“It is a commission to Mademoiselle Hortense; you may see her name,” said Hildegarde. “Mr. Hamilton can more easily go to her than you can.”
“Oh, if that be all, I am glad you have chosen him, for you know I am horribly afraid of her.”
“I know,” said Hildegarde, pressing her hand on her forehead, and turning away.
The next two days were passed over in uncertainty, and Hamilton wandered about disconsolately enough; but on the third, Hildegarde appeared to relieve his mind; and so great was her father’s joy at her recovery, that he actually spent the whole evening at home, without even requiring a rubber of whist.
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE WEDDING AU TROISIÈME.
Several days passed over. Count Raimund’s death had been much discussed among his acquaintance, who almost unanimously agreed in thinking he had committed the rash act to avoid a connection so much beneath him. He was more regretted than he deserved; his various talents having made him unusually popular, and, in the society in which he had moved, people were not generally in the habit of studying character, or seeking motives of action. His circle was, however, so completely unknown to the Rosenbergs; they were so totally without any sort of communication with any member of it, now that Count Zedwitz had ceased to frequent their house, that they heard none of the remarks—not one of the particulars. It spared Hildegarde much anxiety, for his wounded hand, the blood-stained dagger, and open door, had caused many inquiries; and had it not been for a letter which he had written to his father (in the vain endeavour to exculpate himself), might have led to suspicions of murder.
The Rosenbergs heard nothing, and the preparations for Crescenz’s marriage began; they were conducted with ostentatious secrecy to please Mr. Rosenberg, who had consented to its taking place sooner than had been expected, as the Hoffmanns had left the house, and removed altogether to Augsburg. Madame Berger had promised to play waltzes if the company should prove numerous enough to enable them to dance, and Madame Lustig had spent two or three afternoons cooking for the supper. On the wedding-day, Hamilton was not a little surprised to find Crescenz sitting composedly at breakfast in her gingham morning wrapper, while her father left the room to go to his office as usual.
“I believe I have dressed too early,” he said, glancing at his studied toilet; “may I ask at what hour——”
“At five in the afternoon,” answered Hildegarde. “Mamma has determined to keep her promise, and has desired our friends to meet us at the Frauen Church. On our return it will be almost dark, and no one will know that we have a wedding in the house.”