Barbara Blomberg — Complete

by Georg Ebers

  CHAPTER XIV.

  Wolf Hartschwert had asked the guards who were stationed at the end ofRed Cock Street whether any riders had passed them.

  Several horses always stood saddled for the service of the court.Malfalconnet mounted his noble stallion, and Count Lanoi, the equerry,gave his companion a good horse and furnished two mounted torch-bearers.

  But the Emperor's envoys had not far to ride; halfway between the abbeyof Prufening and Ratisbon, just outside the village of Dcchbetten, theymet the returning excursionists.

  Barbara's voice reached Wolf from a considerable distance.

  He knew the playmate of his childhood; her words never sounded so loudand sharp unless she was excited.

  She had said little on the way out, and Herr Peter Schlumperger askedwhat had vexed her. Then she roused herself, and, to conquer the greatanxiety which again and again took possession of her, she drank HerrPeter's sweet Malmsey wine more recklessly than usual.

  At last, more intoxicated by her own vivacity than by the juice ofthe grape, she talked so loudly and freely with the other ladies andgentlemen that it became too much even for Frau Kastenmayr, who hadglanced several times with sincere anxiety from her golden-hairedfavourite to her brother, and then back to Barbara.

  Such reckless forwardness ill beseemed a chaste Ratisbon maiden and thefuture wife of a Peter Schlumperger, and she would gladly have urgeddeparture. But some of the city pipers had been sent to the forest, andwhen they began to play, and Herr Peter himself invited the young peopleto dance, her good humour wholly disappeared; for Barbara, whom theyoung gentlemen eagerly sought, had devoted herself to dancing withsuch passionate zest that at last her luxuriant hair became completelyloosened, and for several measures fluttered wildly around her. True,she had instantly hastened deeper into the woods with Nandl Woller,her cousin, to fasten it again, but the incident had most unpleasantlywounded Frau Kastenmayr's strict sense of propriety.

  Nothing unusual ought to happen to a girl of Barbara's age, and thecareless manner in which she treated what had befallen her beforethe eyes of so many men angered the austere widow so deeply thatshe withdrew a large share of her favour. This was the result of thecontinual singing.

  Any other girl would fasten her hair firmly and resist flying in thedance from one man's arm to another's, especially in the presence of asuitor who was in earnest, and who held aloof from these amusements ofyouth.

  Doubtless it was her duty to keep her brother from marriage with agirl who, so long as her feet were moving in time to the violins andclarionets, did not even bestow a single side glance upon her estimablelover.

  So her displeasure had caused the early departure.

  Torch-bearers rode at the head of the tolerably long train of theresidents of Ratisbon, and some of the guests carried cressets. Sothere was no lack of light, and as the lantern in her neighbour's handpermitted the baron to recognise Barbara, Malfalconnet, according tothe agreement, rode up to the singer, while Wolf accosted Herr PeterSchlumperger, and informed him of the invitation which the steward, inthe Emperor's name, was bringing his fair guest.

  The Ratisbon councillor allowed him to finish his explanation, and thenwith quiet dignity remarked that his Majesty's summons did not concernhim. It rested entirely with jungfrau Blomberg to decide whether shewould accept it at so late an hour.

  But Barbara had already determined.

  The assent was swift and positive, but neither the light of the moredistant torches nor of the lantern close at hand was brilliant enoughto show the baron how the girl's face blanched at the message that theEmperor Charles did not command, but only humbly entreated her to do hima favour that evening.

  She had with difficulty uttered a few words of thanks; but when theadroit baron, with flattering urgency, besought her to crown herkindness and remember the saying that whoever gives quickly givesdoubly, she pressed her right hand on her throbbing heart, and rode toFrau Kastenmayr's side to explain briefly what compelled her to leavethem, and say to her and her brother a few words of farewell andgratitude.

  Herr Peter replied with sincere kindness; his sister with equallywell-meant chilling displeasure. Then Barbara rode on with the twoenvoys, in advance of the procession, at the swiftest trot. Her tongue,just now so voluble, seemed paralyzed. The violent throbbing of herheart fairly stopped her breath. A throng of contradictory thoughts andfeelings filled her soul and mind. She was conscious of one thing only.A great, decisive event was imminent, and the most ardent wish her hearthad ever cherished was approaching its fulfilment.

  It is difficult to talk while riding rapidly; but Malfalconnet wasmaster of the power of speech under any circumstances, and the courtier,with ready presence of mind, meant to avail himself of the opportunityto win the favour of the woman whose good will might become a preciouspossession.

  But he was not to accomplish this, for, when he addressed the firstquestion to Barbara, she curtly replied that she did not like to talkwhile her horse was trotting.

  Wolf thought of the loud voice which had reached him a short time beforefrom the midst of the Ratisbon party, but he said nothing, and the baronhenceforward contented himself with occasionally uttering a few words.

  The whole ride probably occupied only a quarter of an hour, but whata flood of thoughts and feelings swept in this short time throughBarbara's soul!

  She had just been enraged with herself for her defiance and the recklesshaste which perhaps had forever deprived her of the opportunity toshow the Emperor Charles her skill as a singer. The cruel anxiety whichtortured her on this account had urged her at Prufening to the loudforwardness which hitherto she had always shunned. She had undoubtedlynoticed how deeply this had lowered her in Frau Kastenmayr's esteem, andthe discovery had been painful and wounded her vanity; but what didshe care now for her, for her brother, for all Ratisbon? She was ridingtoward the great man who longed to see her, and to whom--she herselfscarcely knew whence she gained the courage--she felt that she belonged.

  She had looked up to him as to a mountain peak whose jagged summittouched the sky when her father and others had related his knightlydeeds, his victories over the most powerful foes, and his peerlessstatesmanship. Only the day before yesterday she had listened to Wolfwith silent amazement when he told her of the countries and nations overwhich this mightiest of monarchs reigned, and described the magnificenceof his palaces in the Netherlands, in Spain, and in Italy. Of the extentof his wealth, and the silver fleets which constantly brought to himfrom the New World treasures of the noble metal of unprecedented value,Barbara had already heard many incredible things.

  Yet, during this ride through the silent night, she did not even bestowthe lightest thought upon the riches of the man who was summoning her tohis side. The gold, the purple, the ermine, the gems, and all the othersplendours which she had seen, as if in a dream, hovering before herat the first tidings that she was invited to sing before the EmperorCharles, had vanished from her imagination.

  She only longed to display her art before the greatest of men, whose"entreaty" had intoxicated her with very different power from theMalmsey at Herr Peter's table, and show herself worthy of his approval.That the mightiest of the mighty could not escape pain seemed to herlike a mockery and a spiteful cruelty of Fate, and at the early massthat day she had prayed fervently that Heaven might grant him recovery.

  Now she believed that it was in her own hands to bring it to him.

  How often had she been told that her singing possessed the power tocheer saddened souls! Surely the magic of her art must exert a totallydifferent influence upon the man to whom her whole being attracted herthan upon the worthy folk here, for whom she cared nothing. She,ay, she, was to free his troubled spirit from every care, and if shesucceeded, and he confessed to her that he, too, found in her somethingunusual, something great in its way, then the earnest diligence whichMaster Feys had often praised in her would be richly rewarded; then shewould be justified in the pride which, notwithstanding her poverty,was a part of her,
like her eyes and her lips, and for which she had sooften been blamed.

  She had always rejected coldly and unfeelingly the young men who soughther favour, but with what passionate yearning her heart throbbed for thefirst person whom she deemed worthy of it, yet from whom she expectednothing save warm sympathy for the musical talents which she held inreadiness for him, earnest appreciation which raised her courage, andalso, perhaps, the blissful gift of admiration!

  Never had she rejoiced so gleefully, so proudly, and so hopefully in themagic of her voice, and she also felt it as a piece of good fortune thatshe was beautiful and pure as the art with which she expected to elevateand cheer his soul.

  Transported out of herself, she did not heed the starry heavens aboveher head, at which she usually gazed with so much pleasure--Wolf hadtaught her to recognise the most beautiful planets and fixed stars--norat the night birds which, attracted by the torches of the horsemenriding in advance, often darted close by her, nor the flattering wordsto which she was wont to listen willingly, and which few understood howto choose better than the well-trained breaker of hearts at her side.

  The envoys had taken care that the city gate should be kept open forthem. Not until the hoofs of her gray horse rang upon the pavement didBarbara awake from the dream of longing which had held her captive. Shestarted in alarm, raised her little plumed cap, and drew a long breath.The ancient, well-known houses along the sides of the streets broughther back to reality and its demands.

  She could not appear before the Emperor just as she was, in her ridinghabit, with disordered hair. Besides, her head was burning after thedancing and the wine which she had drunk. She must calm herself ereentering the presence of the royal connoisseur whose approval couldrender her so happy, whose dissatisfaction or indifference would makeher wretched.

  Quickly forming her resolution, she turned to Malfalconnet and explainedthat she could not appear before his Majesty until after she had allowedherself a short period of rest; but the baron, who probably fearedthat some feminine caprice would spoil, even at the twelfth hour, thesuccessful issue of his mission, thought that he must deny this wish,though in the most courteous manner and with the assurance that he wouldprocure her an opportunity to collect her thoughts quietly in the GoldenCross.

  Barbara unexpectedly wheeled her horse, struck him a blow with the whip,and called to the astonished gentlemen, "In front of the Golden Cross ina quarter of an hour. You, Wolf, can wait for me at the Grieb."

  The last words were already dying away as she clashed swiftly up thestreet and across the Haidplatz. Bright sparks flashed from the pavingstones struck by her horse's hoofs.

  "Confounded witch!" cried Malfalconnet. "And how the unruly girl wheelsher horse and sits erect in her wild career over the flagstones! If thegray falls, it will do her no harm. Such rising stars may drop from theskies, but they will leap up again like the cats which I threw from theroof when a boy. His Majesty will get something to trouble him ifhe continues his admiration. Sacre Dieu! What a temperament!--and aGerman!"

  Hitherto both had ridden on at a walk, gazing after Barbara, althoughshe had already vanished in the darkness, which was illumined only bythe stars in the cloudless sky. Now the clock struck half-past ten, andMalfalconnet exclaimed, half to the young knight, half to himself, "Ifonly the wild bird does not yet escape our snare!"

  "Have no fear," replied Wolf. "She will keep her promise, for she istruthfulness itself. But you would oblige me, Herr Baron, if in futureyou use a tone less light in speaking of this young lady, who is worthyof every honour. Her reputation is as faultless as the purity of hervoice, and, obstinate as she may be----"

  "So this masterpiece of the Creator finds much favour in your eyes andyour keen ears, Sir Knight," Malfalconnet gaily interrupted. "From anyone else, my young friend, I should not suffer such a warning to pass;but we are now riding in the Emperor's precincts, so it would cause mesore embarrassment if my steel pierced you, for my neck, which is veryprecious to me, would then probably fall under the rude axe of theexecutioner. Besides, I wish you well, as you know, and I understandyou German pedants. Henceforward--I swear it by all the saints!--Iwill utter no disrespectful word of your lovely countrywoman until youyourself release my tongue."

  "That will never be done!" Wolf eagerly protested, "and the meresupposition would force me to bare my sword, if it were not you----"

  "If it were not sheer madness for your thumb-long parade dagger to crossblades with my good sword," laughed Malfalconnet. "Ere you drew yourrapier, I think your lust for murder would have fled. So let us leaveour blades in their sheaths and permit my curiosity, to ask just onemore question: What consideration induces you, Sir Knight, to constrainyourself to discreet peaceableness toward me, who, Heaven knows, excitedyour ire with no evil intent?"

  "The same which restrains you from the duel with me," replied Wolfquietly; and then, in a warmer tone, continued: "You are dear to mebecause you have shown me kindness ever since I came to the court. Butyou are the last person who would admit that gratitude should fetter thehand which desires to defend itself. In comparison with you, Baron, I ambut an insignificant man, but noble blood flows in my veins as well asin yours, and I, too, am no coward. Perhaps you suspect it because Ihave accepted many things from you which I would overlook from no oneelse. But I know that, however your jesting tongue sins against me, ithas nothing to do with your disposition, whose kindness has ever beenproved when the occasion offered. But you are now denying respect to alady--"

  "From that, too, my heart is as far removed as the starry sky aboveour heads from the wretched pavement of this square," Malfalconnetinterrupted.

  "Yes, Sir Knight, you judged me aright, and God save me from thinking orspeaking evil of a lady who is so dear to the heart of a friend!"

  As he spoke he held out his right hand to his companion with gay yetstately cordiality.

  Wolf eagerly clasped it, and directly after both swung themselves fromtheir horses in the courtyard of the Golden Cross, Malfalconnet toinform the Emperor of the successful result of his ride, the Ratisbonknight to arrange for the proper stationing of the boy choir, and then,obedient to Barbara's injunction, to go to the Grieb.

  He knew the baron, and was aware that any one whom this chivalrousgentleman assured of his friendship might rely upon it, but that he didnot spare even the most sacred things if he might hope thereby to winthe approval and arouse the mirth of his imperial master.

  In the glad conviction that he had done his best for the woman he loved,and yet had not forfeited the favour of the influential man to whom heowed a debt of gratitude, whose active mind he admired, and who had,moreover, won his affection, he went to the neighbouring Grieb.

  The favour which the Emperor showed Barbara seemed to him not onlya piece of great good fortune for her, but also for himself. Heknew Charles's delicate appreciation of music, and could confidentlyanticipate that her voice would satisfy him and win his interest. But ifthis occurred, and the sovereign learned that Wolf wished to marry thesinger to whom their Majesties owed such great pleasure, it would be aneasy matter for the Emperor to place him in a position which couldnot fail to content the just desire of the girl whom he loved for anexistence free from want. The interview with the monarch, to which hewas to lead Barbara at once, therefore seemed to him like a bridgeto her consent, and when he met at the Ark the court musician, Massi,followed by a servant carrying his violin case, he called to him: "Justlook at the shining stars up above us, Massi! They are friendly to me,and, if they keep their promise, the journey here will be blessed."

  "Amen!" replied the other as he pressed his hand cordially and asked forfurther particulars; but Wolf put him off until the next day, exclaiming: "Jungfrau Blomberg, whose voice and execution bewitched you also,is now to sing before his Majesty. Wish her the best luck, for on hersuccess depend many things for her, and perhaps for your friend also.Once more, uphold us!"

  He turned toward the Grieb as he spoke, and the longing for Barbaraquickened his pace.<
br />
  The fear that the gouty monarch could cherish any other wishesconcerning the young girl than to enjoy her singing was farthest fromhis thoughts.

  Who would ever have seen an aspirant for woman's favour in the sufferingEmperor, bowed during the last few years by the heaviest politicalcares, and whose comparative youthfulness was easily overlooked?

  At the main entrance of the Grieb Wolf was accosted by the master of thehouse.

  The wife of this obedient husband, Frau Lerch, known throughout allRatisbon as "Lerch, the mantuamaker," had told him to keep watch, andimpressed it upon him to let no one, no matter who it might be, enterher rooms on the ground floor except the cantor knight, as she calledWolf.

  Barbara had had little time for reflection as she fled from theEmperor's envoys, but a clever woman's brain thinks quickly when animportant decision is to be made, and while turning the gray she haddecided that it would be better for her purpose, and the haste connectedwith it, to go to Frau Lerch than to her own home.

  In the Grieb she was sure of finding admittance at once if she knockedat Frau Lerch's window, while the cantor house was closed early, and along time might pass before the door opened to her. Besides, she did notknow how her father, who could never be depended upon in such matters,would regard the honour that awaited her; thirdly--and this alone wasdecisive--the white dress, which she meant to wear instead of the ridinghabit, was at Frau Lerch's, and what good service the skilful, nimblefingers of her mother's ex-maid could render in this hurried change ofgarb.

  Besides, it had also darted into her mind that the baron might accompanyher to her shabby abode, and that would have seemed like a humiliation.Why should the court know what indigent circumstances had been theportion of the artist to whom the Emperor, through no less a personagethan Baron Malfalconnet, sent an "entreaty" for her appearance?

  All this had been clear to her in the course of a few seconds, andher choice had proved fortunate, for the gate of the Grieb was stillunlocked, and the old hostler Kunz, who had been in the service of theGravenreuths, the former owners of the Grieb, and had known "Wawerl"from childhood, was just coming out of the tavern, and willingly agreedto take the gray back to Peter Schlumperger's stable.

  When Barbara entered the huge building a ray of light shone from theprivate chapel at the left, dedicated to Saint Dorothea.

  This seemed to her like a sign from heaven, and, before knocking atFrau Lerch's door, she glided into the sanctuary, threw herself upon herknees before the image of the saint, and besought her to bestow the mostmelting sweetness and the deepest influence upon her voice while singingbefore his Majesty.

  Then it seemed as though the face of the kindly saint smiled assent, andin hurried words Barbara added that the great monarch was also the mostthorough connoisseur, and the altar here should lack neither candlesnor flowers if she would bestow upon her the power to win his approval.While speaking, she raised her clasped hands toward the Virgin's image,and concluded her fervent prayer with the passionate exclamation: "Oh,hear me, hear me, thou inexhaustible fountain of mercy, for if I do notfulfil what he expected when he entreated me to sing before him, andI see that he lets me go disappointed, the peace of this heart will bedestroyed! Hear, oh, hear me, august Queen of Heaven!"

  Relieved and strengthened, she at last sprang up, and a few minutesafter Frau Lerch, with loud exclamations of admiration, was combing herlong, thick, waving locks of fair hair.

  Overflowing with delight at such beauty, the thin little woman thenhelped her "darling Wawerl," her "wonderfully sweet nightingale," tochange her dress.

  Wolf's gift, the velvet robe with the marten border, would have been tooheavy and oppressive for singing, and, besides, was not yet finished.Barbara, she declared, had done right to choose the white one, whichwas intended for the next dance at the New Scales. Nothing could be morebecoming to her enchanting little princess, and Barbara yielded herselfentirely to the experienced assistant, who had all the laces and ribbonsshe needed close at hand. She could even supply her with new and daintysatin shoes.

  While Frau Lerch was working with wonderful dexterity, she alsopermitted her nimble tongue no rest. In the tenderest accents offaithful maternal solicitude she counselled her how to conduct herselfin his Majesty's presence. Hurriedly showing Barbara how the stiffSpanish ladies of the court curtsied, she exclaimed: "And another thing,my darling pet: It is important for all ladies, even those of royalblood, to try to win the favour of so great a monarch when they meet himfor the first time. You can use your eyes, too, and how effectually!I saw you a short time ago, and, if I had been a young gentleman, howgladly I would have changed places with the handsome recruiting officerPyramus at the New Scales! That was a flaming fire! Now, isn't ittrue, darling--now we no longer have even a single glance for suchinsignificant fellows! Consider that settled! But things of thatsort have no effect upon his august Majesty. You must cast down yoursparkling blue eyes in modest embarrassment, as if you still wore theconfirmation wreath. All the fashionable sons of the burghers complainof your repellent coldness. Let his Majesty feel it too. That will pouroil on the flames, and they must blaze up high; I'd stake both my handson it, much as I need them. But if it results as I expect, my darling,don't forget old Lerch, who loves you even more than your own motherdid. How beautiful and stately she was! But she forgot her little Wawerlonly too often. I have a faithful nature, child, and understand life.If, sooner or later, you need the advice of a true, helpful friend, youknow where to find little old Lerch."

  These warnings had sounded impressive enough, but Barbara had by nomeans listened attentively. Instead, she had been anticipating, withtorturing impatience, her appearance before the great man for whomshe was adorned and the songs which she would have to sing. If she waspermitted to choose herself, he would also hear the bird-song, with the"Car la saison est bonne," which had extorted such enthusiastic applausefrom the Netherland maestro.

  But no!

  She must choose something grander, more solemn, for she wished to makea deeper, stronger, more lasting impression upon the man who was now tolisten to her voice.

  Mere lukewarm satisfaction would not content her in the case of theEmperor Charles; she wished to arouse his enthusiasm, his rapture. Whatbliss it would be if she was permitted to penetrate deeply into hissoul, if it were allotted to her to make the ruler's grave eyes sparklewith radiant delight!

  In increasing excitement, she saw herself, in imagination, lowering thesheet of music, and the sovereign, deeply moved, holding out both handsto her.

  But that would have been too much happiness! What if the violentthrobbing of her heart should silence her voice? What if the oppressivetimidity, which conquers every one who for the first time is permittedto stand in the presence of majesty, should cause her to lose her memoryand be unable to find the mood which she required in order to executeher task with the perfection that hovered before her mind?

  Yes, that would happen! With cruel self-torture she dwelt upon theterrible dread, for she thought she had noticed that the best successoften followed when she had expected the worst result. Fran Lerchperceived what was passing in her mind, and instilled courage until shehad finished her work and held up the mirror before Barbara.

  The girl, whether she desired to do so or not, could not help lookingin. She did it reluctantly, and, after hastily assuring herself thatshe was presentable, she turned the glittering disk away and would notglance at it again.

  She feared that the contemplation of her own image might disturb her;she wished to think only of the worthy execution of her task, and theshorter time she kept the Emperor waiting the less she need fear havingan ill-humoured listener.

  So she hurriedly ejaculated a few words of gratitude to the oldattendant and seized the kerchief for her head, which she had taken toPrufening with her; but the dressmaker wound around her hair a costlylace veil which she had ready for a customer.

  "The valuable article may be lost," she thought. "But if, sooner orlater, something happens wh
ich my lambkin, who thinks only of her sweetbabble, does not dream, it will return to me with interest. Besides,she must see what maternal affection I feel for her." Then, with tendercaution, she kissed the girl's glowing cheeks, and the blessing withwhich she at last dismissed her sounded devout and loving enough.

  Wolf had not waited long; it was just striking eleven when Barbara methim at the door talking with Herr Lerch, the owner of the house.

  Before leaving the Grieb, she again glanced into the chapel in thecourtyard dedicated to Saint Dorothea, and uttered a swift thoughsilent prayer for good success, and that her singing might have a deepinfluence upon the august hearer.

  Meanwhile she scarcely heeded what her friend was saying, and, whilewalking at his side the short distance through a part of Red Cock Streetand across the Haidplatz, he had no words from her lips except therequest that he would tell her father of the great honour awaiting her.

  Wolf, too, had imposed silence upon himself; it was necessary forthe singer, on the eve of this important performance, to refrain fromtalking in the night air.