In sad silence these two, so long separated, stood opposite to each other—­both hesitating, he knowing that he was guilty, she ashamed of the consciousness of her love.  But finally he succeeded in breaking the silence.  He whispered her name, and as she, alarmed and shuddering, looked up at him, he stretched out his arms imploringly toward her.  And then she felt, thought, knew nothing but him.  She uttered a cry, and rushed forward to throw herself in his arms.  But suddenly she stopped.  Her dream was at an end, and now awaking from the first ecstasy of seeing him again, she collected herself, and stood before him in the whole pride and dignity of her offended honor.  She found courage to sacrifice her own heart, and, with cold, constrained manner, bowing to him, she asked, “Colonel von Brenda, whom do you wish to see?”

The prince sighed deeply, and let his arms drop.  “It is over,” said he; “she no longer loves me!”

Low as these words had been spoken, Elise had seized their purport, and they touched her to the quick.  “What do you wish?” she continued.

“Nothing!” said he, despondently.  “I have made a mistake.  I expected to find a faithful heart, a woman like an angel, ready in the hour of meeting to forget all else, and take refuge in this heart; to forgive, and, with her blessing, to wipe out the curse of my existence.  This is what I sought.  But God is just, and I did not deserve such happiness.  I submit.”

“Oh, my God!” said Elise to herself, “it is the same voice which once charmed me.”  She no longer found strength in herself to bid him go.  She would have given her life blood to be able always to be thus near him.

“This time, young lady,” said Feodor, “I come only as a messenger, the executor of the will of one who is dead.”  He took a letter from his bosom and handed it to Elise.  “I bring you,” he said solemnly, “the last will of my wife, Countess Lodoiska.”

“She is no longer alive?” cried Elise, and involuntarily an almost joyful tone pervaded her voice.

This did not escape the prince.  “I will win her,” said he to himself.  His eyes shone brighter, his countenance looked prouder, and his heart beat higher with triumphant joy.  Elise had taken the letter, and still held it in her hand.  “Will you not read it?” asked he, gently, and her heart trembled at the pleading tone of his voice.

“Yes, I will read it,” she answered, as if awaking from a dream, and breaking the seal hastily.

The prince fixed his sharp, piercing eyes on her, and seemed to wish to read in her looks her inmost thoughts, and feeling them favorable to him, he approached still closer to her.

The letter was short and hastily written, but every word entered her soul and brought tears to her eyes.  It ran thus: