Meanwhile Earl Arahad turned out of the shady path, and approached the lovely girl with a blush which became him well. "I come, Queen----" he began. But she harshly interrupted him. "I hope, Earl of Asta, that at last thou comest to put an end to this despicable game of force and lies. I will bear it no longer. Thy bold brother surprises me--me, the helpless orphan, lost in sorrow for her mother--in my apartments, calls me in one breath his Queen and his prisoner, and keeps me for weeks in unworthy confinement. He gives me the purple, and deprives me of liberty. Then thou comest and tormentest me with thy vain pursuit, which will never succeed. I refused thee when at liberty. Dost thou believe, thou fool, that, a prisoner in thy power, the child of the Amelungs will listen to thee? Thou swearest that thou lovest me; well, then, respect me! Honour my will and set me free, or tremble when my liberator comes." And she advanced threateningly towards Arahad, who, confused, could find no words with which to answer her. Just then Duke Guntharis hurried up with a hot and angry face. "Up, Arahad!" he cried, "make an end. We must away at once! He approaches; he presses forward with a strong force." "Who?" asked Arahad hastily. "He says he comes to set her free. He has gained a victory--the Peasant-King! He has beaten our outposts at Castrum Sivium." "Who?" now asked Mataswintha eagerly. "Well," cried Guntharis angrily, "thou mayest as well know it; it can be no longer concealed--Earl Witichis of Fæsulæ!" "Witichis!" cried Mataswintha with beaming eyes and a beating heart. "Yes; the rebels at Regeta, forgetting the rights of the nobility, have chosen him King of the Goths." "He! he my King!" said Mataswintha, as if in a dream. "I should have told thee when I greeted thee as Queen, but in thy chamber stood his bust, crowned with laurel. That seemed to me suspicious. I saw it later more closely; it was an accidental resemblance; it was a head of Ares." Mataswintha was silent, and tried to hide the blushes which rose into her cheeks. "Well," cried Arahad, "what is to be done now?" "We must away. We must reach Ravenna before him, Florentia will hinder him for a time. Meanwhile we shall take Ravenna, and when thou hast consummated thy marriage with Mataswintha in the palace of Theodoric, all the people of the Goths will turn to us. Up, Queen! I will order thy carriage to be prepared; in an hour thou wilt go to Ravenna, guarded by my troops." And the brothers hurried away. Mataswintha looked after them with flashing eyes. "Yes! lead me away, bound and a prisoner. Like an eagle from the height my King will swoop upon you, and save me from your cruel clutches. Come, Aspa, the liberator approaches!" CHAPTER IX.