hly gifted by the
grace of God, was not suited for his modest young friend; this had become
especially evident to him when an almost evil expression escaped her lips
while she emptied the vial of her wrath upon Wolf's murderer.

If she deemed herself worthy of his master's love, she would not lack
Adrian's protection, which was the more effective the more persistently
he refrained from asking of the Emperor's favour even the slightest thing
for himself, his wife, or others; that the time would come when she would
need it, he was certain.

No one knew the Emperor so well as he, and he saw before him the cliffs
which threatened to shatter the little ship of this love bond. Already an
imprudent violation of his extreme sense of the dignity of majesty, or of
the confidence which he bestowed upon her, might become fatal to it.

But, ardently as she might return his love, loyal and discreet as her
conduct might be, there were other grave perils menacing the tie which
united the Emperor to Barbara.

Charles was a man of action, of work, of fulfilment of duty. The moment
that he perceived this love bond would impede his progress toward the
lofty goals to which he aspired might easily mark the beginning of its
end.

Now, in the midst of peace, such a result was scarcely to be feared; but
if it came to fighting--and many a sign showed Adrian that war was not
far distant--a great change would take place in his master's character;
the general would assert his rights. Every other consideration would then
be pitilessly thrust aside and, if Charles still remained loyal to his
affection, he would have fallen under the spell of one of those great
passions which defy every assault of time and circumstance and find an
end only in death. But the sharp-sighted man could not believe in such
love on his master's part; in his nature the claims of reason threw those
of the heart too far into the shade. If Barbara was wise, her daily
prayer should be for the maintenance of peace.

To speak of these fears to the care-free girl would have been cruel, but
he could probably give her a useful hint as opportunity offered.

Accustomed to perform his duty silently and, where speech was necessary,
to study the utmost brevity, he had not learned the art of clothing his
thoughts in pleasing forms. So, without circumlocution, he whispered to
Barbara the advice to send away Frau Lerch, who was not fit for her
service, and as soon as possible to dismis