nor of the lantern close at hand was brilliant enough
to show the baron how the girl's face blanched at the message that the
Emperor Charles did not command, but only humbly entreated her to do him
a favour that evening.

She had with difficulty uttered a few words of thanks; but when the
adroit baron, with flattering urgency, besought her to crown her
kindness and remember the saying that whoever gives quickly gives
doubly, she pressed her right hand on her throbbing heart, and rode to
Frau Kastenmayr's side to explain briefly what compelled her to leave
them, and say to her and her brother a few words of farewell and
gratitude.

Herr Peter replied with sincere kindness; his sister with equally
well-meant chilling displeasure. Then Barbara rode on with the two
envoys, in advance of the procession, at the swiftest trot. Her tongue,
just now so voluble, seemed paralyzed. The violent throbbing of her
heart fairly stopped her breath. A throng of contradictory thoughts and
feelings filled her soul and mind. She was conscious of one thing only.
A great, decisive event was imminent, and the most ardent wish her heart
had ever cherished was approaching its fulfilment.

It is difficult to talk while riding rapidly; but Malfalconnet was
master of the power of speech under any circumstances, and the courtier,
with ready presence of mind, meant to avail himself of the opportunity
to win the favour of the woman whose good will might become a precious
possession.

But he was not to accomplish this, for, when he addressed the first
question to Barbara, she curtly replied that she did not like to talk
while her horse was trotting.

Wolf thought of the loud voice which had reached him a short time before
from the midst of the Ratisbon party, but he said nothing, and the baron
henceforward contented himself with occasionally uttering a few words.

The whole ride probably occupied only a quarter of an hour, but what
a flood of thoughts and feelings swept in this short time through
Barbara's soul!

She had just been enraged with herself for her defiance and the reckless
haste which perhaps had forever deprived her of the opportunity to
show the Emperor Charles her skill as a singer. The cruel anxiety which
tortured her on this account had urged her at Prufening to the loud
forwardness which hitherto she had always shunned. She had undoubtedly
noticed how deeply this had lowered her in Frau Kastenmayr's esteem, and
the discovery h