He consented to
receive me, and I hastened to the Count's palace, where I found the old
nobleman prostrated with grief at the continued and unexplained illness
of his only child; but when Anna had seen me, and satisfied herself of
my return, she recovered so rapidly that her father, on hearing from me
my improved condition, and the sentiments which I entertained for his
daughter, gladly gave his consent to our union.
From Anna I learnt of the persecution to which she had been subject
from Count Hendrick Luitken, which had mainly been the cause of her
illness. Convinced that she would never accept him willingly, Count
Hendrick, unknown to her father, had attempted to abduct her to his
country estate. With the aid of one of her attendants Anna had made her
escape, and believing me dead, while fearing further persecution, she
had determined, should she be restored to health, to seek the cloister
as her only safe refuge. As her tale proceeded I found it hard to
restrain myself from starting off at once in pursuit of the villain who
had treated my loved one so shamefully, and I promised myself to bring
him to account when the opportunity should arise.
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