The Emperor could do much to further the union of this pair, yet he too was obliged to exercise caution.  If he joined them in wedlock as though they were his own children he might be sure of causing loud complaints from the priesthood, and especially the Dominicans, who were very influential at the court of Rome—­nay, he must be prepared for opposition directed against himself as well as the young pair.  The prior of the order had already complained to the nuncio of the lukewarmness of the Superior of the Sisters of St. Clare, who idly witnessed the estrangement from the Church of the soul of a maiden belonging to a distinguished family; and Doria had told the sovereign of this provoking matter, and expressed the prior’s hope that Sir Heinz Schorlin, who enjoyed the monarch’s favour, would be won for the monastic life.  Opposition to this marriage, which he approved, and therefore desired to favour, was also to be expected from another quarter.  Therefore he must act with the utmost caution, and in a manner which his antagonists could not oppose.

At this reflection a peculiar smile, familiar to the courtiers as an omen of a gracious impulse, hovered around his lips, which during the past month had usually revealed by their expression the grief that burdened his soul and, raising his long forefinger in playful menace, he began: 

“Aha, Jungfrau Eva Ortlieb!  What have you been doing since I had the boon of meeting so rare a beauty at the dance?  Do you know that you have caused a turmoil amongst both ecclesiastical and secular authorities, and that many a precious hour has been shortened for me on your account?  You have disturbed both the austere Dominican Fathers and the devout Sisters of St. Clare.  The former think the gentle nuns treat you too indulgently, and the latter charge the zealous followers of St. Domingo with too much strictness concerning you.

“And, besides, if you were not so well aware of it yourself, you would scarcely believe it:  for the sake of an insignificant serving man, who is under your special protection, I, who carry the burden of so many serious and weighty affairs, am beset by those of high and low degree.  How much, too, I have also suffered on account of his master, Sir Heinz Schorlin—­again in connection with you, you lovely disturber of the peace!  To say nothing of the rest, your own father brings a charge against him.  The accusation is made in a letter which Meister Gottlieb, our protonotary, was to withhold by Herr Ortlieb’s desire, but through a welcome accident it fell into my hands.  This letter contains statements, my lovely child, which I—­Nay, don’t be troubled; the roses on your cheeks are glowing enough already, and for their sake I will not mention its contents; only they force me to ask the question—­come nearer—­whether, though it caused you great annoyance that a certain young Swiss knight forced his way into your father’s house under cover of the darkness, you do not hope with me, the more experienced friend, that this foolhardy fellow, misguided by ardent love, with the aid of the saints to whom he is beginning to turn, may be converted to greater caution and praiseworthy virtue?  Whether, in your great charity—­which I have heard so highly praised—­you would be capable”—­Here he paused and, lowering his voice to a whisper, added: