Wittenberg. This seemed suspicious, and induced De Soto to investigate
the matter thoroughly.

Erasmus had come in the morning, at a time when the Emperor never visited
Barbara. Nothing remarkable had taken place during their interview, but
Cassian had heard her dismiss him with a warning which, even to a less
distrustful person, would have seemed suspicious. Why had she assured
the Wittenberg theologian, as she extended her hand to him in farewell,
that what he offered her had given her great pleasure, and she would
gladly invite him to bring her similar things often, but must deny
herself this gratification from motives which he could imagine? His
urgent entreaty at least to be permitted to call on her sometimes she had
curtly and positively refused, but the Wittenberg heretic did not allow
himself to be rebuffed, for Cassian had seen him several times in the
neighbourhood of the castle.

There was as little cause to object to the visits paid to her by Gombert,
Appenzelder, Damian Feys, occasionally some noblemen or guests of the
court, and once even by no less a personage than the Bishop of Arras, as
to the rides she took every afternoon; for the latter were always under
the charge of Herr de Fours, an old equerry of the Emperor, and in the
company of several courtiers, among whom Baron Malfalconnet was often
included. A number of gay young pages always belonged to this brilliant
cavalcade, whose number never lacked the handsome sixteen-year-old Count
Tassis, who spent his whole large stock of pocket money in flowers which
he sent every morning to Barbara.

The confessor was glad to hear that the estimable violinist Massi
frequently visited the girl, for he was firm in the faith, and that he
brought her tidings of the sorely wounded Sir Wolf Hartschwert could only