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Strongly as Felix insisted that he would not accept of any reward for what he had done, the more did the count seem resolved that he should. At last the unfortunate fate of the robber chief occurred to the youth’s mind, and he related to the count how this man had rescued him, thinking that he was the countess, and that therefore the robber was really entitled to the count’s gratitude. The count, moved not so much by the action of the robber chief as by this fresh display of unselfishness on Felix’s part, promised to do his best to save the robber from the punishment due his crimes.

On the same day, the count took the young goldsmith, accompanied by the stout-hearted huntsman, to his palace, where the countess, still anxious for the fate of the young man, was waiting for news from the forest. Who could describe her joy when her husband entered her room, holding her deliverer by the hand? She was never through questioning and thanking him; she brought her children and showed to them the noble-hearted youth to whom their mother owed so much, and the little ones seized his hands, and the child-like way in which they spoke their thanks and their assurances that, next to their father and mother, they loved him better than any one else in the whole world, were to him a most blessed recompense for many sorrows, and for the sleepless nights he had passed in the robbers’ camp.

After the first moments of rejoicing were over, the countess beckoned to a servant, who presently brought the clothes and the knapsack that Felix had turned over to the countess in the forest inn. “Here is every thing,” said she, with a kindly smile, “that you gave me on that terrible night; they enveloped me with a glamour that blinded my pursuers. They are once more at your service; still I will make you an offer for these clothes, that I may have some mementoes of you. And I ask you to take in exchange the sum which the robbers demanded for my ransom.”

Felix was confounded by the munificence of this present; his nobler self revolted against accepting a reward for what he had done voluntarily. “Gracious countess,” said he, deeply moved, “I can not consent to this. The clothes shall be yours as you wished; but the money of which you spoke I can not take. Still, as I know that you are desirous of rewarding me in some way, instead of any other reward, let me continue to be blessed with your best wishes, and should I ever happen to be in need of assistance, you may be sure that I will call on you.” In vain did the countess and her husband seek to change the young man’s resolution; and the servant was about to carry the clothes and knapsack out again, when Felix remembered the ornament, which the occurrence of these happy scenes had put out of his mind.

“Wait,” cried he; “there is one thing in my knapsack, gracious lady, that you must permit me to take; every thing else shall be wholly and entirely yours.”

“Just as you please,” said she; “although I should like, to keep every thing just as it is, to remember you by; so please take only what you can not do without. Yet, if I may be permitted to ask, what is it that lies so near to your heart that you don’t wish to give it to me?”

While she was speaking, the young man had opened the knapsack, and now produced a small red morocco case. “Every thing that belongs to me, you are welcome to,” replied he, smiling; “but this belongs to my dear lady godmother. I did the work on it myself, and must carry it to her with my own hands. It is a piece of jewelry, gracious lady,” continued he as he opened the case and held it out to her, “an ornament that I myself prepared.”