discover who is within. If his Majesty desires to go out to Prebrunn and
return here, he will take it, and, even if his foot pains him, will reach
his fair goal unseen. The young girl consented yesterday to move there
with the marquise, and directly after it will be your duty, aided by
Master Adrian, to attend to the furnishing of the little castle. I will
aid you. You will hear the particulars from his Majesty. The marquise
will take Barbara directly to the chapel, where the choir is to sing.
People must become accustomed to see and speak of the two together. What
would you think of an alliance between Leria and Blomberg? If I see
correctly, the old woman will train the girl to be a useful tool."

"And if the tool cuts her fingers in the process," said Quijada, "I shall
be glad."

"So shall I!" assented the Queen, laughing. Then she dismissed the
major-domo, and a short time later singing was heard in the chapel.

The Emperor, after he had finished his meal, heard it also, and listened
to Barbara as if enraptured when, in Hobrecht's motet for five voices,
Salve crux arbor vitae, in the sublime O crux lignum triumphale, she
raised her voice with a power, a wealth of pious devotion which he had
never before heard in the execution of this forceful composition.

The little Maltese Hannibal again acquitted himself admirably, and in one
of the duets in the second part Johannes of Cologne could prove that he
had recovered.

His young companion in illness had also escaped lasting injury.

Appenzelder, too, showed himself fully satisfied with Barbara's