f, 'will make a present to
you of that costly writing table, if you will allow him the quiet
enjoyment of his faith. You know the splendid article, the one for
which the duke of Leignitz offered him four thousand dollars. It is
below.

'I will be with him directly,' cried Dohna, and taking a blank license
from the table, he hastened out.

Meantime a tumult out of doors had attracted the whole company to the
windows. 'Do you know the cause of this disturbance?' asked Goes of the
adjutant.

'A merchant's clerk has killed captain Hurka in his quarters,' answered
the latter. 'The guard are bringing him here.'

'That Hurka must have learnt the art of tormenting from satan himself,'
growled the colonel. 'What was the provocation?'

'They say,' answered the adjutant, 'that, in order to compel his
hostess to procure a certificate of confession, the captain tore her
infant from her breast, and threw it upon the floor.'

This announcement caused a universal and simultaneous shudder among
those present, despite the triple mail of pride and intolerance which
encased their hearts, and Lamormaine discontentedly remarked, 'that is
the way to _make_ heretics, not to convert them.'

'This is a case in which mercy, rather than severe justice, should
prevail,' remarked the strong-believing Bibran. 'The captain's conduct
was too horribly severe, and must lead to greater evils.'

'Let the murderer be led hither,' said Goes. 'I will examine him.'

The adjutant retired, and soon returned with Dorn in chains and
surrounded by guards.

As Goes glanced towards him, he started back with fright, exclaiming,
'my God, what a terrible resemblance!'

Calm and collected, the young man stood there, with his eyes stedfastly
fixed upon the colonel.

With, much effort the latter recovered his equanimity, and now asked,
'know you what sentence the laws pronounce upon the assassin of one of
the emperor's officers?'

'I have committed no murder,' resolutely replied Dorn. 'I have only
punished, in the presence of his soldiers, a villain who abused his
power, and trod under foot the holiest laws of nature.'

'That voice, too!' said the colonel to himself, then turning to Dorn,
'self-avenging is not to be justified. Your act is treasonable, and no
evasion can save your forfeited life.'

'Well, then, pronounce sentence upon your son!' cried Dorn, with a
sorrow which he could no longer control.

'Son!' exclaimed all present with the utmost ast