e fatal to his
happiness. The anguish attendant upon plighted faith broken, burnt
within him; he could scarcely control the feeling of wounded pride, at
being made the dupe of misplaced confidence; that calm judgment which
teaches us to discriminate between right and wrong forsook his mind,
and the truth was veiled from his sight in an atmosphere of gloomy
foreboding. The fiendish associates, contempt, rage, and revenge,
which, with many others, compose the steps of the ladder of feeling
between love and hatred, now assailed him, and rendered even jealousy a
secondary passion in his breast.

Brooding over these tormenting sensations, he sat upon the moss-covered
stone, insensible to the chill of the night air, and his only thought
was, to meet the nocturnal visitor, and demand an explanation.

When the clock struck two in a village beyond the wood, he observed
lights moving in the windows of the castle. His heart beat in full
expectation; he grasped the hilt of his sword. A few moments after the
lights were visible behind the trellis of the gate, and dogs began to
bark. Albert sprang upon his feet, and threw his cloak aside. He heard
a deep voice very distinctly say, "Good night." The creaking drawbridge
was lowered over the abyss which separates the rock of Lichtenstein
from the country; the gate opened, when a man, his hat falling deep
over his face, and enveloped in a dark cloak, came over the bridge,
directly towards the spot where Albert was standing.

When he had arrived at a few paces from him, the young man called out
in a threatening tone, "Draw, traitor, and defend your life!" and
advanced on him. The man in the cloak stepped back, drawing his sword;
in a moment the two blades met.

"You shall not have me alive," cried the other; "at least I'll sell my
life dear!" and with these words the stranger attacked him vigorously,
proving himself by the rapid and heavy blows which he dealt to be an
experienced swordsman, and no despicable opponent. This was not the
first time Albert had crossed blades in anger; for at the university of
Tuebingen he had fought many an honourable duel with success; but now he
had found his match. His adversary pushed him hard, and his attack was
maintained with so masterly a hand, that Albert was compelled to
confine himself solely to his own defence, when, in a last attempt to
settle the affair by one powerful thrust, his arm was suddenly seized
by a strong hand from behind, and in