nobleman,
and his first visit was to her, whom his news must render happy, even
happier than it did him and the woman in the house near the palace,
whose heart cherished the Emperor's son scarcely less warmly than his
own mother's.

On the long journey hither he had constantly anticipated the pleasure
of telling every incident in succession, just as it had happened; but
Barbara interrupted his first sentence with an inquiry how her John was
faring.

"He is so well that scarcely ever has any boy in the happiest time of
his life fared better," was the reply; and its purport, as well as
the tone in which it was uttered, entered Barbara's heart like angels'
greetings from the wide-open heavens. But Wolf went on with his report,
and when, in spite of hundreds of questions, he at last completed the
main points, his listener staggered, as if overcome by wine, to the
image of the Virgin on the pilaster, and with uplifted hands threw
herself on her knees before it.

Wolf, unobserved, silently stole away.

CHAPTER XVII.

The following afternoon Wolf sought Barbara again, and now for the
first time succeeded in relating regularly and clearly what, constantly
interrupted by her impatience, he had told in a confused medley the day
before. Pyramus, as usual, was away, and Barbara had taken care that no
one should interrupt them.

Deep silence pervaded the comfortable room, and Wolf had seated himself
in the arm-chair opposite to the young wife when, at her entreaty, he
began to tell the story again. She had informed him of Dona Magdalena's
letter, and that it took her to the Emperor's residence in San Yuste. At
that point her friend's fresh tidings began.

In the spring of the previous year Wolf had again been summoned from
Valladolid, where in the winter he directed the church singing as
prinnen of the religious music, to Cuacos, near San Yuste, where
Quijada's wife lived with her foster-son Geronimo. From there he had
often gone with Dona Magdalena and the boy to the Emperor's residence,
and frequently saw him.

The account given in the letter written by Quijada's wife also applied
to the last months of the imperial recluse's existence. Doubtless he
sometimes devoted himself to pious exercises and quiet meditation,
but he was usually busied with political affairs and the reading and
dictating of despatches. Even at that time he received many visitors.
When Geronimo came from Cuacos, he was permitted to go in and o