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What can Von Glauben want over there?" His brief meditation was interrupted by a soft voice calling. "Roger!" He started, and at once advanced to meet the approaching intruder, his sister, Teresa de Launay, a pretty brunette, with dark sparkling eyes, one of the favourite ladies of honour in attendance on the Queen.
De Launay, being younger, was more hasty of judgment and quick in action; but Von Glauben too had been known to draw his sword with unexpected rapidity on occasion, to the discomfiture of those who deemed him only at home with the scalpel.
He had insensibly drawn nearer to her as he spoke; meanwhile Von Glauben, with a disconsolate air, had joined Sir Roger de Launay, who, by an enquiring look and anxious uplifting of his eyebrows, dumbly asked what was to be the upshot of this affair, only to receive a dismal shake of the head in reply.
"Those are your old, discarded theories, Ronsard!" said Von Glauben, shaking his head; "You said you would never return to them!" "Aye!" rejoined Ronsard; "I have tried to put away all my old thoughts and dreams for her sake" and his gaze rested lovingly on Gloria as, standing on tiptoe to reach a down-drooping rose, she gathered it and fastened it in her bosom.
Von Glauben rushed after him, but found himself in the thicket of pines, trapped and hemmed in by the darkness of their stems and branches. The wind was so fierce and strong, that he could scarcely keep his feet, every now and again the moon flew out of a great cloud- pinnacle and glared on the scene, but not with sufficient clearness to show him his way.
Some hours later on, Sir Roger de Launay, having left his Sovereign's presence, and being off duty for a time, betook himself to certain apartments in the west wing of the palace, where the next most trusted personage to himself in the confidence of the King, had his domicile, Professor von Glauben, resident physician to the Royal Household.
Then the child was sent to me; and I thought it was a sign that my penance was accepted; but no! no! the compensating curse falls, not on me, not on me, for if only so, I would welcome it but on Her! the child of my love the heart of my heart! on Her!" He turned away his face, and a hard sob broke from his labouring chest. Von Glauben laid a gentle, protective hand on his shoulder.
Arrived at the ante-chamber to the Throne-room, he was surprised to find Prince Humphry there, talking animatedly to the King's physician, Professor Von Glauben. The Prince seemed unusually excited; his face was flushed, and his eyes extraordinarily brilliant, and as he saw the Premier, he came forward, extending his hand, and almost preventing Lutera's profound bow and deferential salutation.
The beautiful girl is married possibly to a jealous husband, for she is apparently hidden away from all likely admirers, including myself! Now suppose Von Glauben is that husband!" He broke off and laughed. Sir Roger de Launay laughed with him; the idea was too irresistibly droll. But the King was bent on mischief, and determined to lose no time in compassing it. "Come along!" he said.
The conversation now became general; and the big, bare, common room assumed in a few minutes almost the aspect of a Royal levee. This was curious enough, and furnished food for meditation to Professor von Glauben, who was considerably excited by the dramatic denouement of the Day of Fate, a climax for which neither he nor Sir Roger had been in the least prepared.
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