"Stay here, for no one can see us," whispered Trude. "I could not bear to have you leave Berlin without hearing the justification of my dear Marie, and may God pardon me for letting you come here unbeknown to her! Listen, and pray to Him to forgive you the great injustice that you have done her. Be quiet, that no one may see you, and Marie be angry with her old Trude.""Yes," continued Marie, with chilling contempt, "you should know this man before whom you have all bowed, pressed the hand, and called your friend, because he was rich, and, thanks to his wealth alone, became a titled man--a baron, buying the hand of a poor but noble maiden, whom he knew despised him, and passionately loved another, having sworn eternal constancy to him. I am that young girl. I begged, nay implored him, not to pursue me, but he was void of pity, mocked my tears, and said he could buy my love, and my heart would at last be touched by the influence of his wealth. Ishould have preferred to die, but Fate ordered that the one I loved, by my fault, should by imprisonment atone our brief dream of bliss.
I could only save him by accepting this man; these were the conditions. I became his wife before the world, and took my oath in his presence to revenge myself, and after four years I shall accomplish it. I have spent his money, and of the rich man made a beggar. God be praised, I can now revenge myself in freeing myself!""Free yourself? It is not true! You are my wife still," replied Ebenstreit, alarmed.
A radiant smile flitted over Marie's face as she defied Ebenstreit with the law of the Great Frederick, who had decided that every unhappy couple without offspring could separate by their own free will and consent, having signed a paper to that effect.
"Is that the paper which you have made me sign?" cried Ebenstreit, alarmed.
"Yes, drawn up by my notary, and both of our names are signed to it.""It is a fraud!" cried Ebenstreit. "I will protest against it.""Do it, and you will find it a vain effort. I promised to pay your debt if you would put your name to the document then placed before you, which you did. Ask the Marquis Treves how I paid your debts: he will answer you that he has given me the money.""I had the honor to pay to the baroness one hundred thousand dollars, as she rightly informs you.""Yes," continued Marie, "the marquis is the present possessor of this house and all that it contains--furniture, statues, and pictures; also the equipages and silver. To my mother I sent my diamonds, costly laces, and dresses, to indemnify her for the annuity which Herr von Ebenstreit settled upon her as purchase-money which he cannot pay, now that he is ruined.""Marquis," cried Ebenstreit, pale with anger, "have you really bought this house and its contents?""I have done so, and the one hundred thousand dollars the baroness has paid over to Herr Splittgerber.""Oh! I am ruined," groaned Ebenstreit--" I am lost!" and, covering his face with his hands, he rushed from the room.
Marie gazed at him with a sad expression, saying: "Ladies and gentlemen, you now know to whom this house belongs. You can no longer say that I am the daughter whom the late General von Leuthen sold to a rich man. I am free!"At this moment a side-door opened, and Frau von Leuthen was heard saying to old Trude: "Let me in! it is in vain to hold me back. Iwill have an explanation from my daughter, and learn what all this means." As she pushed herself into the room, she exclaimed: "Ah, it is a fete day! There is the baroness in all her glory and splendor.