both. Let Eva try the work of conversion on me! What, save my lady's
love, is more to me than our holy faith? It must indeed be a delight to
take the field for the Church and against her foes!" While speaking, he
paid the reckoning and went out with Biberli.

The moon was now pouring her silver beams, with full radiance, over the
quiet street, the linden in front of the Ortlieb house, and its lofty
gable roof. Only a single room in the spacious mansion was still
lighted, the bow-windowed one occupied by the two sisters.

Heinz, without heeding Biberli's renewed protest, looked upward, silently
imploring Eva's pardon for having misjudged her even a moment. His gaze
rested devoutly on the open window, behind which a curtain was stirring.
Was it the night breeze that almost imperceptibly raised and lowered it,
or was her own dear self concealed behind it?

Just at that moment he suddenly felt his servant's hand on his arm, and
as he followed his horror-stricken gaze, a chill ran through his own
veins. From the heavy door of the house, which stood half open, a white-
robed figure emerged with the solemn, noiseless footfall of a ghost, and
advanced across the courtyard towards him.

Was it a restless spirit risen from its grave at the midnight hour, which
must be close at hand? Through his brain, like a flash of lightning,
darted the thought that Eva had spoken to him of her invalid mother. Had
she died? Was her wandering soul approaching him to drive him from the
threshold of the house which hid her endangered child?

But no!