The colonel of the regiment wrote letters with his own hand to Blanka, praising her husband and telling her how he was looked up to by all his comrades and esteemed by his officers; and yet he could not secure his promotion.

Even the commandant at Verona had interceded for him in vain.

He must have a powerful enemy who pursued him with relentless persistence.
Blanka well knew who that enemy was, but she took no steps--for she felt that they would have been useless--to try to soften him.

Her family were united in opposing any suggestion on her part of undertaking a journey.
She did not even venture to visit her husband in Verona.

An instinct, a foreboding, and also certain timely warnings, kept her safe at home.
This long period of trial and suspense was not without its chastening effect on the young wife's character.