“And the Count—what had he done?”

“It was a Margrave—sh!”

“What sort of a count is that? I’ll bet he was one out of another house.”

“Yes, it was Amalia’s father—but that isn’t it. I have something to tell you, Leentje—sh!”

“Amalia—who is Amalia?”

“That was my bride, but—Leentje, I wanted to tell you something—sh!”

“Your bride! Are you mad, Walter? Your bride?”

“Yes, she was; but now no more. I was going to help her—but a duck came—but that isn’t it, Leentje. Now I see it all—sh. I swam by—sh!”

“Who, what? Swam by?”

“By Amalia. She sat on the rushes—now I understand it all—I am—sh!”