irst sound of the horns had saluted Ottavio Farnese.

Mounted on a spirited charger, he held aloft, as gonfaloniere of the
Church, the proud banner to be whose bearer was deemed by the Dukes of
Parma one of their loftiest titles of honour.

He was greeted by the nobles present with loud acclamations, but was
still booted and attired as beseemed a horseman. The cavaliers, officers,
and pages who attended him entered the citadel in no regular order. But
as Ottavio swung himself from his magnificently formed, cream-coloured
steed, and issued orders to his train, Barbara could look him directly in
the face and, though she thought him neither handsome nor possessed of
manly vigour, she could not help admitting that she had rarely seen a
young man of equally distinguished bearing. His every movement bore the
impress of royal self-confidence, yet at the same time was unconstrained
and graceful.

Now he disappeared in the wing of the building that united the ladies'
rooms with the main structure opposite.

The Emperor Charles could not be here yet. His arrival would not have
been passed by so quietly, and the imperial banner did not float either
from the many-sided turret at the left end of the main building nor from
the lofty roof of the ancient Wittelsbach tower. Great nobles, mounted on
splendid chargers, constantly rode into the citadel, sometimes in groups,
and were saluted by the blast of horns; nimble squires led the horses
away, while ducal councillors, nobles, chamberlains, and ushers received
the distinguished guests of the citadel and conducted them to the
Turnitz, the huge banquet hall in the lower story of the main building,
where the best of everything undoubtedly stood ready for them.

But every arrangement had already been made for the approaching
ceremony--a broad wooden estrade was erected in the centre of the
courtyard, and richly decorated with garlands of flowers, blossoming
branches, flags, and streamers. At the back stood the Emperor's throne,
covered with purple damask, and beside it numerous velvet cushions lay
piled one upon another, waiting to be used.

Barbara's vivid imagination already showed her the course of this rare
spectacle, and she gladly and confidently expected that the Emperor must
turn his face toward her during the principal portion of the ceremony.

Now the carpet on the stage was drawn tighter by lackeys in magnificent
liveries, and the final touches were given to its decoration