as my own daughter; indeed, I had formed a resolution to take the creature into my own house, and save her from the hands of that old crone Barbara, her confidante; but my wife died, and so the project came to nothing.  At the end of our stay in your native town, I noticed a visible sadness about her.  I questioned her, but she evaded me.  At last we set out on our journey.  She travelled in the same coach with me, and I soon observed what she could not deny, that she was about to become a mother.  In a short time the manager made the same discovery; he paid her off at once and left her behind at the village inn.”

Wilhelm’s old wounds were all torn open afresh by the old man’s story; the thought that perhaps Mariana was not wholly unworthy of his love was again brought to life.  Nay, even the bitter accusations brought against her could not lower her in his estimation; for he, as well as she, was guilty in all her aberrations.  He saw her as a frail, ill-succoured mother, wandering helplessly about the world.

The old longing for the stage came back to him with redoubled force; he determined to give it vent, for a time at least, and to this end he advanced to Melina, the manager of the actors, a sum of money sufficient to redeem their properties, and accompanied the troupe until such time as it should be repaid.

A profitable engagement soon came their way.  A wealthy count, who happened to pass through the town, required their services to entertain the prince, whom he was shortly expecting as a guest.  For several weeks they stayed at his castle, and when, on the prince’s departure, their engagement came to an end, they were all weightier in purse than they had been for many a long day.  Melina was now in hopes to get established with his company in a thriving town at some distance.  To get there it was necessary to take a considerable journey by unfrequented roads.

Accordingly, conveyances were hired, and a start was made.  Towards evening, they began to pitch their camp in the midst of a beech wood; all were busily engaged about the task allotted to each—­the women to prepare the evening meal, the men to attend to everything necessary for their comfort for the night.  All at once, a shot went off; immediately another; the party flew asunder in terror.  Next moment armed men were to be seen pressing forward to the spot where the coaches, packed with luggage, stood.

The men all rushed at the intruders.  Wilhelm fired his pistol at one who was already on the top of the coach cutting the cords of the packages.  The scoundrel fell, but several of his friends rushed to his aid; our hero fell, stunned by a shot-wound and by a sword-stroke that almost penetrated to his brain.