nd plumes, when the enthusiastic cheers of this
illustrious assemblage, the blare of trumpets, the thunder of cannon,
and the ringing of bells loudly proclaimed the approach of him who,
as their lord and master, stood far above them all? Would he appear on
horseback, or had he dismounted at the gate and was advancing on foot?
Neither. He was borne in a sedan chair. It was covered with gilding,
and the top of the arched roof and each of the four corners were adorned
with bunches of red and gold plumes, the colours of Philip of Burgundy,
who more than a hundred years before had founded the order of the Golden
Fleece.

Instead of lackeys, strong sergeants, chosen from the different
regiments, bore the sedan chair. The gentlemen of the court--Prince
Henry of Nassau, Baron Malfalconnet, and Don Luis Quijada, with Generals
Furstenberg and Mannsfeld, Count Hildebrand Madrucci, the Master of the
Teutonic Order, the Marchese Marignano, and others--were preceded by the
stiff, grave, soldierly figure of the Duke of Alba, and, by the side
of the platform, grandees and military commanders, Netherland lords,
Italian, German, and Austrian princes, counts, barons, and knights had
taken their places.

When the sedan chair was at last set on the ground in front of the
lowest step of the platform, Barbara thought that her heart would burst;
for while the singers in the balcony began the "Venite populi mundi,"
so familiar to her, and the cheers redoubled, Charles descended, and in
what a guise she saw him again! He looked ten years older, and she felt
with him the keen suffering which every step must cause.

This time it was not Quijada, but the Duke of Alba, who offered him
the support of his mailed arm, and, leaning on it, he ascended the low
stage.

While doing so he turned his back to Barbara, and as with bent figure
and outstretched head he wearily climbed the two stairs leading to the
platform, he presented a pitiable spectacle.

And have you loved this wreck of a man with all the fervour of your
heart? the girl asked herself; does it still throb faster for him? could
you even now expect from him a fairer happiness than from all these
handsome warriors and nobles in the pride of their manly vigour? To this
old man you have sacrificed happiness and honour, given up your father
and the noblest, best of friends!

Fierce indignation for her own folly suddenly seized upon her with such
overmastering power that she looked away from