be expected from another quarter. Therefore he must act with the utmost
caution, and in a manner which his antagonists could not oppose.

At this reflection a peculiar smile, familiar to the courtiers as an omen
of a gracious impulse, hovered around his lips, which during the past
month had usually revealed by their expression the grief that burdened
his soul and, raising his long forefinger in playful menace, he began:

"Aha, Jungfrau Eva Ortlieb! What have you been doing since I had the
boon of meeting so rare a beauty at the dance? Do you know that you have
caused a turmoil amongst both ecclesiastical and secular authorities,
and that many a precious hour has been shortened for me on your account?
You have disturbed both the austere Dominican Fathers and the devout
Sisters of St. Clare. The former think the gentle nuns treat you too
indulgently, and the latter charge the zealous followers of St. Domingo
with too much strictness concerning you.

"And, besides, if you were not so well aware of it yourself, you would
scarcely believe it: for the sake of an insignificant serving man, who is
under your special protection, I, who carry the burden of so many serious
and weighty affairs, am beset by those of high and low degree. How much,
too, I have also suffered on account of his master, Sir Heinz Schorlin--
again in connection with you, you lovely disturber of the peace! To say
nothing of the rest, your own father brings a charge against him. The
accusation is made in a letter which Meister Gottlieb, our protonotary,
was to withhold by Herr Ortlieb's desire, but through a welcome accident
it fell into my hands. This letter contains statements, my lovely child,
which I--Nay, don't be troubled; the roses on your cheeks are glowing
enough already, and for their sake I will not mention its contents; only
they force me to ask the question--come nearer--whether, though it caused