weight of this young giant's fist, measured Willibald for a
minute, but that was long enough to convince him that a hand to hand
scuffle could only result one way.

"You will give me satisfaction--if you are capable of giving
satisfaction," he began in a half-suffocated voice. "Probably you don't
know that you have before you a--"

"A low scoundrel whom it will give me pleasure to discipline," said
Willibald, composedly. "Remain where you are, if you please, or I shall
be obliged to do it on the spot. My name is Willibald von Eschenhagen of
Burgsdorf, and I am to be found at the residence of the Prussian
ambassador, if you have anything more to say. I beg you to accept my
protection, Fraeulein, and I'll pledge myself that you'll not be insulted
again."

And then something unheard of, almost past belief, happened.

Herr von Eschenhagen, without awkwardness or embarrassment, with the
grace of a gentleman of the old school, offered Fraeulein Volkmar his arm
and led her away, without troubling himself farther about the low
scoundrel!

Marietta had accepted his arm, but she spoke no word; as soon as they
were out of hearing she began, with an agitation which was anything but
natural to her: "Herr von Eschenhagen--"

"Yes, Fraeulein?"

"I--I am very grateful to you for your protection. But the Count--you
have insulted him deeply--he will challenge you, and you will accept his
challenge?"

"Certainly, with the greatest pleasure," answered Will, and a smile
broke over his face which proved that such a state of affairs would give
him great gratification. His stupidity and obtuseness had disappeared,
he felt he was a hero and deliverer, and was very well satisfied with
himself. Marietta looked up at him in speechless surprise.

"But it is terrible that all this should happen on my account," she
remonstrated. "And that it should be you, of all men."

The last remark did not please the young man.

"You evidently regret that, Fraeulein," he said rather stiffly. "But
under such circumstances you cannot always have what you want. I was
near by, and you were forced to accept my services even though I do not
stand very well in your esteem."

A flush crossed Marietta's face as she remembered the time when she had
poured the vials of her wrath and contempt over this man who now came to
her rescue so bravely.

"I was thinking of Toni and her father," she answered softly. "I am
altogether blameless, but if I should be the c