_CHAPTER XXIII_.
_THE MEETING_.
Hermengarde felt very uneasy at the Empress' silence with regard toErwin. Was he no longer in the Camp? Had he accompanied the Emperor toLodi, or perhaps returned to Germany? The doubts annoyed her, and inher agitation she paced her room with hurried steps.
"You must be tired," said the maid who attended her. "Why in the worlddo you run about in that way? I feel quite broken down, and yet youseem as lively as if you had not ridden fourteen miles to-day."
"Youth bears fatigue easily, but I have been wrong, dear Hedwige, tomake you come such a tiresome journey."
"Wrong! and who but I should accompany you? Your father was away, andyou could not come to the Court alone."
"Oh! Hedwige, you remind me that I have been doubly wrong: first intiring you, and then in coming away without my father's permission."
"You could not have declined such an honor. How silly! Many a prince'sdaughter would have been flattered by such an invitation! No, no; youdid quite right to accept it."
"But my father's consent?"
"Nonsense! Your father would have been proud of the honor paid you; donot doubt it a moment."
"Still"--
"Hush!--some one is coming."
At this moment, Richilda, accompanied by several ladies of honor,entered, bearing a most cordial invitation to visit the Empress. Shewas surprised at Hermengarde's sad expression.
"I trust that you are not unwell, noble lady?" she asked, kindly.
"Oh, it is nothing," replied Hermengarde, blushing; "I am only a littlehomesick: it is a malady felt by all spoilt children."
"You must forget, for a few days, your Alpine retreats, although CountRechberg has given such a vivid picture of their charms, that I canscarcely wonder that you regret your castle in the midst of all thisturmoil of the camp."
"Has the Count returned to Germany?" asked Hermengarde.
"Oh no! you will meet him at the banquet to which Her Majesty hascommissioned me to invite you."
In a few moments she left her apartment, preceded by several ladies,who composed an escort of honor. At the head of the procession walkedthe master of ceremonies, holding the silver wand of his office. Theypassed through several sumptuously furnished apartments, and finallyarrived in the reception-hall.
"The noble Lady of Castellamare!" cried the master of ceremonies, witha loud voice.
These words interrupted a serious and animated conversation between theEmpress and the Duke of Austria; but Beatrice came forward cordially towelcome her guest, and at once presented her to the prince.
"I have heard a great deal of you, noble lady, and I am happy now tomake your acquaintance: you realize the ideal; a lovely soul under amost perfect exterior.--You have given to all children a most beautifulexample to be followed, and you have gained honor and renown. Allow meto express all my admiration."
"You are taking the true course to make our Hermengarde proud.Frankness is to be lauded, but must not be abused."
"I crave your Majesty's pardon!" said the Duke, to whom Beatrice was nostranger, and who knew that the girl's beauty annoyed her; "but I mustsay that you have added to your chaplet a pearl whose lustre willdazzle more than one noble gentleman."
"Oh, you are not frank now," said the Empress, with suppressed rage."But come, the banquet awaits us; it is served in a woman's fashion,but I will not accept a refusal."
Just then the hangings of the door were lifted, and Erwin of Rechbergentered the room. All eyes were turned upon the youthful pair. TheCount stood motionless, as though rooted to the ground, and with openeyes seemed to fear to advance lest the lovely vision might fade fromhis sight forever.
The Empress, holding the young girl's hand, approached.
"It is no dream, as you seem to fear, Erwin," said she.--"Well, Count,why do you remain dumb and unmoved? this surprise, I am persuaded,cannot be a disagreeable one to you."
"A thousand pardons, the----it is so unexpected."
And stepping forward, he kissed his lady's hand. They sat down totable. On the right of the Empress was placed Hermengarde, on her leftthe Duke of Austria, and next to the young Italian was Erwin ofRechberg. The court attendants were at the foot of the table, withHedwige in the place of honor among them; and the worthy nurse hadenough to do in answering all the questions which the curiosity of theother women prompted them to make. The food, consisting of fowls, game,fruit, honey and other sweetmeats, was served on silver dishes; but,except by the Austrian, who quaffed long draughts from a golden goblet,there was very little attention paid to the choice wines set beforethem.
The conversation went on naturally; Rechberg and Hermengarde had somuch to say that they soon forgot to eat or drink, while the Dukeresumed the discussion which the Italian's arrival had interrupted.
"Yes, madame," he said, "it is an irreligious, an impious act. Clemenceis a noble wife, and this pretext of consanguinity is unfounded. Such atransaction might take place among Moors and Pagans, but amongChristians, never! Clemence is the lawful wife of the Duke of Saxony,and should he marry another woman, the union would be illegal. That ismy way of looking at the question, and if the affair is debatedpublicly, I will state my opinion frankly."
This discourse was highly unpleasant to the Empress, whose positiontowards Frederic was involved in the condemnation so freely expressed.His first wife was still living, and Beatrice, consequently, had nolegitimate claims to the title. Her flashing eyes indicated herdispleasure, as she replied,--
"I had not supposed your relationship so close."
"My relationship! Most certainly it is painful for me to see mycousin's daughter repudiated so disgracefully, but I have many otherreasons for opposing the divorce. The Emperor may, for reasons ofpolicy, overthrow everything in Church and State; but, believe me, thisstate of things will not continue. To despise the holy teachings of thefaith, to break sacred bonds, to be recreant to every law which isrevered by nations and sovereigns, are acts of impiety which cannotalways go unpunished."
"You are a skilful preacher," said Beatrice, whose frivoloustemperament was little disposed to serious questions. "One can see thatyou were educated by the monks."
"The memories of my youth do not influence my opinions on holy matters.However, I owe many thanks to the good priests of Fulva."
"And I see that your ducal robes are only a species of cowl!"
"Your Majesty, I perceive, agrees with the Emperor; he also has littleaffection for the monks."
"And very naturally, too. They oppose energetically all development ofthe Imperial power, for these pious people will not tolerate anydivision of authority."
"At least they will not acknowledge his spiritual supremacy, and inthis they are perfectly right," said the Duke, with his usualfrankness.
"Heavens! how you warm with this subject! But let us drop thediscussion; neither of us will convince the other."
"Pardon me, madam! I have just learned the story of this divorce.Astonished, furious at the infamy of the proceeding, I came here toexpress my views frankly to the Emperor; but, as His Majestyunfortunately is absent, I have ventured to express my sentiments toyou. May I hope that you will sympathize with me, and use yourinfluence in the defence of this ill-used woman?"
"Enough," said she. "Your conversation has been very instructive, for,until to-day, I was not aware that she who took the place of a divorcedwife was no better than a courtesan. You may rest assured, my lord,that the Emperor, as well as myself, will appreciate the lesson as itdeserves."
The Duke felt that he had made himself a mortal enemy, but it gave himno uneasiness whatever. Duke Jacomgirott was no courtier, and hisenergetic character never concealed, even for an instant, his truesentiments. Beatrice left him in anger, but what she witnessed on theother side was not calculated to calm her emotions; her glance wasfixed for one moment on the fair Hermengarde, who was conversingjoyously with the Count.
"Your attentions are n
ot at all displeasing to me," she said; "but wehave determined that you shall not entirely monopolize our amiableguest. She will accompany us to our private apartments." The Empressrose, and bowing coldly to the Duke, swept out of the hall, accompaniedby the lady of Castellamare, and followed by her retinue.
"I have made her my enemy for life," said the Austrian to himself. "Shecannot, it is true, sympathize with my poor Clemence without thinkingof the Empress Adelaide, whose place she has usurped. Ah! what is it,my little man?" as Lanzo advanced, with a grave and important air.
"If my eyes do not deceive me," said the jester, "you are the Duke ofAustria?"
"Yes; what then?"
"Then, you must know, that you see before you the ambassador of theDuchess of Saxony and Bavaria."
"You the envoy of a duchess! Upon my word, I am surprised."
"You should not be, my lord; Clemence wanted to find some one to carryher message, but as there are but three men in the four camps, herchoice was necessarily limited."
"Three men only, among so many thousands of gallant soldiers! What apiece of impertinence. You deserve a flogging; but come, let us see whothese three men are!"
"The first one, naturally, is myself; the second, is my cousinBarbarossa; and the third shall be you, if you choose," said thejester.
"How is that!" interrupted Erwin. "Am not I a man too?"
"No," replied Lanzo. "To be a man, you must be free; and your heart isin bondage!"
"A sorry joke!" said the Duke, with a laugh.
"And all the others are the mere dolls, puppets, wooden horses,armorbearers, and bloodhounds of one man, named Barbarossa. Mix up allthese creatures together, pound them into a paste, and put it under apress; you will not extract the least action of independence, energy,or generosity."
"Hum! you are not far wrong; but we are forgetting the important part.What is it that your Excellency is empowered to communicate to me?"
"That you must go at once to your cousin; she has been seeking you forthe last hour."
The Duke took his leave of Rechberg, and in company with the jesterwent towards the tent of the Princess of Saxony.
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