She displayed the greatest sympathy; to her it was as if the damp air wafted through the casemates of the Spielberg filled her life, too, with the same mouldy breath. She spoke of the castle of Chillon; that little spot had filled her with intense sadness. There were plenty of dungeon towers for salamanders and frogs, but this tomb of freedom made such a deeply melancholy impression, surrounded as it is by the waves of a beautiful lake, and granting a view of the peaks, high as heaven, of the Savoy alps, which rise in the air like a fortress of liberty. It is this contrast that makes such a painful impression, and as if called forth by deepest emotions, she uttered the beautiful verse out of the "Ruins" by Anastatius Grün-- "Oh, shade of my freedom fly not so fast, For thee my heart yearns and craves ever more, Like a fugitive bird that has clang to a mast, When lost to its sight is the far away shore." Such ardent longing for liberty, for release, was shown in her recital of these lines, in the tone of her voice, it was like the cry of distress of a whole life, and at the same time the expression of utter devotion. Blanden could not help it, he folded the beautiful woman to his heart, and pressed a glowing kiss upon her lips. At that moment some one knocked, and simultaneously the door was thrown open. Lieutenant Buschmann entered; disappointment and rage held him spell-bound, so that he stood as if rooted to the ground; his bold attack, upon which he had staked his last hope, had been shamefully frustrated, but at least he possessed the proof that Giulia favoured another, that her reserve was a lie. His cheeks, always red, burned like fire, and he stamped his jingling spurs upon the floor. Everything had commenced so hopefully. Antonie had gone to the ball with Friederich, and had entrusted the house and door key to the latter's care. Under some pretence the officer's cunning servant had left the ball for a short time, proceeded to his master's dwelling close by, and delivered up the key of the fortress to that master. The game so far had succeeded, Friederich was once more dancing merrily with his unsuspicious partner. Blanden sprang from the sofa, and stepped defiantly towards the intruder. "Has this gentleman the right to intrude here?" he asked Giulia. "No--by heaven, no! Only by force or cunning can he have obtained admission. Protect me from him!" Giulia covered her face with her hands. "Your conduct is shameless, sir!" cried Blanden to the officer. "Not another word with you! But one word still with this lady, who has deceived us all; I owe it to the favour of chance that I have torn from her the mask with which she has passed before the world as an inexorable woman." "You shall leave the room this moment," said Blanden with firm determination, "I have the right to bid you do so, because Signora Giulia Bollini--is engaged to me!"