"If Prince Karl of Auersperg,
powerful as he is, were disposed to punish her, the others would not let
him."
"What others?"
"The young Count Kratzek, the relative of the prince. He loves her, too,
and he scarcely seeks to hide it. And Count Pappenheim, who is of kin to
the emperor, worships her beauty."
"The lady must be Psyche herself," said John.
But not knowing who Psyche was, they shook their heads.
"And that is not all," continued Ilse. "A Prussian prince was here, a
fine and gallant man, tall and young. He, too, is at the feet of the
lovely Mademoiselle Julie. I heard him say that he had seen her before
she was brought to Zillenstein."
John's pulses suddenly beat hard. He knew instinctively the identity of
the Prussian prince, but he asked quietly:
"What was the man from Prussia called?"
"Prince Wilhelm von Arnheim. I was present when he first saw here the
beautiful Mademoiselle Julie. He bent before her and kissed her hand,
as if she were a princess herself. The look that he gave her was full of
love, and it was also most respectful. I, Ilse Brandt, know."
"I've no doubt of it, because you've received many such looks yourself,
beautiful Ilse," said John.
"There she is now! At the window!" exclaimed Olga.
John looked at once, and his heart leaped within him. Julie stood framed
in a window, high up in the new part of the castle.
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