Feodor now with determination seized the large shawl which had previously enveloped Elise’s form, and threw it over her face.  “Well then,” said he, “let them come; but woe to him who touches this cloth!”

He pressed the veiled maiden down in a chair, and, hastening to the door, drew back the bolt.

* * * * *

CHAPTER IX.

MISTRESS OR MAID.

As Feodor opened the door, his comrades rushed screaming and laughing uproariously into the room, spying round eagerly for the poor woman, the noble game which they had hunted down.

When they perceived Elise seated in a chair, veiled and motionless just as they had left her, they gave vent to a cry of delight, and began to explain to the colonel in a most confused jumble, often interrupted by bursts of laughter and merry ejaculations, the cause of their stormy interruption.  A young man, they said, had just come inquiring after a young lady who had been carried off by the Cossacks.  He had insisted upon seeing Colonel Feodor von Brenda, in order to offer a ransom for the captive lady.

“We have come to inform you of this,” said Lieutenant von Matusch, “so that you may not let her go too cheap.  This is the richest haul we have made yet.”

“The daughter of the rich Gotzkowsky!” cried another officer.

“She’ll have to pay a tremendous ransom,” shouted Major von Fritsch.

Feodor exclaimed, with assumed astonishment, “That woman there the daughter of Gotzkowsky!  Why, don’t you know, my friends, that I lived for a long time in Berlin, and am intimately acquainted with the beautiful and brilliant daughter of the rich Gotzkowsky?  I can assure you that they do not resemble each other in a single feature.”

The officers looked at one another with amazement and incredulity.  “She is not Gotzkowsky’s daughter?  But the young man told us that he came from Mr. Gotzkowsky.”

“And from that you draw the conclusion that this is his daughter whom you have caught,” cried Feodor, laughing.  “Where is this man?”

Lieutenant von Matusch opened the door, and on the threshold appeared the serious figure of Bertram.  He had fulfilled the vow which he had made to himself, and carefully and attentively watched and guarded every step of Elise; and while Gotzkowsky was absent from home night and day faithfully serving his country, Bertram had been a vigilant sentinel over his daughter.  Indeed, Gotzkowsky’s house had been, to all appearance, perfectly safe; it was the sanctuary and refuge of all the unfortunate, the only secure place where they could bestow their valuables.  Russian sentinels stood before the house, and Tottleben’s adjutant had his residence in it.  But this security only applied to the house.  As long as Elise kept herself within-doors, Bertram had no fear.  But there was the large garden in which she loved to roam for hours together, and especially her favorite resort at the extreme end of the same, not far from the wall, which was so easy to climb.