never would +voluntarily have shown it to him, and that you never ought to have +known of its existence." + +Eva did not reply, and the rest of the way to Tausens was passed in +perfect silence. + +When the party arrived at the inn, they found the wildest confusion and +excitement prevailing there. The postmistress and Dr. Atzinger, with +the men and maids of the house and several peasants, were standing in a +group before the door talking eagerly. They parted and made way for the +newcomers to enter the inn. + +"This is a most unfortunate day!" Dr. Atzinger whispered to Delmar, +detaining him as he would have passed him. "Dr. Putzer, who seemed so +wonderfully well this morning, is dead. He wished to rest after his +conversation with you, and when I went to his room half an hour +afterwards, I found him dead in his bed. I hastened hither to let you +know of it, and have just heard what has happened here. These are +strange occurrences!" + +The intelligence of the doctor's death did not surprise Delmar,--he +could not pause now to reflect upon its suddenness. As briefly as +possible he instructed Dr. Atzinger to make arrangements for a suitable +funeral, and then hurried after his friends up the stairs to the hall +into which the various apartments for the guests opened. + +Here they found Uncle Balthasar and Hansel pacing to and fro in eager +conversation, discussing the various discoveries that had been made in +Bertram's and Aunt Minni's apartments. From time to time Uncle +Balthasar stepped into his room, the door of which stood open, that he +might administer a few words of consolation to his wife, who lay +moaning on her sofa, returning shortly to continue his consultation +with the postmaster as to what had best be done,--a consultation in +which neither had arrived at any conclusion. + +The good old man was awaiting his niece's arrival with the greatest +impatience, and from Herr Delmar, in whom he had implicit confidence, +he looked for instant advice. He had constantly assured his Minni that +Delmar would know exactly how to compel the waiting-maid to relinquish +her booty. His heart was lightened of its load when the party from the +castle made their appearance. "Thank God, my dear, that you are come!" +he exclaimed, cordially embracing his niece. "What to think of this +confounded affair I'm sure I can't tell!" + +And Uncle Balthasar went on to tell as well as he could what there was +to be told; his good heart rebelled at the thought of the possibility +that his dear Guido had run off with a thief, but proof seemed too +strong for him; he had with difficulty prevented the postmaster from +sending a couple of men on horseback in pursuit of the fugitives; he +would not resort to so extreme a measure without consulting his niece +and Herr Delmar. + +Neither, until this moment, had Eva believed in Bertram's guilt, but +now, when the postmaster showed her into Bertram's room where the floor +was strewed with linen and articles of clothing, and held up to her the +two gilt handles which she recognized as those belonging to her casket; +when he related to her and to all that he had found Bertram's door +locked, and had opened it with a master-key; that Nanette had driven +off in the carriage with Bertram; that he had helped him lift his +portmanteau into the vehicle, and had wondered at its weight; that the +box, if it were stolen, must have been packed into the portmanteau, or +it would have been seen,--all these revelations wellnigh destroyed +Eva's confidence. + +And there was other ground for suspicion of the fugitives. Nanette had +been in Aunt Minni's room just before her departure, and Aunt Minni had +left the key in the drawer where she kept her purse. The purse was now +gone. + +Uncle Balthasar had first suspected from the finding of the metal +handles in Bertram's room that the waiting-maid had stolen Eva's +casket; he could not believe in Bertram's guilt. What lover would steal +his betrothed's money and jewels! Still it was strange that the handles +should be found in Bertram's room where his clothes were scattered +about. Hansel besides maintained that the box could have left the inn +only in Bertram's portmanteau. + +There was still however a doubt as to whether the ebony casket were +really gone. The door leading from the hall into Eva's room was locked, +and Hansel had found, upon trying to open it with his master-key, that +it was also bolted inside. He had tried to enter the room from +Bertram's apartment, but his key was constructed only for the doors +opening upon the hall, and they had not yet been able to inspect the +interior of Eva's room. + +Neither Hansel nor Uncle Balthasar had thought of sending for the +locksmith to force the lock; this simple expedient was now suggested by +Delmar, and the village locksmith opened the door without difficulty. +The casket was missing, and there was no longer any room for doubt as +to who had stolen it; even Uncle Balthasar declared indignantly that +his dear Guido was neither more nor less than a common thief. + +"Did the casket contain articles of value?" Delmar asked. + +"All my jewels and my dear father's last gift to me, with a sum of +money, the amount of which I do not precisely know." + +"But I can tell you, my pet, that it must have been four thousand +thalers, at least," said Uncle Balthasar. + +"The scoundrel shall not escape with his booty!" Paul exclaimed. "Herr +Postmaster, have your two fleetest horses saddled. Leo, you and I will +pursue the rascal, and if we cannot catch him we'll send a telegram +after him." + +The postmaster would have obeyed, but Eva prevented him. "You must not +think of any pursuit, Herr Delmar," she said pleadingly. "Even although +Herr von Bertram should be guilty, I would not for the world have him +apprehended as a thief. And I cannot believe in his guilt; his +letter----" + +Paul laughed. "That magnificent letter again! There is nothing left for +me but to make a clean breast of my sins; only to you however, and to +my dear Hilda, from whom I have promised never to have a secret. Will +you come out on the balcony with Hilda and me and listen to me for a +few moments?" + +With a blush Eva acquiesced. She put her hand within Hilda's arm and +went out upon the balcony. Delmar followed them, whispering to Kuno as +he passed him, "Pray be ready, my noble knight. As soon as I call bring +every one out upon the balcony. I make you responsible for Leo; bring +him, by fair means or foul, living or dead; only bring him." + +"What are you about now?" + +"Number Three! Some people must have happiness thrust upon them. Bring +me Leo!" + +"You shall have him," Kuno smilingly assured him, in a low tone; and to +make sure, after a few whispered words to Aline, he took Leo's arm and +walked to and fro in the hall with him, consulting as to the best means +for the recovery of Fraeulein Eva's casket. + +Meanwhile, Paul had joined Eva and Hilda upon the balcony. He had +promised to make a full confession of his sins, and he did so, telling +Eva with entire frankness how he had known for a long time of Bertram's +utter worthlessness. He did not conceal the fact that he had not +intended at first to open her eyes to the true character of her +betrothed, and that his determination to do so had been the result of +the more intimate acquaintance with her which had reversed his former +harsh judgment of her, and of the knowledge that Leo loved her and was +perhaps loved in return. + +As frankly he explained to her that he had delayed unmasking Bertram +until Leo and herself should have had time to learn to know each other, +and until Leo's affection should have grown so intense as to break down +the stubborn pride that forbade his passion for the heiress. Paul +concluded by confessing that he had that very morning forced Bertram to +write the 'lofty-minded' letter, every word of which he had dictated +himself, and that he had thus driven the desperate man to shameless +robbery. + +One fact however Delmar suppressed: he said no word of the sum he had +paid Bertram as the price of the letter. "My tale is ended," Paul +concluded, "and is, after all, only a continuation of our conversation +in Leo's room at the castle. You then said, in conclusion, 'I must not +and will not see Herr von Heydeck again.' Tell me frankly, Fraeulein +Eva, will you not reverse that decree?" + +While Delmar spoke, Eva had listened with her mind and heart in an +uproar of conflicting emotions. She felt indignation and disgust at +Bertram's baseness, and she was covered with shame that she should ever +have had the slightest confidence in him or given him a right to claim +her hand. At the same time she was conscious of an ecstatic sense that +she was saved from infinite peril; that she was free from the +disgraceful fetters that had bound her, and that she might aspire to +the fulfilment of her wildest dreams of happiness. She looked +gratefully into Paul's eyes as he put this last question to her, and +said frankly and honestly, "Yes!" + +For which Hilda threw her arms around her and embraced her tenderly, +while Paul called out, "All's well that ends well! Come all of +you,--Kuno, Leo, Uncle Balthasar!"---- + +And they came: Herwarth laughing as he conducted Leo, Uncle Balthasar +wondering where there was any cause for merriment, and Aline hastening +to embrace her friend. + +"Come here, Fortune's favourite that you are!" Paul called out to the +astonished Leo. "By the right which I possess, as your elder and wiser +friend, and which I have won over the lovely Eva by former service, I +herewith place her dear hand in yours, and proclaim you the happy +Number Three!" Then turning to the rest he said, "Dear friends, I ask +your congratulations for the newly-betrothed pair, Eva Schommer and Leo +von Heydeck. May all the good the gods provide for happy lovers be +theirs!" + +"Amen!" said Kuno; and Uncle Balthasar added his voice, although he did +not yet understand what it was all about. + +Leo heard the words spoken, uncertain whether he were awake or +dreaming; he held Eva's hand in his,--she did not withdraw it, and when +he looked into her blushing face her eyes met his own. A happy smile +was upon her lips. She certainly did not resent Delmar's words, however +surprised she might be. He pressed her hand, and felt a gentle pressure +in return. + +Was Paul jesting? Leo asked himself. In Eva's beaming eyes he read what +destroyed in an instant the foolish prejudice that had separated him +from his love. He forgot the pride that would have held him aloof from +her; he forgot the miserable words 'too rich!' Love conquered; he bent +above Eva, and said in low intense tones, "You do not repulse me? You +are then my own forever?" + +And as he heard her whispered 'yes' he forgot everything but his great +happiness, and imprinted his first kiss upon her lips. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + +There was a larger assemblage of officers than usual beneath Buechner's +awning,--almost every seat was occupied. After early parade the young +men had resorted thither to discuss the entertainments to which the +evening was to be devoted, and various civilians also belonging to the +aristocracy had lounged into Buechner's to enjoy the ices for which the +restaurant was famous, and which were particularly tempting on so warm +a July day as the present. + +One of these latter, a young man of distinguished appearance, had taken +a foremost seat near the iron railing, against which he had negligently +propped his feet in the same attitude as that assumed by his neighbour, +a cavalry officer, while both rocked gently to and fro in their tilted +chairs. The young civilian held in his hand a newspaper, which however +he did not read, his attention being entirely devoted to the promenade +and the many handsome equipages with their fair occupants that were +perpetually rolling past. + +In one of these the brilliant beauty of a young lady especially excited +his admiration. She was sitting beside an aged officer with whom she +was conversing gayly as she gracefully acknowledged the respectful +salutations of many of the officers, and greeted with a special smile +the young dragoon before mentioned, who relinquished his negligent +attitude while her carriage was passing, and stood up to salute her. + +"An exquisitely lovely girl!" the civilian said to his neighbour. "I +envy you the smile she gave you, Count Waldheim. One might almost +barter his soul for such a glance and smile. Tell me who she is, and +why I have never been presented to her." + +"I can further your wishes in the matter of an introduction, Count," +Waldheim replied. "I am quite intimate at Frau von Heydeck's, and, +although they are rather exclusive, I think I can obtain permission to +introduce a friend." + +"Frau von Heydeck? Married? I am bitterly disappointed," said Count +Tiefstetten. + +"You will have to relinquish all thoughts of conquest there," said +Waldheim, laughing, "for Frau von Heydeck is not only a wife, but the +happiest woman in the world, still desperately in love with her +husband, who deserves it. He is a charming fellow, a nobleman in the +truest sense of the word, and with a brilliant reputation as an artist +besides." + +"An artist?" Count Tiefstetten asked, in amazement. "And his wife +drives in a splendid equipage with those magnificent horses?" + +"It is easy to see that you have been abroad for some years and are +just returned among us, or you would hardly ask such a question. Leo +von Heydeck's picture, at our art exhibition last spring, a full-length +of his wife, established his reputation as an artist, and he is besides +one of the wealthiest men in our city. His wife, who was a Fraeulein +Schommer, was a great heiress. But he is an eccentric fellow in spite +of his wealth. His habits are as simple as if he were obliged to work +with his brush for his living, and he persists in his eccentricities, +although his father the old colonel, whom you saw just now seated +beside Frau von Heydeck, is highly indignant with him for doing so. Leo +von Heydeck is not an amateur artist; art is his profession. He sells +his pictures, which command very high prices, and supports himself +entirely upon the proceeds of his profession, never making any use of +his wife's income. You never even see him in her brilliant equipage. If +you like, and do not mind paying a high price, you can order your +portrait of him." + +"Very odd! And what does his wife say to these whims?" + +"Oh, she adores him! I verily believe she would like to throw her +wealth to the winds and struggle along with him as the wife of a poor +artist. It is owing entirely to her that old Colonel von Heydeck, Leo's +father, who has always held in sovereign contempt all daubers who +support themselves by the work of their hands, and who was furious at +his son's ways, is nevertheless reconciled to him. The old fellow could +not withstand the charms of his lovely daughter-in-law, who is ready to +gratify his every whim. He is fairly in love with her himself, and has +given up his love of retirement, taking up his abode in her charming +villa, and living in perfect concord with her and her old uncle, +Balthasar Schommer. He drives with her daily, and she has so thoroughly +tamed the old bear that he consents to visit his son's studio +frequently, and even begins to be proud of his work." + +"They must be very remarkable people. I am more curious than ever to +know them, and I rely upon your promise to present me to Frau von +Heydeck." + +"I will do what I can, but as I told you, the Heydecks are very +exclusive." + +"They do not entertain, then?" + +"A small circle, frequently. There is no house in the city where I have +had pleasanter evenings than at theirs, although they never give large +parties. Leo is a queer fellow; he hates grand entertainments, and is +happy only in the society of his intimates, artists, and men of +science. In these tastes he is upheld by his friend and cousin, the +wealthy Herr Delmar, and by another friend and former comrade, a Herr +von Herwarth, with all of whom he and his wife are upon terms of the +greatest intimacy." + +"Who is this Delmar? Bourgeois, I suppose; some relative of the lovely +Frau von Heydeck?" + +"No; he is married to a cousin of his friend Leo, a daughter of an +uncle who died about six months since. He was an early friend of Leo's, +and by his marriage is still more closely united with him. He is also +excessively intimate with the third in the small circle, Herr von +Herwarth, who married Frau von Heydeck's dearest friend. All three were +married on the same day, and have since lived on terms of the closest +intimacy. + +"Leo, as I said, is upheld in his eccentric ways by Delmar, who is +enormously wealthy and a very queer fellow too. He will give immensely +to any artistic or scientific enterprise, in support of which Heydeck +too will draw upon his wife's means, but neither of them has the least +idea of the enjoyment their money might bring them. + +"Delmar, to be sure, is something of a gourmand, but he is far from +knowing how to spend his millions. He might easily purchase a title and +orders, he might easily enter the court-circles, but he cares nothing +for such things. Nevertheless he is an excessively interesting man, +whom every one is happy to meet, and he is much respected for his +benevolence and generosity. + +"I in especial have cause to hold him in high esteem, for about a year +ago he did me a great service in unmasking a certain scoundrel whom I +had until then considered to be a man of honour, and my friend Delmar +deserves the gratitude of the entire corps of officers for effecting +the resignation in disgrace of the rogue, a Herr von Bertram." + +"Bertram? Guido von Bertram?" asked Count Tiefstetten. + +"Exactly; that was the fellow's name. Do you know him?" + +"I think I do. I knew a certain Herr Guido von Bertram slightly about +half a year ago in Saxony. He frequented the gaming-tables there. He +was frequently seen with a very pretty woman, who called herself Frau +von Bertram; but who, I was told, was not really his wife. He was said +to be a professional gamester, and I rather avoided him during my stay +in Saxony. I should hardly have remembered the name when you mentioned +it had I not seen it half an hour ago in the newspaper. There is the +paragraph, read it yourself." + +Count Waldheim took the paper offered him by Count Tiefstetten, and +read, "We have news from Florence which cannot fail to make a stir in +our aristocratic circles. It concerns the scion of one of our most +distinguished families, a Herr Guido von Bertram, who was a year ago +the hero of a scandalous scene at Buechner's restaurant. On that +occasion, in our account of the affair, we suppressed the names. Herr +von Bertram was obliged to resign from the army in disgrace, and to-day +there is no reason why we should spare him, since he will shortly +receive his punishment as a common swindler and thief. We therefore +give to our readers the letter which we have received from our special +correspondent in Florence: + +"'The arrest of a German nobleman, a Herr Guido von B----, is the talk +of the day here. You hear him discussed everywhere, and the most +contradictory reports are abroad with regard to his antecedents and the +reason for his arrest. We have the following intelligence from a +trustworthy source: + +"'About six months ago Herr von B---- appeared here in Florence, +renting superb apartments, where he lived in splendid style. He +appeared at the theatre with his wife, who was not exactly handsome but +very attractive in appearance, and who excited considerable attention +by her brilliant toilettes, and especially by a magnificent parure of +diamonds which she wore. + +"'Herr von B---- easily effected an entrance into our fashionable +circles where he played his part as a wealthy man of the world, +although it was noticed that the manners and culture of Madame von +B---- by no means corresponded with her elegant appearance. Very +unfavourable reports concerning the lady and the freedom of her +behaviour, and even with regard to her relations with her husband, were +shortly in circulation. It was said that the aristocratic couple +quarrelled after a most plebeian fashion, and that Herr von B---- even +maltreated his wife. + +"'In consequence of these reports certain houses closed their doors +against the pair; others however were less particular, and the wealthy +German nobleman was still received, especially at entertainments where +there was sure to be high play. + +"'Herr von B---- understood so well how to maintain an appearance of +wealth that he easily found credit whenever he wanted money. (One of +our principal bankers has discounted his note to a large amount.) And +he would perhaps have continued to play his part among us had not an +accident induced our police to put him under surveillance. In fact, +they received very strange information from a young German, Wilhelm +Schultz by name, the servant of a nobleman but lately arrived in +Florence from M----. Schultz saw Herr von B---- and his wife adorned +with her diamonds in the theatre, and instantly recognized the latter +as a former waiting-maid in a wealthy family where he had been footman. +He informed the police that Herr von B---- had been betrothed to an +heiress, but had eloped with her waiting-maid, stealing and carrying +off at the same time a casket containing a large sum of money and a +rich parure of diamonds. + +"'The information appeared incredible; but the story was maintained +with such persistence that the police authorities felt themselves +compelled to investigate the matter, and the result is that Herr von +B---- proves to be a thorough-paced gamester and an arch swindler, who +has procured large sums of money upon forged notes of hand. His arrest +took place at the railroad depot, just as he was about to leave +Florence forever. Upon his person was found the diamond parure worn by +his wife, whom he had left without letting her know whither he was +going. + +"'The noble pair are now quite harmless. The former waiting-maid has +made a full confession, confirming all that was stated by Wilhelm +Schultz. After the theft of the diamonds, which was effected in the +Tyrol, she came with her betrayer--who promised to marry her, but never +kept his promise--to Italy, where he led her from place to place, so +maltreating her that she declares that she would have left him but for +fear of starvation in a strange country. The diamonds in which she made +such a show are the property of her former mistress. + +"'Herr von B---- boldly denies the truth of her tale, but as there is +abundant proof against him in the forged notes of hand, he will not +escape due punishment.'" + +The correspondent's words were verified. A month later 'dear Guido' was +condemned to several years' imprisonment with hard labour. Nanette was +left at large. She could only have been prosecuted for theft, and as +neither Frau Schommer nor Frau von Heydeck proceeded to such a measure, +she went unpunished, although the diamonds were taken from her and +returned to their rightful owner, Frau von Heydeck. Wilhelm Schultz, +doubtless, having suffered from her wiles, would have gladly seen the +waiting-maid sent to jail, but he was forced to be satisfied with the +probability that her future fate would be far from prosperous. + + + + FOOTNOTE: + +[Footnote 1: Meadows high up on the mountains, where the wealthy +peasants pasture their cattle in summer.] + + + + THE END. + + + + + + + _PUBLICATIONS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO._ + + * * * * * + + THE WORKS OF E. MARLITT. + TRANSLATED BY MRS. A. L. WISTER. + + + _AT THE COUNCILLOR'S_; + OR, A NAMELESS HISTORY. + + Sixth Edition, 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.75. + +"Pure in tone, elegant in style, and overflowing with the tender and +openly-expressed sentiment which characterizes human romance in +Germany."--_Worcester Spy_. + + + _THE SECOND WIFE_. + + Twelfth Edition, 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.75. + +"A German story of intense interest by one of the best-known writers of +romance of that country."--_Washington Chronicle_. + + + _THE OLD MAM'SELLE'S SECRET_. + + Eleventh Edition, 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +"It is one of the most intense, concentrated, compact novels of the +day.... And the work has the minute fidelity of the author of the +'Initials,' the dramatic unity of Reade, and the graphic power of +George Eliot."--_Columbus, Ohio, Journal_. + + + _GOLD ELSIE_. + + Ninth Edition, 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +"'Gold Elsie' is one of the loveliest heroines ever introduced to the +public."--_Boston Advertiser_. + +"A charming book. It absorbs your attention from the title-page to the +end."--_The Chicago Home Circle_. + +"A charming story charmingly told."--_Baltimore Gazette_. + + + _THE LITTLE MOORLAND PRINCESS_. + + Sixth Edition. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +"A charming story."--_New York Observer_. + +"The plot is admirably contrived."--_Philadelphia Evening Bulletin_. + +"Delightful for the exquisite manner in which its characters are +drawn."--_Boston Evening Traveller_. + + + _COUNTESS GISELA_. + + Sixth Edition. 12mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. + +"One of the very best of its class, and is a genuine representation of +court, burgher, and rural life in Germany. The translation is spirited +and faithful."--_Philadelphia Press_. + +"There is more dramatic power in this than in any of the stories by the +same author that we have read."--_N. O. Times_. + + + + TRANSLATED BY MRS. ELGARD. + + + _OVER YONDER_. + + Fifth Edition. 8vo. With full-page Illustration. Paper, 30 Cts. + +"'Over Yonder' is a charming novelette. 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