Page:Maria Felicia.pdf/168

 her teacher, I have looked deeper into her heart than any one else,” replied the harper. “The Countess undoubtedly has her faults; but selfish and rapacious she is not. You have probably heard even here how the Count, shortly before his death, turned against her, threatened to put her in a convent, to disinherit her, and heartlessly imprisoned her in a chamber. He would have carried out his design, and instead of Maria Felicia, his nephew Hypolit would have been the master of this castle, had he not died so suddenly and unexpectedly. I may confide to you the fact that he became angry at his daughter because under no consideration would she yield to his ambitious and avaricious plans. But with your slanders you have so stirred my blood that for the first time to-day I feel what the bliss of revenge must be. Oh that I could punish you for your shameful words! If I thought that you could manage arms as skillfully as you do your tongue, we should have a duel at once.”

“Quietly leave your sword in its sheath, if