ll inspire fear."

The following day, as Marie entered the room, Ebenstreit was there.
He approached her, extending both hands smiling, and greeting her with
tender words, rejoicing at her recovery.

She took no notice of his friendly demonstrations, but coldly and
harshly regarded his smiling face, and particularly the broad, blood-red
scar which ran from forehead to chin. Then suddenly her face lighted up,
and an expression of savage triumph shot from her eyes. "How disfigured
you look," she cried exultingly. "Where did you get that scar?"

"You know well, Marie," he murmured, gloomily.

"Yes," she cried, triumphantly. "I know it. He branded you, and you will
wear this mark before God and man as long as you live."

"You are very cruel to remind me of it, Marie," he softly whispered.

She laughed aloud so wild and savagely, that even her mother was
startled. "Cruel--I cruel!" she cried. "Ah, sir, it becomes you indeed
to accuse me of it!"

Trude entered at this instant, pale and excited.

"What is the matter?"

"There is some one here who wishes to speak with you, Marie; he has
something very important to tell you."

"How dare you announce any one without my permission?" cried Frau von
Werrig.

"Silence, mother!--if I may be allowed, let us hear who it is.--Speak,
dear Trude, who is it?"

"It is the Director Gedicke from the Gray Cloister," said Trude, with
quivering voice.

Marie was startled--a glowing red overspread her cheeks, and she was
obliged to lean against a chair for support.

"I forbid you to receive him," said her mother.

She suddenly ceased, and stared at the door, which opened at that
moment, the tall, dignified form of a venerable old man appearing.

"Pardon me, sir," said he, with a cold, reserved manner, "if I enter
before I receive permission. The command of the king, to which I believe
we all yield without resistance, empowers me to do so."

"How, sir, you come by the king's order?" asked the general, who rose
with difficulty. "Has his majesty given you a message for General von
Leuthen?"

"No, general, I come with a communication from his majesty to Fraulein
von Leuthen, the betrothed of Herr Ebenstreit, and the order runs to
deliver the same personally and without witnesses."

"Professor," cried the mother, shrugging her shoulders, "you mistake
us for very innocent people, if you suppose we believe this silly
invention, and that you can gain a secret conversation by a ruse