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Kaspar Hauser.
been sufficient to condemn the young man. For some time
Daumer did not understand the drift of Lord Stanhope’s sugges.
tions, and when the Earl spoke more plainly, Daumer wag
astonished and indignant, and refused absolutely to join in any
such plot. He reproached Stanhope for the unaccountable change
in his sentiments towards Kaspar, and both he and his mother
said much in defence of the departed. But Lord Stanhope paid
no attention to their explanations, and was so bitter and malignant
in his slanders of the dead youth that Daumer felt convinced of
their being a distinct purpose in bis hatred as there had been in
his love.
Frau Daumer, perceiving at last his object, implored him not
to cover with infamy an unfortunate being who had once loved
and trusted him as his father and protector, and who, she knew,
was not an impostor and a scoundrel.
Stanhope, in answer to her earnest appeal, said merely, “It
cannot hurt him now !”
He became very much excited at thé opposition of Daumer
and his mother, and finally rushed out of the room without taking
leave of either. As soon as he was gone, Frau Daumer turned to
her son, and said : “ Don’t you see? He is the murderer!”
Lady Caroline Albersdorf was of the same opinion. During
Kaspar’s short life in the world this lady changed her opinion
several times as to his probable origin ; but she never changed
her opinion respecting Lord Stanhope, whom she distrusted from
the beginning, and suspected more and more strongly as time
went on. When she heard that the Earl had adopted the boy,
and was intending to take him to Italy, her comment was: “ That
is only so as to have him put out of the way more easily!” And
on hearing that Kaspar Hauser was dead she did not hesitate to
say that Stanhope was the murderer.
It is curious that three women, Queen Caroline, Lady Caroline,
and Frau Daumer, guided by their feminine perceptions, went
straight to the conclusion which is gradually becoming the con-
viction of all earnest students of this long-concealed mystery.
