d him also from being a
genuine man, clasp her, whom he knew was his own, in his arms, and hold
her as long as he desired, he should learn what a strong, free, fearless
woman, whose pliant limbs were as unfettered as her heart, could bestow
upon him to whom she gave all the love that she possessed! And he must
want something of her which was to be concealed from the wife. She could
not be mistaken. She had never been deceived in a presentiment that was
so positive. Ever since she reached Augsburg, an inner voice had told
her--and old Brigitta's cards confirmed it--that the destiny of her life
would be decided here, and he alone held her weal and woe in his hand.

Yet she had misinterpreted his conduct to his wife. In spite of the
finery which Kuni owed to the generosity of the Knight of Neckerfels,
who was then a suitor for her favour, Lienhard had recognised her.
The sight recalled their last meeting and its painful termination, and
therefore he had omitted to attract Frau Katharina's attention to her
immediately. But, ere Kuni disappeared, he had repaired the oversight,
and both desired to ascertain the fate of their former charge. True, the
wish could not be instantly fulfilled, for Lienhard's time and strength
were wholly claimed by the mission intrusted to him by the Emperor and
the Council.

The next afternoon Kuni ascended the rope to the steeple in the presence
of many princes and dignitaries. Firmly as ever she moved along the rope
stretched through the wooden stay behind her, holding the balancing pole
as she went. The clapping of hands and shouts of applause with which the
crowd greeted "the flying maiden" led her to kiss her hand to the
right and the left, and bow to the stand which had been erected for the
crowned heads, counts, nobles, and their wives. In doing so, she looked
down at the aristocratic spectators to ascertain whether the Emperor and
one other were among them. In spite of the height of the topmost
window of the steeple where she stood, her keen eyes showed her that
Maximilian's seat was still vacant. As it was hung with purple draperies
and richly garlanded, the monarch was evidently expected. This pleased
her, and her heart throbbed faster as she saw on the stand all the
nobles who were entitled to admittance to the lists of a tournament,
and, in the front row, the man whose presence she most desired. At
Lienhard's right sat his dazzlingly beautiful wife, adorned with
plumes and the most su