Signed, in the name of the king, "FREDERICK.""Now decide, my child," continued the director, after a solemn pause. "I know nothing to add to this royal writing. If it has not itself spoken to your heart, your reason and your honor, words are useless.""O God, it is cruel--it is terrible!" cried Marie. "Shall I break my oath of constancy, becoming faithless, and suffer him to curse me, for he will never pardon me, but despise me!"She sprang up like a tigress, with her eyes flashing. "Oh," cried she, "he may even believe that I have been enticed by riches, by a brilliant future! No--no! I cannot consent! May God have mercy on me if the king will not! I will not break my oath! No one but Moritz shall ever be my husband!""Unhappy girl," cried the old man, sadly, "I will give you one last inducement. I know not whether you have any knowledge of Moritz's past life, so tried and painful, which has made him easily excited and eccentric. A danger menaces him worse than imprisonment or death. His unaccustomed life, and the solitude of his dark, damp prison, is causing a fearful excitement in him. He is habituated to intellectual occupation. When he is obliged to put on the prisoner's jacket in the house of correction and spin wool, it will not kill him--it will make him mad!"A piercing cry was Marie's answer. "That is not true--it is impossible. He crazy!--you only say that to compel me to do what you will. His bright mind could not be obscured through the severest proofs.""You do not believe me? You think that an old man, with gray hair, and one foot in the grave, and who loves Moritz, could tell you a shameful untruth! I swear to you by the heads of my children, by all that is holy, that Moritz already suffers from an excitement of the brain; and if he does not soon have liberty and mental occupation, it is almost certain that he will become insane."Almost convulsed with anguish, Marie seized the old man's hand with fierce passion. "He shall not be crazed," she shrieked. "He shall not suffer--he shall not be imprisoned and buried in the house of correction on my account. I will rescue him--I and my love! I am prepared to do what the king commands! I will--marry the man--which--my parents have chosen. But--tell me, will he then be free?""To-day even--in three hours, my poor child!""Free! And I shall have saved him! Tell me what I have to do. What is the king's will?""First sign this document," said the director, as he drew a second paper. "It runs thus: 'I, Marie von Leuthen, that of my own free will and consent I will renounce every other engagement, and will marry Herr Ebenstreit von and be a faithful wife to him. I witness with my signature the same.'""Give it to me quickly," she gasped. "I will sign it! He must be free! He shall not go mad!"She rapidly signed the paper. "Here is my sentence of death! But he will live! Take it!""My child," cried the old man, deeply agitated, "God will be mindful of this sacrifice, and in the hour of death it will beam brightly upon you. You have by this act rescued a noble and excellent being, and when he wins fame from science and art he will owe to you alone the gratitude.""He shall not thank me!" she whispered. "He shall live and--if he can be happy!--this is all that I ask for! What is there further to be done?""To announce to your parents in my presence that you will marry Herr Ebenstreit, and let the ceremony take place as soon as possible.""You swear that he shall then be released? You are an old man--reflect well; you swear to me that as soon as the marriage takes place, Philip Moritz will be free this very day and that he will be reinstated in an honorable, active occupation?""I swear it to you upon my word of honor, by my hope of reward from above.""I believe you. Call my parents. But first--you are a father, and love your children well. I have never had a father who loved me, or ever laid his hand upon my head to bless me. You say that you love Moritz as a son! Oh, love me for a moment as your daughter, and bless me!"The old man folded her in his arms, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"God bless you, my daughter, as I bless you!""I dare not tarry," she shuddered. "Let my parents enter."Slowly the venerable man traversed the room. Marie pressed her hands to her heart, looking to heaven. As the door opened, and the general entered, leaning upon Ebenstreit's arm, followed by his wife, Marie approached them with a haughty, determined manner, who regarded her with astonishment.
"Father," she said, slowly and calmly, "I am ready to follow your wishes. Send for the clergyman: I consent to marry this man to-day, upon one condition.""Make it known, my dear Marie. Name your condition. I will joyfully fulfil it," said Ebenstreit.
"I demand that we leave to-day for the East, to go to Egypt--Palestine--and remain away from this place for years. Are you agreed to it?""To all that which my dear Marie wishes.""You can now weave the bridal-wreath in my hair, mother. I consent to the marriage."Three hours later the preparations were completed. Every thing had awaited this for three months.
