Alvina threw herself at her father's feet.
"Pardon—pardon for Alexis, father! I alone am to blame."
"Rise! rise!" thundered the count. "Art thou not sufficiently humiliated? Dare to breathe a word in his favor, and it shall go hard with thy minion. Punishment thou canst not avert; say but a word, and that punishment becomes death; for he is mine, soul and body, to have and to hold, to head or to hang—my vassal, my slave! What ho, there!"
As he stamped his foot, a throng of attendants poured into the room.
"Search me that fellow!" cried the count, pointing with his finger to Alexis.
A dozen officers' hands examined the person of Alexis, one of them, more eager than the rest, discovered a golden bracelet, and brought it to the count.
"Ha!" cried the count, as he gazed upon the trinket; "truly do I recognize this bawble. Speak, dog! when got'st thou this?"
Alvina was about to speak, and acknowledge that she had bestowed it; but before she could utter a syllable, the page exclaimed,—
"I confess all—I stole it."
"Enough!" cried the count. "Daughter, retire to your apartment."