open hand, and said: "Whether the Lord our God awoke this new life for
our punishment or our pleasure the future will teach. What more must be
done in this matter? You know my custom in regard to such important
affairs. They are slept upon and maturely considered. Only there is one
point," and as he uttered the words his voice assumed an imperious tone,
"which is already irrevocably decided. The world must not suspect what
hope offers itself to me and another. Tell her, Mathys, we wish her
happiness; but if her maternal heart expects that I will do her child the
honour of calling it mine, I must require her to keep silence, and
intrust the newborn infant's destiny, from the first hour of its birth,
to my charge."

Here he hesitated, and, after looking the physician in the face, went on:
"You again think that harsh, Mathys--I see it in your expression--but, as
my friend, you yourself can scarcely desire the world to see the Emperor
Charles performing the same task with a Barbara Blomberg. She is free to
choose. Either I will rear the child, whether it is a boy or a girl, as
my own, as I did my daughter, Duchess Margaret of Parma, or she will
refuse to give me the child from its birth and I must deny it
recognition. I have already shared far too much with that tempting
creature; I can not permit even this new dispensation to restore my
severed relationship with the singer. If Barbara's maternal love is
unselfish, the choice can not be difficult for her. That the charge of
providing for this new life will fall upon me is a matter of course.
Tell her this, Mathys, and if in future--But no. We will confide this
matter to Quijada."

As the door closed behind the physician, Charles stood motionless. Deep
earnestness furrowed his brow, but suddenly an expression of triumphant
joy flashed over his face, and then yielded to a look of grateful