e powder. This, Ferrari had
told him, was a rare medicine known in Italy alone; it would cause a
barren woman to become fruitful. The Italian told Glaser that this
precious physic was sent for her Highness Johanna Elizabetha by one who
loved her well and would fain serve her. Glaser was desired to sprinkle
it on the Duchess's food, but her Highness must be unaware of its
presence, for such knowledge would destroy the medicine's efficacy.
Glaser replied that he would willingly serve so noble and unfortunate a
lady as Johanna Elizabetha, but he refused to take the responsibility of
administering the powder. If, however, Ferrari first showed it to the
court doctor, Schubart, Glaser would undertake to mix the stuff into some
dish for her Highness. At mention of the physician, Ferrari disappeared
and did not return. Then Glaser averred he had been set upon near the
Judengasse one dark night, soon after Ferrari's visit. Two masked bravos
attacked him from behind, and it was only by the chance passing of the
town guard that he had escaped with his life. Her Highness heard this
story and she smiled bitterly, knowing that her barren state proceeded
from a very important omission, and that no powder could be efficacious.
And who should know this better than the Graevenitz? the sender of this
absurd powder, as the Duchess surmised. 'Poison!' said the Duchess, and
despatched a broken-hearted letter to Vienna telling of her bodily peril.

The days lengthened, bright April came with the calling and rustling of
Spring in all the air. There were mighty gay doings again at Urach, but
Stuttgart held aloof. Things had gone too far; the story of the white
powder had played the Graevenitz an evil turn, and people were genuinely
horrified at her wickedness. Not a jot cared Wilhelmine. 'The
Stuttgarters were such provincials, such shabby, heavy, rude louts,'
said the lady from Guestrow. There were no festivities at the castle in
Stuttgart. How should there be with the agonised, deserted woman as
hostess?

It was her Highness's custom to pray and meditate in solitude for an hour
when the day waned. She led a busy, if sedentary, life; sewing her
eternal garments of coarse flannel for the poor while Madame de Stafforth
read aloud from books of piety. A number of poor people came to the
castle, and her Highness was ever ready--nay, eager, to listen to their
tales of misery and to distribute alms to these her only courtiers. Then
there were the l