Had the young man gazed from the window, he would have seen his father striding moodily up and down the courtyard, with the thought gnawing at his heart that perhaps after all these many years of waiting his plans might yet be frustrated.
"There is a woman at the bottom of all this," said he to himself.

"It is only woman's wiles that in this brief space of time would effect so complete a change in a young man's disposition.

Besides, he would not have so obstinately declined to listen to the proposal I made him had not his affections been engaged elsewhere.

Who can she be?
and by what means shall I find her out ?" It would be absurd to question Norbert, and the Duke was excessively unwilling to institute any regular inquiry into the matter.

He passed the whole night in gloomy indecision, but towards morning an inspiration came to him which he looked upon as a special interposition of Providence.
"Bruno," he exclaimed with a mighty oath.