he current has carried it away; his body
and--the woman's."

Mataswintha's lips twitched.

"Even in death! She died with him?"

"Think no more of the dead. In two hours I will return with the Prince.
Will you then be prepared to welcome him?"

"I shall be ready."

"'Tis well. We will be punctual."

"I also. Aspa, call all my slaves; they shall adorn me richly to meet
this Prince. Diadem, purple, and silk."

"She has lost her senses," Cethegus said to himself as he left the
room. "But women are tough; she will recover them. These women can
live, even when their hearts are broken."

He went to console the impatient Prince.

Before the expiration of the time appointed, a slave came to invite the
two men to come to the Queen.

Germanus crossed the threshold of her room with a rapid step. But he
stood still astonished. He had never seen the Gothic Princess looking
so lovely, so queenly.

She had placed a high golden diadem upon her shining hair, which fell
over her shoulders in two thick tresses. Her under-dress of heavy white
silk, embroidered with golden flowers, was only visible below the knee,
for the upper part of her body was covered by the royal purple. Her
face was white and cold as marble: her eyes blazed with a strange and
supernatural light.

"Prince Germanus," she said, as he entered, "you once spoke to me of
love; but do you know of what you spoke? To love is to die."

Germanus looked inquiringly at the Prefect, who now came forward.

He was about to speak, but Mataswintha, in a clear loud voice,
recommenced:

"Prince Germanus, you are famed as the most highly-cultivated man of a
learned court, where it is a favourite pastime to practise the solving
of finely-pointed riddles. I also will put to you a riddle; see to it
that you solve it. Let the clever Prefect, who so well understands
human nature, help you. What is this?--A wife, and yet a maid; a widow,
and yet no wife? You cannot guess? You are right; death alone resolves
all riddles!"

With a sudden movement, she cast off her purple robe.

There was a flash of steel! She had stabbed herself to the heart.

With a shriek, Germanus and Aspa (who had stood behind) sprang forward.

Cethegus silently caught the falling figure.

She died as soon as he drew the sword from her breast. He knew the
sword. He himself had sent it to her.

It was the sword of King Witichis.

BOOK V.