found the horses ready to be put to
the carriage.

"Have you had good intelligence?" whispered Louise.

"I have in reality obtained no more than I had before!" replied he;
"only my own feelings more strongly convince me than ever that I have
been deceived by him."

He related to her the short conversation which had taken place.

The Kammerjunker's carriage was now also brought out; in this was more
than sufficient room for two, whereas in the other carriage they had
been crowded. The Kammerjunker, therefore, besought that they would
avail themselves of the more convenient seat which he could offer; and
Otto saw Sophie and her mother enter the Kammerjunker's carriage. This
arrangement would shortly before have confounded Otto, now it had much
less effect upon him. His mind was so much occupied by his visit to
German Heinrich, his soul was filled with a bitterness, which for the
moment repelled the impulse which he had felt to express his great love
for Sophie.

"I have been made Heinrich's plaything--his tool!" thought he. "Now he
ridicules me, and I am compelled to bear it! That horrible being is not
my sister!--she cannot be so!"

The street was now quiet. They mounted into the carriage. In the corner
house just opposite there was a great company; light streamed through
the long curtains, a low tenor voice and a high ringing soprano mingled
together in Mozart's "Audiam, audiam, mio bene."

"The bird may not flutter from my heart!" sighed Otto, and seated
himself by the side of Louise. The carriage rolled away.

The full moon shone; the wild spiraea sent forth its odor from the road
side; steam ascended from the moor-lands; and the white mist floated
over the meadows like the daughters of the elfin king.

Louise sat silent and embarrassed; trouble weighed down her heart. Otto
was also silent.

The Kammerjunker drove in first, cracked his whip, and struck up a wild
halloo.

Wilhelm began to sing, "Charming the summer night," and the Kammerjunker
joined in with him.

"Sing with us man," cried Wilhelm to the silent Otto, and quickly the
two companies were one singing caravan.

It was late when they reached the hall.

CHAPTER XLI

"Destiny often pulls off leaves, as we treat the vine, that
its fruits may be earlier brought to maturity."--JEAN PAUL.

It was not until toward morning that Otto fell into sleep. Wilhelm and
he were allowed to take their own time in rising, and thus it was late