embering that nothing less than the life
of her darling pupil was at stake, she proceeded tremblingly and
repentingly with her account of the dreadful _exercitia_ which had led
her to find out Paul's sentiments towards Klytia, and she exposed the
false Priest all the more as she suspected that he himself had forged
this accusation against Lydia, to revenge his unrequited love. "I never
gazed into a blacker soul," she said shudderingly.

"In other words, my Lady Cousin," replied the Kurfuerst angrily, "a
punishment is once more being inflicted on you and others for having
turned your Institution into a refuge for Papists. What has been
reported to me is then true; you permitted this black traitor to
perform secret masses."

The Countess remained silent and looked down confused. The Kurfuerst
Frederic, enraged at this discovery was about to dismiss the two
petitioners without another word, had not Frau Belier, whose husband he
knew to be a stern Huguenot, beseeched him most affectingly, not to
permit the poor imprisoned Lydia to suffer for the sins of the wolf in
sheep's clothing, he therefore added he that he would order the Amtmann
to report to him.

"Oh, most Gracious Lord," prayed the lively Frenchwoman throwing
herself on her knees before him, "you do not know the horrible
treatment in the Witches' Tower. They will drive the poor child mad,
they will frighten her to death, if she must pass the night there."

"Order must exist," said the Kurfuerst. "Master Ulrich will be told that
he will answer with his head for the safety of the maiden. No person
must be allowed to enter her cell till the Magistrate comes in person
to fetch her out. I myself will vouch, that no hair of her head shall
be injured, if her innocence can be proved. She who however runs about
the woods at night, and kisses parsons on the cross roads, cannot
complain if the police lay hold of her. I am myself sorry for the
pretty child, but for the moment I only know your side of the story,
and not what the Magistrate may have to say. Till her trial is at an
end, she may keep company with her father in the great Tower, and that
is all I can do in the matter."

The ladies perceived that nothing more was to be obtained from the
Kurfuerst, and so as not to enrage the Prince against their _protegee_,
they returned sadly homewards.

Towards evening Laurenzano called on Frau Belier, to demand back his
dagger. "Your extravagant ideas would now answer no pu