On the steps of the door where his horse stood saddled, he met Wilfrid, and from this promised brother-in-law received matter for the challenge.  Wilfrid excitedly accused Anna of the guilt of a conspiracy to cause the destruction of Count Ammiani.  In the heat of his admiration for his sister, Karl struck him on the cheek with his glove, and called him a name by which he had passed during the days of his disgrace, signifying one who plays with two parties.  Lena’s maid heard them arrange to meet within an hour, and she having been a witness of the altercation, ran to her mistress in advance of Wilfrid, and so worked on Lena’s terrors on behalf of her betrothed and her brother, that Lena, dropped at Anna’s feet telling her all that she had gathered and guessed in verification of Wilfrid’s charge, and imploring her to confess the truth.  Anna, though she saw her concealment pierced, could not voluntarily forego her brother’s expressed admiration of her, and clung to the tatters of secresy.  After a brief horrid hesitation, she chose to face Wilfrid.  This interview began with lively recriminations, and was resulting in nothing—­for Anna refused to be shaken by his statement that the Countess d’Isorella had betrayed her, and perceived that she was listening to suspicions only—­when, to give his accusation force, Wilfrid said that Brescia had surrendered and that Count Ammiani had escaped.

“And I thank God for it!” Anna exclaimed, and with straight frowning eyes demanded the refutation of her sincerity.

“Count Ammiani and his men have five hours’ grace ahead of Major Nagen and half a regiment,” said Wilfrid.

At this she gasped; she had risen her breath to deny or defy, and hung on the top of it without a voice.

“Tell us—­say, but do say—­confess that you know Nagen to be a name of mischief,” Lena prayed her.

“I will say anything to prevent my brother from running into danger,” Anna rejoined.

“She is most foully accused by one whom we permitted to aspire to be of our own family,” said Karl.

“Yet you, Karl, have always been the first to declare her revengeful,” Lena turned to him.

“Help, Karl, help me,” said Anna.

“Yes!” cried her sister; “there you stand, and ask for help, meanest of women!  Do you think these men are not in earnest?  Karl is to help you, and you will not speak a word to save him from a grave before night, or me from a lover all of blood.”

“Am I to be the sacrifice?” said Anna.

“Whatever you call it, Wilfrid has spoken truth of you, and to none but members of our family; and he had a right to say it, and you are bound now to acknowledge it.”

“I acknowledge that I love and serve my country, Lena.”

“Not with a pure heart:  you can’t forgive.  Insult or a wrong makes a madwoman of you.  Confess, Anna!  You know well that you can’t kneel to a priest’s ear, for you’ve stopped your conscience.  You have pledged yourself to misery to satisfy a spite, and you have not the courage to ask for—­” Lena broke her speech like one whose wits have been kindled.  “Yes, Karl,” she resumed; “Anna begged you to help her.  You will.  Take her aside and save her from being miserable forever.  You do mean to fight my Wilfrid?”