Protestants. Finally, Barbara had brought home exquisite recollections
of her illustrious lover, which must not be clouded by the suffering of
the old woman, whom, besides, she could rarely please.

She did not learn what had happened until she went to mass, and
then it weighed heavily upon her heart that she had not given Wolf
her assistance, especially as she suspected, with strange certainty,
that she herself was connected with this terrible misfortune.

Now--ah, how gladly!--she would have helped Ursel with the nursing, but
she forbade her to enter the sick-room. The most absolute quiet must
reign there. No one was permitted to cross the threshold except herself
and an elderly nun, whom the Clares had sent for the sake of the wounded
man's dead mother. A Dominican also soon came, whom the old woman could
not shut out because he was despatched by the Queen of Hungary, and the
violinist Massi, whom she gladly welcomed as a good friend of her Wolf.
He proved himself loyal, and devoted every leisure hour of the night
to the sufferer. Barbara knocked at the door very often, but Ursel
persisted in refusing admittance. She knew that the girl had rejected
her darling's proposal, and it was a satisfaction to her when, toward
noon, the former told her that she was about to leave the house to go
to Prebrunn.

A cart would convey her luggage, but it would be only lightly laden.
Fran Lerch went with the baggage.

An hour later Barbara herself moved into the little castle, which had
been refurnished for her. Mounted upon a spirited bay horse from her
Prebrunn stables, she rode beside the Marquise de Leria's huge litter to
her new home.