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As he entered Camilla's boudoir his countenance became dark and stern； every gentle and tender feeling that his child had aroused now fled from his heart。 He was now the insulted husband； the man whose honor was wounded in its most sensitive pointwho came to punish； to revenge； to seek the proofs of the guilt he suspected。 He placed the light upon the table； aud opened his wife's portfolio to seek for the key of her drawer； which was generally kept there。 It was in its usual place。 Lord Elliot shuddered as he touched it； it felt like burning fire in his hand。
〃It is the key to my grave；〃 murmred he。
With a firm hand he put the key in the lock； opened the drawer； and drew out the letters and papers it contained。 There were his own letters； the letters of love and tenderness he had sent her from Copenhagen； among them he found others full of passionate proofs of the criminal and unholy love he had come to punish。 Camilla had not had the delicacy to separate her husband's from her lover's letters； she had carelessly thrown them in the same drawer。 As Lord Elliot saw this he laughed aloud； a feeling of inexpressible contempt overpowered his soul and deadened his pain。 He could not continue to love one who had not only been faithless to him； but wanting in delicacy to the partner of her sin。
Lord Elliot read but one of the beau cousin's letters； then threw it carelessly aside。 He did not care to read more of the silly speeches； the guilty protestations of constancy of her insipid lover。 He searched but for one letter； he wished to find the original of the last one Camilla had written to him； for he knew her too well to give her credit for the composition of that cold； sneering； determined letter。 He wished； therefore； to find the author； whose every word had pierced his soul like a dagger； driving him at first almost to madness。
A wild； triumphant cry now escaped from him； resounding fearfully in the solitary chambers。 He had found it！ The letter was clutched tightly in his trembling hands as he read the first lines。 It was in the same hand as the others； it was the writing of his rival； Von Kindar； her beau cousin。
Lord Elliot folded the paper carefully and hid it in his bosom； then throwing the others into the drawer； he locked it； placing the key in the portfolio。
〃It is well；〃 said he； 〃I have now all I need。 This letter is his death…warrant。〃
He took the light and left the room。 Fifteen minutes had just elapsed when he entered his daughter's chamber。 The nurse advanced to meet him； the child and a bundle of clothes in her arms； and received the promised gold piece。
〃Now； we must hasten；〃 said he； stepping into the hall。
They passed silently through the house； down the steps； and into the court…yard。 Lord Elliot walked hastily on； followed by the wondering nurse。 He stopped at the stable door； calling loudly upon the coachman to get up and prepare the horses。 At twelve o'clock the coachman was to go for his mistress； he was therefore dressed； and had only laid down for a short nap。
〃Put the horses to the carriage；〃 repeated Lord Elliot。
The coachman； raising his lamp； threw a full glare of light upon the stranger。
〃I do not know you；〃 said he； roughly； 〃I receive orders from no one but my mistress。〃
For answer； Lord Elliot drew from his breast a pocket pistol。
〃If you are not ready in five minutes； I will shoot you through the head；〃 said Lord Elliot； quietly； tapping the trigger。
〃For God's sake； obey him； John；〃 cried the nurse； 〃it is his excellency Lord Elliot！〃
In five minutes the carriage was ready； owing much more to the loaded pistol still in Lord Elliot's hand than to the conviction that this strange； angry…looking man was his master。
〃To the depot！〃 cried Lord Elliot； placing the child and nurse in the carriage； then jumping in after them〃 to the depot in all haste！〃
They reached the building in a few minutes。 There stood the horses in readiness； and beside them Lord Elliot's servant； with his baggage。 He sprang from the carriage； and； giving the coachman a douceur； ordered him to loosen the horses and return home with them。
〃But； your honor；〃 stammered the mystified coachman； 〃how am I to call for my lady if you take the carriage？〃
〃My lady can wait；〃 said Lord Elliot； jeeringly。 〃If she reproaches you； tell her that Lord Elliot wishes to be remembered to her； that he will return in eight days with her carriage。〃
〃But she will dismiss me from her service； my lord。〃
〃Wait patiently for eight days； and then you shall enter mine。 And now； away with you！〃
The coachman dared not answer； and soon disappeared with his horses。
The fresh horses were put to the carriage； the servant swung himself up to his seat； Lord Elliot stood in front of the carriage with his friend Dr。 Blitz。
〃All has happened as I desired；〃 said he。 〃I take my child away with me； and； with God's will； she shall never know but that death deprived her of her mother。 Poor child！ she has no mother； but I will love her with all the strength of a father； all the tenderness of a mother； and I have a noble sister who will guard and watch over her。 She awaits me at Kiel。 I accompany my child so far； but as soon as she is in the faithful hands of my sister； as soon as I have placed them upon the ship sailing for Copenhagen； I return here。〃
〃Why should you return； my lord？〃 said the doctor； in terror。 〃Is it not sufficient that you have deprived the mother of her child？ that you have branded the woman with shame before the whole world？ What more would you do； my lord？〃
With a strange smile； Lord Elliot laid his hand upon the doctor's shoulder。
〃Flows there milk instead of blood in your veins； man？ or have you forgotten that I have been hit by a poisoned arrow？ I must be revenged； if I would not die of this wound。〃
〃Let your wounds bleed； my lordthe longer they bleed； the sooner they will heal。 But why destroy the arrow that wounded you？ Will you recover the sooner or suffer the less？〃
〃Again I ask you； is there milk instead of blood in your veins？ My honor is stainedI must cleanse it with the blood of my enemy。〃
〃A duel； then； my lord？ You will suffer chance to decide your most holy and sacred interestsyour honor and life？ And if chance is against you？ If you fall； instead of your adversary？〃
〃Then； my friend； God will have decided it； and I shall thank Him for relieving me from a life which will from henceforth be a heavy burden to me。 Farewell； doctor。 I will be with you in eight days； and will again need your assistance。〃
〃It is then irrevocable； my lord？〃
〃Irrevocable； doctor。〃
〃I shall be ready。 God grant that if this sad drama is to end in blood； it may not be yours！〃
They pressed each other's hands tenderly。 Lord Elliot sprang into the carriage； the coachman whipped his horses； and the carriage in which were the unfortunate man and the stolen child rolled merrily along the deserted streets。
CHAPTER XI。
THE DISCOVERY。
Prince Henry stood at the window and looked down into the garden。 He saw his wife walking in the park with her ladies； and enjoying the clear； cool winter day； he heard their gay and merry laughter； but he felt no wish to join them and share their mirth。
Since that day in the wood； a change had come upon the princea dark； despairing； melancholy had taken possession of him； but he would not let it be seen； he forced himself to a noisy gayety； and in the presence of his wife he was the same tender； devoted； complaisant lover he had been before； but the mask under which he concealed his dislike and scorn was a cruel torture and terrible agony； when he heard her laugh he felt as if a sharp dagger had wounded him； when he touched her hand； he could with difficulty suppress a cry of pain； but he conquered himself； and kept his grief and jealousy down； down in his heart。 It was possible he was mistaken。 It was possible his wife was innocent； that his friend was true。 His own heart wished this so earnestly； his noble and great soul rebelled at the thought of despising those whom he had once loved and trusted so fully。 He wished to believe that he had had a hurtful dream； that a momentary madness had darkened his brain； he would rathe