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〃It is time；〃 murmured he。
With a firm hand he grasped a bell lying upon the table。 Its loud； resounding ring disturbed the deep stillness that reigned throughout the apartments； causing Lord Elliot's heart to tremble with woe。 But there was no noiseall remained quiet。 Lord Elliot waited awhile； then opening the door passed into the hall。 Returning； he again rang the bell long and loudly。 〃They cannot fail to hear me now；〃 said he。
Several doors were now opened by some of the servants； but their terror was such that they retreated in haste； slamming the doors behind them。
Lord Elliot rang again。 A servant now hastened forward； another soon followed； a third door was opened from which sprang a lively； trim… looking lady's maid。 She was followed by the house girl。 Even the cook rushed up the steps。 All hurried forward to a room which was generally kept locked； but which now stood wide open。 All gazed at the man standing there scanning them with an earnest； commanding glance。 They stood thus lost in wonder for a moment； then Lord Elliot approached the door。
〃Do you know meyou； there？〃 said he。
〃No； we do not know you；〃 said the waiter； with some hesitation。 〃We do not know you； and would like to know by what right〃
〃There is no question here of your likes or dislikes； but of the orders you will receive from me。 Do you know the picture next to the one of your mistress？〃
〃We have been told that it is our master； Lord Elliot。〃
Lord Elliot advanced nearer the picture； and stood beneath it。 〃Do you know me now？〃 said he。
The servants examined him critically for a time； then whispered and consulted together。
〃Now do you know me？〃 repeated Lord Elliot。
〃We think we have the honor of seeing his excellency； Lord Elliot；〃 said the waiter。
〃Yes； Lord Elliot；〃 repeated the lady's…maid； the house…girl； and the cook； bowing respectfully。
He ordered them to enter the room。 Tremblingly they obeyed him。
〃Are these all the servants； or are there any more of you？〃 said he。
〃No one but the nurse； who is with the little lady； and the coach… man who is in the stable。〃
〃That is right。 Come nearer； all of you。〃
As they obeyed； he closed and locked the door； dropping the key in his pocket。 The servants looked at him in wonder and terror； hardly daring to breathe。 Though they had never seen their master； they knew by his stern； expressive countenance that something remarkable was about to transpire。 Like all other servants； they were well acquainted with the secrets； the behavior of their employer。 They were； therefore； convinced that their mistress was the cause of their master's strange conduct。
〃Do not dare to move from this spotdo not make a sound；〃 said Lord Elliot； taking a light and advancing to a second door。 〃Remain here。 If I need you I will call。〃 Throwing a last look at the servants； Lord Elliot entered the adjoining room； drawing the bolt quickly behind him。
〃All is right now。〃 said he； softly。 〃None of them can fly to warn Camilla to return。〃 Candle in hand； he passed through the chamber； looking neither to right nor left。 He wished to ignore that he was now in Camilla's room； which was associated with so many painfully sweet remembrances to him。 He entered another roomhe hurried through it。 As he passed by the large bedstead surrounded by heavy silk curtains； the candle in his hand shook； and a deep groan escaped his breast。 He now stood at the door of the next chamber。 He stopped for a moment to gain breath and courage。 With a hasty movement he threw open the door and entered。 His heart failed him when he beheld the peaceful scene before him。 A dark shady carpet covered the floor； simple green blinds hung at the windows。 There were no handsome paintings on the wall； no glittering chandelier； no bright furniture； and still the apartment contained a wondrous tenement； a great treasure。 For in the middle of the room stood a cradle； in the cradle lay his child； his first…bornthe child of his love； of his lost happiness。 He knew by the great joy that overcame him； by the loud beating of his heart； by the tears that welled to his eyes； that this was his child。 He prayed God to bless ithe swore to love it faithfully to all eternity。 He at last found the strength to approach the little sleeping being whose presence rilled him with such wild joy。
The nurse sat by the cradle fast asleep。 She did not see Lord Elliot kneel beside the cradle and look tenderly at the sleeping face of her nurslingshe did not see him kiss the child； then lay its little hands upon his own bowed head as if he needed his little daughter's blessing to strengthen him。 But all at once she was shaken by a strong hand； and a loud； commanding voice ordered her to wake up； to open her eyes。 She sprang from her chair in terrorshe had had a bad dream。 But there still stood the strange man； saying in a stern voice； 〃Get up and prepare to leave here at once with me。〃
She wished to cry for help； but as she opened her mouth； he threw his strong arm around her。 〃If you make a sound； I take the child and leave you here alone。 I have the right to command hereI am the father of this child。〃
〃Lord Elliot！〃 cried the nurse； in amazement。
Lord Elliot smiled。 This involuntary recognition of his right did him good and softened him。
〃Fear nothing；〃 said he； kindly； 〃no harm shall happen to you。 I take you and the child。 If you love and are kind to it； you shall receive from me a pension for life； from to…day your wages are doubled。 For this I demand nothing； but that you should collect at once the necessary articles of clothing of this child； and put them together。 If you are ready in fifteen minutes； I will give you this gold piece。〃
He looked at his watch； and took from his purse a gold piece； which lent wings to the stout feet of the nurse。
〃Is all you need in here？〃 said he。
Receiving an answer in the affirmative； he took his light and left the chamber。 Before leaving； however； he locked another door leading into the hall； so as to prevent the possible escape of the nurse。
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 s