A few months after, Leon wrote to the steward of Olgogrod to prepare everything splendidly for the reception of his second wife.  He concluded his letter with these words: 

“I understand that in the dungeon beneath my palace there are some unfortunate men, who were imprisoned during my father’s lifetime.  Let them be instantly liberated.  This is my first act of gratitude to God, who has so infinitely blessed me!”

Anielka longed ardently to behold her native land.  They left Vienna immediately after the wedding, although it was in the middle of January.

It was already quite dark when the carriage, with its four horses, stopped in front of the portico of the palace of Olgogrod.  Whilst the footman was opening the door on one side, a beggar soliciting alms appeared at the other, where Anielka was seated.  Happy to perform a good action as she crossed the threshold of her new home, she gave him some money; but the man, instead of thanking her, returned her bounty with a savage laugh, at the same time scowling at her in the fiercest manner from beneath his thick and shaggy brows.  The strangeness of this circumstance sensibly affected Anielka, and clouded her happiness.  Leon soothed and reassured her.  In the arms of her beloved husband she forgot all but the happiness of being the idol of his affections.

Fatigue and excitement made the night most welcome.  All was dark and silent around the palace, and some hours of the night had passed, when suddenly flames burst forth from several parts of the building at once.  The palace was enveloped in fire; it raged furiously.  The flames mounted higher and higher; the windows cracked with a fearful sound, and the smoke penetrated into the most remote apartments.

A single figure of a man was seen stealing over the snow, which lay like a winding-sheet on the solitary waste; his cautious steps were heard on the frozen snow as it crisped beneath his tread.  It was the beggar who had accosted Anielka.  On a rising ground he turned to gaze on the terrible scene.

“No more unfortunate creatures will now be doomed to pass their lives in your dungeons,” he exclaimed.  “What was my crime?  Reminding my master of the lowness of his birth.  For this they tore me from my only child—­my darling little Anielka; they had no pity even for her orphan state; let them perish all!”

Suddenly a young and beautiful creature rushes wildly to one of the principal windows:  she makes a violent effort to escape.  For a moment her lovely form, clothed in white, shines in terrible relief against the background of blazing curtains and walls of fire, and as instantly sinks back into the blazing element.  Behind her is another figure, vainly endeavoring to aid her—­he perishes also:  neither of them are ever seen again!

This appalling tragedy horrified even the perpetrator of the crime.  He rushed from the place, and as he heard the crash of the falling walls, he closed his ears with his hands, and darted on faster and faster.