ught her here. I myself will inform the general of this
dishonorable deed, for you understand, sir, that this outrage is an
insult to us as well as to yourself. I have promised my protection to
this young person, and I am ready to defend her against any one who
dares to touch her honor or to doubt her virtue. Come, now, sir, and
see whether this he the same young girl whom you seek."

He stepped toward Bertram, and as he led him to Elise, he whispered
rapidly in a low tone. "Be silent, and do not betray her name, for
Elise's honor is at stake."

He raised the veil, and, pointing to Elise's abashed and blushing
countenance, he asked, with a derisive laugh, "Well, now, do you
recognize her? Will you swear that this is Gotzkowsky's daughter?"

Bertram looked at him with assumed surprise. "Gotzkowsky's daughter?"
asked he, shrugging his shoulders. "Why, it is the young lady herself
who sent me, and no one is looking for her."

Colonel Feodor turned with a laugh of triumph toward his comrades.
"Did I not tell you so?" cried he. "You credulous fools were hoping to
get half a million ransom, and I have been bargaining with her for the
last hour for a hundred dollars. She swears, with tears in her eyes,
that she is not worth a hundred pence. Gotzkowsky's daughter, indeed!
Do you imagine that she goes about in a plain white dress, without any
ornament or any thing elegant about her? She is just as fond of dress
as our own princesses and pretty women, and, like them, the daughter
of the rich Gotzkowsky is never visible except in silk and
velvet, with pearls diamonds. Oh! I would like myself to catch the
millionnaire's daughter, for then we might bargain for a decent
ransom."

"But who, then, is this woman?" roared the disappointed officers. "Why
does the rich Gotzkowsky send after her, if she is not his daughter?"

"Who is she?" cried Feodor, laughing. "Well, I will tell you, as you
attack so much importance to it. You have been served like the seekers
after hidden treasure. You have been seeking for gold, and, instead,
you have only found coals to burn your fingers. You sought after the
millionnaire, the rich heiress, and, instead of her, you have only
caught her--chambermaid."

"A chambermaid!" growled out his comrades, and turning their dark,
lowering looks on Bertram, they inquired of him whether this woman
were only a chambermaid in Gotzkowsky's house, and assailed him with
reproaches and curses because he had delude