the leap from the wall that had caused her return to Schonburg, a
willing captive. The Count did not look up when she entered, and the
girl stood for a few moments in silence near him. At last she spoke in
a low voice, hesitating slightly, nevertheless going with incisive
directness into the very heart of the problem that baffled Count
Herbert.

"My Lord, you do not believe that Wilhelm is indeed your son."

The master of Schonburg raised his head slowly and looked searchingly
into the frank face of the girl, gloomy distrust reflected from his own
countenance.

"Were you sent by your uncle to allay my suspicion?

"No, my Lord. I thought that a hint of the truth being given, Nature
would come to the assistance of mutual recognition. Such has been the
case between my lady and her son, but I see that you are still
unconvinced."

"For my sins, I know something of the wickedness of this world, a
knowledge from which her purity has protected the Countess. You
believe that Wilhelm is my son?"

"I have never said so, my Lord."

"What you did say was that you had taken an oath. You are too young
and doubtless too innocent to be a party to any plot, but you may have
been the tool of an unscrupulous man, who knew the oath would be broken
when the strain of a strong affection was brought to bear upon it."