t to them,--"What now? Has any accident
happened?"

"We are to fetch our master's carriage immediately," replied Heubert;
"you will learn the rest by and by."

"Gracious Heavens! What is the meaning of this?" she exclaimed, and
leaning out of the window to look after Tausdorf, she saw him coming,
pale and in disorder.

"Something dreadful has occurred--I have never seen him thus before."

She hurried down, but Tausdorf was already at the street door, and,
seizing his hand with increasing anxiety, she said,--"Dear friend, what
has happened to you?"

"My poor Althea! You were right with your foreboding when we parted.
Such as I left you I never shall see you again, for then no murder was
upon my soul!"

"Good Heavens! Francis Friend!" cried Althea, whose terror divined the
truth at once.

"He lies in the Park, killed by my sword!"

"You are lost, then, if you do not instantly fly from Schweidnitz. You
should not have returned, for moments here are of more worth than
gold."

"My people are putting to the horses," replied Tausdorf, and went with
Althea into the court, where Schmidt was just drawing out the carriage
from the coach-house, and Martin was cursing in the stable because he
could not find the harness.

"This is too long about," said Althea; "besides you will go more slowly
in your carriage, and not be able to use the footpaths. Let them saddle
my palfrey for you."

"The creature is good, but too slight. He'll not stand out a hard
ride."

"Let him, then, drop under you, so as you but reach your goal. Only
hasten, for Heaven's sake, before the deed is spread abroad!"

"Then saddle the palfrey," said Tausdorf to his servant; "and lead him
on before to the Striegauer gate. I will come straight after you."

The servant obeyed.

"But how was it possible," said Althea, "that with all your coolness
and moderation, you could suffer yourself to be provoked by the
wretched drunkard to this rash act, the consequences of which are so
evident?"

"Woman," replied Tausdorf, with gloomy looks, "were an angel from
heaven to come down in a corporeal form, he could not remain in peace
if the evil-minded seriously set about involving him in quarrels!
Believe me on my knightly word, I was forced to draw the sword. My life
and honour were both at stake; and if I am no longer to defend these
with my knightly hand, I may bid adieu to the world, and creep into a
cloister. The thrust did, indeed, go deeper than it sho