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seriously。 I will pray to God to…day； go to confession； and have a
great many things to talk over with Ulrich； for I know he wants me
to set out with him immediately after we have been married； and that
it may not look as though he had stayed voluntarily with you in our
valley。 I must； therefore； pack up my things and prepare for
departing as soon as we have been married。 Let us alone； then； dear
father； to…day； and invite the men to come to…morrow morning and
attend my marriage with Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg。〃
〃Well； then； Lizzie； I will comply with your wishes；〃 said Wallner；
after a short reflection。 〃I will give you and him time until to…
morrow morning； but I tell you； my daughter； if he continues the
same game to…morrow； and talks then in the same strain as to…day； I
shall take the jest in dead earnest； and will not believe a word of
all you say to excuse him： and then his life is forfeited； and he
must die。No； Schroepfel； come here； take the prisoner back to my
house； and confine him where you have kept him for a week past。 But
I tell you； watch him well； and admit no one to him except Lizzie；
and prevent him from talking with anybody but his betrothed。〃
〃I will do so； and watch him as I have done up to this time；〃 said
Schroepfel； gloomily。 〃He shall not talk with anybody； and I should
like it best if he were not permitted either to speak with Lizzie；
for I do not believe at all that she is his betrothed。〃
〃We shall see to…morrow morning； when the marriage is to take
place；〃 said Anthony Wallner。〃Take the prisoner away。〃
〃You let him go？〃 exclaimed the men。 〃You spare his life？〃
〃Only until to…morrow morning； because Lizzie begged me to do so；〃
said Anthony Wallner。 〃The wedding will take place at nine to…morrow
morning； I invite you all to attend it； men； and we shall see then。
To…morrow morning there will be a wedding or an execution。 Now let
us speak no more of it to…day； let us forget what has happened to
Anthony Wallner and his daughter； and let us bear in mind only that
we have returned after delivering our dear Tyrol from the French and
Bavarians。 Let us go now to my house； where my wife awaits us with a
keg of excellent wine。 Come； we will drink to the welfare of our
fatherland； and to the health of our dear Emperor Francis！〃
CHAPTER XXII。
ELIZA AND ULRICH
Schroepfel； the faithful servant； had taken Ulrich von Hohenberg； in
obedience to Anthony Wallner's order； back to the small room where
he had passed the last eight days as a prisoner。 Since he had him
again in his custody； no additional precautions were necessary； for
Schroepfel knew that he could rely on his own vigilance； and that
the prisoner surely would never escape from him。 Hence； he loosened
the cords with which he had been tied； and removed the handkerchief
with which he had been gagged。
〃If it affords you pleasure；〃 said Schroepfel； 〃you may use your
mouth and inveigh against Lizzie Wallner； who has saved your life
to…day a second time； and whom you rewarded like a genuine Bavarian；
that is to say； with black ingratitude and treachery。 But I advise
you not to abuse her loud enough for me to hear you outside； for I
am not a patient as Lizzie； and I shall never permit you to abuse
and treat so contemptuously the noblest and best girl in the whole
country。 She acted toward you to…day as a good Christian and a brave
girl； for you insulted her； and she not only forgave you； but
protected you and saved your life。 And now； sir； abuse her if you
cannot help it； but I tell you once more； do not speak too loud lest
I should hear you。〃
And Schroepfel turned with a last threatening glance and left the
room。 Outside he sat down on the cane…settee which； for the past
eight days； had been his seat by day and his couch by night； and he
pressed his eye to the middle hole which he had bored in the door。
He could distinctly see and watch the captain through it。 Ulrich had
sunk down on a chair and leaned his head on his hand； he lifted his
sombre eyes to heaven； and there was a strange expression of emotion
and grief upon his face。 But he seemed not to intend availing
himself of the permission which Schroepfel had given him to abuse
Lizzie Wallner； for his lips were firmly compressed； and not a sound
fell from them。 Or could Schroepfel； perhaps； not hear him； because
the men down in the bar…room were laughing and shouting so merrily；
and speaking so loudly and enthusiastically of the Tyrol； and
drinking the health of the emperor and the Archduke John； who had
again taken possession of the country and solemnly proclaimed that
he would restore the ancient and liberal constitution of the
Tyrolese？
〃How merry they are down…stairs！〃 growled Schroepfel。 〃I might be
there to； I have amply deserved to have a little exercise and
pleasure。 Instead of that I must site here with a dry mouth； and if
this goes on much longer； I shall surely grow fast to my settee。 And
all that for the sake of the mean； perfidious Bavarian； who is
utterly dishonest； and who treated our beautiful； noble Lizzie in so
infamous a manner！ Well； if I were in the girl's place； I would not
take the perfidious wretch who has denied her twice already。 Oh； how
merry they are down…stairs！ No one thinks of me and gives me a drop
of wine that I may likewise drink to the welfare of the fatherland。〃
But Schroepfel was mistaken for once； for quick footsteps ascended
the staircase at this moment； and now appeared the lovely head of
Eliza Wallner above the railing； then her whole form； and a second
afterward she stood in the passage close before Schroepfel。 In her
hands she held a plate with a large piece of the fine cake which her
mother herself had baked； and a large glass of excellent red wine。
〃There； good； faithful Schroepfel；〃 she said in her gentle voice；
nodding to him pleasantly； and handing the plate to him； 〃eat and
drink； and let me in the mean time go and see your prisoner。〃
〃What do you want of him？〃 asked Schroepfel； moodily。
〃I want to see him about our wedding to…morrow；〃 said Eliza calmly；
〃and you know father has given me permission to go to him and speak
with him。〃
〃Yes； he did； and I cannot prevent you from entering； which I would
do otherwise；〃 growled Schroepfel。 〃Go in； then； but do not stay too
long； and if he should abuse you again； pray call me； and I will
assist you。〃
〃Thank you； dear Schroepfel；〃 said Eliza； 〃but pray admit me now。〃
Schroepfel withdrew his settee from the door and allowed Eliza to
open it； and； entering to the prisoner； closed it again behind her。
Ulrich von Hohenberg still sat； as Schroepfel had seen him； at the
table； leaning his head on his hand； only he had now covered his
eyes with his hands； and long sighs issued from his breast。 He
seemed not to know that the door had opened and some one had
entered； or rather perhaps he thought it was only Schroepfel； and he
did not wish to take any notice of him。
Eliza Wallner stood leaning against the wall； and gazed at him a
long time with a wondrous expression of love and grief； for a moment
she laid her hand on her bosom； as if to stifle the cry which her
lips were alre