Barbara Blomberg — Complete

by Georg Ebers

  CHAPTER XX.

  Barbara had scarcely entered the street with her father when they werestopped by Master Adrian, the Emperor's valet. He came from his Majestyto inform Blomberg that the regent could not spare Sir Wolf Hartschwert,and the captain might choose another companion for his ride. The Emperorexpected him to select only a loyal, trustworthy, and vigorous noblemanwho had taken the oath of fealty to his Majesty. If he should be in themilitary service, the necessary leave of absence was granted in advance;only he must present himself to the Lord Bishop of Arras that very day.Sir Wolf Hartschwert must depart for Brussels in the regent's trainearly the next morning.

  This news by no means pleased the old soldier, yet, before the valet hadfinished the message, his features smoothed--he thought he had alreadyfound the right man.

  After assuring himself that the imperial messenger had fulfilled hiscommission, he took a hasty leave of him and his daughter.

  His kind heart impelled him to show his chosen companion his friendlyremembrance of him, and thereby atone for the offence which had beeninflicted upon him in his house. To Barbara's inquiry whom he would takewith him, he hurriedly replied that he should not decide until he joinedhis military comrades in the Black Bear. As soon as this importantmatter was settled he would return home, for it had now becomeunnecessary to inform Wolf. The maid-servant could be sent to summonhim to the Golden Cross. Barbara might go herself at once to Ursel andsoothe her--anxiety about her beloved young knight weighed heavily uponher soul.

  During this conversation? Master Adrian had gone to her side; but assoon as Blomberg had retired, he informed Barbara, in his master's name,that he should expect her after vespers in the apartments of the Queenof Hungary. He longed to hear her voice. The regent desired to knowwhether she had any special wishes concerning the Prebrunn house. Sheneed not restrict herself on the score of expense; the Prebrunn stewardwould be authorized to pay everything. True, most of the furniture wassupplied and the necessary servants had been obtained, but her Majestythe Queen advised her to take with her a maid or companion whom shepersonally liked.

  Barbara's face crimsoned as she listened, and then asked anxiouslywhether the Emperor Charles knew of these arrangements.

  He had no doubt of it, the man replied, for he had heard his Majestyremark that, if the marquise's companion was not to become the toyof her caprices, she must be enabled to obtain what she desiredindependently of the old lady. He was anxious to make Barbara's life inPrebrunn a pleasant one.

  The latter, with downcast eyes, thanked Master Adrian and turned away;but he detained her with the inquiry whether he should probably find SirWolf Hartschwert at home, and received the answer that he had gone toSyndic Hiltner's.

  The valet then hastily took his leave, because just at that time hisroyal master needed him. Any one else could summon the knight to theregent in his place.

  In the corridor of the Golden Cross he met Brother Cassian, the bodyservant of the Confessor de Soto, a middle-aged Swabian, who hadformerly as a lay brother worked as a bookbinder in the Dominicanmonastery at Cologne. He was clad in a half-secular, half-priestlygarb, and was an humble, extremely devout man, whose yielding nature hadrendered him popular among the servants at the court. His bullet-shapedhead was unusually large, and his face, with its narrow brow and small,lustreless eyes, showed that he was not prone to thinking. Yet hefulfilled every order precisely according to directions, and possessedhis full share of the cunning which is often a characteristic of narrowminds.

  He willingly undertook to summon Sir Wolf Hartschwert, whom he knew, tothe presence of the Queen of Hungary. No special haste was needful, and,as he loved good wine and did not lack gifts from those who desired anaudience with his master, he went first to the English Greeting, wherethe travelling clergy lodged and often deigned to accost him.

  Barbara had returned home with bowed head, and threw herself into herfather's arm-chair in his workshop. She gazed into vacancy with a soreand anxious heart, and, as an insane violinist lures the same tone fromthe instrument again and again, she constantly returned to the samethought, "Lost! lost!--too late! too late!"

  Barbara gave herself up to this mood for several minutes, but at lastshe remembered her lover's summons for that evening.

  He longed to hear her voice, Master Adrian had said.

  Surely, surely he himself had clothed the expression in a totallydifferent, a hundred times warmer form. How bewitchingly he, the greatEmperor, understood how to flatter, and, with the memory of the charmof his manner, the thought of the blissful hours which she had enjoyedthrough his love returned to her mind. It was in his power to bestow thehighest happiness which earth can give; after all, his love outweighedeverything that she must sacrifice for it. To enjoy it, though but for abrief season, she ought not to refuse to bear the hardest, most terriblethings, and, if what was now her secret became rumoured among thepeople, to accept humiliation, shame, and scorn. Let the respectablewomen of Ratisbon, in their pride of virtue, maliciously cast stones ather; they could not look down upon her, for, as the object of the mostillustrious sovereign's love, she was raised far above them.

  Meanwhile, with a feeling of defiant self-confidence, she was againbraiding her hair. But the mental firmness which she had regained didnot last; more than once her hand faltered while the comb was dividingthe wealth of her golden tresses. How ardently Charles had praised theirluxuriant beauty!-and to-day he was to rejoice in it again. But why hadnot even one poor word from his own hand accompanied the summons?

  Why had his messenger been only a valet? Why had he wounded her sodeeply the night before?

  Why did leaden weights seem to hang upon her soul when she attempted tosoar upward?

  Oh, what a state of things!

  Who had given the regent, to whom nothing attracted her, the right todispose of her as though she were a chattel or her captive?

  Had she, with her heart and her honour, also resigned her freedom to herlover?

  If she had only possessed one, one single person to whom she could utterher thoughts!

  Then her glance fell upon the knapsack, and she remembered Wolf. He wasto set out on his journey early the next morning; her lover expected herafter vespers; so perhaps she would not be permitted to see him again,for she scarcely dared to hope that, after the rebuff which he hadexperienced, he would seek her again. Yet she longed once more to claspthe hand of the man for whom she felt a sister's affection and yet hadso deeply wounded.

  Without one kind farewell word from him, the bitterest drop of all wouldfall into the wormwood which already mingled in her happiness. It seemedincomprehensible that he who from childhood had given her his wholeheart would henceforth deny her every friendly feeling. For her ownsake, and also for his, this should not be.

  How many had sought her love! But perhaps the time would soon come when,on account of the one who must supply the place of all others, no onewould care for her. Then she wished at least to be sure of the sympathy,the friendship of this good loyal man.

  There were still many things for her to do, but to seek Wolf she leftthem all, even the visit to Frau Lerch, whom she wished to ask to devoteherself exclusively to her service in Prebrunn.

  Full of anxious cares, lofty anticipations, and the ardent desire toconciliate Wolf, she took the by no means lengthy walk to the Hiltners.Not until she reached the doctor's house did it occur to her that shehad forgotten to execute her father's commission and relieve Ursel'sanxiety about her darling.

  How did it happen that, if any affair of her own interested her, shealways forgot what she owed to others?

  Barbara was obliged to wait in the broad, lofty hall of the syndic'shouse for the maid-servant, who announced her; and the stout man withthe big head, who had seized the knocker just before she entered, sharedher fate.

  He was now leaning with bowed head against the wall, both hands claspedunder his beardless chin, and might have been taken for a monk repeatinghis prayers. The long, brown doublet fastened around his hips by
aHemp rope, instead of a girdle, made him resemble a Franciscan. But histhick, flaxen hair lacked the tonsure, the rope the rosary, and he worecoarse leather shoes on his large feet.

  Barbara fancied that she had seen this strange figure somewhere, andhe, too, must have recognised her, for he bowed when she looked at him.There was not the slightest movement of the body except the small eyes,which wandered restlessly around the spacious room as if they missedsomething.

  The inquiry what he found lacking here was already rising to Barbara'slips when the syndic's wife came toward her, preceded by her daughterMartina, who, radiant with joy at seeing the ardently admired singer inher own house, kissed her with fervent affection.

  The mother merely extended her hand to Barbara, yet the whole manner ofthe gentle, reserved woman showed that she was a welcome guest.

  Frau Sabina loved and understood music, still enjoyed singing hymns withthe members of her household, and had done everything in her power toaid the establishment of the Convivium musicum and foster its progress.

  Interest in music had also united her to Dr. Martin Luther, herhusband's friend, and mane a composition of the Wittenberg ecclesiastichad first been performed at the Hiltners.

  The old faith offered so much more to charm the senses than the new one!Therefore it seemed a special cause for thanksgiving that singing andplaying upon the organ occupied a prominent place in the Protestantreligious service, and that Luther most warmly commended the fosteringof music to those who professed the evangelical belief. Besides, heradopted son Erasmus, the new Wittenberg master of arts, had devotedhimself eagerly to music, and composed several hymns which, if DamianFeys permitted it, would be sung in the Convivium musicum.

  Frau Sabina Hiltner had often met Barbara there, and had noticed withadmiration and pleasure the great progress which this richly giftedyoung creature had made under the direction of the Netherland master.

  Other members of the Convivium, on the contrary, bore Barbara a grudgebecause she remained a Catholic, and many a mother of a daughter whomBarbara, as a singer, had cast too far into the shade, would gladly havethrust her out of the circle of music-loving citizens.

  Frau Sabina and Master Feys, who, like the much-envied girl, was aprofessor of the old faith, interceded for her all the more warmly.

  Besides, it afforded Frau Hiltner scarcely less pleasure to hear Barbarathan it did Martina, and she could also fix her eyes with genuinedevotion upon the girl's wonderfully beautiful and nobly formedfeatures. The mother and daughter owed to this peerless singer the bestenjoyment which the Collegium afforded them, and, when envy and justdispleasure approached Frau Sabina to accuse Barbara of insubordination,obstinacy, pride, and forwardness, which were unseemly for one so young,as well as exchanging coquettish glances with the masculine members ofthe choir, the profoundly respected wife of the syndic and her youngdaughter warmly defended the persecuted girl.

  In this her husband strongly supported her, for, when necessary, hedealt weighty blows and upheld what he deemed just without fear of manand with the powerful aids of his strong intellect and the weight of theesteem he had won by a stainless, industrious life.

  Doubtless Frau Sabina also perceived something unusual in Barbara'snature and conduct, traits of defiance, almost rebellion, which wouldhave troubled her in her Martina, who, though no beauty, was a prettygirl, with the most winning, childlike charm; but she secretly askedherself whether she would not accept it gratefully if, in exchange, hergirl could possess such a wonderful gift of God; for, sharply as the eyeof envy followed Barbara's every act, she had never given cause to doubther chastity, and this Frau Hiltner considered greatly in her favour;for what tremendous temptations must have assailed this marvellouslybeautiful creature, this genuine artist, who had grown to womanhoodwithout a mother, and whose only counsellor and protector was acrippled, eccentric old soldier.

  As Martina opened the door of the sitting room a loud conversation inmen's voices became audible, and with the deep, resonant tones of thesyndic Barbara recognised the higher, less powerful ones of the man whomshe was seeking.

  The kiss of the scarcely unfolded bud of girlhood, the child of amother whose presence in the Convivium had often helped her to curb animpetuous impulse, pleased Barbara, and yet awakened the painful feelingthat in accepting it without resistance she was guilty of a deception.Besides, she had not confessed, and it seemed as if, in feeling theyoung heretic's kiss an honour, she were adding to the burden which hadnot yet been removed from her conscience.

  Yet she could not overcome an emotion of rare pleasure when Frau Sabina,after beckoning to her husband, took her hand and led her into thereception room. Erasmus Eckhart, the adopted son of the house, hastenedtoward Barbara to greet her as an acquaintance of his school days,flushing deeply in his surprise at her great beauty as he did so.

  But the mistress of the house gave him no time to renew the relationsof childhood, and led her away from him to her husband and hermother-in-law, a woman of ninety, to whom she presented her with kind,nay, with extremely flattering, words. Barbara lowered her eyes inconfusion, and did not see how, at her entrance, Wolf's face hadblanched and old Frau Hiltner had sat up in her cushioned arm-chair atthe window to look her sharply and fixedly in the eyes with the freedomof age.

  Meanwhile the man from the hall had stationed himself beside the doorin the same attitude, with his hands clasped under his chin and his capbetween his breast and arm, and stood motionless. He did not appear tobe at ease, and gnawed his thick lower lip with a troubled look as heoccasionally cast a glance at the strong countenance of Martin Luther,whose portrait, the size of life, gazed at him from its gilt frame onthe opposite wall.

  Barbara did not regain complete self-control until the syndic asked hiserrand.

  The man in the brown doublet was Brother Cassian, the body servant ofthe Emperor's confessor. He now unclasped his hands to grasp the capunder his arm, which he twirled awkwardly in his fingers while saying,in a rapid, expressionless tone, as though he were repeating a lesson,that he had come to summon Wolf Hartschwert to the Queen of Hungary,with whom he must set out for Brussels early the next morning.

  Barbara then remarked in a subdued tone that she had come here for thesame purpose, and also for another-to shake hands with the playmate ofher childhood, because she probably would not see him again before hisdeparture.

  Wolf listened to this statement in surprise, and then told the messengerthat he would obey her Majesty's command.

  "Obey the command," Cassian repeated, according to his servant custom.Then he was about to retire, but Frau Sabina had filled a goblet withwine for him, and Martina, according too an old custom of the family,offered it to the messenger.

  But, much as Cassian liked the juice of the grape, he waved back thekindly meant gift of the mistress of the house with a hoarse "No, no!"and shaking his head, turned on his heel, and without a word of thanksor farewell left the room.

  "The heretic's wine," observed Dr. Hiltner, shrugging his shouldersregretfully, and then asked Wolf, "Do you know the queer fellow?"

  "The body servant of the almoner, Pedro de Soto," was the reply. Thebang of the closed outer door was heard at the same moment, for Cassianhad rushed into the open air as fast as his feet would carry him. Afterleaving part of the street behind him, he stopped, and with a loud"B-r-r-r!" shook himself like a poodle that has just come out of thewater.

  Into what an abominable heretic house Master Adrian had sent him!

  To despatch a good Christian to such an unclean hole!

  No images of the Virgin and the saints, no crucifix nor anything elsethat elevates a human soul in the whole dwelling, but the portrait ofthe anti-Christ, the arch-heretic Luther, in the best place in the room!However he turned his eyes away, the fat heretic face had forced him tolook at it. Meanwhile he had felt as if the devil himself was alreadystretching out his arm from the ample sleeve to seize him by the collar.

  "B-r-r-r!" he repeated, and hurried off to Saint Leonhard's chapel
inthe Golden Cross, where he sprinkled himself eagerly with holy water,and then sought Master Adrian. But the valet was with the Emperor,and so he went to his master and told him where he had unexpectedlywandered.

  The latter lent a willing ear and shook his sagacious head indignantlywhen he learned that, besides Sir Wolf Hartschwert, Cassian had alsomet "the singer" at the house of the syndic, the soul of the evangelicalmovement in Ratisbon.

  Meanwhile Barbara was taking leave of the friend of her youth at theHiltner house.

  The others, with the exception of the deaf old dame, had consideratelyleft the room.

  Wolf felt it gratefully, for a dark suspicion, which Barbara'sinformation of her father's long ride as a messenger only confirmed,weighed heavily upon his heart.

  The man for whose sake the woman he loved had given him up must be BaronMalfalconnet.

  It was well known how recklessly this gay, gallant noble trifled withwomen's hearts, and he had mentioned Barbara in his presence in a waythat justified the conjecture.

  Therefore, ere Wolf clasped her hand, he told her the suspicions whichfilled him with anxiety about her.

  But he was soon to discover the baselessness of this fear.

  Whatever the truthful girl so positively and solemnly denied must be farfrom her thoughts, and he now clasped her right hand in both his.

  The heavy anxiety that his "queen" had fallen into the baron's hands asa toy had been removed. The thought of the Emperor Charles was as farremoved from his mind as heaven from earth, though Barbara emphasizedthe fact that the man whom she loved would be sure of his respect. Shealso, with deep emotion, assured him that she wished him the best andmost beautiful life, and would always retain her friendship for himwhatever Fate might have in store for both.

  The words sounded so truthful and loyal that Wolf's heart was moved toits inmost depths, and he now, in his turn, assured her that he wouldnever forget her, and would treasure her image in his heart's core tothe end. True, he must endure the keenest suffering for her sake, but healso owed her the greatest happiness life had granted him.

  The eyes of both were dim, but when he began to talk in the old patheticway of the magic of love, which would at last bring together those whomHeaven destined for one another, she tore herself away, hastily beggedhim to say farewell to Fran Hiltner for her, and then went into thehall; but here Martina overtook the departing guest, threw herselfimpetuously into her arms, and whispered the question whether she wouldpermit her to pay her a visit at Prebrunn when she was with her oldmarquise, she had so much, so very much, to tell her.

  But the wish, of which her mother was ignorant, remained unfulfilled,for Barbara, scarcely able to control her voice in her embarrassment,hurriedly replied that while with the lady in waiting she would nolonger be her own mistress, pressed a hasty kiss upon the innocentchild's brow, released herself from her embrace, and rushed through thedoor, which Wolf was holding open for her, into the street.

  The former gazed after her with a troubled heart, and, after she was outof sight, returned to the others. He conscientiously delivered Barbara'sfarewell, and the praise which Frau Sabina lavished upon her pleasedhim as much as if nothing had come between them. Finally he made anengagement to see Erasmus Eckhart that evening in his lodgings, and thenwent to the Queen of Hungary.

  After he had left the Hiltners Frau Sabina bent down to hermother-in-law's ear--though she had lost her quickness of hearing, shehad retained her sight perfectly--and, raising her voice, told her thename of the young lady who had just left them. Then she asked if she,too, did not admire Barbara's beauty, and what she thought of her.

  The grandmother nodded, exclaiming in a low tone, "Beautiful,beautiful--a wonderfully beautiful creature!" Then she gazedthoughtfully into vacancy, and at last asked whether she had heardcorrectly that Jungfrau Blomberg was also a remarkable singer.

  Her daughter-in-law eagerly nodded assent to this question.

  The aged woman silently bowed her head, but quickly raised it again, andthere was a faint tinge of regret in her voice as she began: "Too much,certainly too much. Such marvels are rare. But one thing or theother. For women of her stamp there are only two conditions, and noother--rapturous happiness and utter misery. She will be content with noaverage. It does not suit such natures."

  Here she paused abruptly, for Martina entered the room, and withaffectionate solicitude said to her granddaughter: "Young Trainer washere just now. Has anything happened between you? I see by your eyesthat you have been weeping."