He turned his face towards the purple morning glow, and, raising his hand solemnly, uttered the following words:-- "God, who art a great and just Judge, and visitest the sins of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation, I hereby swear to take my life with my own hand rather than let the curse of Thy priest gain ascendency over me. Amen." Then he walked towards the house as if freed from an intolerable burden. "Now the devil is exorcised!" he said as he entered the vestibule, heaving a deep sigh of relief; nevertheless, the hand that lifted the latch still trembled feverishly. He surveyed the room with one quick shy glance. In the rosy light of dawn he saw her crouching, dressed on her bed, her hands clasped over her knees. Her jacket was open; her hair hung about her face in tangled masses. Her dress was exactly as it had been when he left her the evening before. She raised her head slowly, and gazed at him as if in a dream with soft melting eyes. He shrank before that gaze. "Haven't you been to bed?" he asked in as harsh a tone as he could command. She continued to look at him with the same blissfully rigid expression, and said nothing. "Didn't you hear?" he asked again imperiously. She did not start as she used to do when he spoke thus; but a scarcely perceptible vibration passed through her frame, as if the sound of his voice filled her with ecstasy. She smiled a little. "Hear what?" she asked. "My question as to why you hadn't been to bed." "I waited up for you, _Herr_." "I did not order you to wait for me." "Nor did you forbid me, _Herr_." He clung to the back of a chair. "Why are you afraid of her?" he asked himself. "You have just sworn that danger exists no longer." Then to get rid of her he told her to go and prepare him something hot for breakfast. She rose deliberately, stretching her stiff limbs. A dreamy languor seemed to pervade her whole being. Since last night she was completely transformed. Directly he had shut the door after her, he tore the letter from his pocket, and read it to reassure himself of is happiness. It ran:-- "Dear Friend Of My Youth,--I hear from papa that you have been highly honoured by our wise and noble King--that he has made you captain of your division, and given you the Iron Cross. I congratulate you heartily, and am rejoiced at your good fortune. What else passed papa wouldn't tell me, but he was very excited about it, and in a great rage when he mentioned you. Ah! if only you could have managed to win his affection and the goodwill of the parishioners! Then I shouldn't have to be so careful, and could see and speak to you often.... Dear Boleslav, I implore you never to think of coming into the garden again.