treit, alarmed.

A radiant smile flitted over Marie's face as she defied Ebenstreit
with the law of the Great Frederick, who had decided that every unhappy
couple without offspring could separate by their own free will and
consent, having signed a paper to that effect.

"Is that the paper which you have made me sign?" cried Ebenstreit,
alarmed.

"Yes, drawn up by my notary, and both of our names are signed to it."

"It is a fraud!" cried Ebenstreit. "I will protest against it."

"Do it, and you will find it a vain effort. I promised to pay your debt
if you would put your name to the document then placed before you, which
you did. Ask the Marquis Treves how I paid your debts: he will answer
you that he has given me the money."

"I had the honor to pay to the baroness one hundred thousand dollars, as
she rightly informs you."

"Yes," continued Marie, "the marquis is the present possessor of this
house and all that it contains--furniture, statues, and pictures; also
the equipages and silver. To my mother I sent my diamonds, costly laces,
and dresses, to indemnify her for the annuity which Herr von Ebenstreit
settled upon her as purchase-money which he cannot pay, now that he is
ruined."

"Marquis," cried Ebenstreit, pale with anger, "have you really bought
this house and its contents?"

"I have done so, and the one hundred thousand dollars the baroness has
paid over to Herr Splittgerber."

"Oh! I am ruined," groaned Ebenstreit--"I am lost!" and, covering his
face with his hands, he rushed from the room.

Marie gazed at him with a sad expression, saying: "Ladies and gentlemen,
you now know to whom this house belongs. You can no longer say that I am
the daughter whom the late General von Leuthen sold to a rich man. I am
free!"

At this moment a side-door opened, and Frau von Leuthen was heard saying
to old Trude: "Let me in! it is in vain to hold me back. I will have
an explanation from my daughter, and learn what all this means." As
she pushed herself into the room, she exclaimed: "Ah, it is a fete day!
There is the baroness in all her glory and splendor. She is not crazed,
as I feared this morning, when she sent me all her ornaments and fine
dresses and laces, with a note, sealed with black, inscribed upon it,
'Will Of the Baroness Ebenstreit von Leuthen.' I opened it, and read: 'I
give to my mother my precious ornaments, laces, and dresses, to secure
to her the pension which she has lost.--Marie. 'I came he