The great lady, who probably remembered having directed Heinz's attention
to Eva at the dance, understood very clearly that they could not fail to
attract each other. Of all the knights in her imperial brother's train,
none seemed to the Burgravine more worthy of her favour than her gay
young countryman, whose mother had been one of the friends of her youth.
She would gladly have rendered him a service and, in this case, not only
for his own sake but still more on account of the rare fidelity of his
servant, who was also a native of her beloved Swiss mountains. Yet,
notwithstanding all this, it seemed impossible to bring this matter again
before the Emperor. She knew her husband, and after the rebuff he had
received on account of the tortured man he would be angry if she should
plead his cause with her royal brother.

But her kind heart, and the regard which both Eva and Heinz Schorlin
had inspired, strengthened her desire to aid, as far as lay in her power,
the brave maiden who urged her suit with such honest warmth, and the
petitioner's avowal of her intention, as a last resort, of appealing to
the Emperor in person showed her how to convert her kind wishes into
deeds.

Let Eva's youth and beauty try to persuade the Emperor to an act of
clemency which he had refused to wisdom and power.

After supper her brother received various guests, and she could present
the daughter of a Nuremberg patrician whom he already knew, and whose
rare charms had attracted his notice.

Though she had been compelled to forego the ride to the forest, she was
well enough to appear at supper in the Emperor's residence, which was
close to her own castle. When the meal was over she would take Eva