"When I awoke next morning the sun was already standing high in the heavens. It was a cool, bright morning, and Harald went hunting with his guests. I was glad of it, for thus Marie's flight could be kept from him at least till evening. The servants, to be sure, had to be told towards noon that I could not find Miss Marie,--had they seen her anywhere? They were not a little frightened, for there was not one who had not liked the gentle, beautiful girl. They searched the houses, the country around, the forest down to the shore, and even the great fosse; for they all agreed that the poor child must have taken her own life. "Late at night Harald came back. He was alone. As he entered the house he read in the disturbed faces of the servants that something had happened. His bad conscience told him at once what it was. 'Is she dead?' he asked, and turned as white as chalk. 'We do not know, master,' said old Jake, 'we have been looking all day, but we have not found her.' "He went past the servants to his room without saying a word. When he was in the door, he turned around and beckoned to me. "He was walking up and down in the room; at last he stopped before me, and said, with a hollow voice: 'Did Marie ever tell you she would take her own life?'--'No,' I said. 'Was she particularly sad of late?'--'Yes.' "Again he walked up and down, with uneven steps, and murmuring unintelligible words. Then he stopped once more before me. 'And if she has taken her life, I am her murderer,' he said.--'Who else?' "He started as if a knife had been thrust in his heart. 'It cannot be,' he said, 'it would be too fearful.' "I knew the anguish he was feeling at that moment; but I also knew that the proud man would rather know her dead than belonging to anybody else, and besides, I had promised secrecy. Thus I remained silent, and waited to see what he would do. "He ordered me to ring and send for all the servants. They came. "'Those of you who are tired may go to bed,' he said; 'those who are willing to search on with me shall have whatever they may ask.' "All expressed themselves willing to help him, not for the sake of the reward, but because any way none of them would have been able to sleep from excitement. "He ordered all the lights to be brought that could be found, and now they commenced the search once more--below in the cellars, through all the rooms down stairs and up stairs, in the garrets, up into the old tower,--Harald always ahead, searching every nook and corner, with his eyes everywhere, giving his orders with a firm voice, indefatigable, till morning broke.