“Surely, Sigismund, there is something justifiable in the sentiment of desiring to belong to the good and noble!”

“If good and noble were the same.  Thou hast well designated the feeling; so long as it is truly a sentiment, it is not only excusable but wise; for who would not wish to come of the brave, and honest, and learned, or by what other greatness they may be known?—­it is wise, since the legacy of his virtues is perhaps the dearest incentive that a good man has for struggling against the currents of baser interest; but what hope is left to one like me, who finds himself so placed that he can neither inherit nor transmit aught but disgrace!  I do not affect to despise the advantages of birth, simply because I do not possess them; I only complain that artful combinations have perverted what should be sentiment and taste, into a narrow and vulgar prejudice, by which the really ignoble enjoy privileges greater than those perhaps who are worthy of the highest honors man can bestow.”

Adelheid had encouraged the digression which, with one less gifted with strong good sense than Sigismund, might have only served to wound his pride, but she perceived that he eased his mind by thus drawing on his reason, and by setting up that which should be in opposition to that which was.

“Thou knowest,” she answered, “that neither my father nor I am disposed to lay much stress on the opinions of the world, as it concerns thee.”

“That is, neither will insist on nobility; but will either consent to share the obloquy of a union with an hereditary executioner?”

“Thou hast not yet related all it may be necessary to know that we may decide.”

“There is left little to explain.  The expedient of my kind parents has thus far succeeded.  Their two surviving children, my sister and myself, were snatched, for a time at least, from their accursed fortune, while my poor brother, who promised little, was left, by a partiality I will not stop to examine, to pass as the inheritor of our infernal privileges—­ Nay, pardon, dearest Adelheid, I will be more cool; but death has saved the youth from the execrable duties, and I am now the only male child of Balthazar—­yes,” he added, laughing frightfully, “I, too have now a narrow monopoly of all the honors of our house!”

“Thou—­thou, Sigismund—­with thy habits, thy education, thy feelings, thou surely canst not be required to discharge the duties of this horrible office!”

“It is easy to see that my high privileges do not charm you, Mademoiselle de Willading; nor can I wonder at the taste.  My chief surprise should be, that you so long tolerate an executioner in your presence.”

“Did I not know and understand the bitterness of feeling natural to one so placed, this language would cruelly hurt me, Sigismund; but thou canst not truly mean there is a real danger of thy ever being called to execute this duty?  Should there be the chance of such a calamity, may not the influence of my father avert it?  He is not without weight in the councils of the canton.”