eches? Because I think that our gracious lord, who for many a
long day has not bestowed even the least side glance upon any of your
bewitching sex, noticed the same thing. And now you will presently be
obliged to admit that the old messenger of bad news in Ratisbon, whom
you requited so ill for his unpleasant errand, can also bring good
tidings; for the Emperor Charles--in spite of the abdication, he will
always be that until he, too, succumbs to the power which makes us all
equal--his Majesty sends you his greetings, and the message that
he desires to do what he can to restore to you the art in which you
attained such rare mastery. He places at your disposal--this time, at
least, he was not economical--a sum which will take you to the healing
springs four or five times, nay, oftener still."

Barbara had listened thus far, speechless with joyful surprise. If it
was Charles to whom she owed her recovery, the gift of song which it
restored would possess tenfold value for her, if that was conceivable.
She was already beginning to charge the leech to be the bearer of her
gratitude and joy, but he did not let her finish, and went on to mention
the condition which his Majesty attached to this gift.

Barbara must never mention it to any one, and must promise the physician
to refrain from all attempts to thank him either in person or by letter
in short, to avoid approaching him in any way.

The old physician had communicated this stipulation--which his royal
patient had strictly associated with the gift--to Barbara in the
emphatic manner peculiar to him, but she had listened, at first in
surprise, then with increasing indignation. The donation which, as a
token of remembrance and kind feeling, had just rendered her so happy,
now appeared like mere alms. Nay, the gift would make her inferior to
the poorest beggar, for who forbids the mendicant to utter his "May God
reward you"?

Charles kept her aloof as if she were plague-stricken. Perhaps it was
because he feared that if he saw her once he might desire a second and a
third meeting. But no matter. She would accept no aid at the cost of so
severe an offence to her pride, least of all when it came from the man
who had already wounded her soul often and painfully enough.

The startled physician perceived what was passing in her mind, and when,
not passionately as in her youth, but with cool composure, she requested
Dr. Mathys to tell his master that it would be as impossible f