"I do not come secretly, nor to offer you an alms," Erna said, in a voice which she tried vainly to steady. "Ernst knows that I have come to you, and he sends a message by me."
"To you, Wolfgang! He bids me tell you that he releases you from your promise, and recalls his challenge."
Elmhorst frowned darkly, as he rejoined, "Has he told _you_ of all that? Very considerate on his part! Such matters are generally discussed among men exclusively. But, although I accepted his conditions, I do not accept his magnanimity,--least of all at present."
"And yet you first set him the example of magnanimity. No need to deny it. He knows as well as I do whose hand snatched him from destruction on this very spot."
"I leave no one to die if it is in my power to save his life, even if he be my worst enemy," Wolfgang said, coldly. "At such moments one obeys the instincts of humanity, never stopping to consider, and I refuse to accept his gratitude. I pray you say this to Herr Waltenberg, since he has chosen you, Fräulein von Thurgau, for his messenger."
"Can you really treat his messenger thus harshly?" The girl's voice was low and gentle and her large dark-blue eyes were strangely bright as she looked at the man who could no longer control the anguish of his soul.
"Why torture me with such looks and tones?" he cried, passionately. "You belong to another----"
"Whom you misunderstand as I did. I know now how immense is the sacrifice he makes for me, for I know how great was his love for me, when, with this love in his heart, he could give me back my freedom and bid me farewell forever."
Wolfgang, half stunned at the unexpected announcement, could only be conscious that through the black night of his hopeless despair a dazzling ray of light was darting, heralding the dawn of new life and energy. "You are free, Erna?" he broke forth. "And now--now you come----"
"To you. It is so heavy a burden,--this misery that you are bearing alone. I claim my share."
The words were spoken with earnest simplicity, as if they were mere words of course; but Elmhorst changed colour and his look was downcast. He was undergoing a hard struggle with his pride, which felt such devotion at such a moment to be a humiliation.