These two letters being sent, and thus being more tranquil, relative to the fate of Matilda, the Count applied himself wholly to the plan he had formed, in order to ascertain the happiness of Caroline. He had desired the High Chamberlain to come to Ronebourg, so soon as his daughter should be informed of the death of the Baroness. It could not be long before Lindorf must arrive, and the Count was determined to set off for Berlin the moment he came; pretending to have received an order from the king, and to leave Lindorf at Ronebourg, with the High Chamberlain, that he might obtain a divorce from his Majesty, and his consent, also, for the marriage of Lindorf and Caroline. He then intended to write and inform them of their happiness; and, without seeing them, to depart for Dresden. From Dresden, he meant to go to England with Matilda; or without her, if she determined to marry the young Baron de Zastrow; and to reside there with his mother's relations. He felt sufficient fortitude to make Caroline and his friend happy, but not to be a daily witness of their loves; and this plan, once fixed, he held to be unalterable.

Alas! he knew not yet all the power of love; had yet not felt all its vengeful effects. The more he struggled with passion the deeper was it rooted in his heart. How often, when beside Caroline, unable to restrain his feelings, was he ready to kneel at her feet, confess his affection, his internal struggles, his despair; appeal to her generosity, recal to mind the sacred bond by which they were united, the vows they had mutually made, and employ every resource, of pity and of passion, to supplicate her consent to live and die with the husband by whom she was adored. By flight only could he obtain a victory over himself, on these occasions. Once out of her sight, and virtue, delicacy, and friendship, again were ascendant.