O Heaven!" she murmured low, "I have
betrayed myself!"

Bertram seized her hand, his features evincing deep emotion. "Will
you answer me one question?" he asked, and as she bowed her head in
silence, he proceeded--"is the Count von Brenda your brother?"

"Oh, sir," she said, with a faint smile, "one does not suffer for a
brother as I have suffered for Feodor. I am the Countess Sandomir,
and Count Feodor is my betrothed. The good empress herself joined our
hands, and blessed our union. A short time after our marriage the war
broke out, and deprived me of my lover and husband. For six months I
have had no tidings of him, and, tortured by anxiety and apprehension,
I resolved to come myself to Germany to seek my betrothed, either to
bury or nurse him, for I believed he must be sick or dead, as he did
not return to me."

Bertram offered in his heart a prayer of gratitude to God. With
feelings of sympathy, he then turned his eyes on the quivering
features of the stranger. "Listen to me," said he, gently. "As you
entered, I had just prayed to God, in the suffering and sadness of my
heart, to show me some way and means of escape from the labyrinth
in which Count Brenda has placed us. It would seem as if He has
had compassion on us all, for at the very moment he sends you, the
affianced bride of the count, and through you alone can we be saved.
We must be open and candid toward each other. Therefore, listen to me.
I love Gotzkowsky's daughter--I love her without hope, for she loves
another."

"And this other?" asked she breathlessly.

"She loves Count Feodor von Brenda, and is about to escape with him."

"Escape!" cried the lady, and her voice sounded threatening and angry,
and her eyes flashed. "Oh!" said she, gnashing her teeth, "I will
prevent this, even if I kill this girl!"

Bertram shook his head sadly. "Let us rather try to kill this love in
her heart. Let us contrive some means of bringing your lover back to
you."

"Are there any such means?" asked she, anxiously.

Bertram did not answer immediately. His brow was clouded with deep
thought, and a heavy sigh escaped him. He then asked quickly, "Will
you follow me and enter into my plot?"

"I will," she said firmly.

"Above all things, then, let us be cautious. Count Feodor must have no
suspicion that you are here, for your presence would drive him to some
desperate resolve, and I fear Elise loves him sufficiently not to draw
back from any thing."

"You are