When he heard this, he would fain have instantly bestowed the most beautiful candles upon the Holy Virgin, but the scruple concerning religion had prevented his rejoicing fully; and when he told the syndic that under no circumstances could he abandon the old faith, it was done with the fear that the glittering bird would fly away from him.  But the result had been different, for Dr. Hiltner replied that religion did not enter into the matter.  He knew Wolf and his peaceful nature, and therefore hoped that he would be advised that music was a language equally intelligible to all persons of feeling, whatever tongue they spoke and whatever creed they preferred.  This opinion was also that of the Catholic maestro Feys, and he had therefore escaped all difficulty.  Wolf must, of course, consider the circumstances which he would find here.  If he would accommodate himself to them, the Council would be willing to overlook his faith; besides, Hiltner, on his own authority, had given him the three days’ time to reflect, for which he had asked on Barbara’s account.

A long-drawn “H’m” from Blomberg followed this disclosure.  Then he shook his clumsy head, and, grasping his mustache with his hand, as if he wanted in that way to stop the motion of his head, he said thoughtfully:  “Not a whole thing, Wolf, rather a double one, or—­if we look at it differently—­it is only a half, for an honest friend of our Holy Church.  The way into which they tempt you is paved with gold, but—­but—­I see the snares and pitfalls——­”

He rose as he spoke, muttering all sorts of unintelligible things, until he finally exclaimed, “Yet perhaps one might——­”

Then he looked impatiently toward the door, and asked:  “Where is the girl loitering?  Would Eve probably bite the apple of temptation also?”

“Shall I call her?” cried Wolf eagerly.

“No, no,” said the captain.  “It is sinful to disturb even our nearest relatives at prayer.  Besides, you would not believe how the maestro’s praises and the imperial gift have excited the vanity in her woman’s nature.  For the first time in I know not how many years, she overslept the hour of mass.  It was probably ten o’clock when I knocked at her chamber door.  Toward eleven there was a movement in her room.  Then I opened the door to bid her good-morning, but she neither heard nor saw anything, and knelt at the priedieu as if turned to stone.  Before going to sleep and early in the morning I expect such things, but when it is almost noon!  Her porridge still stood untouched on the table here, and to-day there is no occasion for fasting.  But I did not like to disturb her, and perhaps she would still be kneeling before the Virgin’s image if the maid-servant hadn’t blundered in to carry a bouquet which Herr Peter Schlumperger’s servant had brought.  Then Barbara started up as if a hornet had stung her.  And how she looked at me!  Once—­I knew it instantly—­I had gazed into such