"Ah! I remember now reading something about it. That is why his name seemed familiar to me."
"I thought you must have heard something about him," responded the baroness, in a peculiar tone. Then, with a sudden movement, she seized his hand and whispered:
"And you are the unknown who abducted Colonel Barthelmy's wife."
"I?" in boundless amazement ejaculated the count. Then he laughed heartily.
"Yes, you; and you are living here in seclusion with the lovely woman whose face no one is permitted to see."
Ludwig ceased laughing, and replied very seriously; "Gracious baroness, were I the person you believe me to be, I should have been glad to meet the man who compelled me to live here in seclusion. A skilful sword-thrust or a well-aimed bullet would have released me from this prison."
"And yet, everybody believes Count Vavel to be Ange Barthelmy's lover," responded the baroness.
"Do you believe it, baroness?"
"I? Perhaps—not. But Colonel Barthelmy believes it all the more firmly because you refused to see him."
"And suppose he had seen me?"