that Lord Elliot wishes to be remembered to her; that he will
return in eight days with her carriage."

"But she will dismiss me from her service, my lord."

"Wait patiently for eight days, and then you shall enter mine. And now,
away with you!"

The coachman dared not answer, and soon disappeared with his horses.

The fresh horses were put to the carriage, the servant swung himself up
to his seat; Lord Elliot stood in front of the carriage with his friend
Dr. Blitz.

"All has happened as I desired," said he. "I take my child away with me,
and, with God's will, she shall never know but that death deprived her
of her mother. Poor child! she has no mother, but I will love her with
all the strength of a father, all the tenderness of a mother, and I have
a noble sister who will guard and watch over her. She awaits me at Kiel.
I accompany my child so far, but as soon as she is in the faithful hands
of my sister, as soon as I have placed them upon the ship sailing for
Copenhagen, I return here."

"Why should you return, my lord?" said the doctor, in terror. "Is it not
sufficient that you have deprived the mother of her child? that you have
branded the woman with shame before the whole world? What more would you
do, my lord?"

With a strange smile, Lord Elliot laid his hand upon the doctor's
shoulder.

"Flows there milk instead of blood in your veins, man? or have you
forgotten that I have been hit by a poisoned arrow? I must be revenged,
if I would not die of this wound."

"Let your wounds bleed, my lord--the longer they bleed, the sooner they
will heal. But why destroy the arrow that wounded you? Will you recover
the sooner or suffer the less?"

"Again I ask you, is there milk instead of blood in your veins? My honor
is stained--I must cleanse it with the blood of my enemy."

"A duel, then, my lord? You will suffer chance to decide your most holy
and sacred interests--your honor and life? And if chance is against you?
If you fall, instead of your adversary?"

"Then, my friend, God will have decided it, and I shall thank Him for
relieving me from a life which will from henceforth be a heavy burden to
me. Farewell, doctor. I will be with you in eight days, and will again
need your assistance."

"It is then irrevocable, my lord?"

"Irrevocable, doctor."

"I shall be ready. God grant that if this sad drama is to end in blood,
it may not be yours!"

They pressed each other's hands tenderly. Lord Elliot sprang