was broken asunder. Her strength
failed her, and she burst into tears.

"I will make you pay dearly for all this one of these days,
fraulein," said Peter, as, with his hands still in his pockets, he
left the room. She watched him as he creaked down-stairs, and went
into her aunt's apartments. For a moment she felt disposed to go and
confront him there before her aunt. Together, the two of them, could
not force her to marry him. But her courage failed her. Though she
could face Peter Steinmarc without flinching, she feared the words
which her aunt could say to her. She had not scrupled to threaten
Steinmarc with her own disgrace, but she could not endure to be told
by her aunt that she was degraded.

CHAPTER XIV

Peter Steinmarc, when he went into Madame Staubach's parlour, found
that lady on her knees in prayer. He had entered the room without
notice, having been urged to this unwonted impetuosity by the
severity of the provocation which he had received. Madame Staubach
raised her head; but when she saw him she did not rise. He stood
there for some seconds looking at her, expecting her to get up and
greet him; but when he found that such was not her purpose, he turned
angrily on his heel, and went out of the house, up to his office in
the town-hall. His services were not of much service to the city
on that day,--neither on that day nor on the two following days.
He was using all his mental faculties in endeavouring to decide
what it might be best for him to do in the present emergency. The
red house was a chattel of great value in Nuremberg,--a thing very
desirable,--the possession of which Peter himself did desire with all
his heart. But then, even in regard to the house, it was not to be
arranged that Peter was to become the sole and immediate possessor
of it on his marriage. Madame Staubach was to live there, and during
her life the prize would be but a half-and-half possession. Madame
Staubach was younger than himself; and though he had once thought of
marrying her, he was not sure that he was now desirous of living in
the same house with her for the remainder of his life. He had wished
to marry Linda Tressel, because she was young, and was acknowledged
to be a pretty girl; and he still wished to marry her, if not now for
these reasons, still for others which were quite as potent. He wanted
to be her master, to get the better of her, to punish her for her
disdain of him, and to bring her to his feet. Bu