tenberg. This seemed suspicious, and induced De Soto to
investigate the matter thoroughly.

Erasmus had come in the morning, at a time when the Emperor never
visited Barbara. Nothing remarkable had taken place during their
interview, but Cassian had heard her dismiss him with a warning which,
even to a less distrustful person, would have seemed suspicious. Why had
she assured the Wittenberg theologian, as she extended her hand to him
in farewell, that what he offered her had given her great pleasure, and
she would gladly invite him to bring her similar things often, but must
deny herself this gratification from motives which he could imagine? His
urgent entreaty at least to be permitted to call on her sometimes she
had curtly and positively refused, but the Wittenberg heretic did not
allow himself to be rebuffed, for Cassian had seen him several times in
the neighbourhood of the castle.

There was as little cause to object to the visits paid to her by
Gombert, Appenzelder, Damian Feys, occasionally some noblemen or guests
of the court, and once even by no less a personage than the Bishop of
Arras, as to the rides she took every afternoon; for the latter were
always under the charge of Herr de Fours, an old equerry of the Emperor,
and in the company of several courtiers, among whom Baron Malfalconnet
was often included. A number of gay young pages always belonged to
this brilliant cavalcade, whose number never lacked the handsome
sixteen-year-old Count Tassis, who spent his whole large stock of pocket
money in flowers which he sent every morning to Barbara.

The confessor was glad to hear that the estimable violinist Massi
frequently visited the girl, for he was firm in the faith, and that he
brought her tidings of the sorely wounded Sir Wolf Hartschwert could
only be beneficial, for perhaps he warned her of the seriousness of life
and that there were other things here below than the joy of love, jest,
and laughter. The almoner's doubt of Wolf's orthodoxy had been entirely
dispelled by his confession. Men do not deceive in the presence of
death.

It would have been a genuine boon had Barbara selected him to open her
heart to him in the confessional, for her relation to the wounded man
rendered it difficult for him to trust her entirely.

Wolf's thoughts in his fever constantly dwelt upon her, and he sometimes
accused her of the basest treachery, sometimes coupled her name with
Malfalconnet's, sometimes with Luis Qui