"Rechberg likes early walks," he said to himself. "I shall not have long to wait. If he only knew that Bonello's daughter is at an hour's distance from here, nothing could prevent him going to her at once. But as this interview would upset all my calculations, I must be prudent.--Good, there he is at last, with his head down, as if he were counting the pebbles on the road.--He is coming towards me as though I had called him!--Oh! your servant, my lord Count."
"Ah! is that you, Antonio? I imagined you were still in Pavia."
"It is my duty to be wherever the master of the world is."
"You have not heard then that Barbarossa, with all his troops, entered Dôle yesterday?"
"Your looks and your surprise rather indicate that you do not desire to join him there."
"I wish, Antonio, that it were possible to avoid this interview.--My troubles will begin--"
"I bring news of your betrothed.--I regret extremely that they are not more agreeable ones.--But who could imagine her capable of such a thing?--I would have suspected myself sooner."
"You will need all your courage, but I must tell you the truth."
"Yesterday I met Pietro, who was once betrothed to Hermengarde."
"I beg your pardon, sir; Pietro never was her betrothed."
"Villain!" said Erwin, growing pale, and grasping his sword-hilt.
"Is this your idea of gratitude, my lord? Through interest for you, I communicate something of importance, and by way of thanks you seize your sword!--Farewell, Count!"
"Stop a moment!--Ah! what is this you tell me? Pardon my violence, but my heart is broken."
"Pietro himself has assured me that Hermengarde regrets her engagement to one who is related to the tyrant, the scourge of her country, the persecutor of the Church."
Rechberg was thunderstruck; he was unable to speak.
"Compose yourself, Count, and be a man! Perhaps Pietro has exaggerated."
"I have some business to attend to, to-morrow, at La Flèche. Hermengarde is there, and I will announce to her your arrival at Laon. From her manner of receiving the news, her looks and actions, I can judge whether Pietro's assertions are true or false."
"Thanks, dear Antonio; I shall be greatly indebted to you for the service."
"Make yourself perfectly easy on this point, and trust to me."