No sooner had the intelligence reached her of our release and arrival at Upper Halbstein, than Gertrude hastened to restore Minna to our arms, and give us an account of the manner, in which she had preserved this treasure. Her husband, the worthy Werner Bernsdorf, accompanied her, and brought with him a considerable number of his country neighbours to assist my uncle against the Count of Carlsheim, whose conduct had made him the object of universal detestation.
Here Minna eagerly interrupted Gertrude’s narrative.
—“Oh!” said she, “however good Werner’s intentions may be, we are already provided with a much more powerful ally. You are not aware, dear mother, that Count Lodowick of Homburg....”—
—“Forgive me, lady,” said Gertrude smiling, “for having so long omitted the mention of that favourite name!”—then turning again to us, “you must know, my dear mistresses, that the assistance, which the Count of Homburg prepares to give you, is given solely, because one of the persons injured by Ethelbert is the mother of Minna. Count Lodowick is my husband’s declared patron; he saw the Damsel of Mayenfield in one of his visits at Stein, and from that moment his heart....”—
—“Have mercy on me, dear Gertrude,” exclaimed the blushing Minna; “you punish me too severely for my imprudence!”—
Gertrude was silent, but we insisted on an explanation. We now heard all the circumstances of an attachment, which are detailed at length in Minna’s history, but which I could not relate in this place without breaking the thread of my narrative, which I shall now pursue without interruption.
The arrival of the forces of the Count of Homburg and of Werner Bernsdorf was highly acceptable to Count Venosta. A variety of circumstances had already convinced him, that by the gift of his estates to Ethelbert he had purchased a dangerous enemy, too powerful for him to subdue without assistance. Long was the contest doubtful; but the vengeance of Heaven at length was made manifest, and the balance inclined towards the rightful cause.
Ethelbert was now reduced to solicit an accommodation. He enquired, what satisfaction for the injuries, which I had suffered, would content Count Leopold; and he flattered himself, that an acknowledgement of my innocence, and the offer of receiving back his repudiated wife, would cancel all offences: but the demands of Count Venosta extended much farther. He required the restoration of the whole of that property, which he had made over to Ethelbert with such imprudent generosity; property, to which the latter had only a right in quality of my husband, and to which he had forfeited his right, when he ceased to consider me as his wife. The negotiation continued for some time; each side abated something in their respective demands; large sums were offered to facilitate the conclusion of the business; but I doubt much, whether an adjustment involving so many difficulties on both sides could ever have been brought, to an amicable termination, had not fate collected some few bitter dregs still remaining in the cup of sorrow, that cup which I could not have completely emptied, without submitting to a re-union with my barbarous husband!
Almighty Providence, if ever I have murmured against thy decisions, if even now a tear of discontent steals down my cheek, oh! think on the weakness of human nature, and pardon mine! Still, still I suffer!—But doubtless there will one day come an hour, when time, or oblivion, the shadows of the grave, or the brightness of eternal life, will efface the memory of what I have endured. Till I can learn forgetfulness, I can never forbear to sorrow!
Not the most distant rumour had ever led me to believe, that there existed another Count of Carlsheim besides Ethelbert. Now all at once the assurance reached me from all quarters, that Count Donat of Carlsheim was arrived from Italy; that after having made many enquiries respecting Ethelbert’s situation, (whom he called his father) he had established himself in the old Fortress of Ravenstein; and that he was there collecting a considerable military force, whose destination was still a profound secret.