Surprised at herself, she struck her brow with her hand, and when Frau Lerch, who was just combing her wet hair, perceived it, she sobbed aloud, exclaiming:  “Poor, poor young gentleman, and the Hiltners, who love him as if he were their own son!  Such a terrible misfortune!  Old fool that I am!  The first time he asked admittance to show you the tablature, and you did not want to receive him, I persuaded you to do so.  Then he fared like all the others whose heads you have turned with your singing.  Holy Virgin!  If the Hiltners learn that you and I let him be bound without making any real protest.  It will fall heaviest upon me; you can believe that, for Fran Hiltner and Jungfrau Martina, since the young girl has gone to dances, have been among my best customers.  Now they will say:  Frau Lerch, who used to be a good little woman, left the young fellow in the lurch when his life was at stake, for they will take him to the Spanish Dominicans.  They belong, to the Holy Inquisition, and think no more of burning people at the stake than we do of a few days in prison.”

Here Barbara interrupted her with the remark that Erasmus could be convicted of no crime, and the Holy Inquisition had no authority in Ratisbon.

But Frau Lerch knew better.  That was all very well during the Emperor’s absence, but now that his Majesty resided in the city the case was different.  Erasmus had been arrested on ecclesiastical ground, the chaplain had ordered him to be delivered to the Spaniards early the next morning and, ere the syndic could interpose, the rope would already be twisted for him, for with these gentlemen the executioner stood close beside the judge.  Besides, she had heard of a pamphlet against the Pope, which the young theologian had had published, that had aroused great indignation among the priesthood.  If he fell into the hands of the Dominicans, he would be lost, as surely as she hoped to be saved.  If he were only in the custody of the city, of course a better result might be hoped.

Here she stopped with a shriek, dropping the comb, for the thundercloud was now directly over the city, and a loud peal, following close upon the flash of lightning, shook the house; but Barbara scarcely heeded the dazzling glare and the rattling panes.

She had risen with a face as white as death.  She knew what severe sentences could be pronounced by the Council of the Inquisition, and the thought that the keenest suffering should be inflicted upon the Hiltners through her, to whom they had showed so much kindness, seemed unendurable.  Besides, what she had just said to herself concerning ingratitude returned to her mind.

And then, Inquisition and the rack were two ideas which could scarcely be separated from one another.  What might not be extorted from the accused by the torture!  In any case, the almoner’s suspicion would obtain fresh nourishment, and her lover had told her more than once—­what a special dislike he felt for women who, with their slender intelligence, undertook to set themselves above the eternal truths of the Holy Church.  And the jealousy which, fool that she was, she had desired to arouse in her lover, what abundant nourishment it would derive from the events which had occurred on her return from the festival!