ara's residence had remained as it was when she
arrived, only the second story, since the departure of the marquise,
had stood empty. Two horses had been left in the stable, the steward
performed his duties as before, the cook presided in the kitchen, and
Frau Lamperi attended to Barbara's rooms.

Nevertheless, at Wolf's first visit he was obliged to exert all his
powers of persuasion to induce his miserable friend to give up
her resolution of moving into her former home. Besides, after the
conversation with Charles's messenger, she had felt so ill that no
visitor except himself had been received.

When, a few days later, she learned that the Emperor had set out for
Landshut, she entreated Wolf to seek out Pyramus Kogel, for she had just
learned that during her illness her father's travelling companion
had asked to see her, but, like every one else, had been refused.
She grieved because they had forgotten to tell her this; but when she
discovered that the same stately officer had called again soon after the
relapse, she angrily upbraided, for the first time, Frau Lamperi, who
was to blame for the neglect, and her grief increased when, on the
same day, a messenger brought from the man who had twice been denied
admittance a letter which inclosed one from her father, and briefly
informed her that he should set out at once for Landshut. As she would
not receive him, he must send her the captain's messages in this way.

It appeared from the old man's letter that, while leaving the ship
at Antwerp, he had met with an accident, and perhaps might long be
prevented from undertaking the toilsome journey home. But he was well
cared for, and if she was still his clear daughter, she must treat Herr
Pyramus Kogel kindly this time, for he had proved a faithful son and
good Samaritan to him.

A stranger's hand had written this letter, which contained nothing more
about the old soldier's health, but reminded her of a tin tankard which
he had forgotten to deliver, and urged her to care for the ever-burning
lamp in the chapel. It closed with the request to offer his profound
reverence at the feet of his Majesty, the most gracious, most glorious,
and most powerful Emperor, and the remark that there was much to say
about the country of Spain, but the best was certainly when one thought
of it after turning the back upon it.

As a postscript, he had written with his own hand, as the crooked
letters showed: "Mind what I told you about Sir