not accuse me, Eberhard,' she answered; 'but your eyes and
the stern soul behind them accuse me. Nay, listen; how often have you
praised me, calling me a woman of much intelligence? Now, I ask you,
consider for a moment how a woman, gifted with even a spark of this same
intelligence, could act so foolishly as to have her declared enemy, the
obstacle to her happiness, removed by the poignard of a servant well
known to be in her employ? That is one plea I would put forward,
Monseigneur. Then again, should I select the moment to contrive her
Highness's death when the world is ringing with that preposterous Glaser
story? I am branded as a bigamist,' she added bitterly; 'do you fancy I
wish to add the title murderess to my name?'

'But explain the circumstance of your servant being discovered, poignard
in hand, lurking in the Princess Johanna Elizabetha's rooms. And oh!
Wilhelmine, forgive me; but this preposterous Glaser story, as you call
it, has never been properly explained. You have laughed, and I have put
the matter out of my thoughts; but now--O beloved! it is so terrible to
doubt you, but----'

Wilhelmine was unprepared for this retrospective attack. She hesitated,
and his Highness's face grew dark.

'I really must ask you to explain,' he said harshly, moving away from
her.

'Eberhard,' she said brokenly, 'I sent the powder to the Duchess.'

Serenissimus started forward. 'You confess? O my God!' he cried.

'Yes; I will tell you. The powder was a harmless philtre. I brewed a
magic draught which causes whoever drinks it to forget the being they
love, and become enamoured of the first person they see. O Eberhard,
believe me!'

'Fairy tales!' he almost laughed. 'But why given in secret? why given at
all?' he demanded.

'If she forgot you, forgot your charm, beloved, she would be happy again.
I had pity on her!'

It was poison she had sent, and even to herself her story seemed too
extravagant for credence. To her surprise, however, his Highness believed
her in this.

'Well, and for the rest? for Ferrari's being hidden in the castle?' he
questioned.

'Call Maria and ask her if I was aware that the madman had left Urach.
She can vouch that I thought him to be here.'

'Why did he do this thing?' said the Duke.

'What explanation did he offer?' she queried hurriedly.

'That he wished to see the black rooms!' he replied.

'Well, but surely that is explanation enough? You know the man's
extraordinary love o