Part 58 (2/2)
”Or will you then escape a criminal procedure by declaring that you regarded your connection with Freyer as an illegal marriage?”
”Oh!” the countess crimsoned with shame.
”There the vindication would be more dishonoring than the accusation--so you must renounce _that_. You see that you have been betrayed into a _circulus vitiosus_ from which you can no longer escape. Wherever you turn--you have but the choice between poverty or disgrace,--unless you decide to become d.u.c.h.ess of Metten-Barnheim and thus, at one bound, spring from the muddy waves which now threaten you, into the pure, unapproachable sphere of power and dignity to which you belong. My arms are always open to save you--my heart is ready to love and to protect you--can you still hesitate?”
The tortured woman threw herself at his feet. ”Duke--Emil--save me--I am _yours_!”
CHAPTER XXVIII.
PARTING.
Several minutes have pa.s.sed--to the duke a world of happiness--to the countess of misery. The duke bent over the beautiful trembling form to clasp her in his arms for the first time.
”Have I won you at last--my long-sought love?” he exclaimed, rapturously. ”Do you now perceive what your dispensations of Providence mean? The shrewdness and persistence of a single man who knows what he wants, has baffled them, and driven all the heroes of signs and wonders from the field! Do you now believe what I said just now: that we are our own Providence?”
”That will appear in due time, do not exalt yourself and do not blaspheme, G.o.d might punish your arrogance!” she said faintly, slipping gently from his embrace.
”Madeleine--no betrothal kiss--after these weary years of waiting and hoping.”
”I am _still_ Freyer's wife,” she said, evasively--”not until I am parted from him.”
”You are right! I will not steal my bride's first kiss from another. I thank you for honoring my future right in his.” His lips touched her brow with a calm, friendly caress. Then he rose: ”It is time to go, I have not a moment to lose.” He glanced at the clock: ”Seven! I will make my preparations at once and set out for Prankenberg to-morrow.”
”What do you wish to do?”
”First of all to see what is recorded in the church register, and to ascertain what kind of a man the Catholic pastor is, that I may form some idea of what the Wildenaus have discovered and how much proof they have obtained. Then we can judge how far we must dissimulate with these gentlemen until your relation with Freyer can be dissolved without any violent outbreak or without being compelled to use any undue haste. I will also go to Barnheim and quietly prepare everything there for our marriage. The more quickly all these business matters are settled, the sooner our betrothal can be announced. And that I am ardently longing to be at last permitted to call you mine, you will--I hope, understand?”
”But my relation with Freyer must first be arranged,” said the countess, evasively. ”We cannot dispose of him like an ordinary business matter. He is a man of heart and mind--we must remember that I could not be happy for an hour, if I knew that he was miserable.”
”Yet you have left him alone for weeks and months without any pangs of conscience,” said the duke with a shade of sternness.
”It was not _I_, but the force of circ.u.mstances. What happens now _I_ shall do--and must bear the responsibility. Help me to provide that it is not too heavy.” Her face wore a lofty, beautiful expression as she spoke, and deeply moved, he raised her hand to his lips.
”Certainly, Madeleine! We will show him every consideration and do everything as forbearingly as possible. But remember that, as I just respected _his_ rights, you must now guard _mine_, and that every hour in which you retain this relation to him longer than necessary--is treason to _both_. It cannot suit your taste to play such a part--so do not lose a moment in renouncing it.”
”Certainly--you are right.”
”Will you be strong--will you have the power to do what is unavoidable--and do it soon?”
”I have always been able to do what I desired--I can do this also.”
The duke took her hand and gazed long and earnestly into her eyes.
”Madeleine--I do not ask: do you love me? I ask only: do you believe that you _will_ love me?”
The profound modesty of this question touched her heart with indescribable melancholy, and in overflowing grat.i.tude for such great love, which gave all and asked nothing, she bowed her head: ”Yes--I do believe it.”
The duke's usual readiness of speech deserted him--he had no words to express the happiness of this moment.
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