after their nuptials. Her present husband, the Duke of Parma, whom
you will see, is, on the contrary, younger than she, but since the
unfortunate campaign against Algiers, in which he participated, and after
his recovery from the severe illness he endured after his return home,
they enjoy a beautiful conjugal happiness. His Majesty is warmly attached
to his daughter, and the great distinction which he will bestow upon her
husband to-day is given by no means least to please his own beloved
child, though her mother was only a Jollanna van der Gheynst."

Barbara had listened to these communications with dilated eyes, but the
speaker was now interrupted; the leech, Dr. Matthys, was announced, and
immediately entered the room.

Barbara's outburst of rage had not lessened his sympathy for her, and in
the interest of science he desired to learn what effect his remedies had
had. Unfortunately, in spite of their use, no improvement was visible.

The strange absence of mind with which the girl, who usually answered
questions so promptly and decidedly, now seemed scarcely to hear them, he
attributed to the painful remembrance of her unseemly behaviour at their
last meeting, and therefore soon left her, by no means satisfied with his
visit. On the way, however, he told himself that it was unfair to blame
the bird which had just been captured for fluttering.

When the leech had retired, Barbara regretted that she had answered him
so indifferently. But the anticipation of seeing her imperial lover again
dominated every thought and feeling. Besides, she again and again saw
before her the figure of the young duke, whom she had never beheld, but
whom Charles had married to the daughter of that Johanna who was said to
have been neither more beautiful nor more aristocratic than she herself.

Frau Traut saw compassionately that she could not remain long quietly in
any place, and that when the noon meal was served she scarcely tasted
food.

As soon as the first blast of the horns rose from the gate of the citadel
she urged departure like an impatient child, and her indulgent companion
yielded, though she knew that the stately ceremonial would not begin for
a long time.

The window which Adrian had assigned to the two women in a room which was
to be occupied by them alone afforded a view of the entire courtyard, and
from the arm-chair which Frau Traut had had brought for her Barbara gazed
down into it with strained attention.

The f