am.

She reached forth her little white hand from beneath her veil, and he
cordially pressed it within his own. "You are a noble, high-minded woman,
and I shall ever remember you with gratitude and friendship. I owe you my
life; it is truly a great debt, and you would be magnanimous if you could
point out some way whereby the weight might be a little lessened. I
beseech you tell me some way in which I may prove my gratitude."

"I will do so, sir! Some day when you are Elector, and a reigning
Sovereign in your land, then have compassion upon those who are enslaved
and oppressed, then spare the Jews!"

She turned away, drew her veil over her head, and disappeared.

"My work is finished! My beloved is atoned for!" exulted her soul. As if
borne on wings of happiness and bliss, she soared through the antechamber
and stepped out into the vestibule.

All here was still and quiet, and she did not observe that the sentinel no
longer stood at the door. Her thoughts were withdrawn from the present,
her soul was far away with _him_--him whom she loved, for whom she had
risked her life.

Thus she sped through the great space and approached the door between the
two presses. All at once she started and shrank back, and the tall, manly
form standing before this door sprang forward, and with strong hand tore
her veil impatiently from her head.

"Rebecca!"

"Count Schwarzenberg!"

For one moment they surveyed one another with flaming eyes.

She read her death sentence in his looks. But she would not die. No, she
would not die! She would see her beloved, her child once more! With a
sudden jerk she freed her arm from the hand that held her prisoner. She
knew not what to do, whither she could flee. She had only a vague
consciousness that to be alone with him meant death--that she would he
safe only outside the castle. Without, on the street, Schwarzenberg would
not venture to seize her, for he knew that she possessed his secret and
that she would accuse him. She flew across the vestibule, tore open the
door to the long corridor, and sprang down it like a hunted deer. But the
pursuer was behind her, close behind her! She heard his breath, he
stretched out his hands toward her--she felt his touch, and again she
burst loose and flew away!

At the end of the corridor is a small staircase which leads to the upper
stories. She knows the way--oh, she knows the way! Above it is another
long corridor, and if from the head of the stairs