roud of the alliance, although he deprecated
the political views of Lassalle. Finally this accommodating Minister of
State--here, at least, the tragi-comedy is but too apparent--engages to
send a lawyer, Dr. Haenle, as an official commissioner to negotiate with
the obdurate father and refractory ambassador.

Richard Wagner, the great composer, the Bishop of Mayence, and noblemen,
generals, and scholars without number were also pressed into the service,
but in vain. The treachery of intimate friends more than counterbalanced
all that could be achieved by well-meaning strangers. If Helen is to be
believed--and the charge is not denied--Lassalle's friend Holthoff, sent
to negotiate in his favour, entreated her to abandon Lassalle, and to
comply with her parents' wishes. Lassalle, he declared, was not in any
way a suitable husband, and her father had decided wisely. The poor girl
lived in a constant atmosphere of petty persecution. Her father, she was
told, might lose his post in the Bavarian service if she married this
Socialist, her brother would have absolutely no career open to him, her
sisters could not marry in their own rank of life; in fact, the whole
family were alleged to be entirely unhappy and miserable through her
stubbornness. The following letter--obviously dictated--was the not
unnatural outcome:--

TO HERR LASSALLE.

SIR,--

I have again become reconciled to my betrothed bridegroom, Herr Yanko
von Racowitza, whose love I have regained, and I deeply repent my
earlier action. I have given notice of this to your legal
representative, Herr Holthoff, and I now declare to you of my own free
will and firm conviction, that there never can be any further question
of a marriage between us, and that I hold myself in all respects to be
released from such an engagement. I am now firmly resolved to devote
to my aforesaid betrothed bridegroom my eternal love and fidelity.

HELENE VON DONNIGES.

This letter came through Rustow, and Lassalle addressed the following
reply to Helen, which, however, she never received--it came in fact into
the possession of the Countess--a sufficient commentary on the duplicity
and the false friendship not only of Holthoff, but of Colonel Rustow and
the Countess Hatzfeldt in this sad affair.

MUNICH, _Aug._ 20, 1864.

HELEN,--

My heart is breaking! Rustow's letter will kill me. That you have
betrayed me seems impossible! Even