CHAPTER II
At last, one day late in the autumn, Count Vavel received from hiscorrespondent, Herr Mercatoris, the information that the dragoonregiment was going to change its quarters, and that the departure fromFertoeszeg would be celebrated by various amusements, among them aregatta with colored lanterns on the lake and magnificent fireworks onthe shore.
"We shall manage somehow to live through it," was the count's mentalcomment on the news. He knew Marie's horror of fire--how she sufferedwith terror when she saw a conflagration, no matter how distant. She waseven afraid of the rockets and paper dragons which were used at thecelebration at the conclusion of the grape harvest every year. On theevening of the merrymaking Marie was afraid to go to bed. She beggedLudwig to close the blinds and to read to her in a loud voice, so thatshe might not see the light of the fireworks or hear the tumult on thelake shore. That which amused the revellers at the manor was a terrorfor this timid child.
And that they were amusing themselves over at the manor was beyond adoubt. The program for the evening's entertainment was a varied one.Colonel Barthelmy was in the gayest of humors. The surprise of theevening was to conclude the entertainment, and was called on the program"The Militiaman." Every one in the audience expected that ColonelBarthelmy, who had arranged this part of the entertainment, wouldproduce something extremely amusing. The reality surpassed allexpectations.
The figure conducted on to the stage by the colonel was no other thanthe little water-monster, Baroness Katharina's protege. He was clad inthe uniform of a soldier, with a wooden sword and gun, a hat decoratedwith crane-feathers, a canteen at his side, and a knapsack on his back.An enormous false mustache extended from ear to ear, and a short-stemmedpipe was thrust between his lips.
"This, gentlemen and ladies, is a militiaman." The colonel wasinterrupted by a burst of merriment from his audience. Even the baronesslaughed immoderately, but suppressed it hastily when she remembered thetelescope on the tower of the Nameless Castle.
"Poor little fellow!" she murmured, with difficulty keeping her facestraight.
"Attention!" called the colonel, snapping the whip he held in his hand."What does the militiaman do when he is in a good humor?"
A bagpipe behind the curtain now began to play a familiar air, whereuponthe little monster first touched his finger to his hat, then slapped histhighs with both hands, and lifted first one foot, then the other.
The baroness hid with her fan that side of her face which was toward theneighboring castle, and joined in the uproarious laughter.
"You see, gracious baroness," continued the colonel, "that I haveaccomplished what I determined I would do--made quite a man of thelittle fellow."
He snapped his whip again, and called sharply:
"Now let the militiaman show us what he does when he is in an illhumor."
The bagpipe struck up a different air. The dwarf muttered somethingunintelligible into his mustache, and grimaced hideously. Then he tookfrom his tobacco-pouch flint, tinder, and steel, and struck fire in theproper manner; he thrust the burning tinder into his pipe, and pressedit down with his finger.
Tremendous applause rewarded this exhibition.
"Do you see, gracious baroness, what a complete man he is become? He caneven strike fire and light a pipe!"
By this time the gnome began to understand that his antics amused theaudience, and he, too, enjoyed them. For the first time an emotion wasexpressed on his stolid countenance; but it was not an agreeabletransformation. The corners of his mouth widened until they reached hisears, which stood still farther out from his head; he closed one eye,and opened the other to its farthest extent; and pressing the stem ofhis pipe more firmly between his teeth, he blew the smoke and fire fromthe bowl like a miniature volcano. The thicker the smoke and sparks camefrom the pipe, the more furious became the strange creature's glee,while the entire company shouted and clasped their hands. Even thecolonel himself was amazed at the performance of his dull pupil.
"Why have we not a Hogarth among us to perpetuate this caricature?" heexclaimed delightedly.
"Horrible! I cannot bear to look at him," said the baroness, holding herfan in front of her face. "Pray take him away, Herr Colonel--take himaway."
"Presently. Ho, there, my little man! What does the militiaman do whenhe sees the enemy?"
The whip snapped, and the bagpipe set up a discordant shriek, upon whichthe actor sprang with one bound from the stage, and vanished behind thecurtain, wooden sword and gun clattering after him, while the audienceshowered applause on the successful instructor.
"Herr Colonel," observed the baroness, when quiet had been restored, "Iam very much afraid that your instructions will cause me some trouble inthe future."
"Why, how so?" in surprise questioned the colonel.
"You have taught a wild creature to kindle a fire, and thus aroused inhim a dangerous passion. His desire to amuse himself with the dangerouselement will develop into a mania, and he will end by setting fire tohouses and other buildings."
"I will tell you what to do, baroness. In order that the little monstermay not play his tricks about here, give him to me; I will take him withme."
"No; I had rather keep him here. I shall take good care, however, thathe does not get hold of tinder and flint, and have him constantlywatched. You have quite ruined my system of education. _I_ taught him tokneel and fold his hands to the music of the organ; _you_ taught him todance and grimace to the drone of the bagpipe. You have even accustomedhim to drink wine, which is unchristian."
The company laughed at this harmless anger.
Then came the fireworks.
When the Roman candles and the fire-wheels illumined the darkness, itbecame impossible to control the little monster. He rushed into thethickest of the rain of fire, and tried to catch the red and blue starsin his hands. The sparks burned holes in his clothes, and he would nothave escaped a severe burning himself had not some one thrown a pail ofwater over him. It was impossible to restrain him. He struck out withhands and feet, and bit at any one who attempted to prevent him fromrunning into the fire. Suddenly a rocket shot in an oblique direction,and dropped into the lake. When the human beast saw this he uttered ayell, and dashed into the water. He thought that the beautiful firebelonged to him because it had fallen into his lake, and he went to huntfor it. He did not return. The baroness had search made for him; but heknew so well how to escape his pursuers that he was not seen again atthe manor.
The next morning, while yet the stars were glittering in the sky, thetrumpets sounded the departure of the regiment.
The sounds were familiar to Count Vavel. Even yet, when the blare oftrumpets roused him from sleep, he felt as if he must hasten to thestable, saddle his horse, and buckle on his sword. But those days werepast. His trusty war-horse had become used to the carriage-pole, and thekeen Toledo blades were drawn from their scabbards only when they wereto be oiled to prevent the rust from corroding them.
The departure of the troops removed one care from Count Ludwig's mind:the noise and turmoil would cease, and peace would again return to thesilent neighborhood.
One morning when Frau Schmidt brought her basket, as usual, to thecastle, there was a letter in it for the count. He recognized the handat once; it was from his fair neighbor at the manor.
"HERR COUNT: As I have something of the utmost importance to communicate to you, I beg that you will receive a call from me this morning before you take your usual drive. Answer when it will be convenient for you to see me."
What did it mean? Something of the utmost importance? Why could she nothave asked him to come to the manor? The count was puzzled. And how washe to answer this most singular request? He could not write it himself;was it not said that he was unable to hold a pen? He could not dictatethe letter to Marie appointing a meeting with the baroness. Henry was avery shrewd fellow, but he had never learned to write.
At last Count Vavel bethought him of an expedient. He marked on the backof his card the Rom
an numerals XI, and trusted that the baroness wouldunderstand that she was expected at eleven o'clock. When the appointedhour drew near, curiosity began to torture the count. He could not waitindoors, but hurried into the park, where he paced restlessly to and froamid the fallen leaves.
He listened anxiously to every sound, and consulted his watch every fewminutes. At last the gate bell rang. He hastened to admit the visitor,and found that the baroness had understood his reply. He recognized herfigure, for the face was closely veiled. She wore a pale-blue silk gownwith wide sleeves--Marie's favorite costume.
"It is I, Herr Count," she said in a low tone, looking anxiously abouther.
"How did you come? I did not hear the carriage," said Count Vavel.
"I rowed across the cove--alone, because no one must know that I came.Can any one see us here?"
"No one."
"We need not go into the house," she continued; "I can tell you here whyI came."
Ludwig was more and more perplexed. He had believed the baroness wishedto enter the Nameless Castle out of curiosity.
"My visit," pursued the lady, "has as little conventionality about it ashad yours. The magnitude of the danger which prompted yours must alsoexcuse mine; I am come to repay the debt I owe you."
"Danger?" repeated the count.
"Yes; danger threatens you--and some one else! Let us come farther intothe park, that no one may by a possible chance overhear me."
When they had reached a sheltered spot the lady again spoke:
"Do you know anything about Colonel Barthelmy?"
"I received the cards he left here when he called," indifferentlyreplied Count Vavel.
"You certainly have heard more about him," returned the baroness, atrifle impatiently. "His domestic troubles were in all thenewspapers--it was a _cause celebre_. He was a major in the French army,under the Directory, but entered our service when the Empire wasestablished. The domestic troubles I referred to occurred while he wasstill in France. His young and beautiful wife ran away with anotherman--a man who is unknown to Barthelmy, who is pursuing the fugitivesover the whole world--"
"Ah! I remember now reading something about it. That is why his nameseemed familiar to me."
"I thought you must have heard something about him," responded thebaroness, in a peculiar tone. Then, with a sudden movement, she seizedhis hand and whispered:
"And you are the unknown who abducted Colonel Barthelmy's wife."
"I?" in boundless amazement ejaculated the count. Then he laughedheartily.
"Yes, you; and you are living here in seclusion with the lovely womanwhose face no one is permitted to see."
Ludwig ceased laughing, and replied very seriously; "Gracious baroness,were I the person you believe me to be, I should have been glad to meetthe man who compelled me to live here in seclusion. A skilfulsword-thrust or a well-aimed bullet would have released me from thisprison."
"And yet, everybody believes Count Vavel to be Ange Barthelmy's lover,"responded the baroness.
"Do _you_ believe it, baroness?"
"I? Perhaps--not. But Colonel Barthelmy believes it all the more firmlybecause you refused to see him."
"And suppose he had seen me?"
"He would have asked you to introduce him to your--family."
"Then he would have learned that I have no family."
"But you could not have refused to tell him what relation you bear tothe lady at the castle."
"My answer would have been very brief had he asked the question," wasthe count's grim response.
"I know what men mean by a 'brief' answer; the result is usually fatal."
"And does your ladyship imagine that I fear such a result?"
"So far as courage is concerned, I should not give any one precedence toCount Vavel. A regular duel, however, requires more than courage.Colonel Barthelmy is a soldier by profession; you are a philosopher wholives amid his studies, and whose right hand is unable to hold a pen,let alone a sword or a pistol!"
Count Vavel was touched on the spot where men are most susceptible.
"Who can tell whether I have always been a studious hermit?" he demandedproudly. "Besides, might it not be that my hand is unable only when Idon't want to use it?"
"That may be," retorted the lady. "But Barthelmy, who is perfectlyinsane on the subject of his wife's infamy, would have the advantage ofyou. He is suspicious of every stranger; and of all the gossip whichenvirons you, the legend of that elopement is the mildest."
"Indeed? This is very flattering! Probably I am also said to be acounterfeiter?"
"I am not jesting, Herr Count. While Colonel Barthelmy was my guest Iwas able to prevent him from taking any aggressive steps toward you;this is why you did not hear from him again after his last call onyou--"
"I certainly am greatly indebted to you," interrupted Count Vavel, withvisible irony.
"You owe me no thanks, Herr Count. When a woman tries to prevent aquarrel between two men, she does so, believe me, out of pure self-love.The emotions which electrify your nerves torment ours. I could not havecontinued to live here had a tragic occurrence made the place memorable.That is why I prevented an encounter between you and the colonel; so youneed not thank me. However, the evening before the regiment took itsdeparture the colonel said to me: 'I have kept my word to you, baroness;but to-morrow I cease to be your guest. I shall take steps then to learnif the mysterious lady at the Nameless Castle be Ange Barthelmy or someone else.'"
At these words a deep flush crimsoned Count Vavel's face. "I should liketo know how he proposes to settle that question?" he said, in a voicethat trembled with suppressed rage.
"I will tell you. Just listen to the ridiculous plan which the manbetrayed in his fury. He is quartered in the neighboring village to theedge of which you and a certain person drive every day. He is going torise, with several friends, along the road; and when he meets yourcarriage, he is going to stop it, introduce himself, and demand if thelady by your side be Mme. Ange Barthelmy."
Count Vavel clenched his hands and closed his lips tightly. After abrief struggle he regained command of himself, and said quietly:
"I shall, of course, reply: 'On my word as a man of honor, this lady isnot Ange Barthelmy.'"
"But if that does not satisfy him? Suppose he should insist on seeingthe lady? Suppose he even attempts to lift the lady's veil?"
"Then he dies!" The count gave utterance to these words in a tone thatsounded more like the growl of a lion that has the neck of his preybetween his teeth.
"He is capable, in his present mood, of doing anything rash," murmuredthe baroness, with an expression of terror in her eyes.
"And I am capable of an equally rash act," responded the count.
"I believe it; I have heard of such courage before. But _you_ must notforget that you do not belong to yourself; there is some one else youmust think of before you risk your life."
Count Vavel started violently; he opened his lips as if to speak, butthe baroness quickly raised her hand and interposed.
"I am not trying to pry into your secret, Herr Count; I am no spy--youmust have seen that ere this. All I know is that there is under yourprotection a woman to whom you are everything, and who will have no oneshould she lose you."
"But what can I do?" in desperation exclaimed Count Vavel. "I cannothide in my castle until Colonel Barthelmy leaves the neighborhood. Wouldyou have me confess to all the world that I am a coward?"
"Let me advise you, Herr Count," with sudden resolution responded thebaroness. "Turn this matter, which you look upon as a tragedy, into acapital jest. Take _me_ to drive with you to-day instead ofyour--friend."
Count Vavel suddenly burst into a loud laugh--from extreme anger tounrestrained merriment.
But the baroness did not laugh with him.
"I am in earnest, Count Vavel. Now you will understand why I came herethis morning." She drew her veil over her face, and asked: "Am I enoughlike her to take her place in the carriage?"
Count Vavel was
astounded. The likeness to Marie was perfect. The gown,the hat, and veil were exactly like those Marie was wont to wear whenshe drove out with him. The daring suggestion, however, amazed him morethan anything else.
"What! You, baroness? You would really venture to drive with me? Haveyou thought of the risk--the danger to yourself?"
"I have given it as much thought as did you when you risked coming tothe manor with nothing but a walking-stick to battle with four thieves.One ought not stop to think of the risk when a danger is to be averted.This adventure may end as harmlessly as the other."
"And suppose the colonel should by any chance see your face? No, no,baroness; there is no comparison between my venture and this plan youpropose. If I had had an encounter with those thieves I might havereceived a wound that would soon have healed; but your pure reputationas a woman might receive a wound that would never heal."
A bitter smile wreathed the lady's lips as she replied: "Could any woundthat I might receive increase the burden on my heart?" She laughedharshly, then asked suddenly: "Perhaps you are afraid the colonel willthink I am the mysterious lady of the Nameless Castle?"
Count Vavel's face reddened to the roots of his hair.
Again the lady laughed, then said apologetically: "Pardon me, but theidea amused me. But, to return to Colonel Barthelmy, he is going veryshortly to Italy with his regiment; therefore, I need not care whatfables he thinks of me--or repeats. The few persons whose opinion I carefor will not believe him; as for the others--pah! Come, your hand on it!Let us perpetrate this joke. If _I_ am willing to run the risk, yousurely need not hesitate."
And yet he hesitated.
"Don't speak of this plan of yours as a mischievous trick, baroness," hesaid earnestly. "It is a great, a noble sacrifice--so great, indeed,that living woman could not perform a greater--to be willing to blushwith shame while innocent. She who blushes for her love does not suffer;but to flush with shame out of friendship must be a torture like thatendured by martyrs."
"Very well, then; let it be a sacrifice--as you will! I am a willingvictim! I owe you a debt of gratitude; I want to pay it. Now go andorder the carriage; I will wait here for you."
Every drop of blood in his body rebelled against his accepting thisoffer. A woman rescue a strong man from a threatened danger! And at whata risk!
"Well," a trifle impatiently exclaimed the baroness, as he stilllingered, "are n't you going to fetch your cloak? I am ready for thedrive."
Without another word the count turned and strode toward the castle.
Marie was satisfied with the excuse he made for not taking her with himas usual: he said he had urgent business in the neighboring village, andwould have to drive there alone.
Then he ordered Henry to harness the horses to the carriage, and drivedown to the gate, where he would await him.
He found the baroness waiting for him where he had left her.
"Well," she began, when he came near enough to hear her, "have youdecided to take me with you?"
"No."
"Then you are going to take the lady?"
"No."
"Not? Then who is going with you?"
"These two pistols," replied the count, flinging back his cloak andrevealing the weapons thrust into his pocket. "With these two companionsI am going to meet the gentleman who is so determined to see the face ofthe veiled lady. I shall show him a lady whose face is not a subject ofgossip."
The baroness uttered a cry of terror, and seized Count Vavel's hand.
"No, no; you shall not go alone. Listen. I was prepared for just such adecision on your part, so I wrote this letter. If you persist in goingalone to meet the colonel, I shall hurry back to the manor, send mygroom on the swiftest horse I own with this letter to Colonel Barthelmy.Read it."
She unfolded the letter she had taken from her pocket, and held it sothat Count Vavel might read, without taking it in his hands:
"HERR COLONEL: You need not seek Mme. Ange Barthelmy at the Nameless Castle. The veiled lady seen in company with Count Vavel is
"B. KATHARINA LANDSKNECHTSSCHILD."
In speechless amazement Count Vavel looked down at the baroness, whocalmly folded the letter and returned it to her pocket.
"Now you may go if you like," she said coolly, "and I, too, shall do as_I_ like! The colonel will then have written proof to justify him indragging my name in the dust!"
The count gazed long and earnestly into the lovely face turneddefiantly toward him. What was said by those glowing eyes, what wasexpressed by those lips trembling with excitement, could not be meresport. There is only one name for the emotion which urges a woman torisk so much for a man; and if Count Vavel guessed the name, then therewas nothing for him to do but offer his arm to the lady and say:
"Come, baroness, we will go together."
When the count assisted his veiled companion into the carriage, and tookhis seat by her side, not even Henry could have told that it was not hisyoung mistress from the castle who was going to drive, as usual, withher guardian.
It was with a singular feeling that Count Vavel looked at the womanbeside him, to whom he was bound for one hour by the strongest, mostdangerous of ties. Only for one hour! For this one hour the womanbelonged to him as wholly, as entirely as the soul belongs to the livinghuman being. And afterward? Afterward she would be no more to him thanis the vanished soul to the dead human being.
The carriage had arrived at the boundary of the neighboring village,where the usual turn was made for the homeward drive, and they had notyet seen any one. Had Colonel Barthelmy's words been merely an idlethreat?
Henry knew that he was not to drive beyond this point; he mechanicallyturned the horses' heads in the homeward direction, as he had done everyday for years.
On the return drive the carriage always stopped at the edge of theforest, where a shaded path led through the dense shrubbery to a clearedspace some distance from the highway. This was the spot for their dailypromenade.
The count and his companion had gone but a short distance along the pathwhen they saw coming toward them three men in uniform. They werecavalry officers. The two in the rear had on white cloaks; the one infront was without, an outer garment--merely his close-fitting uniformcoal.
"That is Barthelmy," whispered the baroness, pressing the arm on whichshe was leaning.
The count's expression of calm indifference did not change. He walkedwith a firm step toward the approaching officers.
Very soon they stood face to face.
The colonel was a tall, distinguished-looking man; he carried his headwell upright, and every movement spoke of haughty self-confidence andpride.
"Herr Count Vavel, I believe?" he began, halting in front of Ludwig andhis companion. "Allow me to introduce myself; I am Colonel Vicomte LeonBarthelmy."
Count Vavel murmured something which gave the colonel to understand thathe (the count) was very glad to learn the gentleman's name.
"I have long desired to make your acquaintance," continued the colonel(his companions had halted several paces distant). "I was so unfortunateas not to find you at home the three calls I made at your castle. Now,however, I shall take this opportunity to say to you what I wanted tosay then. First, however, let me introduce my friends,"--waving his handtoward the two officers,--"Captain Kriegeisen and Lieutenant Zagodics,of Emperor Alexander's dragoons."
Count Vavel again gave utterance to his pleasure on making theacquaintance of the colonel's friends. Then he said courteously:
"In what way can I serve you, Herr Colonel?"
"In a very simple manner, Herr Count," responded the colonel. "I havehad the peculiar misfortune which sometimes overtakes a married man; mywife deceived me, and ran away with her lover, whom I do not even know.As mine is not one of those phlegmatic natures which can meekly toleratesuch an indignity, I am searching for the fugitives--for what purpose Ifancy you can guess. For four years my quest has been fruitless; I havebeen unable to find a trace of the guilty pair. A lucky chance at
lastled me to this secluded corner of the earth, and here I learnedthat--but, to be brief, Herr Count, I owe it to my heart and to my honorto ask you this question: Is not this lady by your side, who is alwaysclosely veiled, Ange Barthelmy, my wife?"
"Herr Vicomte Leon de Barthelmy," calmly replied Count Vavel, "I giveyou my word of honor as a cavalier that this lady never was your wife."
The colonel laughed in a peculiar manner.
"Your word of honor, Herr Count, would be entirely satisfactory in allother questions save those relating to the fair sex--and to war. Youwill excuse me, therefore, if I take the liberty to doubt your assertionin this case, and request you to prove that my suspicions are at fault.Without this proof I will not move from this spot."
"Then I am very sorry for you, Herr Colonel," returned Count Vavel, "butI shall be compelled to leave you and your suspicions in possession ofthis spot."
He made as if he would pass onward; but the colonel politely but withdecision barred the path.
"I must request that you wait a little longer, Herr Count," he said, hisface darkening.
"And why should I?" demanded the count.
"To convince me that the lady on your arm is not my wife," was thereply, in an excited tone.
"You will have to remain unconvinced," in an equally excited toneretorted Count Vavel; and for a brief instant it was a question whichof the two enraged men would strike the first blow.
The threatening scene was suddenly concluded by the baroness, who flungback her veil, exclaiming: "Here, Colonel Barthelmy, you may convinceyourself that I am _not_ your wife."
Leon Barthelmy started in amazement, and hastily laid his hand againsthis lips as if to repress the words which had rushed to them. Then hebowed with exaggerated courtesy, and said: "I most humbly beg yourpardon, Herr Count Vavel. This lady is _not_ Ange Barthelmy. Thesegentlemen are witnesses that I have asked your pardon in the properform."
The colonel's companions, who had come hastily forward at the threatenedconflict between their superior and the count, were gazing in a peculiarmanner at the lady whose hospitality they had so lately enjoyed. ColonelBarthelmy also, although he bowed with elaborate courtesy before thebaroness, cast upon her a glance that was full of insulting scorn.
The situation had changed so rapidly--as when a sudden flash oflightning illumines the darkness of night; and like the electric flash alight sped into Vavel's heart and illumined it with a delicious, aheavenly warmth that made it throb madly. But only for an instant. Thenhe realized that this woman who had dared everything for his sake hadbeen insulted by the glance of scorn and derision.
He had now lost all control of himself. He snatched a pistol from hispocket, directed the muzzle toward Colonel Barthelmy's sneering face,and said in a voice that quivered with savage fury:
"I demand that you beg this lady's pardon."
"You do?" coolly returned the colonel, still smiling, and gazing calmlyinto the muzzle of the pistol.
"Yes--or I will blow out your brains!"
The two officers accompanying the colonel drew their swords. Thebaroness uttered a cry of terror, and flung herself on Vavel's breast.
"I presume you will allow me to inquire, first, what relation this ladybears to you?"
Colonel Barthelmy asked the question in measured tones; and without aninstant's hesitation came Count Vavel's reply:
"The lady is my betrothed wife."
The sneer vanished from the colonel's lips, and the swords of hiscompanions were returned to their scabbards.
"I hasten to apologize," said the colonel. "Accept, madame, my deepestreverence, and do not refuse to forgive the insulting scorn my ignorancecaused me to express. Permit me to convince you of my sincere homage, bythis salute."
He bent his head and pressed his lips to one of the lady's hands, whichwere clasped about Count Vavel's arm. Then, with his helmet still in hishand, he turned to Count Vavel, and added: "Are you satisfied?"
"Yes," was the curt reply.
"Then let us shake hands--without malice. Accept my sincerestcongratulations. To you, baroness, I give thanks for the lesson you havetaught me this morning."
He bowed once more, then stepped to one side, indicating that the waywas clear.
The baroness drew her veil over her face, and, clinging tremblingly tothe arm of her escort, walked by his side back to the highway, the threeofficers following at a respectful distance.
When they emerged from the forest they saw the three horses which hadbeen left by the colonel and his companions in charge of the grooms.Henry must have told the gentlemen where to find his master.
With what different emotions Count Vavel returned to the castle! Thedreamer in his slumbers had given utterance to words which betrayed whathe had been dreaming, and he compelled the vision to abide with him evenafter he had wakened. He felt that he had the right to do what he haddone. This woman loved him as only a woman can love; and what he haddone had only been his duty, for he loved her! What he had said was nofalsehood--the words had not been forced from him merely to preserve herhonor; they were the truth.
Count Vavel stopped the carriage at the park gate, assisted hiscompanion to alight, and sent Henry on to the castle with the horses.
"What have you done?" in a deeply agitated voice exclaimed the baroness,when they were alone in the park.
"I gave expression to the feeling which is in my heart."
"And do you realize what that has done?"
"What has it done?"
"It has made it impossible for us to meet again--for us ever to speakagain to each other."
"I cannot see it in that light."
"You could were you to give it but a moment's serious thought. I do notask what the mysterious lady at the castle is to you; I know, however,that you must be everything to her. Pray don't believe me cruel enoughto rob her of her whole world. I cannot ask you to believe a lie--Icannot pretend that you are nothing to me. I have allowed you to looktoo deeply into my heart to deny my feelings. But there is somethingbesides love in my heart! it is pride. I am too proud to take you fromthe woman to whom you are bound--no matter by what ties. Therefore, wemust not meet again in this life; we may meet again in another world!Pray do not come any farther with me; I can easily find the way to myboat. No one at the manor knows of my absence. I must be careful toreturn as I came--unseen. And now, one request: Do not try to see meagain. Should you do so, it will compel me to flee from theneighborhood. Adieu!"
She drew her veil closer over her face, and passed swiftly withnoiseless steps through the gateway.
Ludwig Vavel stood where she had left him, and looked after her untilshe vanished from his sight amid the trees. Then he turned and walkedslowly toward the castle.