ve up the key," shrieked the general, who in vain tried to rise, "or
I will call the police, and send you to prison."

"Do it, but I will not give it to you."

"Do you not see she has it?" cried Leberecht.

"Oh, you wretch, I will pay you--I will scratch your eyes out, you
miserable creature!"

"Trude, be quiet," commanded Ebenstreit; "the general orders to give up
the key--do it!"

"Yes, do it at once," shrieked Frau von Werrig, "or I will dismiss you
from my service."

"That you will not have to do, as I shall go myself. I will not give up
the key."

"The door is old, and with a good push one could open it," said
Leberecht.

"Come, my son, let us see," said the mother.

They hastened up to the room, while the general scolded, furiously that
he must sit still. Leberecht and Trude cast furious, menacing glances at
each other.

Suddenly a loud crash was heard.

"They have broken open the door!" cried the general.

"I said that it was old and frail--what do you say now, beautiful
Trude?"

The old woman wiped with her hand the drops of perspiration from her
forehead, caused by her anguish. "You are a bad fellow, and God will
punish you for your treason, that you have tormented a noble, unhappy
girl. I saw that you were an eavesdropper, and you know all."

"She is gone!" shrieked the mother, rushing into the room.

"The room is empty," cried Ebenstreit. "Marie is not there. Tell us,
Leberecht, what you know about it."

"I will, if we can agree about the pay--the old woman bothers me, and
beg the young gentleman to go into the next room with me."

"O Almighty God, have compassion upon my poor little Marie," murmured
Trude, kneeling, and covering her face.

Ebenstreit in the mean time withdrew to the other room, followed by the
servant.

"Speak!" commanded his master, "and tell me what you have to say."

Leberecht shrugged his shoulders. "We are two men who have urgent
business with each other. I am not at present a servant and you the
master. I am a man who has an important secret to sell, and you are the
man who would buy it."

"What strange, unheard-of language is this?" said Ebenstreit,
astonished.

"The language of a man who cannot only deprive the rich banker
Ebenstreit of a lovely wife, but of his title also. You said yourself,
sir, this morning, that it was only valid if you succeeded in marrying
the daughter of General von Leuthen. No none knows where you can find
your bride but me."