ver shall kiss or breathe words
of love to any other woman. May God's anger reach me, if my oath is
false!'"

The words fell slowly, singly from her lips, and she gazed with
unflinching eyes up at him.

Not a muscle in his countenance moved. Laughing gayly, he repeated her
words; then bent and kissed her black, shiny hair. "Are you satisfied
now, you silly child?"

"I am satisfied, for you have sworn," said she, rising from her knees.

"Will this quiet you now, Marietta?"

"Yes, forever."

"Well, then, now a moment to business. There are two important letters,
my beautiful darling. You see how boundless my love for you is--I
confide these letters to your care, and entreat you to post them as
usual. My heart and my secrets are in your lovely hands."

He kissed the hands, and gave her the letters.

Marietta took and looked at them in a timid, fearful manner.

"Do they contain dangerous secrets?" said she.

"Dangerous in the extreme, my lovely one."

"Were they intercepted and opened, would you be liable to death?" said
she, in a low, trembling voice.

He saw in these words only her solicitude and love for him.

"Certainly, I would be lost--I would have to die were these letters
opened. But fear not, my beauteous Marietta--they will not be opened; no
one would dream of intercepting the harmless letters you direct to your
friends at Magdeburg. Apart from that, no one is aware of our close
connection. We have carefully guarded the holy secret of our love; when
your husband returns from Italy, this bad world will have no evil rumors
to tell of us, and you will be enclosed in his arms as his faithful
wife. When does he come?"

"I expect him in three weeks."

"Many glorious, quiet evenings will we enjoy together before his return.
And now, farewell--I must leave you."

"You must leave me?"

"I must, Marietta."

"And where are you going?" said she, looking at him earnestly.

"Jealous again," said he, laughing. "Calm yourself, Marietta, I go to no
woman. Besides this, have you not my oath?"

"Where are you going?" said she, with a sharp questioning look.

"I have an engagement to meet some friends--the meeting takes place in
the house of a Catholic priest. Are you satisfied, Marietta? or do you
still fear that some dangerous rendezvous calls me from you?"

"I fear nothing," said she, smiling; "you have reassured me."

"Then, my beloved, I entreat you to command me to go, for if you do not,
though I k