t man," pointing to Ebenstreit, with contempt.
"Sir, dismount, I have important business with you!"

"We have nothing to say to each other," answered Ebenstreit, calmly.

"But I!" cried Moritz, springing forward, furious as a lion, "I have
something to say to you, you rascal, and I will treat you accordingly!"

He savagely tore the whip from the postilion's hand, and struck
Ebenstreit in the face. "Now," cried he, triumphantly, "I have forced
you to give me satisfaction!"

The police swung themselves from their saddles, and Leberecht quickly
dismounted. They clinched Moritz by the feet and hands. It was a
desperate struggle, and Marie gazed at them with folded hands, praying
without words. They seized him and held him fast with manacles. A
shriek, and Marie sank fainting. Moritz's head sank upon his breast,
almost in the agony of death.

"Take him to the next station, my friends," commanded Ebenstreit, "the
carriage is already ordered to remove him to Spandau." He dismounted,
and now took the place by Marie, who still lay in a dead faint.
"Postilion, mount and turn your carriage, I retain you until the next
station. If you drive quickly, there is a louis d'or for you."

"I will drive as if the devil were after me, sir!" shouted the
postilion, and turned to gallop off, when Ebenstreit ordered him to
halt, and Leberecht to get up on the box. Then turning to the officers,
"Gentlemen," said he, proudly, "you are witnesses to the ill-treatment
and insults of this woman-stealer. You will certify that the blood
flowed down my face."

"I will myself make it known before all men," cried Moritz, with a
contemptuous laugh. "I have insulted you and branded you."

"We will give our evidence," respectfully replied the officers. "As soon
as we have delivered our prisoner at Spandau, we will announce ourselves
to you."

"Then you will receive from me the promised reward of a hundred thalers.
If you hush up the entire adventure, so that it is not noised about,
after three months, still another hundred."

"We will be silent, Herr Ebenstreit."

"I believe you; a hundred thalers is a pretty sum. Forward, Leberecht,
make the postilion push on, that we may arrive in Berlin before
daybreak, and no one know of this abominable affair."

The postilion laughed with delight, at the thought of the louis d'or.
Upon the box sat Leberecht, a smile of malicious triumph upon his
face. "This has been a lucky night," said he; "we have all do