Already twelve troops of Spaniards who had served in Hungary, and other bands of soldiers had entered Ratisbon; cannon came up the Danube from Austria, and the city, had gained a warlike aspect.  To disturb the Emperor in his work as a general at such a time, with a matter which must agitate him so deeply, was hazardous, and few would have been bold enough to bring it before the overburdened monarch; but the leech’s interest in Barbara was so warm and sincere that he allowed himself to be persuaded to act the mediator between her and the man who had interfered so deeply in the destiny of her life.  For the first time he saw her weep, and her winning manner seemed to him equally touching, whether she yielded to anxious distress of mind or to joyous hopes.

His intercession in her behalf would permit no delay, for the Emperor’s departure to join the troops was close at hand.

Firmly resolved to plead the cause of the unfortunate girl, whose preservation, he might say, was his work, yet with slight hope of success, he crossed the threshold of the imperial apartments.

When the physician informed the sovereign that Barbara might be considered saved for the second time, the latter expressed his pleasure by a warm “We are indebted to you for it again “; but when Mathys asked if he did not intend to hasten Barbara’s recovery by paying her a visit, though only for a few moments, the Emperor looked into the grave countenance of the physician, in whom he noticed an embarrassment usually foreign to him, and said firmly, “Unfortunately, my dear Mathys, I must deny myself this pleasure.”

The other bowed with a sorrowful face, for Barbara’s dearest wish had been refused.  But the Emperor saw what was passing in the mind of the man whom he esteemed, and in a lighter tone added:  “So even your invulnerable dragon hide was not proof against the shafts—­you know!  If I see aright, something else lies near your heart.  My refusal—­that is easily seen—­annoys you; but, much as I value your good opinion, Mathys, it is firm.  The more difficult I found it to regain my peace of mind, the more foolish it would be to expose it to fresh peril.  Now, if ever, I must shun every source of agitation.  Think!  With the banning, the general’s work begins.  How you look at me!  Well, yes!  You, too, know how easy it is for the man who has most to do to spare a leisure hour which the person without occupation does not find, and neither of us is accustomed to deceive the other.  Besides, it would be of little avail.  So, to cut the matter short, I am unwilling to see Barbara again and awaken false hopes in her mind!  But even these plain words do not seem to satisfy you.”

“By your Majesty’s permission,” replied the leech, “deeply as I regret it for the invalid’s sake, I believe, on the contrary, that you are choosing the right course.  But I have only discharged the first part of my patient’s commission.  Though I have no pleasant tidings to take back to her, I am still permitted to tell her the truth.  But your Majesty, by avoiding an interview with the poor girl, will spare yourself a sad, nay, perhaps a painful hour.”