Terror and rage had benumbed Ludwig's nerves.
What was it?
Who had sent this nameless monster after his carefully guarded treasure?
Even the bottom of the lake concealed her enemies! He could think of nothing but intrigues and malignant persecutions.

Rage boiled in his veins.
He enveloped the maid in her bath-mantle, and took up his oars.
"I will come back here to-morrow," he muttered to himself, "hunt up this creature, and shoot it--be it man or beast." Marie murmured something which sounded like a remonstrance.
"I will shoot the creature!" repeated Ludwig, savagely.
The young girl withdrew trembling to the stern of the boat, and said nothing further; she even strove to suppress her nervous terror, like a child that has behaved naughtily.
When the boat reached the shore, Ludwig bade Marie in a stern voice to make haste and change her bathing-dress, and became very impatient when she lingered longer than usual in the bath-house.

Then he took her arm and walked rapidly with her to the castle.
"Are you really going to shoot that creature ?" asked Marie, still trembling.
"Yes." "But suppose it is a human being ?" "Then I shall certainly shoot him." "I will never, never again venture into the lake." "I am certain of that! If you once become frightened in the water, you will always have a dread of it." "My dear, beautiful lake!" sighed Marie, casting backward a sorrowful glance at the glittering expanse of water, at the paradise of her dreams, which the rising wind was curling into wavelets.
"Go at once to bed," said Ludwig, when he had conducted his charge to the door of her room.

"Cover yourself up well, and if you feel chilly I will make you a cup of camomile tea." All children have such a distaste for this herb tea that it was not to be wondered at if Marie declared she did not feel in the least chilly, and that she would go at once to bed.
But she did not sleep well.

She dreamed all night long of the water-monster.