a little afraid of
him; but a certain slight shiver in the presence of a handsome monster
was a new and strangely delightful feeling. There was no doubt that his
legendary adventures had exerted the customary bewitching influence upon
her imagination. The daughter of Eve felt the irresistible hereditary
attraction toward the serpent which had already talked so many feebly
resisting hands into plucking the fatal apple. Hitherto, Robert had not
wished to avail himself of his advantage. He had been content with the
pleasantly piquant consciousness that his presence made her heart throb
faster, and did not pursue the dawning romance farther, for Fraeulein von
Markwald belonged to one of the best families in the country, and he now
thought of the respect due to the unsullied reputation of a young
girl--he was somewhat less reckless than ten years ago. But now there
should be a change. Since he had serious intentions he need not shrink
from using all means to complete the conquest of this fortress, which,
moreover, was already on the point of raising the white flag.

He did not lose a moment. All the evening he was seen in the little
court box, devoting himself most assiduously to Fraeulein von Markwald,
and this was afterward repeated at every performance. Whenever the
princess gave an evening reception, he seemed to care only for the
beautiful girl, and was always behind or beside her, serving her, talking
with her, offering her his arm, tenderly solicitous about her on her
arrival and departure. The whole court began to watch and to whisper,
and Linden's love-making became so apparent, that the princess thought it
necessary to warn Kaethe against the tempter and his wiles. Fraeulein
Markwald answered blushing, but in a steady voice:

"I thank you, Your Highness, I know that your advice is kindly meant, but
I also know that Baron von Linden is a man of honour, and that I have
given him no reason, to think meanly of me."

This answer seemed to the princess wholly unsatisfactory, and as she
believed it her duty to take special care of Kaethe, an orphan, she did
not delay in cautiously calling Robert himself to account. What he said
to her the princess kept to herself for a time, but two days later people
learned that Kaethe's brother, an energetic cavalry officer, attached to a
regiment of Hussars in the Rhine country, had suddenly arrived in the
capital from his garrison, and on the following day, which was
Whit