draw his horoscope. I must question the cards as to his destiny, and
know whether happiness or misery lies before him. Yes, I will summon my
fortune-teller. There is a destiny which shapes our ends."

CHAPTER X. THE STOLEN CHILD.

It was a dark, stormy December night. The long-deserted streets of
Berlin were covered with deep snow. By the glare of a small oil-lamp
affixed to a post, the tall form of a man, wrapped in a large
travelling-cloak, could be seen leaning against a wall; he was gazing
fixedly at the houses opposite him. The snow beat upon his face, his
limbs were stiff from the cold winter wind, his tooth chattered, but he
did not seem to feel it. His whole soul, his whole being was filled with
one thought, one desire. What mattered it to him if he suffered, if he
died? As a dark shadow appeared; in the opposite door, life and energy
once more came back to the stoic. He crossed the street hastily.

"Well, doctor," said he, eagerly, "what have you discovered?"

"It is as your servant informed you, my lord. Your wife, Lady Elliot,
is not at home. She is at a ball at Count Verther's, and will not return
till after midnight."

"But my child? my daughter?" said Lord Elliot, in a trembling voice.

"She, of course, is at home, my lord. She is in the chamber adjoining
your former sleeping apartment. No one but the nurse is with her."

"It is well--I thank you, doctor. All I now require of you is to send my
valet, whom I sent to your house after me, with my baggage. Farewell!"

He was rushing away, but the doctor detained him.

"My lord," said he, in a low and imploring voice, "consider the matter
once more before you act. Remember that you will thus inform all Berlin
of your unfortunate wedded life, and become subject to the jeers and
laughter of the so-called nobility; lowering the tragedy of your house
to a proverb."

"Be it so," said Lord Elliot, proudly, "I have nothing to fear. The
whole world knows that my honor is stained; before the whole world will
I cleanse it."

"But in doing so, my lord, you disgrace your wife."

"Do you not think she justly deserves it?" said Lord Elliot, harshly.

"But you should have it on her wish."

"Doctor, when one has suffered as I have, every feeling is extinguished
from the heart but hatred. As I have not died of grief, I shall live to
revenge my sufferings. My determination is unalterable. I must and will
tear my child from the bad influence of her mother,