related to him all she had heard; but it was no news to him, the intelligence had already reached his ears.

He imposed strict silence upon Katherine, strongly urging her not to breathe a word about the matter to her mistress, lest after all it might prove to be untrue. The worthy man thought the best plan would be for him to ask Von Dorsek plainly whether it were true or not that he intended to marry the Countess Orlaska; and in the event of his denying it, to threaten that he would ask the question of the countess herself. And if it should turn out after all that there was no truth in the report, it would be compulsory on Von Dorsek to explain to Dora why he had neglected her so much of late. At any rate, Dora must not hear a word about it until the correctness of the report had been clearly ascertained.

With this determination he immediately went to Dorsek's house; and as the latter was out, he resolved to wait in a coffee-house situated just opposite, from one of the windows of which he could watch his return home.

Soon afterwards Dorsek, accompanied by a Prussian officer, entered the house. Scharner waited some time for the officer to leave his companion; but as he did not do so, the lawyer no longer hesitated, but presented himself at Oswald's door.

Dorsek's servant was not in the hall when he knocked; and as he gave himself admittance into the house, he reflected that in the presence of a stranger he could not with propriety discuss with Dorsek so very delicate a subject, and was about to retrace his steps, intending to call again the next morning, when suddenly he heard Dora's name distinctly pronounced, and, before he could recover from the effect it produced upon him, he found

F

66

himself, certainly without design, an auditor of a conversation on a subject which of all others possessed the greatest interest for him: Dorsek's relation to the Countess Orlaska.

Oswald was standing at the window, engaged in conversation with the captain, who stood in the middle of the room, evidently annoyed with what had already occurred in the discussion.

"Why, some days ago it was openly mentioned at the mess that you had offered your hand to the countess, but I would not believe it."

"And why not?" said Dorsek, without moving his head.

"Because because I did not believe it to be possible; neither is it possible

"Rustloh," returned Dorsek, turning sharply round and staring at him, "I know you mean well towards me, and on that account I would bear a good deal from you, more But I must say that lately you than from any one else. have treated me too much like a child, and I must earnestly beg you to desist from pursuing that course; I am surely old enough to know what I am about, and therefore do not need a mentor to direct me, or comment on my actions."

Certainly not, as long as they are right and honour

able."

"Rustloh!" hastily exclaimed Oswald, the blood rushing into his cheeks.

"Dorsek," rejoined Rustloh in a calm, collected manner, my guardianship shall be no longer a burden to you, as soon as I receive a decided answer to the question I am about to put. I ask you to tell me frankly if you have broken off your engagement with Miss Bernold, and

are now devoting your attentions to the Countess Orlaska."

"And may I ask who gives you the right to put such a question to me?" retorted Dorsek, angrily.

66 Do you refuse to answer my question?"

"Confound it, no, I do not !" muttered Dorsek between his teeth; "I am my own master, and will allow no one to pry into my affairs. My love for Dora was only a temporary attachment; but this beautiful woman has quite enchained me by her charms. I believe I am not altogether indifferent to her, and if I threw away such a chance, I should be"

"An honourable man, perhaps you mean," interrupted the captain contemptuously; "but, in my opinion," raising his voice emphatically, "by thus acting, you would be a base villain!"

This epithet produced all the effect of a blow ; in an instant Dorsek turned deadly pale, and stood for a moment as if struck dumb. At length he said in a scarcely audible voice :

"You know what must follow this insult."

"I do," said the captain, with perfect composure. "Make your arrangements; I shall be at home till nine o'clock this evening."

Scharner, the unwilling listener to all this painful debate, then turned away to go home. As he was making his way out, the captain hurried past by him on his road homewards.

CHAPTER VIII.

A MATRIMONIAL COMMISSION.

THE next day all the good town of Frankfort was talking about the duel that had taken place between Captain von Rustloh and Baron von Dorsek. A great many reasons were assigned for it; but, as is usually the case, not one of them happened to be correct. Dorsek had his arm broken, and was compelled to make some atonement for the fickleness of his love by a long illness.

Poor Dora soon knew all. Scharner, thinking it better she should know the truth without delay, had told her everything. At first the shock occasioned by the news caused unmixed grief, but gradually the conviction of her deserted state entered her mind and inspired her with painful anxiety for the future.

The time was at hand when she would be forced to leave her house. At first she had looked forward to this period with some dread; but she soon after watched all the preparations for her departure very calmly, until the moment arrived when she must quit a scene that had been once so dear to her; and then all her grief returned.

The house had belonged to her grandfather; she had been born there, and had never left it until she was seventeen, when she went to Mayence with her parents. Since then a chain of painful events had succeeded, the last links of which were the loss of her parents, and the annihilation of her small fortune. Oh how much she

wished that Heaven had taken her as well as her dear mother, instead of leaving her to undergo the terrible trials which appeared to be awaiting her.

While the necessary preparations were going on, her mind was necessarily employed in devising schemes for her future career. Amongst these, she fancied it would be more desirable for her to remove to some distant place, but where? While she continued to live at Frankfort, she could procure plenty of work; but in a strange town, where she would be unknown, what chance could she have of finding employment? This was too great a risk for her to run: she had already borne much, and must be resigned to bear still more.

Dora had just packed up the few things she thought it necessary to retain, when she saw Scharner quickly making his way to the house. The old man was so excited when he entered the house, that he could scarcely give utterance to his thoughts. He sat down near Dora, and presently began to chat at some length about everything but the very subject which had brought him there. He even talked about Dorsek-whose name he had not mentioned since the painful disclosure he had made of his conduct and stated that he was recovering, and that the Countess Orlaska made particular inquiries about him every day. The marriage of the two was considered as good as settled, and only awaited his convalescence. Dora's heart sank within her. What could Mr. Scharner have to tell her now that would bring any consolation?

Her worthy adviser then adverted to her future prospects in life, dwelling upon the advantage of quitting Frankfort, were it in her power to do so, so that she might be enabled to open for herself a more cheering prospect of a successful career in some foreign land.