It satisfied him to know that the father of his love would be absent from
Ratisbon for the present. He did not care who accompanied him.
When the regent reproached him for having taken Sir Wolf Hartschwert from
her without a word of consultation, although she was unwilling to spare
him, he had instantly placed Wolf at her disposal again.
The simplest and cheapest plan would have been to let Blomberg pursue his
journey alone; but the monarch feared that the despatch might not be
quickly delivered if anything happened to the old man on the way, and
he had said before witnesses that he would not allow him to go without
companionship.
He scarcely thought of Barbara's filial feeling. She loved him, and the
place which she gave to any one else in her heart could and must
therefore be extremely small.
How powerfully the passionate love for this girl had seized him he dared
not confess to himself. But he rejoiced in the late love which