silent, I declare myself her knight, and I will not suffer her to be
injured by word or look.

"How can you hinder me?" cried Moritz, with scorn. "What will you do
if I dash this paper at her feet, and forbid her to ever write my name
again?" Making a ball of it, he suited the action to the word, casting a
defiant look at the marquis.

"I shall order the footmen to thrust you out of the house. Here,
servants, remove this man; he is an escaped lunatic, undoubtedly."

Two footmen pressed forward through the circle which crowded around
Moritz.

"Whoever touches me, death to him!" thundered Moritz, laying his hand
upon a small sword at his side.

"Let no one dare lay a hand on this gentleman," cried Marie, with a
commanding wave of her hand to the lackeys. "I beseech you, marquis, and
you, honored guests, to quietly await the conclusion of this scene, and
to permit Herr Moritz to finish speaking."

"Do you mean to defy me, madame?" muttered Moritz, gnashing his teeth.
"You perhaps count upon my magnanimity to keep silent, and not disclose
the secrets of the past to this aristocratic assembly. I stand here as
its accusing spirit, and condemn you as a shameless perjurer.--I will
ask you who are here rendering homage to this woman, if you know who she
is, and of what she has been guilty? As a young girl she was as sweet
and innocent as an angel, and seemed more like a divine revelation.
To think of her, inspired and elevated one's thoughts, and heaven was
mirrored in her eyes. She was poor, and yet so infinitely rich, that if
a king had laid all his treasures at her feet, as the gift of his love,
he would receive more than he gave, for in her heart reposed the wealth
of the whole human race. Oh! I could weep tears of blood in reflecting
upon what she was, and what she has become. Smile and mock, ladies and
gentlemen; my brain is crazed, and I weep for my lost angel."

Moritz dashed his hands to his face, and stood swaying backward and
forward, sobbing.

Sighs and regrets were heard in the room. The ladies pressed their
handkerchiefs to their eyes; others regarded with lively sympathy the
handsome young man, who deeply interested them, and gazed reproachfully
at the young baroness, expecting her to be crushed with these reproaches
and tears, but who, on the contrary, stood with proud composure, her
face beaming with joy, gazing at Moritz.

"It is past--my last tear is shed, and my last wail has been uttered,"
cried P