d
and intercessor.

Unfortunately, just at this time the pressure of business allowed the
Emperor little leisure to listen to the voice of the heart.

The day before yesterday the Elector John Frederick of Saxony and the
Landgrave Philip of Hesse had been banned, and with this the war began.

Already twelve troops of Spaniards who had served in Hungary, and other
bands of soldiers had entered Ratisbon; cannon came up the Danube from
Austria, and the city, had gained a warlike aspect. To disturb the
Emperor in his work as a general at such a time, with a matter which
must agitate him so deeply, was hazardous, and few would have been bold
enough to bring it before the overburdened monarch; but the leech's
interest in Barbara was so warm and sincere that he allowed himself
to be persuaded to act the mediator between her and the man who had
interfered so deeply in the destiny of her life. For the first time he
saw her weep, and her winning manner seemed to him equally touching,
whether she yielded to anxious distress of mind or to joyous hopes.

His intercession in her behalf would permit no delay, for the Emperor's
departure to join the troops was close at hand.

Firmly resolved to plead the cause of the unfortunate girl, whose
preservation, he might say, was his work, yet with slight hope of
success, he crossed the threshold of the imperial apartments.

When the physician informed the sovereign that Barbara might be
considered saved for the second time, the latter expressed his pleasure
by a warm "We are indebted to you for it again "; but when Mathys asked
if he did not intend to hasten Barbara's recovery by paying her a
visit, though only for a few moments, the Emperor looked into the
grave countenance of the physician, in whom he noticed an embarrassment
usually foreign to him, and said firmly, "Unfortunately, my dear Mathys,
I must deny myself this pleasure."

The other bowed with a sorrowful face, for Barbara's dearest wish had
been refused. But the Emperor saw what was passing in the mind of
the man whom he esteemed, and in a lighter tone added: "So even your
invulnerable dragon hide was not proof against the shafts--you know! If
I see aright, something else lies near your heart. My refusal--that is
easily seen--annoys you; but, much as I value your good opinion, Mathys,
it is firm. The more difficult I found it to regain my peace of mind,
the more foolish it would be to expose it to fresh peril. Now, if ever