usly Quijada had kept silence concerning the
wound which he had dealt him. When Don Luis freely forgave him for the
unfortunate misunderstanding for which he, too, was not wholly free from
blame, Wolf had thrown himself on his knees and warmly entreated him
to dispose of him, who owed him more than life, as he would of himself.
Then, opening his whole heart, he revealed what Barbara had been to
him, and how, unable to control his rage, he had rushed upon him when he
thought he had discovered, in the man who had just asked him to go far
away from the woman he loved, her betrayer.

After this explanation, Quijada had acquiesced in the knight's wish that
he should give him the office offered on that luckless evening, and he
now felt disposed also to intrust to him further negotiations with the
singer.

In the report made to the Emperor, Don Luis suppressed everything which
could offend him; but Charles remained immovable in his determination
to withdraw the expected gift of Fate, from its first entrance into the
world, from every influence except his own. Moreover, he threatened that
if the blinded girl continued to refuse to enter the convent and yield
up the child, he would withdraw his aid from both. After a sleepless
night, however, he remarked, on the following morning, that he perceived
it to be his duty, whatever might happen, to assume the care of the
child who was entitled to call him its father. What he would do for the
mother must depend upon her future conduct. This was another instance
how every trespass of the bounds of the moral order which the Church
ordains and hallows entails the most sorrowful consequences even here
below. Precisely because he was so strongly attached to this unfortunate
woman, once so richly gifted, he desired to offer her the opportunity to
obtain pardon from Heaven, and therefore insisted upon her retiring to
the convent. His own guilt was causing him great mental trouble and, in
fact, notwithstanding the arduous labour imposed upon him by the war,
the most melancholy mood again took possession of him.

The day before his departure to join the army which was gathered near by
at Landshut, he withdrew once more into the apartment draped with sable
hangings.

When he was informed that Barbara wished to leave the Prebrunn castle,
he burst into a furious passion, and commanded that she should be kept
there, even if it was necessary to use force.

CHAPTER V.

Everything in Barb