: he heard the
beating of his own heart.

"Eternal Father!" said he, "strengthen my soul! Release me from this
anxiety which overpowers me! Let all be for the best!"

He had now reached Peter Cripple's house. A figure leaned against the
wall; Otto paused, measured it with his eye to ascertain who it was, and
recognized German Heinrich.

"What do you want with me?" inquired Otto.

Heinrich raised his hand in token of silence, beckoned him forward,
and opened a little gate which led to the back of the house. Otto
mechanically followed him.

"It goes on badly at the hall," said Heinrich. "Sidsel is really put in
prison, and will be taken to-morrow to Odense, to the red house by the
river."

"It is what she has deserved!" said Otto. "I did not bring it about."

"O no!" answered Heinrich; "in a certain way we bring nothing about; but
you can put in a good word for her. You must see that this punishment
does not befall her."

"But the punishment is merited!" replied Otto; "and how can I mix myself
up in the affair? What is it that you have to say to me?"

"Yet, the good gentleman must not get angry!" began Heinrich again; "but
I am grieved about the girl. I can very well believe that he does not
know her, and therefore it gives him no trouble; but if I were now to
whisper a little word in his ear? She is your own sister, Mr. Thostrup!"

All grew dark before Otto's eyes; a chill as of death went through his
blood; his hands held firmly by the cold wall, or he must have sunk to
the earth; not a sound escaped his lips.

German Heinrich laid his hand in a confidential manner upon his
shoulder, and continued in a jeering, agitated tone, "Yes, it is hard
for you to hear! I also struggled a long time with myself before I could
make up my mind to tell you. But a little trouble is preferable to a
great one. I had some talk with her yesterday, but I did not mention
you, although it seemed queer to me at my heart that the brother should
sit at the first table with the young ladies, and the sister be farm
swine-maiden. Now they have put her in prison! I am very sorry for her
and you too, Mr. Thostrup, for it is disagreeable! If the magistrate
come to-morrow morning, and she fall into the claws of the red angel,
it will not be so easy to set her at liberty again! But yet you
could, perhaps, help her; as, for instance, to-night! I could make an
opportunity--I would be in the great avenue beyond the hall. If she
could get thus